Adam Lasher on American Idol

It was only a week ago when Adam Lasher first appeared on American Idol. Lasher's pre-audition interview with Ryan Seacrest revealed that he is the nephew of guitar legend Carlos Santana, but his famous Uncle was just the beginning of what would be a rather strange and wonderful audition.

The next three minutes were a whirlwind of oddities that culminated in Adam performing his original song 'These Shoes' and a golden ticket to the American Idol Hollywood round that airs tonight on Fox.

Adam wore a bright blue headband that appeared to be more functional than style oriented. His face and dark beard instantly reminded Jennifer Lopez of Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon, her comments must have made it back to New York because the next day Fallon was dressing up like Lasher on his show.

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Adam and his Uncle Carlos courtesy of AdamLasherBand.com

After the Jimmy Fallon frivolity came to an end Keith Urban asked, thinking it was Lasher's phone, about a small case clipped to his guitar strap. It wasn't a phone in the case, rather Adam has type 1 diabetes and was wearing his Dexcom continuous glucose monitor (CGM) so that he could watch his blood sugar level.

When the time came for Adam to play the judges finally realized that the thumb on his playing hand was broken and wrapped in what Harry Connick Jr. called, "a raggedy-ass lookin' cast" but non of that mattered because soon, despite his broken thumb, tossed hair, type 1 diabetes and an only so-so Fallon impression, Adam Lasher's music is revealed to be as soulful as it gets and he earns a ticket to Hollywood Week. 

Tonight a rabid base of Idol viewers, many who live with type 1 diabetes in their lives, will be cheering for Adam to move on to the next round.

You can hear Adam on The Juicebox Podcast talking about his Idol experience, diabetes, how he broke his thumb and much more.

Update

Adam performed 'Wicked Games' during Hollywood week and was put through to the next round! Check out the video... stay until the end when Harry Connick Jr. says, "I think he's a super star... I think he's got something". Good luck to Adam as he competes!

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A REPURPOSED DIABETES WORD

Arden got a new puppy in mid-December and that was a huge deal around our house because I had been steadfastly saying no to more pets for years. 

Then one day I softened on the topic but not because I was worn down by constant badgering - though there was constant badgering. I softened because of something Arden said to me during one of her impassioned, "I need a puppy" pleas. I could see in her eyes that she was making more than just an emotional decision when she asked for a pet, something in her had matured. 

it was time for me to say yes and so I relented and the puppy search began, in earnest.

After an exhaustive research process Arden settled on a French Bulldog/Boston Terrier mix that some affectionately refer to as a Faux Frenchie. We found a lovely woman who breeds the mix and awaited his arrival.

After we chose the puppy every waking moment in our home was spent in deep contemplation of a proper name. Arden looked in baby name books and online, we mused around the dinner table, and once seriously considered naming him after a boy that Cole plays baseball with – because of the way that the boy's mother says his name. So much fun to imitate!

I pressed hard for a few days to name the puppy Heisenberg. Though Arden has no knowledge of 'Breaking Bad', I liked the name a lot and tried to explain that if she named him Heisenberg we could also call him Mr. White, The One Who Knocks, The Danger or Walter - she didn't much care for my argument but did actually consider my request for a hot second.

 

One afternoon Arden walked into the house after school and calmly told me that she had chosen a name for her puppy, she was going to call him Basal. 

At first I didn't like the idea because we already hear, say and think diabetes related words so much. One of the things I look most forward to if a cure is ever found, is not saying 'diabetes' ever again. I must say, think, write or speak that damn word hundreds of times a day. But Arden loved the name and so I smiled and said, "GREAT name, we'll call him Basal!".

It's only maybe six weeks since Arden choose the name and I am so happy that she did. Repurposing that word and applying it to something so innocent and adorable has reprogramed my brain. No longer do I clench my teeth at the thought of a high BG that needs more background insulin or contemplate with worry if shutting Arden's basal delivery off for an hour will stop a low blood sugar.

Now Basal means this...

Basal - Almost 5 months old

The lesson in all of this is simple in my eyes, we CAN teach ourselves not to react to how type 1 diabetes tries to make us feel. 

Following in the spirit of Arden's puppy name choice and what it taught me, I've named my new podcast after another word that I just hate saying in the hopes of repurposing that word as well.

I hope that you can check out and subscribe to The Juicebox Podcast, my new type 1 diabetes parenting show. It is live on iTunes, Stitcher and Soundcloud, please subscribe at www.JuiceboxPodcast.com and give it a try.

I'm off to prep for my first interview for the podcast, you are going to love the guest - Adam Lasher from American Idol!

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Dexcom G4 Platinum Continuous Glucose Monitoring System WITH Share

Dexcom receives FDA approval for their G4 Platinum Continuous Glucose Monitoring System WITH Share, "faster than expected" and that's great news for tons of reason. 

On Monday January 26, 2015 Dexcom announced in a press release that their G4 Platinum Receiver with Share built in was approved by the FDA in under 120 days (Thank you FDA!). Later in the day Dexcom held a webcast to make the announcement. I've listened to the webcast, pulled out the most interesting parts and included them for you here in my third and final microphone test before my new podcast officially launches. 

If you listened to the audio you just heard that there is some crazy exciting news coming out of Dexcom's headquarters this week that's going to benefit everyone who uses a Dexcom CGM. 

If you weren't able to listen here are just a few details from the announcement plus links to Dexcom's complete press release and webcast.

• The Share receiver is anticipated to ship to new patients in early March 2015.
• All patients who purchased a Share cradle will receive a free upgrade to the Share receiver.
• All purchasers of a G4 Platinum receiver from January 1, 2015, until the Share receiver is shipped, will receive a free upgrade to the Share receiver.
• There will be a low cost cash upgrade to the Share receiver for those patients who are still under warranty with their existing receiver.
• The Share receiver will be compatible with future generation Dexcom sensor systems.

The entire press release is here

The entire webcast is here

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I'll be officially launching the Jukebox Podcast very soon - more details are coming. The Jukebox Podcast is on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter - please follow!

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Precision Xtra Blood Ketone Meter

It's that time of year... here come the sick days.

There are some things that you don't expect as you prepare yourself for parenthood. One of the things that I didn't imagine? Being peed on more times then I can count. I guess that I should have been ready for a little pee at the changing table or perhaps in the doctor's office. That said, I never imagined how many times I'd be hit while collecting a urine sample and I'm talking about pre-diabetes. There was a time when he was about three that I believed my son was trying to pee on my hand. And Arden, oh Arden is the biggest offender as she quite likes to break out into uproarious laughter as I'm bent over collecting a sample during her yearly well visit.

When I realized that checking ketones was a part of diabetes management my first thought was, "great, more to do and learn" but my second thought was, "well at least I don't mind getting peed on anymore".

Did you know that pee and ketone management don't have to go hand in pee covered hand.

Recently on FaceBook I had a conversation with a mother of a newly diagnosed child who was experiencing their first illness with type I diabetes. She was understandably concerned and wanting to make the next few days as stable and simple as she could. Without a moment of hesitation, I recommended that she get a Blood Ketone Meter and told her that we use the Precision Xtra from Abbott.

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This meter is fast and accurate when checking ketones, it does require a largeish drop of blood but nothing that a little extra squeezing can't provide. It's a real lifesaver during sick days and any other times that you require a ketone check. I highly recommend asking your endocrinologist to write you a script so you can try it. We actually have two, one at school and one at home. I can't specifically speak to the pricing as our insurance covered Arden's meter and test strips, but I have seen the meter online for less then twenty dollars... a small price to pay to avoid getting peed on IMO. HUGE thank you to Erin who just told me in the comments that the meter is available for FREE from Abbott when you sign up for their FreeStyle Promise Program. Who says blog comments are dead?

When you love someone who has type 1 diabetes the flu and cold season is particularly stressful!

I know that during the winter months I'm always holding my breath a little extra, hoping that Arden doesn't get a cold or worse, the flu. There is much that you can do to prevent the spread of germs but getting sick is sometimes inevitable and being prepared makes the process go much smoother. If our Precision Xtra sits in a drawer 360 days a year – it is still well worth having for the other five.

May you and your children be healthy and germ free this season!

This post was updated with new links and better writing on 1/22/15.

Remember that I am not a doctor. I am just passing on good information from my perspective. Always speak with your health care professional before making changes to a care plan. This is not a paid review. Please note that I have never used it as a blood glucose meter and can't speak to it's reliability on that front.

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Lilly/Disney Books & Backpack Giveaway Winners Announcement

I'm knocking down two birds with one microphone this morning. 

It was time for another microphone test for my upcoming podcast and also time to announce the winners of the Lilly Diabetes and Disney books giveaway. I took the opportunity and choose the winners during the mic test. All you have to do is click play on the audio player below to find out if you won - good luck!

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Winners will be receiving an email from me very soon. I want to say congratulations to those who were picked at random and thank those who participated and weren't chosen. Thank you!

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