Brief discussion included the startup of an adult Type 1 networking group, the July 8 one-day Camp Endeavor, and an update on Dr. Faustman’s clinical trials for the cure.

Thanks to Kerry, Dana and Kara for coming through on the childcare duties. We really appreciate your time and efforts to watch and mentor the younger set, especially when a weeknight means you’re juggling homework responsibilities as well.

Mark your calendar for the next meeting: Feb. 22, with Mark Chin, from Abbott, on the Navigator continuous glucose monitor.

As always, let me know if you have questions or if I can help in any way.

Take care,

Eileen

Read the full article at JDRF here

NOTE — NEW LOCATION:  Group Health Cooperative Conference Room, 1265 John Q Hammons Drive, Madison (take the Greenway Boulevard exit off the beltline and turn west; you’ll see the Marriott Hotel on the left; turn left on John Q Hammons Drive; the GHC building is just past the Marriott Hotel on the left; park and enter from back – feel free to Mapquest for directions)

Kelly Ruhland, from Eli Lilly, will discuss their latest products (insulins, glucagons, memory pens, etc.), as well as their partnerships and research.  She’ll have available an assortment of starter kits, brochures, books, carb guides and freebies. Lilly now has a Walmart brand Reli-On insulin (regular and NPH) available without a prescription and much less expensive.   

Babysitters will be provided.  Please RSVP, with number of adults and kids, to Eileen Regan at regans4747@att.net for planning purposes.  Thanks.

Michelle Alswager showed her Triabetes documentary about 12 Type 1 diabetics who participated in the Ironman Wisconsin Triathlon (in Madison in 2008).   Today that number has increased to 1,000 Type 1 diabetics from across the world who participate in triathlons.  What an inspiring video of the strength and courage it took for this team who bonded to meet their goals together, while mentoring and crossing the finish line with younger Type 1 athletes!  For more information, check out the www.triabetes.org website.  Thanks to LifeScan/One Touch for sponsoring these athletes and the Triabetes video production!  And a special thanks to Michelle for spending the evening with us and for all she continues to do to advocate for Type 1 diabetics everywhere!

A BIG thanks to Samantha Alswager and Joey Alswager for being on deck for child care, so the teens could view the triabetes documentary along with their parents!  Hopefully, we’ll have another triabetes documentary showing soon for teens and the college-age set.

Mark your calendar for our last meeting of the year, Nov. 23.  Kelly Ruhland from Eli Lilly (insulin, glucagons, etc.) will be our guest speaker.

As always, feel free to suggest speakers or topics for future meetings.

Thanks, and take care until we meet again!

Eileen

Re “Rediscovering the First Miracle Drug” (Oct. 5): As a father of a 16-year-old who has lived with diabetes for well over eight years, I recognize that injectable insulin was not a cure, and still isn’t. It is merely life support. But we must recognize that the researchers who discovered insulin paved the way for significant advances that continue to this day — including reformulating the insulin molecule to more closely mimic the workings of a human pancreas. These improvements not only benefit people today but are steps on the road to an artificial pancreas — an automated system that will better manage the blood sugar of people with Type 1 diabetes.

Authors Craig Becker, MSSW, Darci Pfeil, CPNP, Mary Marcus, MS, RD, CSP, and Beth Van Den Langenberg, CPNP in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin Pediatric and Adult Diabetes Teams.