Diabetes Connections | Type 1 Diabetes

Wil Dubois has written a weekly diabetes advice column for DiabetesMine for more than ten years. Called "Ask D'Mine," Wil answers questions with straight-talk, a blunt attitude and understanding that comes from experience. Diagnosed type 1 as an adult (and first misdiagnosed) he's also a diabetes author and community educator. Stacey & Will talk about the column, Wil's diagnosis and about working in an area of the country where diabetes educators and endos are few in number and access. Wil also shares which columns generated the strongest reactions from readers. This episode also features information about Diabetes Podcast Week. Plus a way you or your business can help the Spare a Rose campaign get life-saving diabetes supplies to children in developing nations while also getting a mention on the show.

In 2011 Erin Spineto completed a five-day solo sail around the Florida Keys. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 19, she's since completed other adventures such as a relay swim around the Keys and a stand-up paddle along North Carolina's intra-coastal waterway. Her new book, Adventure On, offers advice to keep people with diabetes motivated to pursue their dreams and manage T1D day by day. Spineto is married with two children; she and Stacey talk about juggling family and work (and T1D) responsibilities, getting away from it all and whether Spineto's job as a middle school teacher is tougher than a solo sail! Stacey also shares her family's recent adventures in the Galapagos Islands and how they managed her son's type 1 diabetes while snorkeling, hiking, eating new foods and spending a week at sea.

Victor Garber has starred on stage, screen and currently on television in the CW hit Legends of Tomorrow. Well known for Titanic, Alias & numerous roles on Broadway, Garber was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a teenager. He talks to Stacey about feeling "like a freak" at first, but still following his dream of performing and ultimately coming to terms with type 1. He answers listener questions about his routines (exercise, food, etc) and his newer experiences with an insulin pump and CGM. Plus, some fun behind the scenes show-biz stories! Stacey also talks about the newly approved OneTouch Vibe Plus (Animas pump integrated with Dexcom's G5 Mobile CGM) and the FDA's separate okay of the Dexcom G5 for insulin dosing.

This week, a conversation with Dexcom's Chief Technical officer Jorge Valdes. Stacey talks with him about challenges and advances in 2016 and they look ahead to what's in the works for next year. Valdes shares what the FDA is currently considering and may approve for 2017, updates us on customer service issues and reacts to Medtronic's hybrid loop system coming out in the spring. This is our last episode of 2016; there will be no new show released next week. Please check out our archives or search for your favorite topics or guests from the home page. And make sure you sign up for our newsletter (click here). If you didn't win our Sugar Linings Swag contest, we've got a coupon code going out before the end of the year. Happy Holidays and a safe and happy New Year!!

This week, live TV, every day, with type 1 diabetes. What's it like to do a morning show, getting up in the middle of the night to deliver the news of the day when you also have to think about where your blood sugar is? Cristina Frank shares her story, how she got to WMTW in Maine, how The Baby Sitter's Club Books helped a cousin figure out she had T1D when she was 11, and how much the news business has changed in just the last few years. Plus, last chance to enter our Sugar Linings Swag contest (ends 12/14). Sign up for the newsletter to receive a 15% off coupon code for Sugar Linings Swag products good through Dec 31, 2016.

Stacey's son, Benny, was diagnosed with T1D the first weekend of December 2006. It was one month before he turned two. His big sister, Lea, had just turned 5. This week, Stacey, her husband, Slade, Lea, and Benny all share their stories about how their family's life was changed and about how they've all managed over the last ten years. This episode also kicks off a contest with Sierra Sandison's Sugar Linings Swag company! We're partnering to give away four shirts for the holidays. Please go to https://www.facebook.com/diabetesconnections/ for all the information and enter! This is a longer show than usual so it might be helpful to have a guide when the segments begin. You can refer back or skip ahead: 00:07:49 Stacey & Slade 00:27:20 Lea 00:43:43 Stacey & Slade (continued) 01:15:20 Benny

This week, living and thriving for 75 years with type 1 diabetes. Diagnosed in 1941, Judy Ball has seen incredible changes in diabetes management. There was a time before home monitoring when doctors weren't sure people with diabetes could be trusted to even check their own blood sugar. We talk about how World War II affected Judy's initial care, her doctor's connection to Banting & Best.. the scientists who unlocked the key to insulin, and how her great-nephew who also has type 1.. helped her change her routine. Plus, a follow up on last week's guest, Broadway performer Maddy Trumble and a little bit about Stacey's son managing diabetes during his first middle school play.

This week, following a dream all the way to Broadway. Maddy Trumble has gone green in Wicked, been the King of NY in Newsies and toured the country as Mary Poppins, all while dancing in high heels and dealing with type 1 diabetes. Maddy shares her story, her family's love of theater and her passion for performing. We also hear about how she handles low blood sugars on stage and her concerns about health insurance. Plus, Thanksgiving can be a wonderful time for family visits and great food, but it can be just a bit stressful (with or without T1D). Some good advice from Diabetes Hands Foundation's Mike Lawson as he explains "How to Eat Dinner with a Diabetic."

This week, help for T1D college students. Going away to school is a big milestone for any student.. but when a person with diabetes heads off to school there are unique and challenging issues. The College Diabetes Network offers help and support. You'll hear from three students involved in CDN along with Mindy Bartleson who is the Programs Assistant and an alum. Stacey also talks about upcoming activities and appearances for Diabetes Awareness Month.

This week, Stacey recently went to the West Coast to check out the JDRF OneWalk in Los Angeles. She was able to speak to actors Derek Theler from ABC Family's Baby Daddy and Brec Bassinger, from Nick's Bella & the Bulldogs. The actors who balance TV and movie careers while living with type 1 diabetes helped kick off the walk at the Rose Bowl Stadium. Stacey also spoke with KTLA News Anchor, OneWalk MC & D-Dad Frank Buckley. This episode also features Walk a Mile Cards. During this Diabetes Awareness Month, you may find yourself trying to explain what T1D is, but this project hopes to explain what diabetes feels like. It's a unique set of cards to convey empathy through simple but effective exercises. Stacey speaks with Kerri Sparling, Bennet Dunlap and Justin Masterson, three of co-creators of the project.

This week, Real Life Diabetes is a podcast hosted by the people behind Diabetes Daily Grind. Amber Clour & Ryan Fightmaster are two adults with type 1 who found the "grind" is a lot easier with someone who understands. Amber & Ryan share what inspired them to start their podcast, what they've learned and why they did an episode from a hot tub. Plus, a group of friends had so much fun at obstacle course races.. they decided to start their own. We meet the group Type One and hear about their event, The Renegade Run And a big name in country makes a big donation to diabetes research. Stacey shares her experience at a recent JDRF Gala; she was in the room when Eric Church donated one million dollars!

This week, a big step forward for diabetes technology. The FDA recently approved the very first hybrid closed loop insulin system: the Medtronic MiniMed 670G. Medtronic's Chief Patient Officer Louis Dias and Social Media Manager Karrie Hawbaker talk to Stacey about what this product is, what it isn't, access to it and what comes next. Our Community Connection this week features a unique fundraiser, The Elbow Bump Challenge. Find out how 9-year-old Logan hopes to help out his favorite conference, Children with Diabetes, Friends For Life. And Stacey talks about the Joslin Medalist Study for people living with type 1 for more than 25 years.

Important information this week about Glucagon, emergency treatment for severe low blood sugar. Stacey talks to Julie Settles, the US Medical Lead for Glucagon at Lilly. We find out more about how Glucagon works, when to use it (and when not to) and what the company is working on to make the delivery easier. Community Connection this week is with James Wedding who convinced an academic summer program to change their Glucagon emergency use policy. Plus, learn about the Big Blue Test from Diabetes Hands Foundation.

The Type Zero Technologies artificial pancreas project is one of the many racing to market. Their technology comes from years of research, still ongoing, at the University of Virginia. This summer, they announced a new partnership with Tandem. Molly McElwee Malloy, who has type 1 herself, is the head of patient engagement for Type Zero. She talks about the studies, the progress and the emotional and mental side of artificial pancreas projects. Plus, necessity is the mother of invention and diabetes moms are nothing if not resourceful. In our Community Connection, the inventor of Diabetic Dabs talks about how she come up with this idea. Liz Sacco shares the story of how her son's diagnosis led her to find a why to clean up after finger sticks.

This week, Animas sent a letter to patients and talked to news media about a potential security issue. You can read more here. Stacey speaks to endocrinologist Dr. Brian Levy, the chief medical officer with Animas.

This week, a conversation with some of the top executives at Animas, checking in on their newest products in development, the latest research and their company plans. Stacey talks to John Wilson, the Worldwide Vice President, Insulin Delivery for Johnson & Johnson and Krishna Venugopalan, the Worldwide Director of Research & Development, Insulin Delivery. They talk about Animas's version of a hybrid closed loop, further Dexcom integration, remote capabilities and much more. Stacey also gives her take on all the talk around the "Artificial Pancreas" vs "Hybrid Closed Loop" language that came with the announcement that Medtronic received approval for a first of its kind device. And we mention the Diabetes Dance Dare, a new social media challenge from the American Diabetes Association.

Scott Scolnick was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes more than 40 years ago. He shares his experience living with type 1 as a teen in the 1970s and the emotional moment when he walked his daughter down the aisle, knowing he'd worked so hard to stay healthy for that very special day. Scott was one of the first people to try the Bionic Pancreas. He talks about what it was like to not worry about his blood glucose and how hard it was to go back to "normal" after the trial. Scott now works with Dario and explains its new meter, which connections to a smartphone.

When you deal with diabetes you deal with a lot of numbers and a lot of data. This week's guest is Dexcom's Senior Vice President of Data Annika Jimenez. She joined the company in 2015 with a Silicon Valley background and brings us up to date on Dexcom's Clarity software program, developments to come and Dexcom's relationship with Nightscout and OpenAPS developers. In our Community Connection segment, Stacey talks to Sarah Harmon, founder of Poppy Medical ID. As a teenager, Sarah hated wearing a clunky medical bracelet, so she created a new line of ID jewelry. Poppy Medical ID is currently featured on Kickstarter. Stacey also explains that her contest continues. Leave a review and you could win a gift card. Details here - contest ends September 27, 2016

Next month, women from all over the southeast will gather in Columbia, SC for a unique JDRF retreat. The Women of Type 1 is a new conference for all women touched by type 1 diabetes: adult T1D women, teens with type 1, moms or grandmothers of kids with type 1 and women who are spouses and partners of people with type 1 diabetes. Stacey talks to Anne Sutton, who created the conference in early 2016 for the JDRF Greater Carolinas Chapter and Elizabeth McCrary who is organizing it for the JDRF Palmetto Chapter in October. Stacey will appear at the conference along with keynote speakers Moira McCarthy and Sierra Sandison. You'll hear from both of these powerhouse women in this episode as well. Stacey shares a bit about her presentation for moms and daughters called "She Just Doesn't Get It" and reminds you to enter our latest contest (click here for details).

This week we feature an outstanding family that lives life with never a dull moment. Meet Greg and Kristina Dooley, parents of triplets, Max, Mia & Isabella. Isa, as they call her, was diagnosed with type 1 just when she was two years old. At the time, the family was living abroad. We talk about Isa's diagnosis, living with type 1 and raising triplets and how as a family they've reached out to, and been embraced by, the diabetes community. All three children started Kindergarten this year. This episode also marks a milestone, as the podcast passes 50,000 downloads! To celebrate we're giving away two gift cards, but we also want to hear from you! Please leave a review on iTunes or on the Diabetes Connections home page by 9/27/2016. Two winners will be selected by random. Full information at www.diabetes-connections.com and click on "Helpful Links" for this episode. Thanks for listening and for helping us share stories like that of the Dooley family to more and more people!

It's one of the challenges of insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors: how to keep them on in water, hot weather and sweaty situations. This week, advice from the experts and from listeners about what works. Stacey talks to Certified Diabetes Educator Lisa Foster-McNulty, the director of patient care and education for Integrated Diabetes Services. We also hear from listeners who explain what works for them in the pool, during hot yoga(!) and through sweaty sports. Stacey also gives an update on the start of middle school for her son and how their new communication system is working.

Two very different guests this week, each of whom is educating about type 1 diabetes in their own way. When an FDA panel considered allowing a labeling change for the Dexcom CGM, 15-year-old Caroline Dorn testified about her experience. Dorn joined advocates and health professionals telling the panel why it should allow insulin dosing off the Dexcom G5 without a confirming fingerstick. Stacey talks to Caroline and her mother about why they traveled to Washington DC to do this and gets their reaction to the FDA panel approving the change (it now goes to the full FDA). Brandon Denson was diagnosed with type 1 as a high school senior and went on to play college and professional football. He also had an appearance on American Ninja Warrior, with his insulin pump site and CGM sensor in full view. Stacey talks to Brandon about how he continues to inspire and his work with children both with and without type 1. Plus, a close call for Stacey. What happens when the mail-order insulin box is mistaken for a frozen delivery? After almost ten years of dealing with type 1, Stacey explains you can still be sure to expect the unexpected!

When the Miss America Competition gets underway on September 11, our eyes will be on Miss New Hampshire Caroline Carter. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 10, her first passions were basketball and theater. Pageants came along later and she found great success, becoming Miss America Outstanding Teen New Hampshire in 2014 and then Miss New Hampshire 2016 in May. Caroline talks to Stacey about wearing her diabetes tech (pump and cgm) during pageants and how she prepares for the long hours and constant travel. She talks about her friendships with Miss America 1999 Nicole Johnson and Miss Idaho 2015 Sierra Sandison, both of whom have T1D. You can vote for Caroline as the People's Choice for the Miss America Competition in the link below. The winner of this voting moves onto the pageant finals. Stacey also shares her advice for parents with children going back to school right now, including a letter/email she sent home to parents when her son was in elementary school.

After years of rejecting his family's love of running, Casey Boren "got talked into" a mini-triathlon and found his passion. He trained for and successfully finished an IRONMAN triathlon at the age of 35 but was almost immediately after diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. He talks to Stacey about learning to train with T1D and how he not only finished more IRONMAN races, but competed at the World Championship in Hawaii. Casey and other elite athletes with type 1 started the Diabetes Sports Project last year. It's a way to inspire and share stories in order to help others live active healthy lives with diabetes. You can vote for Casey this week in the Runner's World Cover Search contest. He is one of 100 semifinalists and needs your vote by 8/21/16. (Vote here) Stacey also talks to 16-year-old Canadian soccer phenom Michael Thornton. He and his family moved to Spain in 2013 to allow Michael to compete among the best in the world. He talks about learning the language and managing diabetes in a completely new environment. Diagnosed at age six, Michael and his family are back in Canada. Stacey caught up to him at this summer's Friends for Life conference in Florida.

Bigfoot Biomedical came on the scene in 2014 determined to change the way companies look at diabetes technology. They've moved forward quickly and are now starting their first clinical trial for their "Smartloop" automated insulin delivery system. Stacey talks to Bigfoot Chief Engineer Lane Desborough about what this system is, what the trial is testing, and how you can find out if you're eligible to enroll. Desborough is also the co-creator of Nightscout, the free, open source CGM remote monitoring system and is credited with coining the term "We are not waiting." Like all four founders of Bigfoot, Desborough has a child with type 1 diabetes.

This week, the American Association of Diabetes Educators holds its annual conference. Do you have a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE)? We'll talk about the help they provide and how to get the most out of your relationship. AADE President Hope Warshaw shares her message to people with diabetes and to educators. Hope is also the author of many books including Eat out Eat Well, the Guide to Healthy Eating in Any Restaurant and Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy. She is a registered dietitian, a certified diabetes educator and a sought-after consultant. This year's AADE conference will see something new, a live Twitter chat hosted by DSMA. Diabetes Social Media Advocacy is a powerhouse when it comes to connected people within the diabetes online community. Stacey talks about DSMA and more with advocate and blogger Scott Johnson.

Many parents of young children with type 1 diabetes have found childcare very difficult to navigate. But rarely are children with type 1 excluded, in writing, from daycare, camp and before and after school programs. That's the case right now, though, in the US Military. An Army policy dictates that T1D kids can't be cared for in those programs. Recently, the American Diabetes Association joined a lawsuit to try and change that. Stacey talks to Sarah Fech-Baughman, the director of litigation for the American Diabetes Association. Find out more about this case, what you can do if you have trouble finding childcare and Sarah's unique connection to type 1.

Imagine a social media network where what we say about our lives with diabetes actually drives research. It's out there, and it's called Glu. Outreach manager Anna Floreen explains what Glu, and the T1D Exchange are, and how they help researchers focus on what really matters to people living with diabetes and their loved ones. Anna was diagnosed with type 1 at the age of 6. She found great support at camp and recently took part in one of the Bionic Pancreas trials. She tells Stacey how surprised she was at how much of the mental burden of diabetes was lifted, and how difficult it was at the end of the trial to give that up.

This summer, Nichole Nichols reached out to her state lawmakers for help navigating the system for her T1D daughter and other families having issues with Medicaid/Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) . Instead of guidance, she got a pretty rude response. Rep. Jeffrey Guice emailing "I'm sorry for your problem. Have you thought about buying supplies with the money you earn?" Nicki responded by publishing the email on social media and the diabetes community, then the national media, picked up the story. Rep. Guice apologized and Nicki received support directly from Medicaid and her state (but not from Guice). However, she says what happened next at the legislature was even worse. In this episode, Stacey also talks about the new UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes three years ago.

Country star George Canyon was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 14. At the time, all he wanted to do was be a pilot and serve his country. His dream had to change, but he never gave up on flying. Just this week, and due in part to George's efforts, Canada changed their regulations, allowing people with T1D to become private pilots. George was the runner up in the 2004 version of the TV show Nashville Star, he's had several huge albums since and a big career before, but he's also been to medical school and has spoken out about diabetes since he was diagnosed. Stacey spoke with him at the Children with Diabetes Friends for Life Conference, where he performed for a very appreciative crowd.

Rodney Miller is a power lifter and strongman competitor who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 4. Rodney's story is all the more remarkable because he says he was always small for his age and only walked into a gym about 8 years ago. Stacey talks to him about the reasons behind his move to fitness and toward the extreme (like lifting cars!). Rodney also founded Bolus & Barbells, an event for people with diabetes who enjoy lifting and barbell sports. In this episode, you'll hear from many people who took part in Bolus & Barbells and wanted to express their gratitude to Rodney. Stacey also talks about The Podcast Awards, Children with Diabetes Friends for Life conference and more!

Her videos bring humor, instruction and support to thousands of people with diabetes. Diabetic Danica, as she's known, has more than 14-thousand subscribers on her very popular YouTube channel. But she wasn't always in a place to help others. When diagnosed at age 11, Danica needed a lot of help herself. We'll talk about how she got from that scared 11 year old, to being a registered nurse and all those subscribers today. In our community connection this week, we find out about Type 1 Diabetes Day at the Georgia State Capitol. Trip Stoner, who was diagnosed with T1D as an adult, talks about her effort to educate state lawmakers. She's joined by Dr. Jonathan Ownby from Atlanta Diabetes Associates. Stacey also talks about next week's Children with Diabetes Friends for Life Conference and a new post by Scott Hanselman called, "The Promising State of Diabetes Technology in 2016."

Amanda Jo has been a professional entertainer since childhood. She's done everything from sing the national anthem at huge stadiums to performing opera and stage musicals. Amanda Jo was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a teenager, just after she had decided to follow her passion into country music. Now a singer-songwriter in Nashville, she collaborated last summer with American Idol's Adam Lasher, who also has type 1, on The Needle Free Song, a diabetes anthem. We'll talk about how that song came about, how it took a while for Amanda Jo to feel comfortable talking about her diabetes and how she manages type 1 on the road and even on stage. Stacey also talks about Father's Day and how studies show that children whose fathers are more involved in their T1D management have better health outcomes.

Dexcom has released a few new studies about how people use their continuous glucose monotoring systems. Stacey talks about them with Tomas Walker, Dexcom's Director of Clinical Projects and a certified diabetes educator. The two studies, released at the American Diabetes Association's Scientific Sessions look at how people use a CGM in the real-world, outside of a clinical setting. For example, the FDA does not currently label Dexcom for use in making insulin dosing decisions; we are supposed to always confirm with a finger-stick. Of course, not everyone does this and Dexcom wanted to learn more about how and why. Another study looks at how setting the threshold alerts (the high and low alerts) within the system affect how people use a CGM and whether their blood sugar outcomes and A1Cs are affected. In this episode, Stacey also announces the winners of the Pebble Time Smartwatch Giveaway (thanks to all who entered)! She also talks about carrying supplies when in different theme parks, including going over the rules for carrying bags on rides at Disney World and Universal.

Ernesto Prado always wanted to be an astronaut but when he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a teenager, that dream had to change. He found a way to work in the space program anyway, as a technical project manager at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. He says going to work every day is a dream come true, and he has even bigger goals for his career. Ernesto's journey wasn't easy, his family wanted him to keep diabetes a secret at first, and he had some very bumpy times in college. He shares what helped him get back on track, mistakes he's learned from and why he wants people with diabetes to keep pushing the boundaries of what others think they can do. Our one year anniversary contest continues! Enter to win one of two Pebble Smartwatches at www.diabetes-connections.com. Contest closes on June 12, 2016. Please vote for us in The Podcast Awards! Diabetes Connections made the final 10 shows in the country for the Health category. Voting determines a national winner. Please vote at www.podcastawards.com

Jason Adams is the co-founder of CGM in the Cloud, said to be the biggest type 1 diabetes group on Facebook. With more than 18,000 members and still growing, it's a place to share ideas, advice and experience with sending information from Continuous Glucose Monitors into the cloud. In other words, moving the CGM information onto web-based devices so that BG numbers can be viewed remotely in a variety of ways. Adams explains how his daughter's T1D diagnosis led him to become the first non-programmer using Nightscout (the first open source program to "free" the data from a Dexcom CGM) and walks us through the founding of CGM in the Cloud. Adams says he initially expected the group to serve about 15-20 local friends! This episode also kicks off our one year anniversary contest! Enter to win one of two Pebble Smartwatches at www.diabetes-connections.com. Contest closes on June 12, 2016. Please vote for us in The Podcast Awards! Diabetes Connections made the final 10 shows in the country for the Health category. Voting determines a national winner. Please vote at www.podcastawards.com

The FreeStyle Libre is a newer way to check blood glucose levels but is not yet available in the United States. The system consists of a sensor, with a wire underneath the skin, like a traditional Continuous Glucose Monitor and a controller. To see blood glucose readings the user holds the controller up to the sensor. Abbott Diabetes Care calls the Libre a Flash Glucose Monitor. Stacey talks to Abbott's Senior Director of New Product Innovation, Joel Goldsmith. As of this airing, the Libre is available in Europe and is expected to launch in Australia in a few weeks. Stacey also talks about the end of the school year, looking ahead to Middle School for her son with type 1 and advice about 504 plans.

In early May, United Health Care announced that Medtronic would be its preferred provider of insulin pumps. Adults over the age of 18 who have UHC insurance will not be able to have any other brand of insulin pump covered. This set off lots of discussion within the diabetes community and prompted this special episode of Diabetes Connections. Stacey talks to Christel Aprigliano of Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC), Gary Scheiner, a diabetes educator with Integrated Diabetes Services, and Mike Hoskins, managing editor of DiabetesMine. This episode was partially recorded on the video platform Blab.

Moira McCarthy Stanford and her husband, Sean Stanford, were recently honored by the New England Chapter of JDRF at the Boston One Night Gala. Moira is an author, speaker, dedicated diabetes advocate, mentor and educator. When her daughter, Lauren, was diagnosed 18 years ago, Moira jumped into the diabetes community and hasn't looked back. Stacey talks to Moira about this honor and about the dress she wore to the Gala. Seamstress (and type 1 mom) Darlene Winn crafted it and hand-embroidered dozens of names into the lining - names of "T1D heroes I love," says Moira. You'll also hear from Moira & Sean's daughters, Lauren and Leigh. They talk about what this honor means to their family and how their parents kept a balance of diabetes management, helping the community and living a full and happy life outside of T1D (Leigh does not have diabetes). Stacey also talks with the JDRF chapter about why they chose Moira and to the director of the JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes. Moira more recently became involved in that organization and completed a grueling ride with Lauren last year.

What's it like to attend a diabetes conference? What goes on, who can you meet and is it worth it? Stacey traveled to Friends for Life in Falls Church, Virginia this past April to try to give you the sense of being there. She speaks to organizers, speakers, kids and parents who attend, even vendors to find out why they travel to conferences and what they get out of it. Guests include: Children with Diabetes Founder Jeff Hitchcock, Keynote speaker Dr. Kenneth Moritsugu, former acting Surgeon General and diagnosed with type 1 at age 55, Tweens & Teens attending the conference and their parents, Harold Sanco who gets the kids moving with fun exercise and activity programs, Friends for Life Organizer Laura Billetdeaux, Animas Senior Territory Manager Suzanne Hollis, TrialNet's Karen Riley & Falls Church Mayor David Tarter who has a child with type 1 and was excited to find the conference was coming to his town.

Happy Mother's Day! This week, Stacey looks at motherhood &diabetes from two inspiring perspectives. Karla Reed is the motherof NASCAR driver Ryan Reed, diagnosed with type 1 when he was 17years old. Karla talks about what she's learned in the five yearssince - a time when Ryan moved across the country to start hisNASCAR career, became a spokesperson for the American DiabetesAssociation and got his first big Xfinity win. Ginger Vieira is amom with type 1 diabetes; her little girl Lucy is 18 months old.Ginger shares her experience of a carefully planned and managedpregnancy. She's now teaming up with her diabetes educator, friend,and fellow T1D mom, Jennifer Smith, to help other women with type 1who want to start a family. Stacey also shares a little bit abouthow a decision her mother made nine years ago, influenced the wayshe and her husband care for and think about her son's T1D.

Stacey talks with Dexcom CEO Kevin Sayer to mark the ten year anniversary of the company's first commercial product sale and to discuss improvements to customer service. Sayer talks about the long hold times and other issues customers have noticed recently, and explains why the recent growth of the company, along with a product recall, made those difficulties worse. We find out what Dexcom is doing to improve service and make the overall customer experience better. Sayer also answers questions about Android capability for Share and talks about other improvements coming to the system's receiver and inserter. .

Howard Look formed Tidepool after his daughter was diagnosed with type 1 in 2011 and, as a self-described "geek-dad" he was frustrated with the lack of access to her diabetes data. Tidepool is a platform for diabetes information and the apps that use it. It includes an uploader to get information off of devices like CGMs and insulin pumps and view them in a clear and accessible way. Look talks about the other features of Tidepool which help you make sense of what you're seeing. He also shares how his family uses Tidepool to make their diabetes management easier. Tidepool was honored at the White House last year and Howard Look shares his experience of being asked to sit on a panel with President Obama in February. Stacey also talks to a North Carolina father participating in the American Diabetes Association's' Tour de Cure. He got involved because his daughter's best friend has T1D and she wanted her friend to have a sleepover. The family got educated about type 1 and their involvement took off from there.

Dr. Ed Damiano is the developer of the bionic pancreas, a closed-loop system that uses a pump and a CGM to automate delivery of insulin as well as glucagon currently in clinical trials. Dr. Damiano got the idea for a dual-chambered system when his son was diagnosed with type 1 at the very young age of 11 months. Dr. Damiano talks to Stacey about the system, now called the "iLet" and about the new company formed to help bring it to market. Called Beta Bionics, it's a unique kind of company, perhaps the first of its kind in the diabetes sector. Dr. Damiano explains what a public benefit corporation is and why he felt it was necessary to form one in order to get the iLet from prototype to commercial product. In this episode, Stacey also shares the story of her family's first JDRF Walk almost ten years ago and how her daughter, who doesn't have diabetes, reacted to the idea of raising money for better research.

"The Human Trial" is a documentary in process about a potential new treatment for type 1 diabetes. Stacey talks to director Lisa Hepner about her life with type 1 and why she wanted to share this story. The movie features ViaCyte, a California biotech firm testing a stem cell treatment for T1D. They have FDA approval to test only the fourth embryonic stem cell-derived product in the world in people. As those human trials progress, Hepner and her crew are there to film the process. They hope to use the documentary to spread awareness and education about type 1 and about the encapsulation method. In this episode, we learn what ViaCyte is, all about encapsulation and why so many researchers and scientists are excited about these latest trials.

Sam Talbot shot to fame as a finalist on Bravo's Top Chef, then helped found the new diabetes advocacy group, Beyond Type 1. Diagnosed with type 1 when he was 11, Sam shares his love of healthy food, clean eating and managing diabetes despite a very busy schedule & lots of travel. Our Community Connection this week is health coach Daniele Hargenrader, better known at Diabetes Dominator. She's overcome her own health and life challenges with gusto and now helps others succeed.

A few years back, Scott Hanselman wrote a post some have called a seminal moment in the diabetes community. Called "The Sad State of Diabetes Technology in 2012," it sparked action, particularly in what's now known as the #WeAreNotWaiting movement. We talk to Scott about what he thinks about diabetes technology today, how he manages his own T1D and why a cross-country airplane trip is a perfect diabetes analogy. Community Connection this week is all about programs for adults with type 1. Camp Nejeda in New Jersey will host a weekend session in May. Information about that "Survive and Thrive Boot Camp," and ideas about how to begin something like that where you live. (Note: due to some technical issues, "helpful links" for this episode may not appear until 24 hours after the episode goes live. Apologies for the delay)

Stefany Shaheen says she was skeptical when her family decided to try a Diabetes Alert Dog for their daughter, Elle. She shares their story and explains what to ask before deciding whether an alert dog is right for you. Shaheen's book, "Elle & Coach: Diabetes, The Fight for My Daughter's Life and the Dog Who Changed Everything" comes out in paperback this month. Stacey also talks to Dexcom Research and Development Senior Vice President Jake Leach about the new G5 mobile app for the Apple Watch and much more.

Roddy Riddle says, "Rule diabetes. Don't let it rule you." Diagnosed with type 1 at the age of 40, Roddy was already an international cyclist and didn't see any reason to slow down. He completed the grueling Marathon de Sables ("The Toughest Footrace on Earth") and is competing right now in the 6633 Ultra, a 350 mile race that touches the Arctic Circle. Marina Tsaplina is just as tough, but in a very different way. She wants us to think about diabetes, and about all of health care, as a very human story. We talk to Marina about her organization The Betes, what puppets have to do with diabetes, and about "The Patient Voice" event.

This month, Pediatric Endocrinologist Dr. Stephen Ponder marks 50 years since his own diagnosis with type 1 diabetes. His book and method "Sugar Surfing" use CGM technology to practice dynamic diabetes management, anticipating where blood sugar numbers will be rather than reacting to where they've been. Dr. Ponder also answers questions from parents about independence, A1Cs and fear.