Puffing a brand new form of rescue glucagon up my nose to treat a low blood sugar is everything I thought it could be. No kidding. With just a two-click press of a plunger and surprisingly forceful blast of powdery mist up into a nostril, Lilly's new Baqsimi nasal glucagon began circulating into my bloodstream. Within 10 minutes I could tell it was working, boosting my blood sugars that had plummeted into the 40s and were still dropping. Not long after, my CGM (continuous glucose monitor) graph started showing the rise. After monitoring the Baqsimi effect for two hours post-low, my wife ..read more

2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the most important and impactful event for many in the Diabetes Community: the discovery of the life-sustaining liquid that would transform this condition from a death sentence into a manageable condition for millions worldwide. Insulin was discovered in 1921 by Drs. Frederick Banting and Charles Best. But marking a century since that amazing development involves more than honoring these pioneers. In fact, the Defining Moments Canada Insulin 100 team leading this historical initiative is adamant that a series of events from 1920 to 1923 actually mark insuli ..read more

You never look forward to an experience welcoming the paramedics to help deal with a diabetes emergency. I'd gone over a decade since that was last needed. But a paramedic-summoning Low blood sugar reaction at the start of September reset my tally clock, and now I'm working from 0 since the last time my diabetes required the paramedics. It was a Friday morning. I had planned the day well in advance, as it was one day following my wife's birthday. I would drive her to work, come home to do whatever work I needed before taking the dog to "camp" for the weekend, and then I'd go pick her up for a ..read more

I've been enjoying my alcohol drinks a bit too much during the past several years. This has not gotten to a point where I've developed a problem. But it's just been too much, which has led to a number of health-related effects: weight gain, less-stable blood sugars, and probably just a stresser on my kidneys overall. Now granted, with the weight, alcohol alone hasn't been the issue. I've also enjoyed snacking. Working from home for so long has allowed this to happen in the middle of the day while working, as well as in the later evening hours when just relaxing and watching TV or hanging out a ..read more

Sketch by Phoebe Tickner  Phyllisa Deroze remembers wondering, Do people of color with diabetes use insulin pumps or continuous glucose monitors? Based on Google search images, it seemed the answer was that only white people used these advanced diabetes tools. It was the same reaction she had after first searching for Black people checking their glucose with traditional fingersticks and taking insulin injections, too. That thought stuck with Deroze — a literature professor in Florida with multiple master's degrees and a PhD in English literature — during medical appointments in t ..read more

  Gold vials are sent to lawmakers to raise awareness. Image via Lija Greenseid. As outrage over insulin prices continues across the country, diabetes advocates are inventing ever new ways to help their peers in need. A D-Mom in Minnesota has launched what’s known as The Gold Vial Project, which involves making artwork from empty insulin bottles and sending them to politicians who promise to push for lower prices. Lawmakers who are on board are encouraged to keep them on hand and spread the word. Meanwhile in Kentucky, a longtime type 1 was inspired to launch a venture connecting people ..read more

Maple syrup is an American favorite, given its North American origins and delectable sweetness, and many find it to be the perfect complement to holiday feasts. But if you live with diabetes, maple may seem taboo. Thankfully, 20-something Darren Celley in Vermont is working to challenge that notion. Embracing his family heritage in the maple syrup business, he is fundraising to launch a new product geared specifically toward people with diabetes (PWDs): Maple Rise, a spreadable maple butter that can raise low blood sugars quickly and more pleasantly than powdery glucose tabs, juice, or large ..read more

As a professional race car driver, Charlie Kimball saw his life upended by the COVID-19 crisis like everyone else in early 2020. But toss in the birth of a second child and adjusting to managing type 1 diabetes (T1D) away from the racing circuit for the first time in 9 years, and it’s been a unique experience even in these strange times. Kimball was disappointed to have to forgo the usual start of the racing season in March. But this break has also afforded him a rare opportunity to be present in his newly expanded family’s day-to-day routine. He says being a dad of a toddler and a newborn j ..read more

You may have seen diabetes weaved in to the storyline of a favorite TV show or new movie every so often. The condition is frequently used as a quick punchline or one-liner, or some kind of a foil that trips up the characters. These portrayals matter because movies and media have the power to shape the public's view regarding people with diabetes (PWDs). Movies and media can shape how people react in certain emergencies, kids' experiences at school and adults' experiences in workplaces, and how people make healthcare policy decisions. Popular shows like "The Blacklist," "Law and Order: SVU" and ..read more

People with diabetes could be seeing a turning point in ease of obtaining supplies for continuous glucose monitors, as more of these products make their way into local pharmacies. While CGMs have traditionally only been available direct from the manufacturer or third-party supply distributors, they're now finally making their way onto the shelves of local pharmacies and even Costco stores around the country. For example, the Dexcom G6 receivers, transmitters, and sensors are sold at discounted prices in Costco Pharmacies for the bulk chain's member customers. Opinions may vary on jus ..read more