Diabetic Neuropathy can go undetected in Diabetics and therefor the area is not taken care of the way that it needs to be once neuropathy sets in. That is why IPN products such as Neuropad is giving patient’s a needed heads up in the detection of neuropathy. Along with countless side effects from Diabetes, complications with [...] Related Posts Tai Chi For Diabetes: The Perfect Workout For Body And Mind How Can Cymbalta Fight Diabetic Neuropathy Nerve Pain? Foot Issues Related to Diabetes Awareness Month

March 19, 2009 (Newswire) - An Indiana University School of Optometry faculty member's company is nearing completion of a diagnostic camera that could aid in saving the vision of millions of people worldwide....

March 19, 2009 (Newswire) - An Indiana University School of Optometry faculty member's company is nearing completion of a diagnostic camera that could aid in saving the vision of millions of people worldwide....

When Chris was traveling last week, I had to install (Install?  Is that the right word or does that make me sound like a TRS-80 from Radio Shack?) a new Dexcom sensor.  Usually, with his help, I wear the sensor...

When Chris was traveling last week, I had to install (Install?  Is that the right word or does that make me sound like a TRS-80 from Radio Shack?) a new Dexcom sensor.  Usually, with his help, I wear the sensor...

I spent last week studying design and innovation at the Stockholm School of Economics during a Global Business Experience at Darden. We spoke to executives from clean-energy firms, design consulting firms, home goods producers and professors from SSE; each discussed how important it was to push for design that created value and solved problems. After one particular compelling lecture, I asked, "why does it seem that in industries where the functionality of the product is critical, innovation is so lagging?"He told me that when the functionality of a device is critical, like for a medical device, high regulations can really constrict innovation. Lets face it an insulin pump, blood sugar meter or constant glucose monitor are all GREAT at doing EXACTLY what they are supposed to do, but really don't add a ton of value beyond that. At some moment each of us has desired that our devices make life a little bit easier, or function a bit better. But since the functionality of the device is so critical, these companies are forced to focus on making sure it operates perfectly and not worry too much about innovation.I spoke with the lecturer after his presentation to ask "what someone can do to get around the FDA regulations to create a device with real value." He spoke of a movement where individuals with medical conditions have been forming conglomerates to create their own devices, develop their own innovations to push for design that adds real value to their lives. He then told me, developing a new device would "take 10 years," to which I responded, well I have this disease for life so I have the time. Although I have my internship for the summer all locked up, the wheels are definitely turning as I think about how best to get a group of us together to approach Medtronic or one of the other pump manufactures with a true business plan that identifies what we really need in a CGMS, pump or blood sugar meter.

I spent last week studying design and innovation at the Stockholm School of Economics during a Global Business Experience at Darden. We spoke to executives from clean-energy firms, design consulting firms, home goods producers and professors from SSE; each discussed how important it was to push for design that created value and solved problems. After one particular compelling lecture, I asked, "why does it seem that in industries where the functionality of the product is critical, innovation is so lagging?"He told me that when the functionality of a device is critical, like for a medical device, high regulations can really constrict innovation. Lets face it an insulin pump, blood sugar meter or constant glucose monitor are all GREAT at doing EXACTLY what they are supposed to do, but really don't add a ton of value beyond that. At some moment each of us has desired that our devices make life a little bit easier, or function a bit better. But since the functionality of the device is so critical, these companies are forced to focus on making sure it operates perfectly and not worry too much about innovation.I spoke with the lecturer after his presentation to ask "what someone can do to get around the FDA regulations to create a device with real value." He spoke of a movement where individuals with medical conditions have been forming conglomerates to create their own devices, develop their own innovations to push for design that adds real value to their lives. He then told me, developing a new device would "take 10 years," to which I responded, well I have this disease for life so I have the time. Although I have my internship for the summer all locked up, the wheels are definitely turning as I think about how best to get a group of us together to approach Medtronic or one of the other pump manufactures with a true business plan that identifies what we really need in a CGMS, pump or blood sugar meter.

I had an interesting conversation last week with Dick Rylander of Enject. We spoke at some length about their product, the GlucaPen, that they hope to have on the market before long. It's a simpler way to give people Glucagon injections.Glucagon is a hormone that's produced in the pancreas. When it's released by the pancreas it causes the liver to take it's glycogen reserves and convert it into glucose. So it rapidly raises blood sugars levels. In emergencies, the glucagon reserve can be depleted by people who have type 1 diabetes (thanks for the correction from Mr. Sven below). It's a treatment for extremely low blood sugars where food or liquids can't be given. So it's really only used when there's an emergency.The picture shows a glucagon kit from Eli Lilly. You may notice that the vial on the left contains a white powder. This must be combined with the liquid in the syringe just prior to use. Reconstituted glucagon has a shelf life of up to 48 hours when refrigerated.So here's how it works. Your loved one is lying on the floor unconscious. You get the glucagon kit (you did put it in a well-known place, didn't you?). Before you can inject the glucagon into them, you need to follow about a half-dozen steps written on the enclosed leaflet. It's really difficult. One paper says the process "requires a manually dexterous operator who is composed, confident and competent in the whole procedure."Let's look at the GlucaPen approach. Here's a picture of the GlucaPen prototype.It will be a single unit, slightly longer and larger than an EpiPen. So you easily carry it with you, or pack it for a trip. And there are two simple steps before using it. These are displayed clearly on the side of the pen. GlucaPen is looking for your opinions, they have a survey that includes a short video of the prototype being used. There's one survey to complete if you're an adult patient with diabetes, and a different one if you are a caregiver for someone with diabetes.The GlucaPen folks have been developing this for about three years now and hope to have it on the market before too long. I think it's a great example of innovative design to make living with diabetes a bit easier. I'd love to hear any stories you have about using glucagon and whether something like this might make it easier.Update: The GlucaPen has been entered in the DiabetesMine design contest, so there's now an animated video showing how it works. You can watch this below.<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/62s8m-fLa-o&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/62s8m-fLa-o&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>

Reading little more on iPhone 3.0 it sounds like iPod iTouch users will be able to upgrade to 3.0 and they get Bluetooth. So then will the BG app from LifeScan work on an iTouch? Inquiring minds want to know! I can see that making more dollars and sense than an iPhone for a kid with T1. CNET Crave:Stereo Bluetooth audio is coming to the iPod Touch, said Apple's Greg Joswiak at Tuesday's iPhone OS 3.0 preview event. The added Bluetooth functionality will come by way of the OS 3.0 upgrade, due out this summer. While iPod Touch owners clearly win from the addition of Bluetooth support (a $9.95 upgrade fee is required), they may be a little peeved to learn that the second-generation iPod Touch hardware has probably supported Bluetooth all along.

Reading little more on iPhone 3.0 it sounds like iPod iTouch users will be able to upgrade to 3.0 and they get Bluetooth. So then will the BG app from LifeScan work on an iTouch? Inquiring minds want to know! I can see that making more dollars and sense than an iPhone for a kid with T1. CNET Crave:Stereo Bluetooth audio is coming to the iPod Touch, said Apple's Greg Joswiak at Tuesday's iPhone OS 3.0 preview event. The added Bluetooth functionality will come by way of the OS 3.0 upgrade, due out this summer. While iPod Touch owners clearly win from the addition of Bluetooth support (a $9.95 upgrade fee is required), they may be a little peeved to learn that the second-generation iPod Touch hardware has probably supported Bluetooth all along.

While I was off at spin class this morning, I’ve been bombarded with emails about this exciting announcement at the iPhone OS 3.0 preview event going on now: Lifescan has unveiled an iPhone application that lets users upload glucose readings from their connected blood glucose monitors to their iPhone. “The meter will transmit your data over [...]

While I was off at spin class this morning, I’ve been bombarded with emails about this exciting announcement at the iPhone OS 3.0 preview event going on now: Lifescan has unveiled an iPhone application that lets users upload glucose readings from their connected blood glucose monitors to their iPhone. “The meter will transmit your data over [...]

As I hope you all know by now, the 2009 DiabetesMine Design Challenge is calling on everyone — including all you disgruntled patients out there — to get creative about “solving” daily diabetes problems.  What kind of gadget or web application would really make your life with diabetes better? Here’s your chance to help all of [...]

1. Being able to accurately dose tiny amounts of insulin.2. Riley can eat his meal and then if he wants something else after he's already had insulin all we have to do is program it in the pump and give the insulin, no extra injection needed.3. 2-3 needle pokes per week compared to 28-35.4. Being able to adjust insulin levels at certain times of the day. (Riley has 7 different basal patterns in one day.) He ALWAYS went low at night on Lantus no matter what we did, corn starch, large snack, split dose, nothing worked. With the pump I can decrease his insulin at night and it works very nicely. 5. Temp. basals: I absolutely love temp basals. They make life so much easier. We mainly use them at night, if Riley is lower than I like (but still in range) I can just decrease his basal for a couple of hours and most times it takes care of it. There is no need to wake him to drink juice or eat fruit snacks (as long as he's not low, low). Temp. basals are also very handy for sports or other increase in activity.6. Having a happier healthier Riley.7. Having a happier mom (me).Riley started on the pump exactly 3 years ago today. I hate that he needs it in the first place, but am so grateful that he was able to get it so early on in his diagnosis. Life is never easy when it comes to diabetes, but the pump makes it easier.

The March issue of Diabetes Care contains a paper about testing the Dexcom SEVEN for 10-day use with adults with type 1 diabetes.The Dexcom SEVEN continuous glucose monitor has been approved for 7 days of use. I usually get 10 to 11 days of use by restarting the sensor after 7 days have elapsed. Your results may vary, so make sure this works for you before relying on it.Based on the abstract from the Diabetes Care website, it appears that the results on the 10th day are still fairly accurate. Notice how the difference goes down slightly on the 7th day, showing that the Dexcom is more accurate after it's been in place for a few days.The median absolute relative difference for CGM versus YSI was 12.6, 11.3, and 14.5% on days 2, 7, and 10, respectively (P = 0.63). CGM performed better on day 10 when compared with self-monitoring of blood glucose as compared with YSI.I expect to see more papers like this before Dexcom applies to the FDA for 10-day use of the sensors. The good news is that this ultimately means less sensors changes will be needed. It also probably means that Dexcom will raises the price of the sensors.I do hope that before Dexcom takes this move they improve the adhesion of the sensors. Mine usually look like they're falling off by day 9 and they rarely last beyond day 11 because they peel off. Have you been able to get sensors to stay in place for longer? What tricks have you used to make this work?

I was sent a WaveSense Jazz glucose meter and I like it. It was well packaged and came with 20 strips. I would definately consider using it if I wasn't using the One-Touch Ping. There are two really good benefits...

Lately it seems like every tech company is getting into the mobile game. With mobile applications that do everything from calculating your tip to identifying the song blaring from the next car over, it’s no wonder diabetes companies are getting involved with mobile programs designed to help manage your diabetes. For most people, the cell phone [...]

We’ve recently pushed a few small tweaks: Now you can manage your tags as well as your food and activity lists if you’re a premium user. These are some small additions to make your daily management easier. You can rename tags or delete tags you no longer use, same goes for foods and activities. You [...]

Since I started pumping back in 2004, I've been using the Minimed Paradigm Quick-Sets with 23&quot; tubing and a 6 mm cannula.&nbsp; (For folks who aren't pumping or who have no idea what I'm talking about, the tubing is the...

I feel the urge to write about meters. It all began last week when I got a phone call and--for