Leighann Calentine's Blog, page 29

{Type 1 Tuesday} 02.23.16

Here are some tidbits that I have found interesting and wanted to share…

The Insulin Racket

A couple of weeks ago I voiced my concern about increases in insulin prices and the profits of the pharma companies who make them. There was a New York Times opinion piece this past weekend called “Break Up the Insulin Racket” that discusses some of the issues. The patient referred to in the piece has type 2 diabetes, but it’s relevant to anyone who takes insulin.

Read “Break Up the Insulin Racket” on...

{Kids First, Diabetes Second} Rufus…and Choices

After all these years, Rufus the Bear with Diabetes still holds a special place in Q’s heart. Though other stuffed animals from her younger days have been boxed up, Rufus still has a place on her shelf. Rufus and the book which tells his story helped us get through a really tough week when Q had had enough and didn’t want injections. At the end of this excerpt is a little advice about giving choices.

A Bear Named Rufus

I am not saying that it was all sunshine and roses in those first few mo...

The Stomach Flu…not again!

None of this is medical advice, see the disclaimer below.

I was actually in the middle of writing a post about how we deal with diabetes when Q has performances, but I thought the topic of stomach flu would be appropriate this time of year. The stomach flu has hit Q for the third time this winter. And of course it picked the absolute worst day to strike.

Here are my Facebook status updates:

3:34 am Really?! 3am and Q is up puking. Developing ketones, too. And of course the play opens tonight...

Eli Lilly Increased Profits at the Expense of People with Diabetes

The top left photo is a heap of cow and pig pancreases and the white container is the amount of insulin that produced. On the left is the photo of the mother and child that inspired the statue in the lobby and you can see him a few months later, pudgy as a boy his age should be. (Image copyright D-Mom Blog 2016.)

Here is my response to the Marketwatch article “Eli Lilly’s revenue boosted by jacking up cost of insulin for diabetics” written by Caitlin Huston, who herself has type 1 diabetes an...

Enough Already

A couple of weeks ago I shared with you an excerpt from Kids First, Diabetes Second about diabetes burnout. This post is along those lines…

I truly feel that after all these years, diabetes has faded into the background as much as it can.

Of course it’s ever present. We check blood sugars about 10 times a day, we replace her insulin pump every three days, and she gets a new CGM sensor when the current one gives out. I fill prescriptions and jump through hoops to get what we need when we need...

American Girl Diabetes Care Kit {Giveaway!}

Use this entry form to win one American Girl Diabetes Care Kit. Open to readers with US or Canadian shipping addresses only. Read the official giveaway rules. Entry deadline January 25, 2015.

Please note: To be entered, you must fill out this form and leave a comment answering the question “How does role playing with toys help your child cope with their type 1 diabetes?” on the blog post American Girl Diabetes Care Kit {and Interview!}.

Please only enter this giveaway if you have a child (or...

American Girl Diabetes Care Kit {and Interview!}

(Image Courtesy American Girl)

She looks just like me.
She’s a super hero just like me.
She’s fast and strong just like me.
She has diabetes just like me.
-Q
Sophia Goes to the Endocrinologist

Q has long role-played with her American Girl dolls. Her doll Sophia also has diabetes. Q pours over each catalog looking to see if they have a medical ID bracelet that we can order for Sophia. Not only did Q get her wish for an ID bracelet, but AG developed an entire Diabetes Care Kit!

Q was beyond...

{YouTube Tuesday} Type1Day1

Beyond Type 1, who you might know from their celebrity founders Nick Jonas and Sam Talbot, Instagram account where they feature a different person living with type 1 diabetes each day, or their “Drop Spotted” hat campaign, has produced this video showing what it’s like on day one of a type 1 diabetes diagnosis.

From Beyond Type 1:

Neil Greathouse teams up with Beyond Type 1 to produce this short film, Type1Day1. A collaborative video project, the film brings together original footage from ar...

{Kids First, Diabetes Second} An Introduction To The Book

Since it’s the beginning of a new year, this month I thought I would share the very beginning of my book Kids First, Diabetes Second with you. The introduction gives a little bit of the background of the book and the tone it takes. It’s not a medical book, but it is full of tips and tricks to help you get through and hopefully you will find a book full of support, especially if your child is newly diagnosed.

Introduction

I’m a parent just like you. I’m not a doctor. Nor am I a nurse, dieti...

{Bookshelf} Go, Team Coco!

While we were waiting for our most recent endo visit we were pleasantly surprised to see stacks of the Coco and ESPN books about diabetes as well as the Family magazines, which are all part of the partnership between Disney and Lilly Diabetes. We are big fans of the Coco books in our house…and it’s not just Q. Her brother has copies of each Coco book and enjoys reading them together. He always insists that we also read the Q&A at the end of each book which is quite informational about the ba...