Haven't seen you in awhile....

Hey all,

Just wanted to let you know we are dealing with some personal issues, and I hope to have the energy to begin posting again soon.

Thanks for your patience!

LMAO!!!

A Mother's Wish

Where's the damn tissues!

Fact vs. Myth

It can be frustrating to continually correct some myths that are commonly associated with Type 1 diabetes. So for the record here are some common misconceptions.

Myth: Taking insulin cures diabetes.

Fact: Insulin keeps people with Type 1 diabetes alive, but does not cure the disease. While there is hope on the horizon, there is still no cure.

Myth: Diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar or by being fat.

Fact: Obesity has been identified as one of the "triggers" for type 2 diabetes but has no relation to the cause of Type 1 diabetes. While scientists do not yet know the exact cause or causes of Type 1 they believe that both genetic and environmental factors are involved. Eating too much sugar is not, and has never been, a factor.

Myth: People with diabetes should never eat sweets.

Fact: Sometimes sweets are a must for Type 1 diabetics especially if there blood sugar level drops too low. Soda, juice or a candy bar are a fast and sure way to raise their blood sugar and prevent the onset of hypoclycemia.

Myth: People with diabetes shouldn't participate in athletics.

Fact: I'll list three. Olympic Gold Medalist Gary Hall, NFL player Mike Echols, and hockey great Bobby Clarke.

Myth: Only kids get Type 1 diabetes.

Fact: Type 1 diabetes, also known as "Juvenile" diabetes, is usually first diagnosed in children, teenagers, or young adults. However, people may develop Type 1 at any age.

Myth: You can "outgrow" Type 1 diabetes.

Fact: Type 1 diabetes is a life long disease.

Myth: If you are following your Physician's orders, ie: monitoring your blood sugar levels, eating correctly, exercising, maintaining your correct insulin dosages, you should have tight control over your blood sugar levels.

Fact: Even with tight control many factors including stress, hormone changes, periods of growth and illness can easily cause blood sugars to swing out of control. Teenagers in particular are more susceptible as their bodies go through many changes during adolescence.

New Research Project

JDRF has announced that it is partnering with Plureon Corporation, a biotechnology company based in Winston-Salem, N.C. that focuses on developing therapeutic applications of stem cells.

JDRF is providing $500,000 over two years of research funding aimed at developing an insulin-producing beta cell therapy product.

The results from this study may provide a new way to restore function of insulin-producing cells.

The project plans to use Plureon's technology platform to isolate adult stem cells from a Type 1 diabetes patient and re-program them to generate fully functional pancreatic beta-cells. The objective is to return the re-programmed insulin-producing cells back into the patient without the need for immunosuppressive agents, i.e., the patients own transplanted cells will be capable of glucose-dependent insulin secretion and the restoration of normal blood sugar levels.

Looks like something to keep an eye on.

Here We Go 'Round And 'Round...Up And Down...

That's the song I woke up singing. It's been running through my head all morning and it's making me crazy. It all stems from Jake's blood sugar readings yesterday.

Stabilizing blood sugars is hard enough for a Type 1 Diabetic but when you throw in hormones, adrenaline and testosterone in a 14 year old, some days it makes for a crazy ride.

When he came home from school he called me to tell me his blood sugar had dropped 3 times. After reviewing what he had to eat (same as always), bolus (none because he was low), physical activity (none), we figured it was just "One Of Those Days"... you know when nothing about Diabetes seems to make any sense...there's no logic, no rhyme or reason, no explainations.

After having him check his blood sugar (113) and making sure he had a snack I felt reassured that he would be okay until I came home from work. An hour and a half later he told me he was feeling low. We did his blood sugar and it was 37. He's only been this low a few times and it's frightening for all of us. We plied him with juice and Reeses and kept a close eye on him for the rest of the night.

I hope we don't have to get back on the Merry Go 'Round for awhile. Too many rides in a row make me dizzy.

Billing Codes Issued for Coverage of CGM's

According to JDRF new billing codes for the continuous glucose monitoring systems became effective January 1, 2008. Seperate billing codes are being issued for each component. The codes are : A9276 for the sensor, A9277 for the transmitter, and A9278 for the receiver.

Although many health plans are waiting for the results of studies like JDRF's CGM clinical trial before making a formal decision whether to cover the technology, many are paying for CGM on a case by case basis, and the codes will help facilitate that process. For tips to help those seeking coverage, got to www.jdrf.org/cgmcoverage.

Thanks Ronald!

He may seem like a goofy guy, but in times of serious stress there's no one else I'd rather go to than that tall guy with the red hair and big floppy shoes. Well to be honest I really don't go to see Ronald McDonald, but I do stay at his house.

Attached to most major children's hospitals is a Ronald McDonald House, http://www.rmhc.com/, and they provide a home away from home when you have a child that is receiving treatment for a serious illness.

My husband and I stumbled across it when Jake was first diagnosed with Diabetes. They had to medivac him from our local hospital to the childrens hospital an hour and a half away. By the time we arrived we were a mess. Besides all the medical stressors that accompany a first time diagnosis of Type I, we were unfamiliar with the area, had no idea how long we'd be there or where we would stay. Thanks to a kind nurse we found our way to the Ronald McDonald House.

After the second night of no sleep and no showers we decided to get a room. Fortunately for us they had one available (they operate on a first come first serve basis). It was just what we needed...within walking distance to the hospital and a place to rest your head. When your child is in crisis you need to recharge even if it's just for an hour, so my husband and I would take turns going back and forth to the hospital. We ended up staying there for seven days.

Besides the necessities to get you through, they offered us comfort, plus a chance to meet other families that were going through similar situations, and for that I will be forever grateful.

Diabetes Awareness Video "Word In My Hand" Project

Dear Diabetes,

I think of You often when I look at Jake.

He is polite and respectful, but most precious is the size of his heart. He stands up for the underdog, the weak, and the disadvantaged. Empathy for his fellow human is, I believe, his greatest trait.

I'm sure You have molded his personality. Without You he would not know pain and frustration. Without You he would not have seen the suffering of others in the Pediatric ICU, or heard the horrendous cries of the mother who had lost her child. Without You I doubt he would be who he is today.

So thank you Diabetes for giving my son something positive out of this terrible disease.

Hello Doc - Can I Get A Prescription Too?

I dont know why I get so surprised. It seems as if every time we go to the doctors for what we think is a simple cold it turns complicated.

Jake had not been feeling well and had a cough and sore throat. After a few days it wasn't getting any better, his blood sugars were rising, and he looked terrible, so we made an appointment.

The physicians assistant saw him and I thought we would be in and out in 15 minutes, you know check his throat, ears, nose, chest...write a prescription and merrily away we go.

Not so. I was impressed with how thorough she was. She tapped, prodded and poked and then sat back with a sigh.

"So does he need antibiotics?" I said.

"Oh most definately, I think he possibly has strep and..."

"Really? Did the culture come back positive?"

"No, it came back negative, but 1 out of 10 of these quick strep tests come back as a false negative so I want to do some lab work. While we're at it I want to test him for mono too."

"Mono? There's a chance he has mono?" (visions of him lying in bed for six weeks make me sit up straighter in my chair).

"Well he could have mono, which we will find out once the test results come back along with the strep, but I do think he may have walking pneumonia."

"What? What? What? Pneumonia? Are you kidding me? I knew he was sick but I didn't realize he was that sick! Does he need to be hospitalized?" (omg! I have to call my husband, pack a bag, call the Ronald McDonald house, grab Jake's pillow....)

".....so the antiobiotics should take care of it."

"I'm sorry could you repeat that please?"

"I said the antibiotics should take care of it, and the strep too if that comes back positive. It hasn't developed into a full blown pneumonia yet so have him rest for a few days and if he gets worse bring him back right away. In the meantime I don't think he has mono but we have to be on the safe side. Any questions?"

(yes, do you have any happy pills that will get rid of those four grey hairs that just popped out?)

We just got the test back today, no mono but the strep did come back positive. He finished his antibiotics but I'm still watching his cough. He's back at school and doing much better. What I thought would be simple, turned complicated, but eventually was pretty simple after all.

I wonder if anyone has a never-ending supply of hair color available?

Happy New Year! A Wish For My Son...

CELTIC BLESSING
(author unknown - translated by Charles Mitchell)
**********
"I wish you not a path devoid of clouds,
Nor a life on a bed of roses,
not that you might never need regret,
nor that you should never feel pain.
No, that is not my wish for you.
My wish for you is:
That you might be brave in times of trial,
when others lay crosses upon your shoulders.
When mountains must be climbed,
and chasms are to be crossed.
When hope can scarce shine through.
That your gift God gave you
Might grow along with you
and let you give the gift of joy
to all who care for you.
That you may always have a friend
who is worth that name.
Whom you can trust, and who helps
you in times of sadness.
Who will defy the storms
of daily life at your side.
One more wish I have for you
that in every hour of joy and pain
you may feel God close to you.
This is my wish for you,
and all who care for you.
This is my hope for you,
Now and forever."