Friday, September 30, 2016
Happiness!
Hey guys! As you know, I was a little worried about the new artificial pancreas stuff. Keyword: was. I don't really know what was going on, I must have just been feeling a bit weird that day. Because now, I'm just feeling excitement!!! I mean, a new pancreas?? Sweet! And not only am I just getting a normal pancreas replacement; mine glows! xD. I'm so HAPPY!!! It's like the closest thing to a cure us diabetics will get for a while, I'm guessing. And we won't even need to check our blood sugars so often! It's gonna be GREAT!!! Just wanna let you guys know that it doesn't bother me any more. After all, a disease isn't what should define me; my personality is what makes me who I am!
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
"Psssssssh!!!" (That Was the Sound of my Brain Exploding)
(This will be worth your time, I promise.) Whoa! Okay first off, I want to let you all know that I'm very odd. I love standing out and being unique, especially with diabetes. I proudly announce that I have to prick my fingers with a needle eight times a day, that I must have multiple medical devices inserted with needles in my at all times, and that I've had to go through it for a good year and a half. It's like the quote that says, "Never be ashamed of a scar, it just means that you are stronger than whatever tried to hurt you." In this case, diabetes! So, I've always kind of wanted to keep pricking my fingers; it makes me who I am and shows that I am winning a battle against disease. Now, here's the brain explosion-worthy news that came out at 4:41 PM today!
(Quoted from UPI Health News) "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved the first automated insulin delivery system -- a so-called "artificial pancreas" -- for people with type 1 diabetes"
"Figuring out exactly how much insulin to give is no easy task. Both too much and too little insulin can have dangerous, even deadly consequences. And that's where this new technology will help. The device has a continuous glucose monitor that constantly measures blood sugar levels. A sophisticated computer algorithm then figures out if someone's blood sugar levels are too low or too high, and when too high, will give the correct insulin dose to bring the blood sugar level down. If blood sugar levels are too low, the device will shut down insulin delivery."
To sum things up, the artificial pancreas was approved for release, and will come out during Spring of 2017 at the latest!! Now what is the artificial pancreas, you may ask?
(Quoted from FDA Health Devices) "The Artificial Pancreas Device System is a system of devices that closely mimics the glucose regulating function of a healthy pancreas.
Most Artificial Pancreas Device Systems consists of three types of devices already familiar to many people with diabetes: a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGM) and an insulin infusion pump. A blood glucose device (such as a glucose meter) is used to calibrate the CGM. A computer-controlled algorithm connects the CGM and insulin infusion pump to allow continuous communication between the two devices. Sometimes an artificial pancreas device system is referred to as a 'closed-loop' system, an 'automated insulin delivery' system, or an 'autonomous system for glycemic control.' An Artificial Pancreas Device System will not only monitor glucose levels in the body but also automatically adjusts the delivery of insulin to reduce high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) and minimize the incidence of low blood glucose (hypoglycemia) with little or no input from the patient."
That was a great big chunk of info for you to read xD. Anywho, AWESOME, RIGHT??!! I bet all diabetics out there are screaming for joy!!!! It's the closest we will get to finding a cure for quite a while! It's so cool, and I'm very excited!!
Except...here comes a shocker. You ready for this? Okay. *inhales dramatically.* When I heard this news, the first emotion I felt wasn't extreme joy, but it was actually sadness.
I can practically hear the gasps! And I know what you're thinking: Is she insane? She's practically found the best thing in the whole entire world of diabetesness! Which is true, yes. For most diabetics at least. But I'm not exactly most diabetics. Remember what I said earlier about how I love a challenge that can make me different from everyone else? "Challenge" is the keyword there. I've always thought of diabetes as the one thing that can make me different. Unique. A warrior. A warrior that can stand apart from everyone else in pride, telling them her tales of the greatest battle of her life. And in order for it to be the greatest battle, it's gotta be a challenging one, right? So challenging that you constantly have to stab your fingers and let them bleed 8-10 times a day, and constantly explain to people why you're doing it! So challenging that you go to bed each night, hoping that your blood sugar won't roller coaster on you. A warrior worthy thing, indeed.
But then comes a shortcut for it. Don't get me wrong, I'm still excited for it! But it just kind of makes my heart sink a little bit. Having diabetes has probably been the best thing that has happened to me; it's challenging, and this girl right here loves a good challenge. But the artificial pancreas sounds kind of like something that will just make me feel lazy, and not nearly as brave as before.
I mean, sure, it's practically a heaven on earth. No pricking? No extra devices stuffed into your purse? Awesome! But once again, I'm just having some mixed emotions about it. I really want it, but I'm also afraid of what will happen to me if I did get it. Would I be as strong as I am now? Or would I ever be able to feel the same braveness that comes with these challenges ever again?
So that's my super long and weird thought for the day! I'm super happy but at the same time I'm super worried! Let me know if any of you feel at all the same way, or if I'm just strange xD. Sorry if I sounded too prideful at all; I'm just a little worried about what this will do to my reputation if I ended up getting it. But, don't worry, I'm still excited! It'll be nice to have a lot less of the stress I usually get from diabetes. What do you guys think?
(Quoted from UPI Health News) "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved the first automated insulin delivery system -- a so-called "artificial pancreas" -- for people with type 1 diabetes"
"Figuring out exactly how much insulin to give is no easy task. Both too much and too little insulin can have dangerous, even deadly consequences. And that's where this new technology will help. The device has a continuous glucose monitor that constantly measures blood sugar levels. A sophisticated computer algorithm then figures out if someone's blood sugar levels are too low or too high, and when too high, will give the correct insulin dose to bring the blood sugar level down. If blood sugar levels are too low, the device will shut down insulin delivery."
To sum things up, the artificial pancreas was approved for release, and will come out during Spring of 2017 at the latest!! Now what is the artificial pancreas, you may ask?
(Quoted from FDA Health Devices) "The Artificial Pancreas Device System is a system of devices that closely mimics the glucose regulating function of a healthy pancreas.
Most Artificial Pancreas Device Systems consists of three types of devices already familiar to many people with diabetes: a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGM) and an insulin infusion pump. A blood glucose device (such as a glucose meter) is used to calibrate the CGM. A computer-controlled algorithm connects the CGM and insulin infusion pump to allow continuous communication between the two devices. Sometimes an artificial pancreas device system is referred to as a 'closed-loop' system, an 'automated insulin delivery' system, or an 'autonomous system for glycemic control.' An Artificial Pancreas Device System will not only monitor glucose levels in the body but also automatically adjusts the delivery of insulin to reduce high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) and minimize the incidence of low blood glucose (hypoglycemia) with little or no input from the patient."
That was a great big chunk of info for you to read xD. Anywho, AWESOME, RIGHT??!! I bet all diabetics out there are screaming for joy!!!! It's the closest we will get to finding a cure for quite a while! It's so cool, and I'm very excited!!
Except...here comes a shocker. You ready for this? Okay. *inhales dramatically.* When I heard this news, the first emotion I felt wasn't extreme joy, but it was actually sadness.
I can practically hear the gasps! And I know what you're thinking: Is she insane? She's practically found the best thing in the whole entire world of diabetesness! Which is true, yes. For most diabetics at least. But I'm not exactly most diabetics. Remember what I said earlier about how I love a challenge that can make me different from everyone else? "Challenge" is the keyword there. I've always thought of diabetes as the one thing that can make me different. Unique. A warrior. A warrior that can stand apart from everyone else in pride, telling them her tales of the greatest battle of her life. And in order for it to be the greatest battle, it's gotta be a challenging one, right? So challenging that you constantly have to stab your fingers and let them bleed 8-10 times a day, and constantly explain to people why you're doing it! So challenging that you go to bed each night, hoping that your blood sugar won't roller coaster on you. A warrior worthy thing, indeed.
But then comes a shortcut for it. Don't get me wrong, I'm still excited for it! But it just kind of makes my heart sink a little bit. Having diabetes has probably been the best thing that has happened to me; it's challenging, and this girl right here loves a good challenge. But the artificial pancreas sounds kind of like something that will just make me feel lazy, and not nearly as brave as before.
I mean, sure, it's practically a heaven on earth. No pricking? No extra devices stuffed into your purse? Awesome! But once again, I'm just having some mixed emotions about it. I really want it, but I'm also afraid of what will happen to me if I did get it. Would I be as strong as I am now? Or would I ever be able to feel the same braveness that comes with these challenges ever again?
So that's my super long and weird thought for the day! I'm super happy but at the same time I'm super worried! Let me know if any of you feel at all the same way, or if I'm just strange xD. Sorry if I sounded too prideful at all; I'm just a little worried about what this will do to my reputation if I ended up getting it. But, don't worry, I'm still excited! It'll be nice to have a lot less of the stress I usually get from diabetes. What do you guys think?
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| The Artificial Pancreas |
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| Super Duper Happy and Nervous at the Same Time! |
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