Class for Kids:

Come and learn to improve glucose control with your MiniMed Paradigm insulin pump using advanced pump features including Dual Wave Bolus, Square Wave Bolus, Basal Patterns, Temporary Basal and other new features.

The local Medtronic representatives will lead the class in the JDRF Conference Room (434 S. Yellowstone Drive, Madison). PIZZA will be served so we can practice what we learned! Space is limited. Reserve your seat by contacting Tracie Neitzel, CD, RD, CDE at tracie.m.neitzel@medtronic.com or (800) 646-4633 x62597.

Burlington, VT – July 25-28
La Crosse, WI – August 15-18
Lake Tahoe, CA – September 6-9
Nashville, TN – SOLD OUT
Death Valley, CA – October 17-20
Tucson, AZ – November 21-24

Spring weather is finally here and so is bicycling season! Join the Western Wisconsin Chapter for the adventure of a lifetime during the Ride to Cure Diabetes.

Group training rides have just started in the Madison and La Crosse areas.  Even if you are not an everyday cyclist, our USA Cycling certified coaches will work with you to develop a training program based on your individual needs and goals.

To register, visit ride.jdf.org. For more information, contact the JDRF office at 608-833-2873 or westernwi@jdrf.org.

The Madison Walk to Cure Diabetes is Sunday, September 29 at Madison Mallards Duck Pond at Warner Park and we are looking for volunteers to help us on our planing committee. This committee coordinates all Walk day logistics, from volunteer recruitment to food to entertainment. Our first committee meeting will be in June.

Contact Liz Meland at emeland@jdrf.org or 608-833-2873 to be a part of this important committee.

Wednesday, June 26 at 5:15pm

Sean Busby, Founder of Riding on Insulin, will be the featured speaker at the Western Wisconsin Chapter’s Annual Meeting. In addition to leading youth snowboard and ski camps across the world, Sean is a professional backcountry snowboarder who has type 1 diabetes.

The Annual Meeting will also include the chapter’s Board election, acknowledgment of retiring Board members, Chapter update and special recognition awards.

The event is free and open to all JDRF supporters; light dinner and refreshments will be served.

Click here for an event flyer. RSVP to the JDRF office by Monday, June 17 to 608-833-2873 or westernwi@jdrf.org.

Thursday, May 30 – 2:30pm-5:30pm

For more information, click here or contact Kevin Williams (kevin.williams@convance.com) or Jeff Levy (jeff.levy@covance.com).

Eau Claire:

Mark your calendar now and register for the 2013 Walk to Cure Diabetes.

Thanks to everyone’s support last year, we raised more than $500,000 in Western Wisconsin.  The Walk, our flagship fundraising program, is essential to JDRF’s ability to award research funding and act as a powerful advocate in the T1D community.

Any walker can tell you that the Walk is fun, celebratory, and incredibly rewarding. And it’s an easy way to become part of the global movement to cure, treat, and prevent T1D.

Please plan on joining us again for a day of entertainment, kids’ activities, food, special attractions, and plenty of family fun! Register today at http://walk.jdrf.org.

Tuesday, May 28; 6:30pm- 8:00pm (doors close at 6:45pm)

This month, Eileen will share lessons learned when her T1D son was hospitalized during a college study abroad program in Brisbane, Australia. Hear tips on travel information, insurance, surgery, precautions, etc.

Led by JDRF volunteer Eileen Regan, meetings are open to both families and adults living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Meetings are a great way to connect with other people sharing similar life circumstances, whether newly diagnosed or living with T1D for many years.  

Babysitters will be provided. RSVP to Eileen Regan at regans4747@att.net for planning purposes.

Yahara Elementary School raised $6,131.53 dollars to help support Type 1 Diabetes research at their May 5

Colby and Jeremy Spangler are two terrific siblings with T1D who attend Yahara Elementary School in DeForest, Wisconsin.  Colby was diagnosed with T1D when she was 18 months and Jeremy was diagnosed when he was 6 months. During the Kids Walk program at Yahara, Jeremy and Colby had a special opportunity to participate in JDRF’s assembly as well as take the lead in our classroom outreach and the walk. Colby and Jeremy showed their insulin pumps to everyone, talked about blood sugar highs and lows with their peers and demonstrated a blood sugar check as well. Both kids are very energetic and love staying active. Colby loves softball, tennis and swimming while Jeremy enjoys baseball, soccer and kickball. Both agree that other schools should participate in the JDRF Kids Walk program to cure diabetes and to learn more about diabetes. Colby said she feels like her classmates now know more about diabetes. 

Paul Spangler, Colby and Jeremy’s Dad, agrees that these JDRF Kids Walks are important because they help raise money to cure type 1 diabetes and because it helps raise diabetes awareness. He noted that prior to the walk Colby and Jeremy’s peers were probably aware that each wears an insulin pump, but did not necessarily make the connection between the insulin pump and type 1 diabetes. He also says that JDRF Kids Walks not only inform students but their parents and families as well about diabetes.

The Kids enjoyed a 2 mile walk/run in the beautiful neighborhood area surrounding the school and were treated to popsicles at the end. Colby walked with her Grandpa, Jenny and Rufus the Bear.  Jeremy walked with his Dad, the PE teacher, and his friends.

Wednesday, May 29 – 6:00pm-7:00pm

Jay Hewitt is an Elite Ironman triathlete and three-time member of the US National Team; he has had type 1 diabetes for nearly 20 years. Jay is a dynamic speaker who will get your blood pumping with stories from racing Ironman triathlons and motivation for you to reach your own individual finish line. This event is free of charge and presented by Novo Nordisk, in partnership with JDRF.  Jay will speak about his experience and how he was able to manage diabetes.

To download an event flyer, click here. For more information, contact Sherrie Gibson at srgi@novonordisk.com.

The American Diabetes Association and JDRF have teamed up to release a new book, “The Type 1 Diabetes Sourcebook” that will help clinicians better understand the best and most recent research on how to diagnose and treat type 1 diabetes (T1D).

The book is now available and can be purchased at http://www.shopdiabetes.org for $39.95.

Funding for the development of this book came from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.