Dear Health Insurance Companies: I Wish For A Lot - And I Demand Even More.

This post was based on a recent conversation I had with friend. We can wish all we want, but we also have "to do." We gotta make the listen. We must demand, we must "do," and we must become the change we want - In our lives and our lives with diabetes~
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Dear Health Insurance Companies: 
I wish I knew what my diabetes required tomorrow - I really, truly do, because it would make my life so much easier in so many ways. 
I wish I had a crystal ball that would accurately tell me exactly how much insulin my body will need, 30 days, 90 days and 365 days a year down to 1/5 unit - but I don’t know, because my diabetes requirements are never the same from one day to the next.
That doesn’t make me non-compliant - that makes me a person living with diabetes - And in my case, type 1 diabetes.

I wish I knew exactly how many times I MUST test my blood sugar everyday for the next 365 days. In my head I'm envisioning a magical 2015 calendar for me to that details and breaks down all my glucose numbers advance, including the whys and hows. 
How many low blood sugars; high blood sugars, sick days, exercise days, stress filled days and everything in between.
Now lets take that magical and mystical calendar a step further so that it can accurately predict in advance and breakdown my daily/weekly/room glucose tests for (and error messages,) including and the approximate date those days will occur, for ever single calendar year. 
That would be GREAT - Then I could give you those numbers well advance!
But magical calendars don't exist and that's now how diabetes works.

EVERY day is different. 

And I’d love to know in advance an approximate number of "error messages" that will flash on my meter/sensor screen in the next 12 months so we can hash out it out accordingly and before hand re: supplies and durable medical equipment coverage.
I wish with all my heart (and infusion site real estate,) that I could properly predict if infusion site will actually subcutaneously suck in all the insulin my body requires, before I stick the 1 inch steel needle - before I waste a precious infusion site on a dead-spot that I cannot reuse.

I wish I had an endless supply of money and time when it comes my diabetes supplies, wants verses needs. 
It's frightening and maddening all rolled into one that the people who decide what diabetes supplies will or won’t be covered, and have, for the most part - no understanding of what an infusion site does or doesn’t do, and that a 90 day supply is anything but, when it comes to doorknobs, dead spots, and margins for error. 

And that a person's one month's supply of insulin requirements  does indeed change, daily and monthly, because our diabetes requirements change every day. 
It's infuriating that there's no wiggle room at all when it comes to how much insulin insurance companies will actually pay for on a monthly basis - don't even get me started on covering only 50% of the cost of my monthly insulin because insulin is only available for purchases as a name brand instead of generic! 
Insulin's also the only medication, name brand or otherwise that keeps me alive!

I wish health insurance companies would take into consideration that every damn day my body and my diabetes requires different amounts of insulin  - just like those with fully functioning pancreases. 
I wish insurance company would take into consideration that at least 22 things on a daily basis contribute to my blood sugars - things like, but not limited to; stress, illness, exercise, caffeine, my period, and everything else in between. 
That for just one day, the folks at my insurance company could experience what a roller-coaster of blood sugar feels like and requires.Pricking their fingers, counting carbs and injecting incessantly in order to get handle on a ride that no one wants to go on. 
I wish they would realize that Murphy’s Law applies to people with diabetes, a.k.a., the magnet like attraction of tile floors to insulin vials - and usually a few days before we are able to renew are prescription without paying dearly.

I wish health insurance companies would not only understand & acknowledge the mental side of living with a chronic illness, as well as the physical and medical requirements - but would cover the mental and the physical without having to fight.

I wish that the people who implement changes re: my healthcare and yours, and who have the power to approve/deny our diabetes medications and technology, would not only understood and acknowledge that managing diabetes and every chronic illness is difficult; never ending and constant, but would actually approve those medicines and technologies that allow us to maintain our physical and mental health. 

I can wish all I want, but I'm down with wishing - I'm tired of wishing. I'm all about demanding and doing. So are all the Diabetes/Patient Advocates who pay your premiums.

WE won't stop advocating for our rights and our coverage and we won’t stop demanding- because our very health and wellbeing requires that we do. 
We will continue to use our collective powers - Our voices, posts/vlogs, our tenacity, the power of Social Media online and in real life to empower others and make changes. 

Being patients has taught us it's to never give up; to speak up, to listen and learn from one another and work together - because our current and future health depends on it. 

Sincerely, 
Kelly Kunik

PWD, Diabetes Advocate

In Life With Diabetes, Small Medical Advances Aren't Small At All - Nor Are They Gadgets~

Gadget: A mechanical contrivance or device; any ingenious article

1. A small mechanical  device or appliance 

2. Any object that is interesting for its ingenuity or novelty rather than for its practical use.

Synonyms: Contraption, whatsis, dohickey, thingamajig dictionary.com

Insulin pump: A pump for delivering insulin in order to achieve tight blood sugar control and lifestyle flexibility while minimizing the effects of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). The pump is composed of a pump reservoir similar to that of an insulin cartridge, a battery-operated pump, and a computer chip that allows the user to control the exact amount of insulin being delivered. The pump is attached to a thin plastic tube (an infusion set) that has a soft cannula (or needle) at the end through which insulin passes. This cannula is inserted under the skin, usually on the abdomen. The cannula is changed every 2 days. The tubing can be disconnected from the pump while showering or swimming. The pump is used for continuous insulin delivery, 24 hours a day. The amount of insulin is programmed and is administered at a constant rate (basal rate). Often, the amount of insulin needed over the course of 24 hours varies depending on factors like exercise, activity level, and sleep. The insulin pump allows for the user to program many different basal rates to allow for this variation in lifestyle. In addition, the user can program the pump to deliver a "bolus" during meals to cover the excess demands of carbohydrate ingestion. The pump is currently the closest device on the market to an artificial pancreas.”  medterms.com

YEP, nothing novel about an insulin pump - especially if you're the person who's attached to it. And the same can be said for Continuous Glucose Monitors and the accuracy of glucose meters and test strips. 

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Dear Elisabeth - 

I read your article in the New York Times, "Even Small Medical Advances Can Mean A Big Jump In Bills.  I’ve marinated on it for a few days and honestly, I’ve struggled with my response.  

I agree that the cost of diabetes and diabetes technologies is high (and has always been in the 36 years that I've lived with t1 diabetes,) and I'm well aware that diabetes is BIG BUSINESS. 

I find the cost of diabetes to be incredibly expensive - even with insurance - And I worry about my financial future. 
I worry about everyone living with diabetes having to deal with the same issues and concerns that I do. The financials keep me up at night. And I believe that things need to change regarding the cost of living with diabetes. 
I hesitate to start the paperwork on a new pump or CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitoring system) with my insurance company because of all the work it requires - And I'm worried about the out of pocket expense.  

BUT, as someone who hasn’t had a day off from her type 1 diabetes in 13,230 days and who knew many of the casualties of the Diabetes Dark Ages by name and personally, I'm here to tell you that my quality of my health and the quality of my life has improved greatly over the years since the advent of diabetes technology. 

And I know that my future good health depends on diabetes technology, highly engineered insulin and anything else that:

1. Keeps me alive
2. Reduces the risk or helps to limit future diabetes complications
3. Gives me a better quality of life with diabetes.

In your article you stated: That captive audience of Type 1 diabetics has spawned lines of high-priced gadgets and disposable accouterments, borrowing business models from technology companies like Apple: Each pump and monitor requires the separate purchase of an array of items that are often brand and model specific. 

I found that statement to be callous and sensationalized and a huge over simplification of the many benefits of diabetes technology - Actually, you glossed over the benefits, BIG TIME.  
But I did and do relate to the frustrations re: to the integration and purchase of diabetes weapons. 

Still, make no mistake - Glucose meters, test-strips, Insulin Pumps, CGMs, fast acting insulin, etc., are weapons when it comes to living with diabetes - crucial ones that help us navigate the ever changing terrain of the diabetes battlefield. Without them, we'd lose the D war. 

Elisabeth - Your article made it seem as if people with diabetes didn't need or benefit from D technology  - And that's not true. 

Here’s the thing: Unlike many chronic illnesses, a large portion (8,757 hours  a year - give or take a few hours) of my type 1 diabetes care is in MY HANDS. 

So yes Elisabeth, people with diabetes absolutely need all the help we can get! 

And people with diabetes need glucose meters that provide us with graphs that chat with both our insulin pumps and our CGMs - Glucose meters and test strips that are accurate in order to properly calculate insulin via pumps, shots or CGMs and we and require fast acting insulin that quickly correct elevated blood sugar and allow us to eat when a meal is ready, instead of 20 to 30 minutes after taking it. 
And those people with vision issues because of diabetes need and require glucose meters with an audible voice. 

Personally, I would NEVER entrust my life, my health or my future health to mere gadgets Sidebar: Please refer to opening paragraph for the definition of the word gadget. 

Life and life with diabetes is far to complicated for novel gadgetry. 
Nobody living with diabetes and regardless of the type would rely on simple gadgets - But it would be great if we could. 
For those of us who remember The Diabetes Dark Ages, the time before insulin pumps; CGMs and glucose meters, life with diabetes had less precision, less flexibility and was more complicated - And led to more diabetes complications. 
We tested urine instead of blood,(disgusting and far from accurate,) had only a few types of insulin to choose from. And as far as the diabetes diet back then, it was anything but flexible. 
God, we would have given anything to have diabetes technology and fast acting insulin available to us! 
Technology like insulin pumps that allow for the customization of insulin delivery and more glucose meters/test strips and Continuous Glucose Monitoring systems and the advent of  analogue insulin .
The creation and availability of analogue insulin changed our lives for the better and allowed better glucose control, i.e.,blood sugars and meal time flexibility. 
All, key weapons for those of us doing battle with diabetes on a daily; yearly, weekly and decades, basis.

In the 1980’s, when my family and I received our first glucose meter - which cost hundreds of dollars; wasn't covered by insurance and was shared by the whole family shared, my parents, (my dad had t1) sister, (also a t1) and I had to meet with our pharmacist to learn how to operate the meter. 
The meter was the size of a VHS tape, took 3 minutes to calibrate and had a 44 page instruction book. There was nothing portable or convenient about it - And it was far from accurate - But it was more accurate than urine testing - And we were grateful for it.
A few years after we purchased our first meter, I lost 2 of my aunts to type 1 diabetes- they were in their early 50's. 

And I believe that if my older sister Debbie had diabetes technology available to her when she was diagnosed as a child( in the late 60’s,) or even as a teen, she wouldn’t have died from diabetes complications. Complications including; heart attacks, gastroparisis, multiple strokes and kidney failure, 22 years ago at the age of 34. 

I miss my big sister and I think about her every day - And I wish that she would have had the diabetes technology that I have available at my finger tips today - And clipped to my hip since 2002. 
And I will continue to advocate for people living with diabetes - And I'll fight tooth and nail to make sure that we've left the Diabetes Dark Ages forever. 
Sincerely, 
Kelly Kunik
t1 Person with diabetes for 36 years.
Diabetesaliciousness.blogspot.com
@diabetesalish

Diabetesalicious Lite: Let Your Voices Be Heard & Keep Rocking The Diabetes Advocacy!!

All of us living the diabetes life know that test-strip and glucose meter accuracy are two crucial components of maintaining our health when it comes to living with diabetes. We all want and demand to StripSafely. 

And here't the kicker - it turns out that the FDA is willing to discuss that very issue with us a community on Monday, March 31st from 1:30 to 2:30 pm, est. 

Bennett Dunlap will host the chat with FDA Expert Courtney Lias. Here's your (OUR) chance to talk, ask questions, listen, observe & have our voices be heard.  But you in order to do all of that and more -  you need to register -  CLICK HERE !

Another key component is access to every person living with diabetes, including those on Medicaid and Medicare to have access to the latest in diabetes medical technology, 

Catherine Price over at ASweetLife.org wrote a great piece on competitive bidding and insulin pumps for people with diabetes on Medicaid and Medicare - FYI: Diabetes Technology is just as critical for PWDS over the age of 65 as for those under: http://asweetlife.org/feature/speak-out-against-competitive-bidding-for-insulin-pumps-urgent-action-required/

To quote Catherine: We in the diabetes community need to speak out to argue that a. insulin pumps should be removed from competitive bidding and b. that if they remain in the  competitive bidding program, CMS must use a different process to determine reimbursement rates, so that cost-saving does not stifle innovation.

AMEN SISTER!

We have until midnight tonight to tell CMS (Medicare/Medicaid law makers ) our thoughts on competitive bidding and insulin pumps (as well as other DME and supplies) for Medicare and Medicaid - Let you're voice be heard by clicking on the following link http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=CMS-2014-0029-0001

The DOC is an amazing community because of the people in it - Thanks for being part of the awesomeness and keep on rocking the diabetes advocacy!

Today's Giveaway Is All About #StripSafely

Today's diabetesalicious giveaways are in the form of 5 StripSafely lapel pins.

FYI: I have one of these awesome #StripSafely lapel pins and I wear it proudly!

HUGE thanks to the StripSafely team for not only donating today's prizes, but for leading the Diabetes Online Community test strip and meter accuracy charge straight to to the FDA's ears! 

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Today's giveaway is all about test strip and glucose meter safety.
People with diabetes lives and future health depend on stripSafety~

Today's StripSafely lapel pin giveaway has a special place not just in my heart, but in every single person living with diabetes heart.
TestStrip and glucose meter accuracy is not only key to our good health, it's downright crucial - And test strip and meter accuracy is lacking - to put it mildly.
 As of today, test strip and glucose meter accuracy isn't where it needs to be and that's how the StripSafely campaign came to be.
People in the Diabetes Online Community, led by the fabulous Bennet Dunlap from YDMV.net rallied together to make sure the FDA (and test strip and glucose meter manufacturers,) heard our collective voices in real time, and virtually via our tweets, letters and blog posts. 

And while still have far to go as far as stripping safely is concerned, the StripSafely campaign is making a difference - The FDA heard us!
And we have to make sure they continue to hear us when it comes to Stripsafely.

How to win: Leave a comment saying why test strip and glucose meter accuracy are important to you. 
Tomorrow, random.org will pick 5 winners & I will snail mail those awesome StripSafely lapel pins to them! 

Everyone entering the contest must either have diabetes (doesn't matter what type of diabetes you have, what type of pump you wear or if you take shots,) or be a caretaker/loved one of a person with diabetes.

GOOD LUCK! 

My Experience With The OneTouch VerioSync.

Full disclosure, I was given the Lifescan ONETouch VerioSync and test strips to review free of charge. 

With that being said, all thoughts on the product & the app are mine. 
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Very nice!

The day before Thanksgiving a LifeScan ONETouch VerioSync was delivered to my door. 

I charged the meter & downloaded the free app to my iPad, but since I was going away for the four day weekend and staying at a friend’s whose amazing dog Misty chews on everything including cell phones,  I decided to start using the meter when I got back home. 

Later the following week when I initially tried syncing my VerioSync & iPad, I experienced "communication" issues syncing up, so I called Customer Service number and they were wonderful. 

The first CS person I spoke with was very professional, she took down my info and connected me to a VerioSync Specialist who walked me through the set up. 

And of course my meter and iPad immediately synced no problem the minute I had CS on the line. 

But I’m really glad I experienced VerioSync CS department because it was a pleasant & quick experience & they were really great!!

Things I loved about the ONETouch VerioSync:  

*Only a minuscule drop of blood is needed - that works for me.

*I didn’t have to write anything down - Again that works for me and the sync up was pretty much automatic - I was able to add meal, insulin and other important notes.

*The lancets that came with the VerioSync were micro fine - I barely felt them. 

*Speaking of syncing, the Verio meter synced with my iPad, but didn’t suck the life juice out of said iPad. 

*Visually, I like that the charts alerted me to certain patterns, for instance, the High Pattern Graph feature alerted me to the fact that for 3 days in a row my blood sugars ran higher than normal after dinner.  I’m not sure that would have registered if I didn’t see that in chart form. 
*Built in logbook - LOVE IT

*Notes, as in there's a feature that lets you add lots of notes, which I really like because I was being able to write info down helps me keep track of the hows and the whys regarding my glucose numbers. 

*Sharing Data: The app has a feature that allows you to share your 14 day glucose data via text or email - I like that.

I haven't tried it, but I like that the option is there and ready if I do.

Things I had to get used to: 

*Charging my glucose meter. Granted I didn’t have to charge it once after the initial sync set up, but what if I was out and my meter needed charging and didn’t have my charger with me?

*Ok, to answer my own question, I would most likely become very aware of having to charge my meter just like I’m very aware about charging my iPhone and my iPad.

*Make sure you have the app open before you sync your results to ensure that your results will sync with the app- It took me a few days to get used to that, but once I did it was second nature. 

*There was one time when I powered down my iPad to conserve the battery and when I rebooted it, I didn’t realize that I had to re-sync the meter. I was at work and I ended up manually inputting my numbers, which I was OK with.

Things I wasn’t a fan of: 

*You can’t go back and manually input glucose numbers at a later time - I didn’t like that feature. What if I wasn’t in the same room as my iPhone or iPad or forgot to take them out with me. Not being able to count those numbers in my blood sugar daily average annoys me. 

*I like that the app lets me program whether my blood sugar it’s before or after a meal, but I wish the LogBook feature would allow me an easy option to punch in both the glucose time setting and whether the blood sugar was for a meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, etc) or not. 
WHY?  Because I don’t eat at the same time everyday and some days I test more than others. Sometimes I test 3 times between lunch and dinner alone. 
I know that you can go in and manually input time settings, because I saw that feature when I wasn’t looking for it. 
But when I specifically looked for that feature to actually use it,  I couldn't  locate it and gave up trying to find it. 

Sometimes there were 3 blood sugars in a row around dinner in my log book, when in actuality it was more like 2 late afternoon blood sugar checks & then the dinner blood sugar. 

*** The folks at VerioSync reached out and explained that in order to change the time settings in the app's Logbook, I needed to go to the bottom of the app and click on “More.” Then click on “About Me,” scroll down the screen and look for the section called “Time of Day for Logbook,” which is where changes to the logbook time settings on that screen.

*When I first started using the VerioSync I compared glucose numbers with my ONETOUCH Ultra Mini and the ONETOUCH VerioSync glucose numbers ran between 15 to 30 points higher about 50% of the time - that was really frustrating. #StripSafely

This was slightly frustrating

After a few days of continually comparing 2 glucose meter readings, I stopped comparing meters and stuck with the VerioSync numbers because:
1. i wanted to base my readings on the VerioSync
2. I was starting to go slightly batty trying to do the bolus math. 

Bottom Line: 

I really like the ONETouch VerioSync and I especially like it in conjunction with my iPad - I liked the visuals and I liked that I could log, take notes, watch trends and have the ability to text or email the data.
Would I like to see the kinks I mentioned worked out?  Indeed I would - And I believe they will be, because apps are continually being updated - At this very moment I have 26 different notices for app updates on and for my iPad right now!
Diabetes technologies in all dimensions are keys to our good health - Keep them coming!! 

Diabetes Art Day #StripSafely Edition: Navigation

Diabetes Art Day - StripSafely Edition:

A sea  of glucose test strips in the ocean of my diabetes life~

A sea of glucose test strips in the ocean of my diabetes life,

Spindrift's of swirling numbers that never stop  -

Continuous swirling test strips and bg numbers that leave me spinning like a top. 

Numbers generated directly from my blood and the diabetes technology that are the tools to live this diabetes life.

Tools that are my blood sugar compass, Diabetes GPS, and life preserver, all rolled into one - 

Telling me how to navigate with insulin, in order to keep this diabetes life from coming undone. 

Navigation demands accuracy in all dimensions, be it by land or air or sea - 

But especially in glucose test strips and meters, accurate blood sugar coordinates are key.

And Right now glucose test strips are  anywhere between 10, 20 and some say as much as 40% off their marks - 

And that leaves people living with diabetes to navigate the Diabetes Ocean in the dark. 

AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

Kelly Kunik~

Diabetes navigation tools~

Spinning Like A Top & Monday August 26th is A Special Edition Diabetes Art Day: The #StripSafely Edition

OK, it's been a crazy week in Kelly's world and I'm so sorry for being somewhat MIA in the D blog-O-sphere. 
But when opportunities present themselves as several short term freelance work projects, diabetes or not - You have to go for them - even if they cause temporary chaos in your world in all dimensions - Including schedules, sleep, and clean laundry.  
Next week marks the end short term work projects I was recruited for - and things will go back to normal. And I'll miss the craziness, because even with all the chaos. Being crazy busy is a blessing. 
Crazy busy is a good thing - even when it makes you spin like a top. Spinning is a from of cardio, right? So spinning like a top should totally make me burn calories an lower blood sugars, right?? 

Ironically and not so ironic, diabetes has been cooperating - except for few nasty lows and a couple highs.
Making diabetes work in our schedules is a continual challenge and sometimes it's damn annoying!
But making diabetes work into busy and every changing schedules is doable - It just requires a lot of glucose testing. 
Speaking of glucose testing, Monday August 26th Marks a special Diabetes Art Day - The StripSafely Edition.  Clink on the previous links and learn all about it - And also see some inspiring Dart!! 
And gather up your used tests trips, teststrip bottles, test strip boxes, and create something based on your feelings regarding glucose testing, accuracy & everything else in between! Also, art takes many mediums so if you find yourself low on tests trips - Draw a picture or write a poem about your feelings and dust them with whatever used teststrips you have. 
I for one welcome a little art therapy - And I need it! Embrace your inner Picasso and go for it!

Tonight @ 8pm, EST - The DOC Will Mass Tweet Their Reps In DC To #StripSafely!!

I know I've been obsessed with stripping safely as of late - But I vividly remember the days of urine testing and fuzzy blue pills. I remember meters taking 3 minutes to test and lancing devices that hurt like hell. And lastly I remember the damage that was done to people I knew and loved & who are not longer here, because we didn't have diabetes technology not so very long ago.

Tonight, at 8pm (directly after the Diabetes Hands Foundation webinar with Act-Up's Peter Staley, register HERE and directly before tonight's #dsma chat) the twitterverse is going to go more than a little nuts as #StripSafely kicks off their twitter campaign en mass & the DOC tweets their reps in Washington to #StripSafely!!!
And you can be a part of it - All you to need to do is go HERE, find your State Reps, click after there name where it says :"Tweet about meeting", then work your #stripsafely tweet magic!

Here's my tweet: 

.@RepLoBiondo Pls send staff to Diabetes Tech Society Meeting on 9.9.13 w/ @US_FDA & Help diabetics #StripSafely http://is.gd/wya8oi http://is.gd/wya8oi

And you can also tweet your reps a link to the this StripSafely letter: http://www.stripsafely.com/?page_id=618

 Also,please, please, please RT other #StripSafley tweets so #stripsafely can be trending on the twitter. 

Diabetes doesn't care how you vote or what political party you're affiliated with. Diabetes doesn't exclude you if you're a Republican, a Democrat, Independent, or a member of any other political party. 
And people with diabetes need friends in Congress & we need them to help us convince the #FDA that test strip/meter accuracy is crucial for people with diabetes to maintain our good health & our safety! 

Join the #stripsafely twitterlution & lets all get our tweets on tonight! 

To learn more about StripSafely tweet campaign, click HERE & to read their blog post re: the #stripsafely tweet campaign, click HERE. 

StripSafely - And Get Your Reps In Congress To Do The Same!

My fingertips (especially my left hand ) are callused, bruised and filled with tiny pinhole scabs because I test my blood sugars between 7 and 10 times a day, everyday and without fail. 

I test because glucose testings tells me where I am, what direction my body (glucose) is heading towards, even if it's not where I want to be. But thanks to glucose testing, I can test and correct. Meters and test strips act as my Diabetes GPS - and without them I would be lost.

I remember the days before glucose testing. I remember clini-test fizzy blue pills in urine filled glass test tubes that burned my fingertips and would shatter if you dropped them. - They came with a portable and more discrete counter part called Tes-Tape which was basically a strip of tape you peed on to find out what your"sugar" was.

Those urine readings were measured in colors and percentages instead of actual numbers. They were anything but accurate, but it was all we had.

When glucose meters came to be in the 1980s, they were game changers for sure, albeit slow and painful ones. 

Lancets literally started out as carved pieces of slanted metal that would leave actual cuts on your finger. Followed by a new and modern harpoon auto-let that hurt like hell, followed by the less evasive but still painful lancet clicker pens. 

And my family and I actually  had to go to our local pharmacist to take a class to learn how to use our glucose meter. 

Our shared meter (3 of us used it,) costs hundreds of dollars, wasn't covered by insurance and took three minutes to test our blood glucose and came with an instruction book that was over 100 pages long.

My father silently took notes on the technical trickery and worried about the price, as the pharmacist slowly and methodically showed us how our meter worked. 

That first glucose meter was the size of a brick and took 3 long minutes to test our blood glucose. 

It was supposed to be worth it - It was supposed to be high tech and more accurate and it was - Technology made our lives with diabetes healthier. 

Diabetes care is technology based - And diabetes technology in the form of meters, insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors are how we stay healthy. 

Glucose testing tells me how much insulin I need to take (or not,) and it's supposed to keep me ( us) safe. 

I test before and after meals, before I drive, swim, or workout. I test when I'm sitting on the couch - Just to see where what direction my glucose is headed in.

I test because I want a healthy future filled with love and family and lots of laughter.  

Over the years meter companies & the FDA have worked with together and have come up with a margin of error of  -/+20% off the mark in either direction. Not great, but it's something. 

Currently meter companies & FDA are working together to get the 20% of the margin mark changed to -/+15%. 

But as of today, 25% of the meters out on the market fail when it comes to the 20% in either direction range. 

And many feel that 20% is a conservative estimate, and that number could be as high as 40%.

Like many, I not only believe that 20% in either direction is incredibly conservative - I've experienced it first hand.

Last Monday night I tested three times in a row and had 3 vastly different numbers 200, 226, and 234. 

After I input my blood sugar 7 carb into my insulin pump for each one of the numbers, resulting in 3 vastly different insulin doses:  4.20, 5.00 & 5.80

3 different doses of a prescription drug that people with diabetes rely on to stay alive - And a drug that is also outlawed in professional sports, unless the athlete has diabetes. A drug that if not administered in its proper doses to a person with diabetes can cause cause either DKA or Hypoglycemia - And  both can be deadly. 

Then there was the 119 blood sugar before lunch a few weeks back that caused me to break into a cold sweat - and get that wobbly feeling in the pit of my stomach. It felt more like a 62, and I didn't dare take insulin to cover my meal. 30 minutes after eating I was 89 and it was scary & frustrating. 

Here's the thing: I (we) shouldn't have to guess when it comes to my blood sugars or my insulin.

To quote directly from the StripSafely website: At a recent public meeting the FDA acknowledged that there are some 510(k) cleared blood glucose (BG) meters and strips that do not meet the accuracy standards for which they were approved. There is currently no clear course of action to insure people with diabetes are using blood glucose strips that meet regulatory requirements."

And now that Medicare and competitive bidding are coming into play, the potential for inaccurate off brand test strips to flood the market is a very real threat.  

People with Diabetes shouldn't have to guess when it comes to our blood sugars or our insulin dosing.

If a flu vaccine was found to be 20% to 40% off the mark, without question it wouldn't even be allowed on the market because peoples lives would be at risk.

So why is it OK for people with diabetes lives and future health to be put at risk with test strips that are anywhere between 20 and 40% off the mark?  

IT'S NOT. 

 Which is why I'm a huge supporter of the StripSafely Campaign - Started by the YourDiabetesMyVary Blogger, Bennet Dunlap.

Every single person living with, or who loves someone living with diabetes needs to get behind StripSafely & write their congressional reps and tell them that not only don't people living with diabetes want our health compromised by inaccurate glucose strips, we also want them to attend Diabetes Technology Meeting on September 9th in Bethesda, Maryland so they can learn and become empowered about this issue first hand. 

I'll be writing and sending out my letters to my Congressmen at both their local and D.C. offices this weekend. 

Worried about writing the letter? Don't be. You can find a wonderful sample letter that you can actually use, HERE, as well as links to contact your elected officials.

You can join others fighting to  StripeSafely by clicking, HERE. 

And you can tweet about #stripsafely  - Christal over at ThePerfectD has twitter handles to send suggest tweets to, HERE.  

We are worth it, your diabetes voice makes a difference, use it and be heard!

My callused, bruised & pinholed fingertips.