Diabetes Technology: What Patients Really Want — The Video

On The Road Again: The Artificial Pancreas Makes Successful Stop In Santa Barbara, Calif; Next Stop — France & Italy

Have Artificial Pancreas; Will Travel.

Dr. Daniel Chernavvsky, Clinical Research Coordinator, and I display the AP as the 24-hour clinical trial ends March 15. I did NOT want to give it back to him. I’m sure he was watching me closely, LOL.

That’s the word today from Daniel Cherñavvsky, MD, CRC with the University of Virginia Health System. “Yes, we completed the trial in Santa Barbara and the following article published in Diabetesmine.com talks about it.,” Dr. Daniel tells me.  “We are ready to do the trial overseas” in France and Italy next.

Yes! The AP outpatient trial was done with participants in California in April and provided more details and data. For Daniel, the next stop on the road trip is to bring the technology to his research colleagues in France and Italy. This is all building toward home trials — yes, home trials in the real world in 2014 — by PWDs ( persons with diabetes) while being closely monitored by doctors and researchers via remote technology!

Here is a brief excerpt from the Diabetesmine.com article.

“This is all very exciting! Although when you think about it, 48 hours is a pretty short timeframe to get a realistic read on any PWD’s ongoing patterns of glucose swings. I wondered how realistic the algorithm patterns were…

“We’re just dipping our toes in the stream right now,” Dr. Howard Zisser said. “We’re going with our ‘best guess’ until we can do week-long studies.” Meanwhile, patient Jim wasn’t complaining a bit over 48 hours of long-awaited freedom. “It’s soooo nice — I don’t have to do anything!” he crooned, with his eyes all a’twinkle. Dr. Zisser just grinned. “We’re learning and developing things along the way,” he said. “It’s like the space program. We’re going to the moon, and along the way we get Tang, and who knows what other innovations that come out of the process?”

HealthLine.Com Ranks Top 17 Best Blogs: Passionate Type 1’s Educate And Chronicle Their Struggles, Successes

Diabetes is a condition that affects millions of people around the world. Several eloquent and compassionate people who face diabetes have chosen to write about their experiences in blog form, chronicling both their struggles and their successes. In addition to being compelling reading, these bloggers’ stories bring together the online community of those whose lives are affected by diabetes.

After poring over many, many diabetes blogs, looking for the best of the bunch, we have collected seventeen of the best diabetes blogs for you to read. We trust that you will find these bloggers’ writings and experiences to be sources of both helpful information and hope. The Diabetes Online Community #DOC is a great source of support for me. Together, We R the Cure!

Published March 29, 2012
Written by Leah Snyder

Is Type 1 Cure Research Funding Focused Enough? A New Report Worth Reading

Until yesterday, I had never heard of the JDCA, the Juvenile Diabetes Cure Alliance, in my 14 years of living with Type 1D and volunteering in my local diabetes community.

Chris Schutt, his son, Ned, American Idol Singer Elliott Yamin and I advocate for sustained federal research funds with U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor, R-VA, in 2009.

Now I have. This month, the JDCA has introduced its latest report , “Is Type 1 Cure Research Funding Focused Enough?”

The report takes a look at a very important issue relating to cure research. Are the organizations being too broad when it comes to outlining plans for a type 1 diabetes cure and when funding projects? Based on JDCA’s research and the fact that there is no cure on the horizon, the non-profit’s analysis suggests that this is the case. The JDCA report says, “Without clearly defined goals, the non-profits are funding a wide array of research projects. As a result, a lot of money goes into efforts that are not working to deliver a Practical Cure for type 1 diabetes.  This diverts resources from those projects that are working towards a specified cure goal that could help people now living with the disease.”

If you’re living with this chronic disease, you wanted a cure YESTERDAY. It’s been over 40 years since a group of parents founded the JDRF at their kitchen table and yet We R still seeking a Cure.

In order to improve the quality of life for Type 1Ds, it’s important to listen and gather as much relevant information as possible. We must keep asking the researchers, organizations and manufacturers “When?” When we will see real progress. We must push them to be smarter and more targeted with a limited amount of dollars because We R the Cure. We R doing this for ourselves and the generations to come.

The JDCA is a self-funded non-profit that aims to educate donors and prompt transparency in the charitable organizations that raise money to support research.  JDCA says it is an independent analyst of the type 1 diabetes charitable universe and brings a business-like perspective to focus research toward a Practical Cure.  Their mission is to direct donor contributions to the charitable organizations that are most effective at allocating funds to research opportunities that maximize chances of curing type 1 diabetes by 2025.

Interested in a clinical trial? Check out these starting points

• The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the NIH, has set up an online list of type 1 diabetes clinical trials that users can use to search by location or by eligibility (such as age).

• Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet is a group of studies looking at the prevention and early treatment of type 1 diabetes. This site provides information about ongoing and completed TrialNet Studies.TrialNet performs trials for newly diagnosed or at risk individuals for type 1 diabetes.
• The Immune Tolerance Network (ITN) conducts clinical trials and tolerance assay studies in the following disease areas: Transplantation (Islet, Kidney, Liver), Autoimmune Diseases, and Allergy & Asthma. Information is provided on current clinical trials in new onset type 1 diabetes.
• ClinicalTrials.gov also lists NIH-sponsored trials that have been scientifically reviewed through NIH mechanisms and approved by government council.
• Children with Diabetes lists a number of trials actively seeking participants.
• CenterWatch also includes geographic listings of current trials regarding type 1 diabetes.