When I met Amanda Bauer online through the diabetes community and found out she has diabetes and LOVES her pink insulin pump and pink mio infusion set, I knew that we would become fast friends since we have that in common! That’s exactly what happened with Amanda and me. Amanda is 20 years old, has lived with type 1 diabetes since the age of 11, and has been on a MiniMed insulin pump for the last 8 years. Read More >
As the school year comes to a close, we begin to shift our mindset into summer mode and all of the activities that go along with the season. Diabetes Camp is a great opportunity for kids to get active, make new friends and learn more about diabetes management. However, for many parents of kids with diabetes, sending their child away from home for a week can be cause for concern. Read More >
One of the reasons that we post on The LOOP is to educate our customers on the benefits and value added resources available to them. It seems like one topic that there’s always an appetite to learn more about is travel! There are questions like how to go through airport security, what to do with your Medtronic devices on an airplane, how to adjust to a new place with varied temperatures and sceneries, you name it. Read More >
As acting pancreases, we do a lot more thinking than we give ourselves credit for. When it comes to diabetes we make thousands of decisions a day. Many of which come so naturally it's hard to process the true amount of brain capacity it takes to keep the numbers in check. Summer tends to be my big wake up call. A shift in the boys' insulin needs begins, and as such I need to make many more conscious diabetes decisions than normal. Read More >
One of my favorite things about my insulin pump (other than being pink, of course) is that I can use as few or as many of the advanced features during different phases of my life as I want. After over a decade on my pump, I’ve pretty much used it all, but I have a few “go-to” features that I use the most and one is the temporary basal rate (or “temp basal”). Read More >
You’ve heard from Elisa Marchetti before in the blog post about her travel adventures from Costa Rica to China and her touching story in the Medtronic edition of You Can Do This. Today, Elisa shares the story of becoming a new Mommy! Read on about her experiences entering into Mommy-hood, and allow us to take this time to wish Elisa and all the moms out there a Happy Mother’s Day! Read More >
Today, I’m happy to bring you another guest blog from Kristin Baker, a CGM Product Specialist here at Medtronic. Last time we heard from Kristin she talked about Optimizing Diabetes Management using 3 types of CGM alerts. This time Kristin talks about decreasing CGM alerts with the use of CareLink Personal software. Let’s hear what she has to say. Read More >
A few weeks ago, the diabetes community lost a very dear friend, Dr. Richard R. Rubin. An associate professor of medicine and pediatrics for The Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Rubin spent his career helping people with diabetes and their families manage the emotional and psychological challenges of the disease. Read More >
Today we’re bringing back another blog from one of our community favorites, Cheryl, a Medtronic employee, person with diabetes, and a mom! Diabetes is a family disease, and no one knows that more than someone who lives with it every day. Today, Cheryl opens up with The LOOP on what it’s been like to educate her children about what’s involved with her diabetes management. Read More >
Editor’s Note: Today, Dr. Kaufman shares her closing thoughts on her experiences from her most recent trip to Haiti, where she helped with their second-ever diabetes camp. If you’re just now joining us for her story on this years trip, please be sure to check out Haiti 2013: Diabetes Management and the Magic of Laughing Children. Read More >
The great group of friends, check. The corsage, check. The special dress, check. Where to wear an insulin pump? Still trying to figure that out. This is what the check list sounded like as one of our customers named Kelly prepared for prom. One of the important events in a teenager’s life is getting the opportunity to go to prom. When you have diabetes and an insulin pump it takes just a little extra planning. Read More >
Anyone with children will tell you how difficult it can be to balance both career and family – probably even more difficult than they ever imagined before the kids arrived. Now imagine you’re a successful attorney with a demanding career as a partner in a law firm. And then your first baby – at only 10 months old – is diagnosed with diabetes. Read More >
For most men and women, their wedding day is one they’ll never forget. It takes a tremendous amount of planning to make this day special, and maybe even a little more so for those with diabetes. Today, we share with you a special guest post from professional golfer and pumper, Carling Coffing. Read More >
Editor’s Note: Last year, we shared with you a three-part-series from Dr. Francine Kaufman about her experiences visiting Haiti in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake and helping with their first-ever diabetes camp (Return to Haiti Part 1, Return to Haiti Part 2, Return to Haiti Part 3. This year, Dr. Kaufman and her husband – Dr. Neal Kaufman – returned to Haiti to help children with diabetes without aid. Read More >
One of my favorite things about our community is hearing inspiring stories of people living well with diabetes while pursuing and achieving so many different dreams – sports, music, art, travel, education and so much more. You may remember high school freshman Caroline Carter from her recent guest blog here on The LOOP, Advocating for Diabetes in the Big Apple. Read More >
We often hear from people of all ages that insulin pump therapy can be daunting at first. However, it usually doesn’t take long for changing sets and using the Bolus Wizard to become second nature. (Figuring out the exact carb count on your favorite takeout or nailing down those overnight basal rates might take a bit more trial and error.) Read More >
Here at Medtronic Diabetes, we’re committed to continuing to improve our products and to enable people to better manage their diabetes. The safety of you, our customers, is absolutely our top priority. This is why I’m writing today to let you know that, if you are a Medtronic customer who uses a Paradigm insulin pump, this week you and your healthcare provider will receive a letter from us in the mail. This letter is a voluntary notification about two potential issues with your pump. Read More >
Like me, you probably have a diabetes supply drawer (unofficially) labeled with “I have no idea what to do with these.” We recently asked a question to our Facebook community that read, “Spring is almost here! Are you planning to do some spring cleaning with your diabetes supplies?” and it sounded like the community had some of the same questions I had about best practices for disposing of these supplies. So what are you supposed to do with different diabetes supplies? Read More >
Today we welcome back our favorite sky-diver with diabetes, Michael Craig, who’s here to share some exciting news – he’s moving across the country for an exciting new job with the JDRF! Of course, new jobs are stressful and moving is a hassle for anyone. But there’s even more to think about and plan for if you live with type 1 diabetes. Hear how Michael is managing it all and join us in congratulating him on such an exciting time in his life! Read More >
I recently shared part one of a two part interview with Steve and Elissa Renouf. To make a long (and incredible) story short, Steve is a world famous Rugby player from Australia and has type 1 diabetes. He is married to Elissa, and together they have five children, four of whom also have diabetes! Here is the second part of their interview where they discuss how diabetes has impacted the future of their family, including becoming the foundational idea for a successful business. Read More >
You may remember Brett Griswold from some of our previous blogs such as On Love and Diabetes, Screening for Type 1 Diabetes and When to Tell Your Valentine about your Diabetes. Today, Brett shares with us how he prepares to manage his diabetes while vacationing in Las Vegas during March Madness. How do you prepare for vacation? Read More >
Growing up in a household full of Irish heritage, St. Patrick’s Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. I love the tradition of green shamrocks, cornbeef and cabbage and Irish music. So I was thrilled when a customer shared a photo of playing a bagpipe in a St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Thanks Jennifer for sharing your tips for managing to pump while playing the long route. Read More >
Today, we hear from Jake’s mom, Joy. She talks about how she was initially nervous to transition to insulin pump therapy to help manage Jake’s type 1 diabetes. She found that with practice it became easier and now even brings her peace of mind. Listen to her story and tell us: what were your concerns before starting your child on insulin pump therapy and what’s life like for your family now? Read More >
Spring is almost here, which means that it’s time for Daylight Savings Time! On March 10, most of us here in the U.S. “spring forward” our clocks by one hour. The time on your insulin pump/continuous glucose monitor (CGM) determines your personal settings (including basal and bolus rates), so you’ll want to make sure it is always up-to-date. Read More >
Remember Celine Parent, Lindsey Burch, and Lindsay Gossack? Not only do they have living with diabetes in common, they’re also inspirational insulin pumpers and Medtronic Global Heroes! Along with these blog posts, you can hear more stories from the 2012 Global Heroes in this video. Read More >
As some of you may know, we’ve teamed up with the Diabetes Hands Foundation for a series of Live Interviews with Medtronic leaders, broadcast over at TuDiabetes. If you missed the first two, be sure to check out the archives of Dr. Francine Kaufman and Lane Desborough. For the third event in the series, we’re thrilled to have Dr. John Mastrototaro discussing a very popular topic – the road to the artificial pancreas. Read More >
When we started the LOOP blog two years ago, it was our first significant step forward into the world of social media. Since then, we have started our Twitter and Facebook communities and we are so pleased with how engaged and united each of you has been. Today marks the two year blogaversary for The LOOP and so we wanted to take a moment to celebrate and recognize this special occasion! To do this we’ve rounded up some of our all-time favorite blogs from the past two years. Read More >
With diabetes, it’s extremely important to know where your blood glucose is, where it’s going, and how fast it’s getting there. Today, Kristin Baker, a CGM Product Specialist here at Medtronic joins us to talk about three types of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) alerts to help with that information – Threshold, Predictive, and Rate of Change alerts. Read More >
Regardless of age, the decision to use an insulin pump to help manage diabetes is a huge decision for both the person of diabetes and their loved ones. We recently sat down with 13-year-old Jack to talk about his decision to go on the pump and how it’s affected his day-to-day diabetes management. To hear even more from Jack, be sure to check out his video on WebMD. Read More >
Today, we’re excited to share with you another guest blog from Katie Janowiak, who works for the Medtronic Foundation, our company’s philanthropic arm. When she first told me her story about food poisoning and Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), I knew others could benefit from hearing it as well. Thanks Katie for your openness and allowing us to share your scary story so that the LOOP community can learn from it. Read More >
It’s one thing to be open with family and friends about diabetes and the impact it has on your life, but what happens when you start dating someone? Many people wonder when is the right time to share with a significant (or potentially significant) other about life with diabetes. In honor of Valentine’s Day we reached out to a few friends to hear what they had to say. Check out their answers below and share your opinion in the comments. Read More >
At Medtronic, we love seeing when the diabetes community gets involved with a campaign that can help people with diabetes and “Spare a Rose, Save a Child” is no exception to this. This community initiative was created by Kelly Close, Manny Hernandez, Bennet Dunlap, Kerri Sparling, and Jeff Hitchcock, with the following premise: “Spare a Rose, Save a Child” is simple: buy one less rose this Valentine’s Day and share the value of that flower with a child with diabetes in the developing world. Read More >
Hey LOOP readers, you heard from my friend Cheryl back in November with her guest blog, Superhero, or Something Like It and today she is back for more. As a reminder, she’s not only a person with diabetes and Medtronic employee, she’s also a busy mom with two kids. Today she shares her insight on the impact a diagnosis can have on a family, specifically how her diabetes has changed the way she has raised her children. Read More >
From time to time, we get the question “Does anyone working at Medtronic live with diabetes or have family members who do?” The answer is a very big yes! We have many people here for whom the Medtronic mission hits especially close to home. One of those people is Lane Desborough and, in addition to his job as a diabetes dad, he has a very exciting role here at Medtronic. Read More >
Every now and then, I meet a person with diabetes who stands out so much that this encounter is added to my list of those meetings I will never forget. Steve Renouf is a world famous Rugby player from Australia who during his successful sports career became one of the greatest players to have ever played in the Brisbane Broncos Club. Steve and his wife Elissa have been married for 22 years and they have five children. Read More >
A new year often brings change, and one of these might include changing the type of infusion set you wear. Infusion sets come in different kinds, each with different tubing and cannula length options. Based on lifestyle changes, your body type, and fluctuations in individual needs, your healthcare team might recommend looking into other infusion sets. Since there are many options, this is a popular topic. Read More >
Many women say that pregnancy is a time that transforms their future knowing they are carrying the child they will one day hold in their arms. It’s exciting, intimidating, and down-right frightening at times. And when you are a woman with diabetes experiencing pregnancy, many of these emotions can be drastically highlighted. Read More >
It is my pleasure today to introduce competitive ski racer, Nick Ward. Nick is an extremely inspirational young guy. After his diabetes diagnosis, he was told he wouldn’t be able to continue his pursuit of a competitive ski career. Passionate and driven, Nick pressed forward and continues on his quest of one day representing our nation as part of the U.S. Olympic Team. Read More >
We recently heard from Mari Ruddy as she prepared for the trip of a lifetime to India with our Medtronic Team. She had the opportunity to travel through four Indian cities to raise awareness about living with diabetes and managing it with technology. Her trip was a success and was recognized in a variety of Indian Press outlets. She was able to make an impact on the hearts of many people (which we knew she would!). Read More >
Today, I am thrilled to introduce you to our new community manager, Naomi Kingery. Many of you are already familiar with Naomi from reading her support tips and personal stories here on The LOOP, or perhaps reading her personal blog, Diabetic Diva. Personally, Naomi has been a huge inspiration. After reading Naomi’s first book about being diagnosed and living with diabetes as a teen, “Sugar Free Me,” I was motivated to join Medtronic. Read More >
It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to Caroline Carter, a very bright and dedicated high school freshman. Caroline is involved in so many activities and I find myself amazed at how she manages it all! She is an honor student, athlete, community volunteer, entertainer, and oh yea…she has type 1 diabetes too. She recently took a road trip to New York City to educate others about diabetes. Read More >
Recently, we’ve been asking our customers about which diabetes management topics they’d like to learn more. Interestingly, most of the topics you tell us you want to discuss are around continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) – predictive alerts, when to calibrate, what’s next in CGM technology, etc. So, when Dr. Kaufman agreed to do a Live Interview on TuDiabetes, we jumped at the chance to ask her to share more about this popular topic. Read More >
I really enjoy the holiday season, but by the time New Year’s rolls around I’m ready to say farewell to the non-stop festivities and get back to a normal routine. As I pack away my Christmas decorations and get my house in order, I think about getting my diabetes management in order too. Sure, I work hard at diabetes all year long, even during the holidays, but I always have room for a little diabetes tune-up. Read More >
I hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing holiday season with family and friends. As we usher in the New Year, I’d like to take a moment to once again say, Thank You! Thank you to all of our readers for being a special part of our online community. Seeing you all come together to support one another on a daily basis on Facebook, Twitter, and right here on The LOOP is exciting and it inspires me to come to work every day. Read More >
All year long I have had the pleasure of writing a variety of support related blog posts here on The LOOP. While using technology to assist with a disease as complex as diabetes, there is an opportunity to learn something new every day. Read More >
Recently my friend Fran Kaufman, our Chief Medical Officer, contacted me to explain that Medtronic was piloting a skills-based volunteering program, Skills for Change. She asked if I would like to be part of a small global team travelling to Chennai, India for 3 weeks to focus on gestational and type 2 diabetes. I immediately jumped at the opportunity. Read More >
It’s that time of year again – the 8-week long flurry of festivity in the U.S. that we call “The Holidays”. Feasts, travelling, gift-giving, joy (and stress) are big parts of the mix for many Americans. Of course, the celebrating can come with a few unique challenges if you live with diabetes. So, here’s a roundup of some of our favorite blog entries and resources that we thought you might find most helpful this time of year. Read More >
Today we hear from Ashley, who discusses what life was like on injections and how she was worried an insulin pump would be a constant reminder of diabetes – to her and others around her. She talks about what life is really like now that she’s on the MiniMed pump and how no one else needs to see the pump if she doesn’t want them to. Listen to her story and tell us: What were your concerns before starting insulin pump therapy and what’s life like for you now? Read More >
I’ll admit it, I’m weirdly good at keeping track of things. I’m over-organized to a fault and at any given time I have dozens of lists swirling around in my head. My husband uses me as a walking calendar. I have an eerie ability to remember not only important information, but also some pretty useless stuff . . . like all of the lyrics to any song from the ‘80s, even if I haven’t heard it in 20 years. Read More >
Today, meet Morgan Bond, a senior marketing communications specialist here at Medtronic. Morgan recently teamed up with others from Medtronic Diabetes to ride in the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Tour de Cure in Santa Barbara, CA in an effort to raise awareness and money to help improve the lives of those living with diabetes. A big thanks goes out to Morgan and all who rode that day, sticking it out and braving the weather during the long ride! Read More >
I would like for you to meet Celine Parent. After a diagnosis with diabetes, she saw that her life would take a different path which would one day include becoming a half marathoner and triathlete. Recently, she was selected to run a 10 mile race as a Medtronic Global Hero because of her work in the diabetes community. (This is an awesome accomplishment!) Read her story about the biggest marathon in her life, ten years with diabetes. Read More >
As many of you know, we were thrilled to welcome Aron Medow, winner of our Facebook launch contest, to Los Angeles and Medtronic. Aron was kind enough to share with us the following very kind words about his visit. But I think we should be the ones thanking him – the team and I had a wonderful time with Aron, his beautiful wife Nellie and their adorable, high-energy little boys. Thank you Medow family – we’re so glad you had a nice time here in Los Angeles! Read More >
As Thanksgiving approaches you might be thinking one of three things: the arrival of the pilgrims to North America, what you are thankful for, and what yummy meal(s) you might be eating the day of! So as you prepare for your Thanksgiving feast, let’s talk about the word that goes hand in hand with feast, “bolus.” Read More >
Today, I am pleased to share with you a guest blog from JoQuese Satterwhite, a Senior Quality Analyst Supervisor here at Medtronic. In today’s post, JoQuese talks about employees living out our mission both in and out of the workplace. This year, employees had the opportunity to attend diabetes walks for the American Diabetes Association and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. JoQuese specifically shares about our recent participation in both the San Antonio and Los Angeles JDRF walks. Read More >
Today is November 15, the day after the awe inspiring annual World Diabetes Day. Although yesterday was filled with hope and unity, if you will allow me to be frank here for a moment, I feel sad today. It is the day after a very important day, but my friends and I in the diabetes community still have the same disease we had yesterday with the same struggles we dealt with on November 14th, 13th, and every day before. Read More >
Editor’s Note: I am excited to introduce our guest blogger Mari Ruddy, a long-time Medtronic customer and diabetes advocate, two time breast cancer survivor and endurance athlete. She has had type 1 diabetes for 31 years and is the founder of the Red Rider Program of the American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure and the Director of TeamWILD. Today she tells readers about her upcoming trip to India with our Medtronic team. Read More >
Like any workplace, here at Medtronic Diabetes, we go through phases of conversations and activities that are often the topic of hallway and cafeteria table conversations. One of the things you might hear around here lately is, “Did you see the video of that guy jumping out of a plane with Lenny the Lion? The one with an insulin pump?” Read More >
I want to take a moment to thank all of you who participated in the Medtronic Diabetes Ambassador Election<link to previous blog>! It was exciting to host an election allowing the community to come together and share their thoughts and vote on their favorite diabetes ambassador. Read More >
When Alex Karanikitas was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, his mom Kristine wanted to move his bed into her room at night she was so worried about middle-of-the-night lows. Then they found the mySentry Remote Glucose Monitor. Watch the video below to hear how the Karanikitas family heads off those nighttime lows today Read More >
In the spirit of the 2012 U.S. General Election held today, we thought we would run an election of our own to determine your favorite Medtronic sponsored Diabetes Ambassador of all-time. Over the last 30 years, several characters have helped us communicate with kids and kids at heart in the diabetes community. Today, the Bolus Wizard, Carl the Chameleon, and Lenny the Lion are each asking for your vote for favorite all-time Diabetes Ambassador. Read More >
Kazakhstan is one of the best kept secrets in the world. If you think it is what was portrayed a few years ago in a rather irreverent movie, you are totally wrong. It is a vast country stretching across the Silk Road from Iran to China with a diverse ethnic/racial population and incredible resources – oil, gas and minerals – that have enabled the government to advance education, housing, industry and health for its people. Read More >
Fall is here, which means that it’s time for Daylight Savings Time to come to an end. On March 11, most of us here in the U.S. “fall back” by turning our clocks back by one hour. The time on your insulin pump/continuous glucose monitor (CGM) determines your personal settings (including basal and bolus rates), so you’ll want to make sure it is always up-to-date Read More >
It is not uncommon to walk through the halls during work at the diabetes business unit of Medtronic and recognize insulin pump tubing coming out of someone’s pocket. Today, I want you to meet Cheryl, a person with diabetes for 26 years and Medtronic employee for the last six years. She is also a busy wife and mom of two kids who finds passion in encouraging women with type 1 diabetes during pregnancy and motherhood. Read More >
We are dedicated to providing services to our customers when they are faced with unusual circumstances. In the event you or your family is impacted by the recent storm please remember to take the following items with you: Read More >
Every holiday has its traditions. Here at Medtronic Diabetes, we wanted to partake in one of Halloween’s most common traditions – pumpkin carving… Medtronic style! Read More >
In my last post I talked about using my pump’s Dual Wave Bolus feature to tackle foods that are rough on my blood sugar. But the Dual Wave isn’t the only feature on my pump that helps with my blood sugar management. I also make use of the Temp Basal function to try to cut down on highs and lows. Read More >
I have a secret. A secret not even my own children know. I'm not a fan of Halloween. There are many reasons for my hesitancy to embrace this holiday, the pinnacle being I have three children with type 1 diabetes. Yet the fact remains, I am the mother to four Halloween loving boys. There is no getting around it...I must embrace the holiday as if it were my own birthday. Read More >
Today we welcome back Lane Desborough, a product strategist here at Medtronic, to talk about how, as a company, we must continue to challenge ourselves to innovate for people with diabetes. In the video below Lane mentions one of his favorite books, The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton Christenson. Read More >
I’ve always believed that as a person with diabetes it’s important to take what I learn and share this information with others. I have many times benefited by being on the receiving end and learning from my friends with diabetes. I like to use my blog posts as a way to educate and share interesting tips, but to also share my personal experiences (even if it means sharing my mistakes, like I’m about to…) Read More >
With school back in session for most kids, many families spent the last several weeks packing and preparing for a new classroom, teacher, coursework and routine. Of course, back-to-school planning is even more important for kids with diabetes. Today, we hear from guest blogger Krissy Karanikitas, as she mentally runs through her lists and plans for her two children, Alex and Lilly, during a 4am blood glucose check. Read More >
Today, I’m excited to introduce Lori Schlosser, mother of 14-year-old Noah, who lives with Type 1 Diabetes. In today’s guest post, Lori shares with us some of the challenges that parents face when raising a child with Type 1 Diabetes as well as some tips she has learned since Noah’s recent incorporation of CGM technology into his daily diabetes management. If you have tips of your own, we’d love for you to share them with us in the comments below! Read More >
Today, we hear from Theresa Reynoso, who shares a very difficult story. She lost her son at age 19 from Type 1 diabetes and talks about her day-to-day management of her own Type 2 diabetes. She says it’s not easy, but with the help of her insulin pump, it makes managing her diabetes a lot less difficult. Take a moment to listen to Theresa’s story and share your thoughts with us in the comments. Read More >
We’ve been inspired with how our community came together during our Back-to-School Facebook contest and shared such thoughtful tips for effective diabetes management for students of all ages. Our voting period wrapped up this past Thursday September 13th, and it’s time to announce our three winners! Read More >
You may remember today’s guest blogger Amanda Griswold from earlier this year, when she and her husband Brett shared with us their unusual love story. Today we’re lucky to have her back to talk about the couple’s decision to have their son screened for autoantibodies predictive of the development of Type 1 Diabetes through the research program TrialNet. Read More >
I typically use most of the options my insulin pump offers, from linking my blood glucose meter to communicate with my pump, to using temporary basal rates when I need to. One feature that I never understood (and was somewhat intimidated by) was basal patterns. I didn’t fully get why I would need additional settings, in what life circumstances I would use them, and if I even trusted myself to remember to turn the basal patterns on and off once I figured all that out. Read More >
We were thrilled to see all of the great tips shared through our Back-to-School Facebook contest over the last few weeks! It’s been inspiring to read all of your great tips for managing diabetes in classrooms – from kindergarten to college. Now, the time has come to vote for your favorite tip! Read More >
We have good news to share with you today. We just announced, along with our partner Bayer HealthCare, a new blood glucose meter that will link to Medtronic insulin pumps. The CONTOUR® NEXT LINK has a bright, easy-to-read color display, requires a small blood sample size (0.6 microliters) and uses Bayer’s patented No-Coding™ technology to eliminate inaccurate test results that occur due to miscoding of the meter. Read More >
I’m excited to share with you our first guest blog from action sports enthusiast and professional skydiver, Michael Craig. You may remember him from his interview with The LOOP back in June. Michael is definitely an inspirational guy, always going for it, and not letting life circumstances prevent him from following his dreams and doing what he loves; something that anyone can admire. Today, Michael shares some of his history with us, as well as his experiences after 30 days using CGM. Read More >
As a person with diabetes, I find that certain foods will completely wreck my blood sugar. Those items can vary from person to person, but I’ve got quite a list of foods that always bring me major blood sugar mayhem. So when I began pumping after 28 years of injections I was determined to use my pump’s features to tackle some of my favorite challenging foods. Any guesses on which food was first on my list? Read More >
Today, we’re excited to share with you another guest blog from Katie Janowiak, who works for the Medtronic Foundation, our company’s philanthropic arm. This time, Katie takes us back to her college days at Michigan State University and comically demonstrates the importance of always thinking ahead and being prepared when living with diabetes. Read More >
For many students and families who have a loved one living with diabetes, heading off to college for the first time can be both an exciting and scary experience. For the first time these students experience living on their own and they are ultimately responsible for their own well-being and diabetes management. The College Diabetes Network, an organization emerging on college campuses throughout the U.S. and Canada, strives to improve the lives of students on campus living with type 1 diabetes Read More >
I would like to take a moment to first thank everyone for the wonderful diabetes management tips submitted on our Insulin Pumps and Continuous Glucose Monitoring blog by Dr. Francine Kaufman. As you know, everyone who submitted a tip was automatically entered in to a drawing to win 1 of 10 copies of her new book, Insulin Pumps and Continuous Glucose Monitoring: A User’s Guide To Effective Diabetes Management. Read More >
Do you have a great tip for managing diabetes while in school? With the new school year quickly approaching, we want to hear about the ways you prepare. Do you have great tips when it comes to managing diabetes in the cafeteria, or in the middle of biology class? Whether your tip is for a little one just starting Kindergarten, a tween/teen or a young adult heading off to college, we want to hear from you! Read More >
Meet James, a Medtronic MiniMed customer who shares his experience about being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and using insulin pump therapy to help him manage his diabetes. Read More >
A change of scenery is always nice, and this summer my travel agenda has taken me to Arizona, South Carolina, and Minnesota so far. I first prepared for my trips by checking the weather forecast and learned I would be experiencing triple-digit weather, talk about change! I did research to learn about heat and insulin pumps and I would like to follow up on the insulin storage blog I wrote last fall Read More >
Editor’s Note: Last fall, the amazing d-mom Meri Schumacher from ourdiabeticlife.com was kind enough to write an article for our e-newsletter News to Infuse, sharing some of her back-to-school wisdom to parents and other family members of children with diabetes. With another school year right around the corner for many, we thought this would be a good time to share this information with our readers of The LOOP as well. Hope you enjoy and a big thank you Meri for sharing Read More >
Today, we want to give big congratulations to the winners of this month’s Best of the 'Betes Blogs! If you’re not familiar, the Best of the ‘Betes is the brainchild of Sara Knicks over at Moments of Wonderful and a great way to discover new diabetes blogs and bloggers. Here’s how it works - Throughout the month as you’re reading your favorite diabetes blogs, you can nominate your favorites in 13 different categories... Read More >
When I first got involved in the diabetes online community (or DOC), I was simply looking to connect with others like me. I always felt alone in dealing with diabetes, so it was incredible to find a whole community who really understood the things I was going through. The support was wonderful . . . but I soon found I could turn to the DOC for more. I found a great wealth of information on the non-medical side of life with diabetes - Read More >
With summer in full swing, there’s been a lot of talk lately about diabetes camp, especially over on the Medtronic Diabetes Facebook page. So today we’re thrilled to welcome Jennifer LeBlanc, a Diabetes Clinical Manager here at Medtronic, to share some of her camp memories and what the experience meant to her. We’d love to also hear about your memories, so feel free to share in the comments! Read More >
Part of my job description is to prepare customers for questions they may have by providing proactive information before the question has to be asked. This could be a tip like making sure you write down your username and password for our logged in properties like CareLink Personal®, or to be aware that you need to disconnect your insulin pump and CGM Transmitter when you have an MRI done Read More >
Before my Paradigm Revel, my old routine used to look a bit like this: 1. Check blood sugar 2. Calculate carbs (if eating a meal or snack) 3. Pull out the calculator and use about 3-4 different mathematical equations to guess at a round-about dose for said carbs 4. Then, either inject (if I were using pens) or program my old pump to deliver the said dose. 5. And, when I was able to get a CGM, my next step was to find the CGM and input my latest BG reading in for calibration. Read More >
Editor’s note: We were excited to hear that our very own Dr. Kaufman worked with the American Diabetes Association on a new book, “Insulin Pumps and Continuous Glucose Monitoring: A User’s Guide to Effective Diabetes Management.” We will be giving away 10 copies of the book by random drawing – to enter, please send us a comment below and tell us what diabetes management tip you would like to share. Read More >
Today we’re excited to congratulate Uli Rankers and his team of engineers here at Medtronic for winning a silver IDEA award for the Enlite™ Serter! The 2012 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA®) program is a celebration of design excellence in products, sustainability, interaction design, packaging, strategy, research and concepts. Read More >
Dealing with natural disasters can be daunting for anyone and whether it is flooding, fires, tornadoes, earthquakes, snow, or a hurricane, it’s important for anyone to be prepared. If you’re someone who lives with diabetes you also have to think about your diabetes management needs and supplies as part of that reactive plan to have in place for yourself and loved ones. About five years ago, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, we put in place a disaster relief program... Read More >
I want to take a moment to thank all of you who have joined our new Facebook community! It’s wonderful to be able to share with/hear from you on a daily basis, as well as twice a week here at The LOOP. When joining us on Facebook, I know many of you also entered the contest to win a trip to Los Angeles to enjoy some of our local sights, tour the Medtronic facility and meet with some of our executives. The good news is, we’ve selected a winner! Read More >
One topic that customers often ask about when they call the 24-Hour HelpLine is the buttons on their insulin pumps. How durable are they? Am I pushing them too hard? Am I pushing them the wrong way? I can understand why - there’s so much riding on those buttons! The more than 1 million lines of computer code in a Medtronic insulin pump (interesting factoid for you!) are controlled by only four little buttons. Read More >
As many of you know, we launched the Medtronic Diabetes Facebook page a few weeks ago. We’re really enjoying the opportunity to connect with customers like you both on Facebook as well as here at The LOOP. In addition to answering your questions and providing tips and information, it’s been wonderful to hear from so many of you about the extraordinary (and ordinary) moments in your lives – from wedding days and birthday pool parties to softball games and mountain climbs. Read More >
Many people with diabetes tell the story of how, shortly after diagnosis, a friend, family member or healthcare provider says something along the lines of “You can’t be at truck driver or join the military, but career-wise anything else is open to you.” I’ve been lucky enough to meet people for whom “anything else” became a fireman, teacher, scientist, nurse, journalist, hair stylist, runner, singer or professional athlete. But meeting Michael Craig still wowed me... Read More >
In case you missed it last week, the diabetes community lost someone who made a significant contribution to the understanding of diabetes – Dr. David Lawrence Rimoin. Read More >
Today, I’m so pleased to share with you some exciting news about our new partnership with JDRF, in collaboration with the Helmsley Charitable Trust (HCT), to advance continuous glucose monitoring toward an artificial pancreas. The goal of the partnership is to accelerate the development of the Medtronic novel redundant sensor system, which combines two unique sensing technologies in one device. Read More >
A few months ago I had two lows in the middle of the night which resulted in 6 Starbursts and 2 protein bar wrappers thrown on the floor next to my bed. The next morning my mom saw the wrappers and immediately told me how guilty she felt for not catching them. That day she cried, and she cried hard, over the fact that even though it’s been 10 years and I’ve moved from a child with diabetes to a 20-something adult with diabetes, it is still hard for her to watch my struggle... Read More >
Since starting on insulin pumps over 12 years ago, I have used almost every type of infusion set that has been made (along with almost every insulin pump, but that’s another story). The last type of set I used was the Quick-Set for my Paradigm Revel pump. I liked it because the packaging was not a lot of waste and you could use either the Quick-Serter or insert it manually. Read More >
To date, one of the most popular blog posts here on the LOOP is the one I wrote about preventing moisture damage to your pump. I knew this was a big topic, but didn’t realize it was that big! As summer approaches and many of us spend more time at the beach or out in the sun working up a sweat, here are some more tips on moisture-filled scenarios you may encounter. Read More >
The morning started out well enough. I put in a new infusion set before heading to work. Spent all morning in the 180s, despite multiple corrections. Sometimes that happens, so I didn’t think too much of it. Then I had lunch. And bolused for all my carbs. Only my body didn’t get the memo. I looked down to see double up arrows on my CGM. And discovered I had small ketones. So frustrating! Read More >
Today we’re excited to introduce you to Katie Janowiak, who works for the Medtronic Foundation, our company’s philanthropic arm. It’s an exciting job, helping Medtronic employees get involved in the communities and causes we care about. But today she’s here to share something personal - her diagnosis with Type 1 Diabetes 15 years ago and what she’s learned since then about living with diabetes. Read More >
In my last blog, I shared about how you can add cleaning your insulin pump to your spring cleaning to-do list. So I thought I’d take this a step further by looking into my diabetes drawers which led me to my continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices. My transmitter and sensor insertion device (also called the Sen-serter) could definitely benefit from some cleaning! Read More >
A few weeks ago, I celebrated my fourth “pumpaversary”. And I really did celebrate the milestone of being on an insulin pump for four years, because my road to get here was a long one. Read More >
I have some exciting news to share with you today – Medtronic Diabetes is now on Facebook! We know that a lot of you spend time on Facebook connecting with your friends and with others who have diabetes. We have really enjoyed connecting with you here at The LOOP, as well as on Twitter, which is why we’re thrilled to be on Facebook. Read More >
Last week was the personal highpoint of my year. One of the best things I get to do every day is answer questions and provide information to people with diabetes to make the management of their diabetes a little easier. At the same time, I work with many of the leaders of the company to get updates on product innovations like the closed loop, clinical studies to improve outcomes, and a variety of other topics including education and support. Read More >
Editor’s Note: Today Dr. Kaufman shares her closing thoughts on her experiences from her most recent trip to Haiti, where she helped with the first-ever diabetes camp in Haiti. If you’re just now joining us for her story, please be sure to check out Return to Haiti: Part 1. and Return to Haiti: Part 2. Read More >
Friday night we left the camp at dusk – it is not safe to travel much after dark – just after the kids rambled off the bus and got settled in camp. It is located up in the mountains, where the well-off live. Anxious to get back, we got up early Saturday morning and headed back up the mountain. Heading up this mountain in Haiti was like swimming against the current, broken down vehicles, chaos in the streets, pot holes as big as cars, and animals running free – mainly dogs and goats. Read More >
Spring has almost sprung, which means that Daylight Savings Time is here. On March 11, most of us here in the U.S. “spring forward” our clocks by one hour. The time on your insulin pump/continuous glucose monitor (CGM) determines your personal settings (including basal and bolus rates), so you’ll want to make sure it is always up-to-date. Read More >
Spring cleaning is the time of year when we tend to clean up our surroundings to simplify our lives after the dreary winter months. Depending on where you live, you may be coming out of the cold soon and, with the sight of some new blooms, ready to take on your closet or your kitchen cabinets. But how about organizing your pump supplies or cleaning your insulin pump? Read More >
We have been in Haiti for three days – but it seems like a life time. When we arrived in the airport, it was chaos, and finding our host – Phillipe Larco, MD (an epidemiologist, and the husband of Nancy Larco, MD – the endocrinologist who runs FHADIMAC, the Haitian Diabetes Association and who we came to work with) – was an arduous task being jostled and harangued by a throng of Haitian men trying to help us so that we would pay them a dollar. Read More >
Can you believe it? It’s the LOOP’s first blogaversary already! And, of course, we couldn’t have done it without you, our readers. Thank you! It seems like just yesterday we were nervously hovering over the “publish” button for the first time, asking ourselves things like: “Is this first post okay?” “Will anyone read it?” “Can we really do this – do we have something to say that the DOC will care about?” Read More >
I am so excited to introduce you to our newest guest blogger, Meri Schuhmacher from Our Diabetic Life. With four wonderful boys (three with diabetes), she’s an incredibly busy D-Mom who still always manages to find the time and warmth to support and encourage others in the diabetes community. She was one of the first to try out the mySentry Remote Glucose Monitor and we’re thrilled to have her blogging for us here. Read More >
Have you met Karen Graffeo? You may know her from her blog Bitter~Sweet or her work with her local chapter of JDRF (if you live in New England) or from the very successful Diabetes Blog Week, which Karen created and now organizes each May. We love Karen’s positive attitude about life and diabetes (even when times are hard) and, with more than 30 years with Type 1 Diabetes, she has a lot of valuable experience to share. So, we thought we’d ask her to do a series of guest posts here at The LOOP. Read More >
As I am sure you already know, there are long-term complications associated with diabetes and the goal of effective diabetes management is to prevent these complications from developing. The most common long-term complication is heart disease, also called coronary artery disease and abbreviated as CAD. Read More >
It’s that time again…the three-month check-in/check-up at the doctor’s office. Time to get everything together: logbook, refills needed, questions or concerns jotted down. The part I used to dread was the most was the logbook part. Making sure I had the right cables for the right devices, uploading three devices (meter, pump and CGM) and praying my printer would work to print off the needed reports. Read More >
Valentine’s Day is today – a day that’s typically all about love and romance. Now, when you think of diabetes and Medtronic, romance might not be the first word to come to your mind. But when I think of diabetes, Medtronic and romance, two names immediately came to mind: Amanda and Brett Griswold. Amanda works here in Marketing with Lenny the Lion and a few other fun projects. When I first started at Medtronic someone told me a brief version of their story and all I could say was “Wow!” Read More >
Last month, Dr. Kauffman shared how when patients upload to CareLink it helps provide her with valuable information that helps make the most of their visit together. Today, we’re very excited to share the news that CareLink Personal is available for use with even more computer systems and software. The much anticipated support for MAC OS 10.7 (Lion) is now available with CareLink Personal 5.7! This version also supports Internet Explorer 9 and FireFox 5.0. Read More >
When I first met Blair Ryan more than a year ago, she and her Insulindependence colleague Peter Nerothin were introducing Amanda and me to a fantastic burrito place in Solano Beach, CA. With the waves of the Pacific crashing behind us, I knew right away I liked this classic SoCal woman with the big smile and contagious enthusiasm for staying fit and helping people with diabetes. Read More >
One of the best parts of my job is getting to meet people who are doing amazing work in the diabetes community, whether one of our customers, an advocate or a diabetes researcher. Last week I had the opportunity to meet Quinn Nystrom, who has been an inspirational leader, youth advocate, and speaker since she was diagnosed at the age of 13. Read More >
I looked down the other day and saw that the edge of my infusion set site was no longer sticky and beginning to peel. To be cautious, I put a piece of tape over my site and was back to business. At times I am often overly cautious because of the whole saying “I’d rather be safe than sorry,” and because I have also learned what can happen when I don’t take that extra special care. Read More >
As you may have heard, we recently launched iPro2, the next-generation of our continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system used by physicians to help improve diabetes management. iPro2 includes a tiny, disposable glucose sensor and a small data recorder which automatically records glucose information every five minutes. Patients wear the small device while going about their normal daily activities before returning it to their physician’s office for evaluation. Read More >
As you all know, living with diabetes means dealing with a lot of stuff: insulin, glucose tabs, meters, test strips, reservoirs, tape, infusion sets, sensors, skin prep, the list goes on. And, of course, you have to keep on top of ordering all this stuff, since running out can be anywhere from inconvenient to dangerous. Read More >
I have been excited to be a part of the STAR 3 clinical trial since becoming the Chief Medical Officer of Medtronic. The 12 month study phase results of Star 3, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that there was a significant reduction in A1C in those study participants using an integrated insulin pump and CGM (SAP) compared to those using multiple daily injections (MDI). Read More >
We all love to go to them. We laugh and have fun with family and friends. The LAST thing we want to be worried about is what our blood sugar may be doing that could be a potential party-pooper for us. So what do we do? Read More >
Here at Medtronic, we get a lot of questions from customers about the lumps and bumps that may appear at injection sites. So, here’s a Q&A on what these lumps are, why they occur and how to prevent them. Read More >
We just wanted to take a quick moment to thank Cherise Shockley, George Simmons and Scott Johnson the lovely hosts of DSMA Live! Read More >
We always enjoy DSMA Live, hosted by the wonderful Cherise Shockley, George Simmons, Scott Johnson. But tomorrow night is going to be extra-special for us, since our own Lane Desborough will be the guest. Read More >
When my son was first diagnosed with diabetes, my wife and I were very focused on tackling the clinical part of the disease. We worried less about things like the impact of diabetes on his lifestyle and social interactions. But we soon we realized that it’s important not to get too out of balance; to forget that there’s a person behind the disease. Read More >
With the stroke of midnight and the cheers, kisses and confetti that follow, a New Year is always exciting. Not just because it is the beginning of another calendar year, but because it can serve as a fresh starting point for many of us. You may have seen the article in the December issue of News to Infuse with tips for making (and sticking to) New Year’s resolutions. Read More >
Happy New Year! I am thrilled to start off 2012 by sharing some really exciting news with you. We have received FDA approval for the mySentry™ Remote Glucose Monitor, the first product of its kind that allows parents and caregivers to monitor the MiniMed Paradigm® REAL-Time Revel™ System from another room. Read More >
Happy 2012! With the new year, you may have a new insurance policy. Here’s just a quick reminder that, if that’s the case, please be sure to give us a call to update your policy information. That way, we can ensure you keep receiving your supplies without interruption. Read More >
2011 is closing out and I can’t help but pause for reflection and say Thank You! Thank you to all of our readers and customers who have shared their ideas, insights and on some days even complaints. I can confidently say on behalf of all of Medtronic Diabetes, we have appreciated your candor and participation. We learn so much from you each and every day. Read More >
Each year I look forward to the time of year during which a lot of the major medical meetings for diabetes take place. It’s a time where I can interact with my colleagues and friends and we can share the latest science and technology with the goal of finding the best treatment our patients. Read More >
On World Diabetes Day, George Simmons held bacon skin contest giveaway. If you haven’t seen the video (link to video entry), race right over to George’s blog and watch it today. Read More >
As an Endocrinologist it’s important for me to have as much information as possible when I meet with a patient and their family. That’s why CareLink is so important to me in my practice. It gives me more detailed information than blood work or what my patients typically volunteer. Read More >
December can be a very busy month when a lot of people celebrate various holidays, spend time with family and friends near and far, and/or ring in the New Year. It can be a lot of excitement and a lot to think about – in addition to thinking about diabetes! So we rounded up a few past blog entries that we thought might come in handy this time of year. Hope you enjoy! Read More >
Back in October, we asked you to share how you incorporate diabetes into your Halloween costume and told you we’d award prizes for our favorites. Truth be told, the winners were not quite what we expected (and more of the canine/feline variety) but the best of the best, nonetheless! Read More >
Have you heard? We’re now on Twitter! If you like talking with us here at The LOOP but want to know even more (in 140 characters or less), follow @MDT_Diabetes on Twitter. We’ll still be posting here about twice a week and continue to look forward to your comments. But we’re also really excited about being able to talk daily with the DOC on Twitter about living with diabetes and managing it with technology. See you there! Read More >
You may or may not know that, in addition to a long career as a Pediatric Endocrinologist, I also have had a long career as a parent. When my boys were growing up I was very big on what I call “The Weekly Meeting” and on positive reinforcement. Read More >
When I was little, I would always forget to bring something I was supposed to have with me at all times. Whether it be my meter, a few extra needles (this was back in the “shot” days), insulin, you name it. I don’t have enough fingers and toes to count the numerous times I heard my mom or dad sigh and say, “Sarah, you’d forget your head if it weren’t attached to you!”. And they were right. But I wanted to be like everyone else. Read More >
Along with the lines wrapping around airports and shopping malls on the days before and after Thanksgiving, did you know that it is during this season that we see some of the highest call-volume days on the 24-Hour HelpLine? Read More >
I have had diabetes for a decade with my diagnosis occurring at the age of twelve. Of course, it changed everything about my life and I have worked for the past ten years to continue to learn how to embrace my diabetes. I struggled at first but when I got involved in the diabetes community, it changed everything. I found other people who knew what it was like to put a needle into their thigh and pinky. Read More >
I’ve heard that the day before Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year for US travel. I’ve also heard it’s a myth. Either way, from Thanksgiving until New Year’s a lot of people are heading out of town to visit friends and family or to enjoy a fun get-away while they have some time off work/school. If you’re one of those people and you also have diabetes, here’s the blog roundup for you. Read More >
Today we hear from Celeste Cooper, who offers up some helpful sensor tips – whether you’re just starting out or nearly CGM pro! For even more resources, visit the Help and Support section of our Website. Read More >
Fall is here, which means that it’s time for Daylight Savings Time to come to an end. On November 6, most of us here in the U.S. “fall back” by turning our clocks back by one hour. The time on your insulin pump/continuous glucose monitor (CGM) determines your personal settings (including basal and bolus rates), so you’ll want to make sure it is always up-to-date. Read More >
Ever wonder why it takes so long for new diabetes devices to get to market? Today Dr. Mastrototaro, Vice President of Research and Development for the Diabetes business unit of Medtronic, talks about some of the time-consuming steps in the process. He also gives The LOOP a preview of the types of products Medtronic is working on for the future. Read More >
Today we welcome back Allison Blass as a guest blogger at The LOOP. In this post, she’s digging up some childhood trick-or-treat memories and offering up some advice to D-parents about making Halloween fun for kids with diabetes. Also, whether you’re a kid or a kid at heart, there’s still time to enter your photos (from this year or Halloween’s past) to The LOOP Halloween Contest. First prize is $100 Gift Card! Read More >
Happy Halloween! We’re sure you are excited about dressing up for Halloween this weekend. When you do, don’t forget to take pics for The LOOP Halloween Costume Contest and email them to loopblog@medtronic.com long with a 300-word summary of your get-up by the 31st. We’re giving prizes for our favorite three and top prize wins $100 Visa Gift card. We can’t wait to see everyone’s creativity! In the meantime, have a safe and spooktacular weekend! Read More >
With school back in session, we know many parents of children with diabetes face the challenge of how to best work with teachers and other school staff to ensure their child’s safety at school and create a positive environment for learning. We happened to see a letter Lane sent to Hayden’s school and asked him to share it with you. This is just one way to communicate with your child’s school. Read More >
You may have heard recently about computer security professionals demonstrating ways insulin pumps can be wirelessly tampered with or “hacked.” I’d like to share with you the facts, update you on the progress Medtronic is making in this area, and provide you with some steps you can take to protect yourself. Read More >
Today we hear from Nicole Purcell. She’s had type 1 diabetes for nearly 30 years and, just recently, begun living on her own without parents or roommates for the first time – a scary but exciting new journey . If you have any tips for Nicole or others in her situation, please share in the comments.ad, rather unceremoniously, told me she was leaving, to go back to Texas. In eighteen hours. The very next day. Read More >
On Sunday, October 2, I ran the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon. This was the 30th running of the “most beautiful marathon in America” and Medtronic’s new CEO Omar Ishrak spoke to the 8,500 marathon runners and 7,500 TC 10-mile runners, priming us just before the start. It was great to have him kick it off. Omar cares deeply about diabetes; as part of his own learning journey he recently met with a number of us as part of an employee focus group. Read More >
On Saturday, October 1, I had the pleasure of attending Desert Springs Hospital’s 20th Health and Diabetes Fest in Las Vegas, NV. Read More >
That’s the name of the game when you’re a new mom. From the time your feet hit the floor in the morning until you lay back down at night for a hopeful few hours of rest, you’re on the go. Whether you’re getting the baby what he needs or trying to get yourself ready without putting on two different socks (or remembering the socks at all?), you’re constantly moving and going, trying to get everything done in time. Read More >
I have been sitting in meeting after meeting recently discussing the topic: high blood glucose (BG). People representing teams all over the company have thrown around the question “How can we help customers with unexplained high numbers” (without giving medical advice, of course, since you should rely on your doctor for that)? Read More >
Halloween is almost here - that time of year to get creative and don your favorite costume. But if you’re an all-year-round diabetes superhero and wear an insulin pump or CGM, how does that fit into your October 31st ensemble? Read More >
Today we welcome back Dr. Mastrototaro, who answers one of the most frequently asked CGM questions: Why do sensor glucose readings lag behind blood glucose readings? Read More >
On Saturday September 17, I participated in a remarkable event: the first ever Diabetes Mine Innovation Summit, held at Stanford University concurrently with the Health 2.0 Conference. Forty people attended the all-day, intensive interactive session facilitated by IDEO, one of the world's leading design firms. Firms in attendance included Abbott, Agamatrix, Caleritas, DexCom, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, Sanofi-Aventis, and WellDoc. Read More >
Today our guest blogger is a very familiar face and voice to the DOC – Allison Blass, assistant editor at Diabetes Mine. She also writes on her personal blog, Lemonade Life. A diabetes blogger since her teen years, Allison is now a newlywed. (Say it with me...awwwwwww…..)So, who better to share with The LOOP her answer to a question we often hear from young women with diabetes – what do you do with your insulin pump on your wedding day? Read More >
Last time you heard from Dr. Mastrototaro, he gave the short description of how Medtronic’s integrated CGM works. Today, for those of you who might want to know more, he goes a bit more in-depth, explaining the roles of the sensor, transmitter and insulin pump in the system. He also talks about what goes on in the pump to calibrate that sensor. Read More >
Last time, we heard from Lindsey Burch about her participating in the upcoming Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon. Today, we hear from another Global Hero – Lindsay Gossack from Seattle, Washington. We know Lindsay has done a lot of prep for this race and wish her the best! From everyone at The LOOP, all the best to you on race day Lindsay! Read More >
Today, we hear from Lindsey Burch, a science and math teacher from Mission, Kansas who is also a Global Hero. What’s a Global Hero you ask? Well, it’s a runner who benefits from a medical device to treat a chronic disease (i.e. diabetes) and has been chosen to run (for free) the Medtronic Twin Cities marathon on October 2nd. Read More >
Editors Note: As some of you may know, throughout her more than 30-year career Dr. Kaufman has worked around the globe to help people with diabetes. That’s why, with the UN Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases just around the corner, we asked her to share some of her thoughts on giving back and advocating for the global diabetes community. Read More >
Today I am so excited to introduce you to our newest guest blogger – the lovely Sarah Knotts from IGTS Blog! As a brand new first-time mom (of a perfectly precious little boy!) and new user of the MiniMed Paradigm® REAL-Time RevelTM insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor, she has a lot of interesting experience to share. The good news is, she’ll be posting every month, right around this time. Please give her a warm welcome to The LOOP! Read More >
It’s not every day that you get to work and find the headline “Medtronic: You Need to Call These People” in your Google alerts. But that’s what happened earlier this summer when the lovely Kerri Sparling of Six Until Me posted a photo submission from Camille Boivin. The photo shows off Camille and husband Philippe’s tattoos of Medtronic insulin pumps on their stomachs. You read that right – tattoos of insulin pumps! Read More >
As a person with diabetes active in the online community, it took about .5 seconds after the launch of You Can Do This to begin to hear about the project led by Kim Vlasnik. Of course, I clicked on it immediately because this is right up my alley! The premise of the project is simple, to unite our community with the slogan “You Can Do This” through videos created by and for people with diabetes. Read More >
We’ve been talking a lot this summer about summer vacations, repelling down waterfalls and preventing moisture damage to your pump. Today, we welcome back Amy Kellerman, a product specialist on our insulin delivery marketing team, to continue on that theme to talk about what to do with your pump and CGM for different water situations. Read More >
Last time we talked about what control means to engineers and how, to me, control is all about transferring variability from a place where it hurts to a place where it doesn’t hurt as much. Today, I thought we could talk about how we measure that variability, since that’s the goal of control (Hint: it’s more than just A1c). Read More >
This week there have been additional stories about wireless tampering of insulin pumps and Medtronic’s information security efforts. We wrote an initial blog but wanted to follow up with more information as it is important that you feel safe when wearing your device. Read More >
Today we continue with Part 2 of Dr. Dewan’s post on using CareLink Personal Software in schools to better monitor students with diabetes throughout the day and improve communication between families, physicians and school nurses. Last time he talked about set-up and addressing roadblocks. In this entry, he talks about maximizing CareLink once it’s implemented. Read More >
Today we’re thrilled to feature a guest post from Dr. Asheesh Dewan, a pediatric endocrinologist from Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Dewan has worked with several parents and school administrators and nurses in the Las Vegas area to implement CareLink Personal Software in more than 50 schools to better monitor students with diabetes throughout the day and improve communication between families, physicians and school nurses. Thank you Dr. Dewan for all you do for the diabetes community! Read More >
One concern patients sometimes ask about before starting insulin pump therapy is weight gain. A common myth exists that going on a pump causes one to gain weight. While it is just a myth and using an insulin pump does not cause weight gain, many people taking insulin do gain weight. The question is, why? Read More >
Meet today’s guest blogger, Michael DiFiore, a Marketing Associate on our Continuous Glucose Monitoring team. In this post Michael talks about living with type 1 diabetes and celiac, an autoimmune disease that affects the digestive system. According to the JDRF, he’s not alone: 1 in 10 people with type 1 diabetes also have celiac. (In the general population, approximately 1 in 100 people have celiac.) Thanks Michael for sharing your story and tips for others managing both conditions. Read More >
Here at Medtronic, in addition to consistently working on technologies to help improve your clinical outcomes, we’re also working hard to find ways to make managing your diabetes more convenient. That includes keeping up with the technology of this “iPhone world” we now live in. Read More >
Recently, the Associated Press ran an article about research presented at a computer security conference regarding the security of insulin pumps. We know this has been discussed quite a bit on Twitter and blogs such as Six Until Me and Scott Hanselman’s Computer Zen this weekend so today we thought we’d take the opportunity to answer a few questions about the security of Medtronic insulin pumps. Read More >
We’re very pleased to introduce you to another one of our executives with a long history of working hard to improve the lives of people with diabetes. Dr. John Mastrototaro, Vice President of Research and Development for the Diabetes business unit of Medtronic, has been with us for more than 17 years. Read More >
A while back you heard about Naomi’s exciting Trip to India. Today, we hear from another world traveler from Medtronic. Elisa Marchetti is a Principal Human Resources Generalist in the Diabetes business unit of Medtronic. But here at The LOOP she’s talking about how to travel without letting diabetes hold you back – from Costa Rica to China! Read More >
As many of you know, I came to work for Medtronic after my son Hayden was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in August 2009. I was hired to apply my 25 years of experience as a control engineer for oil refineries, chemical plants, and energy companies to the task of developing an artificial pancreas. The work is challenging and fulfilling; it’s the most important work I’ve ever done. It’s also given me the chance to meet many other individuals and families faced with managing diabetes. Read More >
At this year’s American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions, new clinical data was released from the landmark STAR 3 Study which compared A1C reduction for people using an insulin pump integrated with CGM to those using multiple daily injections (MDI). We are excited to share this new data with you and hope it motivates you to keep up your good work managing diabetes. Read More >
You know how you plan for something months ahead of time? Countless hours of throwing around ideas. Plenty of wasted trees with paper printouts of plans. Discussion after discussion. Email after email. Read More >
Meet 22-year-old Lauren Gerenraich. Lauren has lived with type 1 diabetes for seven years, is an active volunteer with the JDRF and recently began her blog The LD. We really enjoyed her Diabetes Blog Week post where she wrote a letter to her 16-year-old self. Since she’s now a college grad, we asked her to reflect a bit and offer up some tips for those of you heading off to university this fall. Read More >
Today we have a guest post from Angie Levesque, mother to 5-year-old Isabelle. Nearly four years ago, Angie and her husband Ken were overwhelmed when Isabelle was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Today, Angie shares her family’s story along with some helpful tips she’s learned along the way for other parents of young children with diabetes. Have a tip to add? Tell us in the comments! Read More >
This morning when I was changing my site, I heard that “beep beep beep” that none of us likes to hear. I looked down at my insulin pump and saw an error that I have seen before “No Delivery.” I know many of you have asked why this occurs, so I reached out to our 24-Hour HelpLine Team to learn more. Read More >
I don’t know about you, but I can easily get caught up in an episode of “How It’s Made.” Today we hear from Amy Kellerman, a product specialist on our insulin delivery marketing team, who gives us a peek into the extensive quality testing Medtronic insulin pumps and other products go through to ensure they’re tough enough to make it through the daily lives of customers like you. Read More >
July 4th is a great time to celebrate our nation’s independence with friends and family, outdoor activities and (of course) food. As Americans, this is a holiday where we traditionally love to go big. If you have diabetes, a little restraint and planning might be in order, but there’s no reason you can’t go big on fun. Here are a few tips from our clinical team to help keep you on track. Read More >
Meet the inspirational Natalie Strand, winner of the Amazing Race 17. Natalie proved to millions of viewers that diabetes does not have to hold you back from anything! A while back, Natalie gave a great interview to Diabetes Mine about her reality TV experience. Today, she talks to The LOOP about the important role her certified diabetes educator (CDE) plays in her diabetes management. Read More >
Today, meet 19-year-old Ross McDonald. Though diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 12, Ross continues to chase his dream of winning an Olympic Gold Medal. Now a two-time Massachusetts State Champion in the pole vault and a member of the University of Southern California’s track team, Ross credits diabetes for teaching him to face obstacles head-on instead of pushing them aside – a valuable lesson for both on and off the field. Read More >
Meet Maggie Hunts — international speaker, comedian, singer, and author. Having lived with diabetes for more than 25 years, Maggie travels the world sharing her experiences and showing others that you can live a happy and healthy life with diabetes. With her sense of humor and openness to tackle just about any subject, Maggie’s first post the The LOOP will answer a question that many of you may have: Will I Look Weird Naked? Read More >
Today we welcome Stephen Gray, Marketing Associate at Medtronic, who’s swinging by The LOOP to introduce you to his courageous friend Lenny the Lion – just in case you haven’t had the chance to meet him yet. As Stephen will tell you, Lenny’s a busy cat with a lot of friends, including Meri Schuhmacher and her four fabulous boys – three of whom have type 1 diabetes! Lenny is helping Meri celebrate her blogaversary (and recover from her adventurous trip to Disney Land). Read More >
In honor of Father’s Day this weekend, we have a post from one of our favorite D-Dads, Lane Desborough. A Product Strategist here at Medtronic working to develop an artificial pancreas, Lane came to work for us after his son Hayden was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Today he shares how, in many ways, his son’s diagnosis was as overwhelming as becoming a new parent again. Read More >
Recently our own Greg Meehan, Vice President and General Manager of Continuous Glucose Management and Hospital Products for the Diabetes business unit, joined the board of directors of the Los Angeles Chapter of the JDRF. Today, he discusses his personal passion for helping others as well our commitment to the JDRF and the diabetes community. Read More >
Today we hear from 14-year-old Claire Montgomery, founder and writer of her own blog where she writes about the many changes over the past few years, including being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and moving to Mexico. She talks to us today about the lessons she has learned since her diagnosis and the importance of being able to take more responsibility for her own diabetes management now that she’s growing up – an important lesson for many tweens and teens growing up with diabetes. Read More >
Last week, the Associated Press ran an article about 90-year-old Bob Krause, who recently celebrated his 85th anniversary with type 1 diabetes. That’s right, his 85th anniversary! To put it in perspective, the year Bob was born, Frederick Banting and John Macleod had just discovered insulin. Read More >
Summer is here and it’s time for many of us to hit the road – or air. Before you set out to satisfy your wanderlust, check out our answers to the top five questions we receive about air travel with an insulin pump and/or continuous glucose monitor (CGM). Read More >
As a person with diabetes for more than nine years, and a pumper for over seven, I have had my fair share of questions. Questions for my endocrinologist, questions for my general healthcare provider, questions for the 24-Hour HelpLine… When I have one of these questions come up, it’s often followed by a second question: “Who should I contact to ask this?” Read More >
Back in November, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) introduced new airport body scanners for passengers. We know that travelling with diabetes can be a bit nerve-wracking for some (just ask Karen Graffeo or Kelly Kunik). So it’s no wonder that, six months later, airport security is still a hot topic coming into our 24-hour Helpline. Read More >
Today, the American Diabetes Association and Medtronic together announced that we’re offering new research grants for diabetes technology. Essentially, we’re accepting applications from medical researchers to study the data from our CareLink® database to learn more about the impact of diabetes management tools on clinical outcomes, compliance and use of diabetes devices – as well as various factors that affect glycemic control in patients with diabetes. Read More >
Over Christmas I went on a trip to India with my family (India is where I was born, grew up, and where I was diagnosed). It was my first trip back in five years and in preparing for it I felt overwhelmed. Not only did I need to find my passport and pack enough hair bows (a necessity, of course), but I had to make sure to have enough infusion sets and test strips ordered. Read More >
Aloha! Today we share a fun clip from students at Hanahau `oli School in Honolulu, Hawaii, who are putting their brains to work for diabetes technology. The team of third, fourth and fifth graders you see here participated in the FIRST® LEGO® League 2010 Challenge, a competition designed to get children excited about science and technology – and teach them valuable employment and life skills. Read More >
Today, we hear from our very own Jenny Simonson, an Associate Product Specialist who recently rode with the Medtronic team in the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Tour de Cure in Long Beach, Ca. The bike ride is just one of many events in which Medtronic employees participate to raise funds for non-profit organizations like ADA and JDRF. Read More >
Today, we here from John Berry, a dedicated firefighter from Texas, who doesn’t let his diabetes stand in the way of his life-saving work. John talks to us about his “Ah-Ha” moment where he realized he needed to take better control of his health and some of the tools he now uses to manage his diabetes like temporary basal rates and predictive alerts. Read More >
As you know, Alabama and other southern states were recently devastated by what is being called one of the worst tornado outbreaks in U.S. history. Nothing can quite prepare us for the effects that a natural disaster such as this will have on us. In the past year alone our world has seen its share of disasters from earthquakes and tsunamis to wild storms which, in many cases, leave people without the basic necessities of life. Read More >
As most of you know, there was a time (not so very long ago) when women with type 1 diabetes were universally told they couldn’t/shouldn’t have children. Of course, we know that medical opinion on this topic has changed and physicians now tend to make recommendations about children based on each individual’s health and diabetes control, with many beautiful babies to show for it! Read More >
Almost two years ago, I left my three-decade long position in academic medicine to come to Medtronic to be part of the effort to develop an artificial pancreas, a fundamental goal for all of us in diabetes research. With all of the work currently underway, Medtronic is committed to bringing innovation and advancement to diabetes therapy. Read More >
This month the Diabetes Social Media Advocacy (DSMA) blog carnival is focusing on Life Stages with Diabetes. Specifically, the question posed is “how did relationships with other people help inspire you to take care of yourself?” In my very first carnival entry, I share some of my thoughts on the topic. Read More >
Today we are happy to share Part 2 of Glen Lowe’s story. In Part 1, Glen shared the story of his type 2 diagnosis and the work he is doing with the Health Care Disparities Group. Today in Part 2, Glen tells us about the devastating loss of his brother and serious complications that drove him to make some changes in the way he was managing his diabetes. Read More >
When you think of the upcoming summer months you may think of ice cold lemonade, sun tanning at the beach, and splashing in the water to cool down. I grew up in India and then Texas, so I'm no stranger to the heat. Now that I live in L.A. I live close to the beach but since I, like many of you, wear an insulin pump that is water-tight (not water-proof), I try to do what I can to protect my pink pump, also known as my best friend. Read More >
Today we hear Part 1 of a two-part interview with Glen Lowe, a territory manager in the Neuromodulation business unit of Medtronic who lives with type 2 diabetes. Glen was kind enough to talk with The LOOP about his diagnosis, the work he’s doing with the Health Care Disparities Group and a few pieces of advice to others. We thank Glen very much for taking the time to share with us his personal journey and positive look forward. Stay tuned for Part 2 of his story coming soon. Read More >
When someone asks what my favorite thing is about my pump, there would be a tie with three answers: less shots, Bolus Wizard, and it’s pink (of course). Why the Bolus Wizard, above all the pump features? Let me explain. Read More >
And if you are a global hero, do you happen to run marathons? We’re asking because this week is the deadline for the Medtronic Global Heroes program.It's a pretty neat way to celebrate runners who benefit from medical technology, showing the world that people who live with chronic, life-changing conditions live full and rich lives. Read More >
Meet professional golfer and winner of the Golf Channel’s “Big Break” competition, Carling Coffing. From the moment Carling was first diagnosed, she decided that she would never let diabetes get in the way of pursuing her dreams. Today, Carling shares her story. Read More >
On Friday, we invited over 20 members of the Diabetes Online Community (DOC) to Northridge, CA to visit the home of the Diabetes business unit of Medtronic for what we called the Diabetes Advocate Forum (#MedtronicDAF). We thank everyone for coming and those who participated via Twitter for a very fun and dynamic day. Read More >
A couple weeks back, Naomi talked about her logbook struggles and how CareLink® Therapy Management Software really helps her take control of her health. She’s not alone — CareLink is a very popular part of our integrated system. Customers tell us they really like seeing the cause-and-effect relationships in all those colorful charts, graphs, and tables. And it’s really helpful to be able to share and discuss them with your endo. Read More >
Today we’d like to introduce Kristen Call, another Medtronic employee living with diabetes, who initially started her career in the diabetes business unit while on MDI. Now working with Medtronic Navigation in the operating room, Kristen opens up to The LOOP about her personal challenges with treating her diabetes, and how turning 30 motivated her when she needed it most. Read More >
A lot of patients ask me if it is safe for them to exercise with diabetes, and my answer is yes. As someone whose desk is a treadmill, I firmly believe that being active is important for everyone. Here are some tips for your workout. Read More >
Its exciting to celebrate our one month anniversary this week. The best part has been interacting with everyone who has commented or sent in feedback. Check out the video below to hear how you can particpate in the LOOP. Read More >
I recently traveled to Haiti with my husband, and the incredible Evelyne Fleury Milfort, nurse practitioner and diabetes educator at USC. The purpose of our visit was to provide training for health care professionals at all levels concerning the treatment of people with diabetes. Because we want to continue helping the people of Haiti, we need a plan of action, and it is clear that our first step is to share our experience with you. Read More >
Today we’re happy to feature a post from Naomi Kingery. Like many Medtronic employees, Naomi has personal experience with diabetes. In fact, she had been a self-proclaimed “Proud Pink Pumper” for seven years before coming to work with us. You may also know her as the “Diabetic Diva,” offering her fresh, fun perspective to the diabetes community. Today, she’s talking to The Loop about the challenge of keeping track of her blood sugar numbers. Read More >
When you work hard and perform well at your job, it’s always nice to get a little recognition from the boss, right? We all know that managing diabetes effectively is no small task. So, when’s the last time someone recognized you for putting in the time and effort to take control of your diabetes? Read More >
Donning some green and embracing your inner leprechaun can be a lot of fun. But if your St. Patrick’s Day involves green beer (or any other type of alcohol), you need to be careful. That’s why we asked our own Dr. Francine Kaufman to provide some tips to help keep your celebration safe. Read More >
While all parents struggle when our kids hit the teenage years and we have to start “letting go” a bit, it’s especially hard when your child has diabetes. We asked Karen Biastre to give us her perspective and tips for how her family manages now that her teenage son Nate is looking for a little more freedom. Have any tips to add? Be sure to let us know in the comments! Read More >
Spring has almost sprung, which means that Daylight Savings Time is here. On March 13, most of us here in the U.S. “spring forward” our clocks by one hour. The time on your insulin pump/continuous glucose monitor (CGM) determines your personal settings (including basal and bolus rates), so you’ll want to make sure it is always up-to-date. Read More >
Last week, you heard from Lane Desborough and his motivation to develop the technology to close the loop, for his son Hayden. So, today, we thought we would bring you a video of 12-year-old Hayden, a great kid who’s not letting his diabetes keep him from doing anything he wants to do. Read More >
One of my favorite things about being the director of PR, is that I get to meet and work with a lot of different people each and every day. This includes working with product strategists, who are busy determining the right set of features and new technology to put into future products to help make managing diabetes easier. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Lane. Read More >
Today, meet Michael Findling. He’s one of those guys who keeps the Medtronic marketing department fun. He’s also a 7-year pumper and a lifelong outdoor sports guy. Let’s hear his take on taking on the slopes of Southern California with his insulin pump. Read More >
Today marks our first official blog entry in The LOOP! We have started this as a way of “Closing the Loop” with our loyal customers and the diabetes online community (DOC). We have heard feedback from many of you that you want us to engage and participate in the DOC. The LOOP is just one small step, but we think a very important first step. Read More >
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