Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

JDRF- My favorite charity!

Thank you Komar!

To bad there is nothing for older boys.

Blame the ADA for insurers policies. If you can find a copy of the insurers medical policy it is likely to contain the exact same wording as the ADA policy. Even if it says thngs like "unless" you exercise, "unless" your blood sugar isn't stable, "unless" you don't eat the same thing, "unless" you don't eat at the same time and thus require more test strips - the insurers only quote the first part - you only need 4-6 test strips per day. Well, that's true - "Unless" they want to pay for ER visits!

Or "Unless" they want to pay for complications in ten years - oh that's right. I forgot. I've been told they don't worry about complications that haven't happened yet because Americans switch insurance carriers so often they won't likely have to pay for the complications.

Let's not forget they do not bother to negotiate for lower contract rates on test strips even if they mandate we use one of two brands. What they do on the other hand (have it from an industry source) is take kickbacks from the manufacturers! ... See More

This is what we need to be screaming about to affect day to day costs. This is what Congress could tangibly fix to ensure better care at a lower cost. Competition will NOT cure this. Setting rules and making them abide by them will.

Do any of you realize that most insurers didn't pay for test strips not that long ago. A former co-worker of mine went before Congress and lobbied for this privilege! Some didn't even pay for insulin syringes (e.g. Tufts here in Boston). I helped him write his speech and was very proud that he (as an engineer, not a medical person) went before Congress and demanded test strip coverage. Clearly we need to do more work in this area.

Check with your insurance. Mine says it will only cover 4-6 strips per day, but if we jump through a few more hoops 2x a year (more paperwork for the doctor) they approve up to 12 strips per day.

My son was diagnosed August 4, 1990 at 13 mths old. Back then they said we would have a cure by the time he was in kindergarten. Years and years of JDRF walks and still hoping for a cure. He's 20 now, leading a full life still and offers himself as a guinea pig for research with his clinicians.

This site gave me parental support, a place to put ... See Moremy thoughts, and pass on what helped my son. I haven't been on in a long time. Insulin pumps are really a magic bullet when they work well.
www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/chat/

Here's to hoping for another year of $150 Mil worth of research. Father was diagnosed at 8 years old. He's 54 now. Son, 7, was just diagnosed last wednesday. Go figure it skipped me.

That being said Jennifer, if you are interested in learning about Type 1 diabetes, this is the place to be!!!

Ok. Thank you. I know I became a fan. I just didn't know that other people from the foundation can comment and it will show on my page and them not being a on my friends list. My bad. Sorry.

My 5yr old son was diagnosed 2 weeks ago. He's a real candy-lover so this is going to be diffcult for us. Love the idea of buying his candy from him for a trip to the toy store, I think he'll be all over that one! He'll still go trick or treating and we'll just treat the carbs. How do you all work that - do you let them 'graze' on candy for the evening and treat before/after? or give them a little bag and set a time-limit to eat it in? We're still so new at this..... thanks.

No, I never graze on candy. And as a kid, before and after diabetes diagnosed, I "hoarded" my candy and at a piece or two at a time.

Now ... insulin (Apidra, Humalog or Novolog) doesn't respond fast enough to match candy digestion. I don't want to be high for several hours and then drop like a lead ballon. It doesn't feel good.

So ... I eat 1 ... See Moreor 2 pieces and (normally) eat them when I'm a little low already (e.g. in the 60's). Now, I understand most kids stay higher than a normalized 85 so "low" is a relative term. But I firmly believe that learning control and moderation with high carb food (including candy) is very important. I'm thankful for learning that at an early age because I guarantee it's why I'm still think and very healthy at 33 years since diagnosis.

Can I get someone from JDRF to send me a message on FB? Thanks!