TuDiabetes Live interview with Dr. Judith Fradkin of NIDDK

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The Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases (DEM) provides research funding and support for basic and clinical research in the areas of type 1 and type 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders, including cystic fibrosis; endocrinology and endocrine disorders; obesity, neuroendocrinology, and energy balance; and development, metabolism, and basic biology of liver, fat, and endocrine tissues. DEM also provides funding for the training and career development of individuals committed to academic and clinical research careers in these areas.
As director of the Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases, Dr. Judith Fradkin’s responsibilities include planning and implementation of a broad portfolio of basic and clinical research, including major clinical trials initiated or significantly co-sponsored by the NIDDK. She also manages several aspects of the trans-NIH coordination of diabetes research as chair of the Diabetes Mellitus Interagency Coordinating Committee (DMICC). Dr. Fradkin is responsible for coordinating the trans-HHS planning and implementation of a special appropriation for type 1 diabetes research, currently budgeted at $150M annually. Jointly with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,she is responsible for the development and implementation of activities of the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP). She also represents the NIDDK in interactions with professional societies and voluntary groups and in a wide variety of forums and working groups, including those within the NIH, and provides patient care and teach at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center Bethesda endocrinology clinic.​

Category: Nonprofits & Activism
Uploaded by: Diabetes Hands Foundation
Hosted: youtube

TuDiabetes Live interview with Cynthia Rice update on #MedicareCoverCGM

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Cynthia Rice is Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Policy for JDRF. She is responsible for JDRF’s advocacy to Congress, the executive branch, regulatory agencies, and health plans to accelerate therapies to cure, treat, and prevent type 1 diabetes.

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. Driven by passionate, grassroots volunteers connected to children, adolescents, and adults with the disease, JDRF’s goal is to progressively remove the impact of T1D from people’s lives until we achieve a world without T1D.

Ms. Rice joined JDRF, then known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, in 2005 and led a cross-departmental staff team that developed the Artificial Pancreas Project. She was promoted to Vice President, Government Relations in 2009 and to her current role in 2013.
The Issue and What’s Being Done

Thousands of people are benefiting daily from tighter glucose control reached with the help of a continuous glucose monitor. The use of CGM technologies is recommended by national diabetes clinical guidelines and covered by nearly all private health plans. To date, Medicare does not cover CGM devices, regardless of the wide coverage by private health plans and the evidence of clinical benefit, leaving seniors with diabetes vulnerable. It’s time for Medicare to cover CGMs.

JDRF has been working closely with other interested stakeholders for more than a year to encourage Medicare to cover CGM devices, and has made Medicare coverage of CGM devices one of their top Advocacy priorities. While JDRF continues to work with Medicare in hopes of resolving this issue quickly, they ask that you join them in building support within Congress for Medicare coverage of CGMs. To learn more, read their coalition fact sheet.

Category: Nonprofits & Activism
Uploaded by: Diabetes Hands Foundation
Hosted: youtube

TuDiabetes Live interview with Elizabeth Pfiester & Cynthia Zuber

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Elizabeth Rowley has lived with Type 1 diabetes for over 20 years. She received a Master’s degree in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies at the London School of Economics and Political Science which led her to found www.t1international.com in 2013. T1International aims to raise awareness about the challenges of life with Type 1 diabetes in resource-poor settings around the globe and advocates for adequate access to insulin, diabetes supplies, medical care and education for all people living with Type 1 diabetes, no matter where they live. Elizabeth has worked with diabetes organizations around the world and is currently collaborating with The Pendsey Trust on a World Diabetes Campaign at www.insulin4all.tumblr.com. The aim of the campaign is to ”Put the WORLD back in #WDD2014” because oftentimes the rest of the world gets forgotten when it comes to diabetes. WDD should be a day where we especially focus on everyone worldwide with diabetes because life with diabetes is complicated. Access to vital insulin, diabetes supplies and medical care should not be.

Cynthia Zuber has lived with Type 1 diabetes for 27 years, being diagnosed in 6th grade. A few months shy of her 25th year living with diabetes, Cynthia felt called to start a blog. Diabetes Light: My holistic journey to health began as a way to share how a holistic lifestyle and real food nutrition has helped her live with greater health in body, mind and spirit. Her writing quickly evolved into advocacy by courageously sharing the depths of her experience, the raw and sometimes painful reality of someone living with multiple chronic health conditions in addition to Type 1. Cynthia carries this same level of advocacy into her freelance writing for Diabetic Lifestyle, an online healthcare publisher. She believes sharing the truth of her experience not only helps others feel less alone but helps move us closer to a cure. Cynthia also cycles in the ADA Tour de Cure. 2015 will be her 5th year participating and 3rd year having her own team, The Light Riders. Three years ago she created an initiative for November’s Diabetes Awareness month. D-Quotes encourages members of her Facebook blog community to share their voice as individuals living with or impacted by diabetes. Each day of the month, an awareness-raising quote and photo of the contributor are shared on Diabetes Light’s Facebook page.

Diabetes Light: My holistic journey to health
http://diabeteslight.com/

Diabetes Light on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Diabetes-Light-My-holistic-journey-to-health/188813974545664?ref=bookmarks

Diabetic Lifestyle Blog: Finding Peace Between the Pokes
http://www.diabeticlifestyle.com/blogs/finding-peace-between-pokes

Category: Nonprofits & Activism
Uploaded by: Diabetes Hands Foundation
Hosted: youtube

TuDiabetes Live interview with Sierra Sandison, Miss Idaho 2014

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Sierra Sandison was crowned Miss Idaho 2014 in July, and competed at Miss America on September 14th, winning the People’s Choice Award. She made a splash in the media for proudly wearing her insulin pump on stage during the competition. Her message, to both diabetics and non diabetics alike, is to show everyone that the beauty standards set for us by the media are unrealistic. We all have so-called “flaws” and deviations from the expectations society has for us–in her case, her insulin pump–but that’s okay! She is also very excited to use her newfound voice to spread much needed awareness about diabetes!

Sierra is 20 years old and currently studying business at the College of Southern Idaho. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in February 2012, at the age of 18. She loves to ski, snowboard, Crossfit, sing, play piano, and sail, and has only competed in pageants while in college (two years).

Category: Nonprofits & Activism
Uploaded by: Diabetes Hands Foundation
Hosted: youtube

#ShowUsYourBBT – Manny Hernandez does a #BigBlueTest

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Small steps can have a BIG impact. Watch Manny Hernandez do the #BigBlueTest then join the movement! 14-20 minutes of activity can have a big impact on your blood glucose level, plus each Big Blue Test entry will result in a $1 donation made by the program sponsor (up to $35,000) to nonprofit organizations that are providing life-saving supplies and services to people living with diabetes in need.

Category: Nonprofits & Activism
Uploaded by: Diabetes Hands Foundation
Hosted: youtube

#ShowUsYourBBT – Mike Lawson does the #BigBlueTest

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Now that you’ve seen Mike walk, it’s your turn! Get out and get active. Share the video using #ShowUsYourBBT and remember that each entry between now and November 19th will result in a $1 donation made by our program sponsors (up to $35,000). Help yourself; help others. Join the movement!

Category: Nonprofits & Activism
Uploaded by: Diabetes Hands Foundation
Hosted: youtube

#ShowUsYourBBT – Desiree shows off her #BigBlueTest

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Now it’s your turn! Join the movement! Go to BigBlueTest.org and log a test now. Each entry between today and November 19th will equal a $1 donation (up to $35,000) made by the program sponsors to diabetes charities that are providing life-saving supplies and services.

Category: Nonprofits & Activism
Uploaded by: Diabetes Hands Foundation
Hosted: youtube

#BigBlueTest kick-off party with DHF staff!

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Join the staff of Diabetes Hands Foundation – Mike, Corinna, Emily and Desiree – to learn about this important annual tradition and kick off an exciting month of activity, awareness-raising and helping others. Read all about it at BigBlueTest.org – JOIN THE MOVEMENT!

Category: Nonprofits & Activism
Uploaded by: Diabetes Hands Foundation
Hosted: youtube

TuDiabetes Live Interview with Sara Soka: Berkeley vs. Big Soda

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Thousands of residents of Berkeley, CA,are standing up to the soda industry by supporting the soda tax on next November’s ballot. The link between sugary drinks and diseases like diabetes is undeniable, and the CDC now projects that 1 of every 3 kids will get diabetes in their lifetimes unless we do something about it. The tax will be a huge step forward for children’s health, and is endorsed by prominent organizations and individuals across Berkeley – the NAACP, Latinos Unidos, the Berkeley Federation of Teachers, Michael Pollan, Alice Waters, and many more.

Read this op-ed piece for more information and a perspective on the issue.

Category: Nonprofits & Activism
Uploaded by: Diabetes Hands Foundation
Hosted: youtube

TuDiabetes Live interview with Zoe Heineman: Hypoglycemia Awareness Month

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NEW YORK, NY, (September 5, 2014) – “Hypoglycemia Awareness,” also known as “Ha!” launches an initiative this month to raise public awareness of severe hypoglycemia, an ongoing risk for people with diabetes. In order to mitigate the safety risk of severe hypoglycemia in public settings, a magenta “G” icon for glucose, was introduced to indicate the presence of treatment. The “G” represents some of the commonly used treatments carried by people with diabetes beginning with a “G” such as: glucose tablets, glucose gels or glucagon in an emergency kit.

Magenta “G” stickers are being distributed by “Hypoglycemia Awareness” during this first Hypoglycemia Awareness Month of September. About the concept of the magenta “G”, Zoe Heineman, the founder of “Ha!” who has Type 1 diabetes said, “To minimize the response time during a medical emergency, we keep this magenta “G” icon over any place where they carry a supply of their own personal glucose treatment. As we begin to adopt the use of the “G,” others around us will know where to look to find a source of treatment when assistance is required.”

Attendees of the interview can receive a free “G” sticker in the mail! Just send your address to the TuDiabetes Community Manager, Emily, after the event 🙂

“Ha!” was founded earlier this year to meet a growing unmet need for understanding of hypoglycemia among the general public. “Ha!” provides training to employer groups and public organizations, such as police departments, on what to look for when someone is experiencing hypoglycemia in public, and how to appropriately respond in order to minimize the interruption it causes.

Category: Nonprofits & Activism
Uploaded by: Diabetes Hands Foundation
Hosted: youtube