Keystone First health insurance company (Medicaid here in PA) denied Grace her prescription for her Precision Xtra blood ketone test strips. You can read all about the denial in Part 1 and Part 2. They scheduled a 2:15 pm First Level Grievance hearing, by phone, with me today. They called at 1:30 PM. 'The doctor has reviewed the packet (yes, I sent a PACKET of information!) and has granted the prescription of blood ketone test strips. The prior authorization will be granted and be good for six months. After six months, your endocrinologist will have to submit another prior authorization f ..read more

You will recall that I have filed a grievance with Keystone First (Pennsylvania Medicaid) for denying Grace her Precision Xtra Blood Ketone test strips. You can read about Part 1 of this process here. Keystone First just let me know that we will be proceeding with the First Level Grievance on Thursday, February 6th at 2:15 PM. It will be a phone level grievance and not in person. They will call me, and I will speak to three people from Keystone First: a doctor of their choosing a non-elected member of Keystone First (no, I don't know what that means) an elected member of Keystone First (n ..read more

It's been 11 years since Grace was diagnosed. Way back in 2009 she was a little 6 year old. She's now 17, and a Senior, heading to college in the Fall. It's part hard-to-believe and part not-so-hard-to-believe-at-all. Time flew and time stood still. Here we are, at the beginning of yet another journey. Grace made this for her diaversary, so I will leave it to her to say all that needs to be said. Love you, Bird. Year 10 Year 9 Year 8 Year 7 Year 6 Year 5 Year 4 Year 3 Year 2 Year 1 ..read more

Grace uses Precision Xtra Blood Ketone strips to check her ketones when her blood sugar is over 250-300 mg/dL. As a 17 year old Type 1 diabetic, with hormones at play 99% of the time, and all that comes with that, there are days when she hits that high once or twice a day. She checks her ketones with the blood ketone strips. They are accurate and guide her decisions for her care and next steps. She keeps a Precision blood ketone meter at home and one in school. She's been using the blood ketone strips since 2013. Keystone First, her health insurance provider, has denied her prescription from ..read more

November 14th. World Diabetes Day. This entire month has been dedicated to raising awareness about Diabetes, but one month truly is not enough time. This disease has no off days. It’s 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, and ALWAYS on your mind. This disease consumes your entire life and every single piece of energy you have. Diabetes is a full time job to keep yourself balanced with good blood sugars, correct insulin coverage, correct carb ratios, correct basals, and MORE. Diabetes has taught me an enormous amount of lessons in the long 10 years that I have had it. It has taught me to self advoc ..read more

When Grace was 7 years old and went to diabetes camp for the first time, I remember her telling me something on the ride home from camp. "Mom, I want to be a counselor when I grow up!" and I smiled. I was just worried about one more year of camp, and here was Grace, telling me the future. It's all come true. Grace is now a diabetes camp counselor! This year was her 10th year going to camp, and she went through the CIT 1 and the CIT II program last year and the beginning of this year at camp. She completed both and was promoted to Jr. Counselor, with an invitation to interview for a c ..read more