Diabetes Connections | Type 1 Diabetes

Going to college is stressful enough for most students and diabetes just adds another challenge. Stacey talks to Mindy Bartleson from the College Diabetes Network about resources to help students, families and even roommates. In the Community Connection, you'll hear from a sophomore student-athlete who explains what advice he'd give himself as a freshman. And Stacey shares something she wrote about diabetes, numbers and emotions that hit a nerve on Twitter.

Stacey interviews Natalie Irish and Chase Pelletier, both part of the Animas Heroes program. Irish is a gifted artist who one day decided to paint in a unique and remarkable way. She "kisses" the canvas, using her lips to create her art. She appeared on Conan O'Brien show with her bright pink insulin pump in 2012. Her portrait of Conan still hangs in his show's green room. Pelletier is a 19 year old touring car driver who's already setting records. He's part of the Drive 4 Diabetes program as well as competing in the F2000 open wheel racing series in Canada, and the Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car-A racing series in the U.S.

Back to school time (almost)! Stacey talks to Crystal Jackson, with the American Diabetes Association's Safe at School program. She has information on legal rights, common challenges and advice on forming a partnership with your child's school. You'll also hear from a mom whose child with diabetes attends a charter school. Stacey shares ideas for setting goals that make sense at the elementary school level.

Moira McCarthy is the author of Raising Teens With Diabetes: A Survival Guide for Parents. She speaks frankly about the challenges she and her daughter faced, after years of being a "model" diabetes family. This episode also features an adult with type 1 who looks back at her self-described rebellious teen years. Plus, what I learned recently about talking to my ten year old that I hope will help in the "challenging" teen years to come:

The Nightscout Project is an open-source DIY project that lets users see blood sugar numbers from a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) on a smartphone, computer, tablet or Pebble watch. It came on the scene in 2013 and continues to grow at astonishing speed. Stacey speaks to Kate Farnsworth, a Pebble watchface designer for the group and James Wedding, president of the Nightscout Foundation. This episode recorded at the Children With Diabetes Friends For Life conference.

16 years ago, Laura Billetdeaux logged onto a diabetes chat room and asked if anyone wanted to meet up with her family during their vacation in Florida. That action sparked what would eventually become Friends For Life, the largest diabetes family conference in the world. Stacey talks to Laura about what happens at the annual gathering and what it continues to mean to her family. In Community Connection, advice from a mom who couldn't find the kind of support group she wanted for her toddler son, so she created it herself.

Stacey talks with Justin Thomas, the director of Camp Carolina Trails, an American Diabetes Association camp and Galen Horton, a staff member at the camp who works with Animas Corp. Both men were campers at the program (Galen was Justin's counselor once upon a time) and have a lot to say about why the experience is so meaningful and why they keep coming back. This summer marked Galen's 30th! You'll also hear from a once-reluctant camper who turned her experience around. This will be Sara's 9th year at Camp Kudzu. Stacey shares her son's experiences at "regular" non-diabetes day camp and sleep away camp.

In 2014, Sierra Sandison won the Miss Idaho pageant with an insulin pump clipped to her bikini, prompting the #showmeyourpump social media movement. We talk about her new book and online projects as well as take a look back at her incredible experience at the Miss America Pageant. In Community Connections, you'll hear about a new diagnosis, a new school, and a fortuitous meeting for the family of a first grader.

Stacey talks to blogger, author and speaker Kerri Sparling, of Six Until Me. Kerri talks about the power of ordinary success with diabetes, how she decides what to keep private and the Spare a Rose charitable campaign. We'll also hear about a connection at theater camp and Stacey has some advice if you're looking to connect with other people with diabetes in real life.

Stacey talks to Jeffrey Brewer, former head of JDRF, now CEO of Bigfoot Biomedical. We'll find out how he hopes to simplify diabetes management through technology and the story behind the Bigfoot name. Stacey also hears about a teenager's first trip away from home and how a diabetes connection on the road made a big difference. Plus, what to do this summer to make school better for your child with diabetes this fall. Episode Transcription: Stacey Simms 0:00 Hi, this is Stacey. Just a reminder my podcast is not intended as medical advice. I am not a doctor. If you have medical questions, please talk to your healthcare provider. Announcer 0:13 This is Diabetes Connections with Stacey Simms. Stacey Simms 0:17 This week, I'll talk to Jeffrey Brewer, the former president and CEO of JDRF. Now he's part of a new venture, Bigfoot Biomedical that aims to simplify life for people with Type One Diabetes. Jeffrey Brewer 0:30 I pick up my smartphone, and I can contact people that I haven't seen in 20 years through Facebook instantaneously, I can press a button and have a car show up and take me anywhere I want within three minutes. And yet, if I'm looking for advice or help on self-dosing this dangerous drug called insulin, I'm completely and totally disconnected from the rest of the world. And that just seems crazy. Stacey Simms 0:55 Plus, a school competition means the first time away from home for a teenager: 12 hours away for a whole week, a surprise diabetes connection makes a big difference. Jennifer 1:05 She texted me and you know, I could hear the excitement, even in the text. She's like, "Mommy, announcer has Type One." And I'm like, "Are you kidding me?" I said, "How do you know?" She says, "You know, kind of sitting near him and I saw him announcing and I spotted a pump." And she was like, "Oh my god, one of me!" Stacey Simms 1:21 And the most important thing you can teach your child with diabetes now, to make school easier in the fall. It all starts now on Diabetes Connections. My guest today is breaking new ground, the CEO of JDRF. Formerly, he left that group in 2014 and founded a new venture later that year. It's a diabetes technology startup called Bigfoot Biomedical. We will talk about the story behind the name. And I'm excited to talk to Jeffrey Brewer. Jeffrey, welcome to Diabetes Connections. Jeffrey Brewer 1:54 Thanks very much. Thanks for having me. Stacey Simms 1:56 Oh, it's great to talk to you, you know, I was on the board of our local JDRF chapter from 2007 until about 2013, when I cycled off. And of course, you heard your name so much before and after that, it's so nice to chat with you. Um, do you mind telling us your family's story? Your son, of course, has Type One, when he was diagnosed and how he's doing now? Jeffrey Brewer 2:18 My son was diagnosed in 2002, September 19. For people affected by this disease, especially with children, you remember exactly when and where. We had just moved to New York City and my son was a couple weeks into a new school. And he was at that point, seven years old. Sean is now 20 years old. And so, we have been living and he has been living with this disease for over 13 years. And my involvement in various efforts and initiatives, starting with my volunteer work at JDRF. And then my service on the international board of directors and and then leading to my executive service as the CEO of JDRF for the last four years, all motivated by my desire to see that he lives the best, healthiest, and safest life. And I think there is a big opportunity that we have on the way to a cure for this disease, to improve life, health, and safety through the use of technology. And I've been pursuing that pretty aggressively since the very beginning. Stacey Simms 3:27 But let's talk about that. I mean, you know, when you're talking about moving forward and actually getting to a cure, and all of the advances that are happening and we want to happen as people affected by diabetes, let's let's talk about Bigfoot Biomedical. First, the name, you know, as you listen, you may be aware, there are a few people in the U.S. who are basically putting together their own artificial pancreas, using existing technology: pumps and CGMs and things like that working together. Some people are are better known and have put their name on their ventures, but others are not so well known, including one family that a reporter named "Bigfoot" because they were so hard to find. Do I have all that right? Jeffrey Brewer 4:07 You do, you do. Bryan Mazlish, who is one of the founders of Bigfoot Biomedical, as long as two and a half years ago, had begun experimenting with a prototype system for the automation of insulin delivery. One which has been operating continuously for the last two years now on his wife, who has Type One Diabetes, and also his now nine year old son. Stacey Simms 4:36 Wow. It's incredible for somebody like me who has a child with a CGM, a Continuous Glucose Monitor and a pump to think tha

Stacey talks about the Diabetes Unconference with Christel Marchand Aprigliano of The Perfect D. We also hear from a mom who made a funny diabetes connection in her local Target and, in this first episode, find out more about Stacey's story and what led her to create this podcast.