Floaters: Do they let kids name ailments now?

I never really talk about myself on Arden's Day. I mostly talk about the reactions, feelings and discoveries that I have related to living with type I diabetes. You may disagree and I may be wrong but either way, I'm going to talk about myself today.

I don't really get sick. I remember having bronchitis very badly once as a child, maybe around ten years old. My iron got very low once a few years ago, I ignored it forever to the point where the doctor thought I had cancer for a moment... it ended up being something very small and easily rectified. I lived for nearly a year with so little iron in my system that by the time I turned up in the doctor's office he told me, with not a tinge of joking in his voice, "I can't believe you can stand". I wasn't just standing I was getting up at all hours of the night with Arden's type 1 diabetes and still completing my tasks around the house during the day. I took the kids to sports, wrote, cleaned and did the laundry. My point is that even when my body is completely taxed... I keep going.

My experience with type 1 has taught me not to take my uncommon constitution for granted and I promised myself after the 'Iron incident' that I wouldn't ignore not feeling well ever again, if not for myself then out of respect for the lives that all of you lead.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-are-those-floaty-things-in-your-eye-michael-mauser Sometimes, against a uniform, bright background such as a clear sky or a blank computer screen, you might see things floating across your field of vision. What are these moving objects, and how are you seeing them? Michael Mauser explains the visual phenomenon that is floaters.

Last week I was having a catch with Arden late in the afternoon, the sky was grey and flat and we were passing the time while Cole warmed up for his baseball game. Arden has been expanding her softball skills and she is now catching fly balls that are much higher then I imagined she'd be able to handle at her age. I noticed that when I would tilt my head up suddenly to throw the ball that translucent worm shaped images would appear in my sight and then float away. One shape looked a lot like a DNA sequence. Varied shapes, see through but visible like when they make something 'look' invisible in a sci-fi movie. I was instantly terrified. My vision has for my entire life been 20/15. I see in contrast, color and sharpness in a way that would perhaps be indefinable to a person who wears glasses. Now suddenly I was worried that I was going blind, had a tumor or ya know, cancer...

Turns out I have floaters. No, not bits of pooh that won't go down when you flush but shapes that float through your vision. The doc says that in my case they come with age (wow was that tough to hear). I know because I called and made an appointment to see him exactly fifteen minutes after I noticed the shapes. I considered ignoring it to see if it would go away but then I thought there was no way that I'd let one of my kids or Kelly ignore something like this and so I called from the baseball field.

I'm writing this long tale of basically no woe because I owe my new attitude to all of you. There may be nothing more scary then hearing bad health news about your child but you all stand up bravely and hear things far worse then floaters each and every day. I do it with my children and I wanted to take this first personal opportunity to act well on my own behalf. I must say that I was proud of myself for not turning, pardon the pun, a blind eye to my situation but I'm even prouder of each and every one of you for doing the same in far more frightening circumstances.

I don't want to link to a bunch of info that I can't substantiate as accurate but I was told that floaters can occur naturally with age or they can be a sign of something far worse and serious that can be contained if caught early enough. Please seek medical attention without delay if you experience any issues with your sight. Mine, as it is described at the bottom of this page, is never to be taken as medical advice. Always contact a doctor when your health is in question.

Now if I could just find time to sleep...

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Manny Hernandez interviews Dr. Denise Faustman

I'm reposting, with Manny's kind permission, his tudiabetes interview with Denise L. Faustman, MD, PhD.

Dr. Faustman is the Director of the Immunobiology Laboratory at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.  - Her research regarding type I diabetes is exciting and encouraging, this interview is more then worth watching. http://www.faustmanlab.org/

Sanofi Data Design Diabetes Q&A

I was fortunate to be able to ask Michele Polz, Head of Patient Solutions for Sanofi US Diabetes a few questions about Sanofi's Data Design Diabetes Innovation Challenge. The diabetes group at Sanofi has been putting so much good stuff out into the diabetes community since they arrived. When I say 'good stuff' I mean that I've never met a group of people who aren't diabetic that are so dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of the people who are. 

The support that the DOC receives from Discuss Diabetes and Sanofi is immense and they aren't showing any signs of slowing down. I believe that the direction Sanofi has taken when it comes to creating better outcomes for patients is one of the more encouraging things that I've seen in some time. There was a time that if I saw a pharma company getting involved with patients I immediately thought, "hmm, what's their angle... what do they want?". While I can't speak to every pharma or device manufacturer out there, I can tell you that I've met the people at Sanofi and they may be the most dedicated diabetes advocates that I've ever encountered.

After you check out the Q&A take a moment to watch the video and then get your design idea entered! The prizes are substantial! 5 semi-finalists receive, $20,000 for development of the concept prototype, intensive mentorship from industry leaders to hone the concept and participation in a design boot camp. 2 finalists get $10,000 to create a community-based proof-of-concept program and the winner (1) received $100,000 to develop their solution.

1. What is Data Design Diabetes™?

Data Design Diabetes™ is a next-generation challenge that brings together the richness of open data sets, the values of human-centered design, and the leading-edge methodology of the top innovation accelerators, to find the next breakthrough to help millions of Americans living with diabetes.

2. Why is the Data Design Diabetes Innovation Challenge important to Sanofi?
Sanofi is casting a wide net to meet and help accelerate all of the incredible entrepreneurs who seek to improve diabetes care, by providing them with resources, mentorship, and direct insight from people living with diabetes. The Innovation Challenge is an innovative approach, with unique potential to foster the best solutions, while helping entrepreneurs grow scalable businesses that meaningfully impact healthcare. 

3. Is this year's challenge different than last year's Challenge?
Yes! To kick off this year's Data Design Diabetes Innovation Challenge and help shape the focus of the challenge, we crowdsourced feedback from people living with diabetes in the U.S. We are also adding a four-day Design & Prototyping Bootcamp where the five semi-finalists will learn about human-centered design, user experience, and rapid prototyping from industry experts. In addition, we are partnering with Startup America to connect the semi-finalists with valuable entrepreneurial resources. These new additions will help drive creative solutions to improve diabetes care, while enabling innovators to develop their concepts into businesses

4. How did you choose the theme for this year's Innovation Challenge?
The crowdsourcing phase of this year’s Innovation Challenge represents an exciting change in this year’s approach – a direct dialogue between people living with diabetes and the Innovation Challenge, to help shape the guidelines for innovators. The results are in! Respondents spoke up to ask that this year’s Innovation Challenge address the following criteria: 

• Create tools to help us feel in control. 
• Understand that diabetes affects families, not just individuals. 
• We want to be well. 

5. Why should I enter my idea to improve diabetes care?

Whether you’re a designer, a data wizard or a developer, regardless of your background and interests, the work you do on this challenge has the potential to improve the quality of life for millions of Americans. Your idea may spur new approaches that help us change the landscape of diabetes care in the U.S. We urge you to submit an idea to help people living with diabetes and their families. 

6. When does the challenge officially open for submissions?

On February 23, 2012, the Innovation Challenge opened for entries. Innovators can submit their concepts now through March 23, 2012, at http://www.datadesigndiabetes.com/enter/.

2012 Data Design Diabetes Innovation Challenge from Data Design Diabetes on Vimeo.

sanofi-aventis U.S. Innovation Challenge: Data Design Diabetes from Data Design Diabetes on Vimeo.

Update on 2012-03-30 15:49 by Scott Benner

The semi-finalist have been announced, learn more their innovation ideas at the link. 

Inserting a DexCom 7+ Sensor

I thought that your children may benifit from seeing how quick and simple it is to insert a DexCom 7+ sensor. Arden and I made this short video to help a friend feel less anxious about using a Continuous Glucose Monitor for the first time and we decided to share it with everyone.

Once you see how quick the process is, all of your concerns about being able to handle the insertion will melt away. When it was finally time for me to insert Arden's first sensor, I had read and heard so much that I felt like I was preparing to launch the space shuttle. As you are about to see... this isn't quite that difficult. I even slowed down a little bit so you could follow along and still the entire process took less then 20 seconds. Don't blink!

The images below are of Arden's SpiBelt, the belt/case she uses to keep her DexCom receiver around her waist.. Clicking on any of the photos will take you to SpiBelt's page for kid's sizes. 

Update on 2012-02-11 00:07 by Scott Benner

SpiBelt is not a sponsor of Arden's Day. We purchased Arden's belts at full price. Arden's Day does not accept any ads or do reviews in exchange for payment or products.

Update on 2013-10-30 13:51 by Scott Benner

Arden is now using the DexCom G4 but the steps show here are identical to that of the 7+.

I love communicating

I've been told that this blog is a great many things to the people that read it. If that's true and I hope that it is, I should confess something to all of you... It's really my pleasure to write it because I love to communicate. It's been said that I'll talk to anyone about anything. I have opinions and ideas like most and I feel alive when I'm sharing them with others. Arden's Day is a great many things to me as well and I'm grateful that you stop by and read it.

I'm much better in person then I am in print and by that I mean, I talk better then I write. My use of punctuation is questionable and my typing isn't exactly something Mavis Beacon would be proud of but none of that matters when I'm talking. Speech can be as enveloping as your favorite piece of music and just like music, it will sound different to everyone that hears it. Being transparent about life with diabetes is one of my passions, so I write about it the best that I can but only because I can't get you all in a room to say it person... that would be an opportunity that I would relish!

This Video Is Late, But I Made It For The Celebration Of Martin Luther King Jr.

I've long worked at being the kind of communicator that doesn't just pass information but captivates his audience. My whole life I've enjoyed the feeling that comes with the ability to capture, keep and satisfy a person's interest. When I hear a well written speech delivered with passion and purpose, I feel joy and jealousy. Talk about transparent, I just told you that I equally love and covet when I experience a communicator practice their trade well. In celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. day, I'd like to share one of the most well conceived, prepared and delivered speeches that I've ever heard.

When a speaker is perfect the topic is of no consequence, their words will sound like a symphony. However, when the topic is that of civil and human rights and it is delivered this wonderfully, hearing the words can and will lend euphoria to your heart and mind.

We should all strive to just once have the effect on our fellow man that Dr. King did on August 28, 1963.