Victory - United Nations adopts diabetes resolution

A United Nations Resolution on Diabetes was formally adopted yesterday, making it the first time ever for a non-communicable disease. This will also mandate Governments around the world to establish national policies on the treatment, prevention and care of diabetes within the sustainable development of each Government’s healthcare system.

"Today the United Nations has recognized diabetes as a global pandemic.The adoption of the Resolution affirms the belief that access to properPrevention and management is a human right which should not be ignored," says
Michael Howlett, President and CEO of the Canadian Diabetes Association.

Diabetes - it’s with you always

I arrived at work yesterday to find our power out the generator had kicked in however we needed that juice to run the data center to keep all the other employees around the world working. After a couple of idle hours and electricians with blank look on their faces, we were asked to go home.

I decided to take the opportunity to start my Christmas shopping being that there is only three days to Christmas I headed to Metropolis at Metrotown. A one stop shopping Mecca, with close to 500 stores, this is the perfect place to find the perfect gifts.
Christmas cheers that have eluded me so far this year enveloped me as I walked into the mall. It was packed with people some happy and cheerful and some looked stressed, people carrying bags upon bags of stuff. I methodically went form one favourite store to another picking up presents and then headed to the gift-wrapping station to drop them off. I was filled with excitement and could picture facial expressions when those gifts are opened. I continued with my shopping, I felt a little hungry but ignored both the hunger and the fact that this could very well be a warning sign my body was trying to give me.
I was headed back to the wrapping station when I saw the food court sign, my brain translated the sign to “check blood glucose” a light bulb went off in my head. I have been walking probably for miles in this huge mall - oops I am diabetic I did not make arrangement for all this walking I did not reduce my basal insulin nor did I eat extra carbohydrates. Just as fast as I had been bath with the seasons cheers it was gone again as I stopped tested and treated the low.
Days like this I think I really need a CGMS.

Cleo 90 Infusion Sets.

About a month ago I contacted Auto Control Medical, the Canadian distributor of Cleo 90 infusion sets and request sample sets to try. Samples were sent to me via overnight mail, but I had not tried it till yesterday.

I have been using the Quick Set infusion sets with the inserter since I started pumping. I have not tried any other set because I am a big baby, angle sets looks painful and I could never bring myself to manually inset an infusion set. With the Quick Set, I am familiar with the initial sting of the steel needle breaking and entering my skin. Not wanting to get to know how another set feels entering my skin along with not wanting to learn the steps to inserting a different set had kept me from trying the Cleo 90 that sits in my supply basket.

Yesterday evening I ripped out my old set took a long soothing shower; I was ready to put in a new set. The purple Cleo, caught my eye begging not to be ignored any longer, I picked one up quickly skimmed through the instruction sheet that come with it. I unscrewed the cover and placed it on the area I had prepared.


My hand now frozen on the set, it hit me, there is no button to press to release the spring, I did say I was a big baby I will have to use my own force. Just bang on it as quickly and as fast as you can I said to myself… Hmm they say it is virtually pain free I try to convince my self. However the other side of me said – Yap like needle-breaking skin can be pain free, you know that is why they use the words “virtually pain free” right? I look at my Quick Set and inserter and for a moment I wanted to just use what I know.
But, I held my breath and pressed on it… Ah! It is virtually pain free, I think I will try again and even switch to using them.

All I want for Christmas is……….

Every year around this time I get fatigued and wish I could turn it over to someone else to manage. I wish just for the last few weeks of each year I could outsource my diabetes management to someone or to a company.
What I really want for Christmas is a “diabetes spa”, a first class, five-star resort. Staffed with the best endocrinologist, certified diabetes educator, nutritionist, and exercise physiologist along with all the other staff a resort requires. Where I check in and do not worry or think about managing diabetes till checkout. My personalized diabetes management - well thought out and documented, basal and bolus rates and ratios, fun-exciting activities, nutritional tasty foods all taken care of. Blood sugar monitoring, infusion set changes and decisions surrounding everything to ensure I stay within my ultimate aim of fasting and before meal blood sugar of 5.5 (98), one-hour after meals will be no higher than 8 (144) and two hours no higher than 6.5 (117)
There will never be a hypoglycaemia events at this spa and all the regular spa activities will be available to be enjoyed worry free.

BD sells blood glucose monitoring business

BD Logic and Paradigm link Blood Glucose Meter has been raised from the dead. I know some people were sad when BD announced a few months ago that they are pulling out of the glucose monitoring business.


Below is a press release from BD.


BD sells blood glucose monitoring business to Sanvita, Inc.

Important Information for BD Logic® and Paradigm Link® Users
We have some exciting news for you! There is no need to switch from using your BD blood glucose monitoring system. We are pleased to announce that BD has sold the blood glucose monitoring business to a valued business partner, Sanvita, Inc. This means that you will be able to continue to use the quality BD blood glucose monitoring system that you have been using.
Sanvita has a strong commitment to patient care, and to delivering high quality products and services. Sanvita will continue to supply test strips that work with BD Logic® and Paradigm Link® monitors through pharmacies, mail-order providers, and health plans well into the future.
This announcement is limited to BD blood glucose monitors and test strips and has no impact on other BD Diabetes Care products such as insulin syringes, pen needles, lancets, and lancing devices.