Aug 12, 2011 Posted by Trisha

Support Our JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes Team

As many of you have read, January’s incident has sparked a number of changes in our lives this year.  Aside from starting a blog about challenges Type 1 Diabetics face, Kevin has entered the world of insulin pumps and CGMs, done a complete 180 with his diet favoring a Dr. Bernstein-esque plan, and in May we decided to sign up for the local JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes.  The Pittsburgh walk is on... read more

May 25, 2011 Posted by Kev

The Cake Mistake – Diabetes, Birthday Cake and My Blood Sugar

It’s no secret that cakes and other flour-based desserts are treacherous territory for diabetics, especially when they’re prepared by someone else and there is little or no knowledge as to the amounts of each ingredient.  While my wife and I were on vacation celebrating our birthdays and anniversary (May 13th is my birthday, May 14th is hers and the 15th is our anniversary), I decided to have several... read more

Mar 25, 2011 Posted by Kev

Joslin Center Endocrinologist Appointment – Time for a New Endo?

Originally, this post was going to focus predominately on my disappointment with having to switch back to seeing my endocrinologist at our local Joslin Diabetes Center.  After leaving the Joslin Center roughly two years ago due to problems with Joslin not being able to respond to refill requests in a timely manner (it once took over two weeks), I started seeing my endo at her private practice in a... read more

Mar 8, 2011 Posted by Kev

Continuous Glucose Monitor Sensor Insertion FAIL

Obviously it’s not a good thing when you are inserting your continuous glucose monitor sensor and the inserter needle only goes halfway into your abdomen, while at the same time across the expanse of sensor wrappers, alcohol swabs and CGM supplies currently littering your kitchen table, your wife’s eyes open wide as if she just witnessed a circus acrobat only get one hand onto the trapeze.  The... read more

Mar 3, 2011 Posted by Kev

Bret Michaels Diabetes Interview – Life as a Type 1 Diabetic

Ever since I was a kid back in the 80s, I’ve always liked the band Poison.  I can remember lying on my bed next to my small stereo cassette player, my hand on the record button as I waited for Poison to rock the airwaves.  I’d sing along to ballads like “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” and “Fallen Angel”.  I didn’t know what a diabetic was and I didn’t know that the lead singer of my then... read more

Feb 28, 2011 Posted by Kev

Revel Continuous Glucose Monitor Alert Volume – Can it be Adjusted?

A few days ago I received my first “Low Predicted” alert from my new Medtronic Revel Paradigm 523 Insulin Pump and Continuous Glucose Monitor.  My wife and I had been eagerly awaiting this moment so that we could hear what the Medtronic rep had described as a “siren”.  After 10 minutes of not-so-loud alerts had passed, the device was supposed to begin alarming.  Instead of canceling the... read more

Feb 22, 2011 Posted by Kev

Decided to Buy Ketone Testing Strips Today and I Used One Already

When we hear someone talking about peeing on a strip and watching it change color, the first thing that comes to most people’s minds is a home pregnancy test.  That is of course, unless the person is a diabetic and they’re talking about ketone test strips.  During our once a month trip to Costco today, when I stopped by the pharmacy for sugar tabs and lancets, my wife reminded me that I should... read more

Feb 21, 2011 Posted by Kev

Continuous Glucose Monitor Training Class & My First 3 Days with a CGM

I had originally planned on writing about Friday’s one-on-one continuous glucose monitor training class, but since 3 days have passed since the class, I’m going to also focus on the slightly unsteady relationship that I’ve had thus far with the CGM component of my MiniMed Paradigm Revel Insulin Pump and Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (it’s a mouthful, I know). To sum up Friday... read more