Mollie, Jackie, Mollie, and Jackie, also known as MJ2, are the founders of the Diabetic Angels, a global resource for diabetes education and assistance. The Diabetic Angels offer mentors who provide information and guidance to diabetics around the world, while working to improve the quality life for all who suffer with this devastating disease until a cure is found.
Yesterday afternoon as we were walking down the aisles of Walmart grocery shopping, it flashed into our minds that we didn't create a Halloween Candy Carb List that you can save and download to your phone yet!
So, here it is, in all its many sizes for each phone and tablet out there at the moment that we could think of for all of you Trick or Treaters out there!
*Please feel free to retweet, like, share, "reblog" this! Please do not repost our content without credit. Â If posting to tumblr, please reblog from us, diabeticangels and please do not remove our credit. Weâve worked long and hard on this, and we appreciate your honesty.* :)Â
Weâve also posted this on Pinterest, so feel free to "re-pin" our post on there! LINK HERE! and HERE! <--ipad cover
Yep! That's right! This is your friendly reminder to set your clocks, your insulin pumps, your testers, your CGM Receivers, and your watches back 1 hour before 2am Sunday!
Happy November 1st and most importantly, Happy Diabetes Awareness Month!!
The Diabetic Angels and MJ2 support Glu and SmashDiabetes.org and we could use your help to spread the word about this amazing diabetes advocacy opportunity! Reblog, Share, Retweet, please do what you can!!
Halloween is this Friday....so while you're Trick-or-Treating, carving pumpkins, treating yourself to a mini piece of a Tootsie Roll...remember, the day after Halloween is November 1st, so grab a pumpkin and get ready to Smash Diabetes to kick off Diabetes Awareness Month and raise awareness!
"The idea behind Smash Diabetes is to visually show the world how frustrated we are about the never-ending grind we often face in silence. As Diabetes Awareness Month begins, we ask that you help us visualize your feelings, whether you have diabetes yourself, or know someone who does." (source: aSweetLife)
To join us and the awesome people all over the world help raise awareness about living with diabetes, here's what to do:
Think of creative ways to smash
Rally your friends to help Smash Diabetes by sharing your commitment!
Video or photograph yourself smashing (make sure to smash those pumpkins safely...we would most likely do this outside!)
Share the moment on social media using the hashtag #smashdiabetes (tag your friends! throw a party!)Â
Support diabetes research by donating today!
Finalists will be featured on Glu, and youâll get to vote for the winning video!Â
                        www.smashdiabetes.org
Miss Idaho, Sierra Sandison competing in Miss America 2015, WINS America's Choice!
Miss Idaho, Sierra Sandison, a type 1 diabetic since the age of 18, who wears a T:slim Insulin Pump, has been competing in Miss America Pageant all week. Tonight, on ABC, Sierra won America's Choice **at the Miss America Pageant tonight!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!
It's been amazing seeing all of the Social Media attention and her creation of the awesome hashtag, #showmeyourpump!Â
Everyone in the Diabetes Online Community (#DOC) are SO proud of you Sierra! Â You are truly an inspiration to all diabetics! You'll always be our winner! :)Â
#âthrowbackthursdayâŹÂ to presenting the âȘ#DiabeticAngels at Annual Conference in Toronto! Goodluck this week with #DskateHockey this week, Steven Hindle!!âȘÂ
We're changing it up a little! When you think of the 4th of July, you think family get togethers, barbecues, pool parties, fireworks, hotdogs, and hamburgers! We hope you enjoy and use this 4th of July BBQ Edition on your phone or desktop whenever you need it!  No need to worry when you're in the backyard getting ready to eat by the pool, we've got it all here for you!Â
Click through for the entire list and mobile version you can save to your phone!
Pin It on Pinterest too!
*Please feel free to share this! Please do not repost our content without credit.  If posting to tumblr, please reblog from us, Diabetic Angels, and please do not remove our credit. We've worked long and hard on this, and we appreciate your honesty. :) We've also posted this on Pinterest, so re-pin our post on there!* LINK HERE.
DESKTOP VERSION:
Page 1 of The Diabetic Angels BBQ Carb List - Desktop Version
Page 2 of The Diabetic Angels BBQ Carb List - Desktop Version
We can also email you the printable version if the "printer button" does not work, so please comment below or email us ([email protected]) with your email address! :)
MOBILE VERSIONS BELOW:
Directions to save to phone:Â
-View this website on your iPhone IOS7 internet browser, SafariâŠgo to  www.diabeticangels.com
-Then hold finger down on screen and click on "save image" for the "BBQ Carb List - mobile versions" below  -which will then all show in your phone's photos section.
To place SAVED images to an album...which is something we like to do, just to keep it all organized all #candycarblist wise...
-click on "Camera Roll"
-"select" on the top right,
-then click on the 4 mobile versions you just saved
-and click on "Add To" on the very bottom in the middle of your screen into a "New Album" titled, "Carb Lists" (just for example)
We hope this helps, let us know in the comment section!!Â
MOBILE VERSION:
Page 1 of 1, The Diabetic Angels Candy Carb List - Mobile Version
*Please feel free to share this! Please do not repost our content without credit.  If posting to tumblr, please reblog from us, Diabetic Angels, and please do not remove our credit. We've worked long and hard on this, and we appreciate your honesty. :) We've also posted this on Pinterest, so re-pin our post on there! Link is HERE.*Â
If you use our #BBQcarblist, please like it and comment if it helps you and your family, we love hearing your feedback.Â
Alcohol is absorbed very rapidly and requires no digestion. It is carried in the bloodstream to the liver, where it is processed. The liver removes the alcohol from your system as fast as it can, but the process is slow. The liver can only remove the equivalent of 1 drink per hour. If you drink more than this, the alcohol builds up in the bloodstream and leads to intoxication. Drinking slowly, diluting the drink with a mix, and eating are all ways to slow down the rapid absorption of alcohol and delay its effects.
Under normal conditions, blood sugar levels are not affected by moderate use of alcohol (1-2 drinks per week). However, if an alcoholic drink contains sugar or is mixed with a sugar-containing beverage, the blood sugar may be affected.
The greatest danger for someone with diabetes who drinks alcohol is the increased risk of hypoglycemia. This happens because the liver cannot make any new glucose while it is processing the alcohol. This prevents the body its normal protective mechanism from rescuing itself if the blood sugar level falls while you are drinking. The liverâs ability to release stored glucose into the blood stream after a long period of not eating is an important protection against low blood sugars. Alcohol itself can have a delayed effect on lowering your blood sugar for up to 14 hours. One study showed that young men who drank the equivalent of 4 glasses of wine or 4 beers at 9:00 PM had low blood sugars that persisted until AFTER BREAKFAST THE FOLLOWING MORNING!
Knowing about the effects of alcohol and what to do if you are going to drink alcohol can help you make the right choices. Ideally, if you are under the age of 21, it is recommend that you do not drink. Consider being the designated driver instead. If the blood sugar levels are well controlled, it is okay for an adult to have a moderate amount of alcohol (1-2 drinks per week).
TO DECREASE THE CHANCE OF LOW BLOOD SUGARS:
Take food with alcohol
Do not replace food with alcohol
Set a limit
Have snacks if you are active
GETTING READY/PLANNING YOUR NIGHT OUT BEFORE YOU GO: Stick to your usual meal plan during the day . Eating less during the day doesnât mean you can âsave upâ for the party. Check your blood sugar prior to going out. This helps you to figure out what snacks you will need for the evening.
Tell at least 1 person (friend), preferably a non-drinker, that you have diabetes , and what to do to treat a low blood sugar (juice, candy, or soda). If you cannot swallow, your friend needs to know to call an ambulance.
WHAT TO BRING ALONG:Â
your glucose meter
identification (medical alert bracelet/necklace, wallet card) that says you have diabetes snacks (juice, raisins, crackers and cheese)
fast-acting sugar (glucose tablets, jelly beans, hard candy)
AT THE PARTY:
Choose a mix or drink that is sugar-free (diet pop, club soda, soda water, or tomato juice). Sweet wines, liqueurs and regular mixes have lots of sugar in them and may be too much for your insulin to handle, unless you are very active (i.e. dancing).
Sip each drink slowly (to stretch it out). Alternate each alcoholic drink with a non-alcoholic drink. This gives the body a chance to clear the alcohol out of your system. Try a wine spritzer (œ wine, œ soda water or diet gingerale). Try to make your own drink, if possible, so that you can control the amount of alcohol in it.
Never drink on an empty stomach. You need food to absorb the alcohol. Make sure to eat a carbohydrate containing snack (such as crackers or breadsticks), throughout the night and before bed.
Eat extra food for extra activity. If you are active (dancing, skiing) you will use extra energy, so you need to eat extra carbohydrate-rich foods for each œ hour of extra activity. Drink lots of water for rehydration if you are really active.
Watch for low blood sugars. Low blood sugars and intoxication can feel the same. The only way to be certain if you are low is to check your blood sugar. Glucagon will not work with excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol can add some extra calories to your meal plan. Do not eat less food to account for alcohols extra calories. (This can lead to low blood sugars).
AFTER THE PARTY BEFORE YOU GO TO BED: Check your blood sugar and have a snack. Alcohol can cause unexpected changes in blood sugar levels. They may rise initially when drinking, and then may drop several hours later. You must check your blood sugar regularly to know exactly what is going on. It is important to let someone at home know if you have had something to drink, so they can be alert to signs of low blood sugars.
Set your alarm for the usual time . Although it may be tough, it is important to take your insulin and have breakfast, so that youâll feel good for the rest of the day.
IN THE MORNING:Â
Wake up at your usual time
Check your blood sugar
Take your insulin
Eat breakfast
If you are still tired you can go back to bed for a few hours after you have eaten. As tempting as it is to sleep in, not following this routine could be hazardous to your health.
Registration is open through May 23, 2014, for the Students with Diabetes 2014 National Conference. Space is limited, so register now! You can click here to register!Â
The conference, in its 4th year, is poised to break all records with attendance this year and we couldn't be happier.Â
If you are between the ages of 18-30ish and live with diabetes, THIS CONFERENCE IS FOR YOU! This year's conference will be held in Tampa, Florida from June 6 - June 8, 2014, at the Holiday Inn Westshore Tampa Airport Hotel.Â
We have an amazing schedule planned! You won't want to miss Actor Jim Turner as he presents his One-Man Show on Friday night. Blogger Mike Lawson of the Diabetes Hands Foundation will open Saturday morning with Diabetes humor and Saturday afternoon, Joe Solowiejczek, and Dr. Ed Damiano, the inventor of the Bionic Pancreas, will present. Sunday will be memorable, as renowned speaker Ty will share leadership lessons to motivate us all.Â
Other things to expect from the conference:Â
The opportunity to network with other young adults living with T1D
A chance to learn about the latest diabetes research and technology
Ways to earn extra money by participating in fun research (you can get $40 back!)
A time to interact with vendors and see "what's cool" in diabetes.
You can register online at www.studentswithdiabetes.com. Remember, space is limited!
If you have any questions, visit www.studentswithdiabetes.com.Â
Sincerely,Â
Nicole Johnson, DrPH, MPH, MA
Founder, Students with Diabetes
#reblog @DiabetesMine: Medicare's Lackluster Diabetes CoverageâŠLet's Make Some Noise!
A Special Thank You to Amy Tenderich and Mike Hoskins over at Diabetes Mine, for bringing this critical issue to our attention! PLEASE read this article and follow the instructions on the bottom of the article that instruct us as to what we can do to stop this insanity to protect everyone who suffers from diabetes!!!
Source: DiabetesMine: "Medicare's Lackluster Diabetes CoverageâŠLet's Make Some Noise!"
"I plan to grow old someday.
Sure, âoldâ is a state of mind â but Iâm talking Medicare age.
Assuming I make it into my mid-60s and beyond, and the American healthcare system is still setup the same way three decades from now, I hope things are better than they are now when it comes to coverage of diabetes supplies. Actually, I pray it hasnât deteriorated by then with regard to access to the D-devices I rely on to keep me safe and healthy â especially my CGM (continuous glucose monitor), that helps me spot low blood sugars that could incapacitate me during the day or overnight with disastrous consequences.
Iâm pretty scared about future coverage, based on trends weâre seeing now:Â dangerously inadequate coverage that looks to be getting worse, not better, despite the so-called âePatient Revolution.â
Ironically, even as the American Diabetes Association continues urging national leaders to be aware of the $245 billion spent on diabetes each year, it seems that with each new federal government agency decision we are just kicking the can down the road and hiking up costs even more.
That is, the Centers for Medicare Services (CMS) is taking an ever-narrower view of what it dubs ânecessaryâ for people with diabetes. The result is a lack of coverage for good quality gluocse meters, fewer test strips, and no coverage at all for CGM. It appears that CMS would rather cut costs in the short-term, even if the supplies weâre lacking now could prevent higher emergency room and hospital expenses, long-term complication costs, and overall lower health care costs down the line.
Many in the DOC (Diabetes Online Community) have been writing about this crappy CMS attitude toward diabetes recently, including a recent report by Catherine Price at ASweetLife, and Bennet Dunlap over at YDMV, recently highlighting a shocking report about emergency room and hospital costs related to diabetes hypoglycemia, which found that there are an estimated 97,648 events each year and 29% of those result in hospitalization (!):
The American Journal of Managed Care â thereâs a group that is going to be super-geeky about costs, right? In âThe Incidence and Costs of Hypoglycemia in Type 2 Diabetesâ they say, âcosts for hypoglycemia visits were $17,564 for an inpatient admission, $1,387 for an ED visit.â
Doing the math: hypos are estimated to cost about $640 million a year.
The JAMA piece goes on to say these (incidences) are far more likely to be the elderly. âInsulin-treated patients 80 years or older were more than twice as likely to visit the ED and nearly 5 times as likely to be subsequently hospitalized⊠than those 45 to 64 years.â These are they very people who canât get continuous glucose monitors (CGM) to help warn off hypos, because Medicare says CGMs are not medically necessary.
Pretty upsetting stuff.
At this very moment, CMS is looking to expand nationwide its controversial and restrictive competitive-bidding program, and the agency is actively accepting public comments on how the rules for that should be created, so NOW is the time for all of us to pay attention â even if Medicare age still seems like eons away for you personally.
Left Out in the Cold
Itâs shocking to learn how many patients are left alone, fighting personal battles for coverage of necessary supplies and critical devices they need!
Iâve been closely following the Test Guess And Go blog posts by D-Advocate Susan Berger in Pennsylvania, whose husband Marc is now on Medicare and has been waging the battle to get coverage for his CGM that he relies on because of hypo and hyperglycemic unawareness. His private insurance had paid for the device for years, but in June 2012 when he entered the Medicare system, the couple learned that their supplemental insurance denied coverage because of new Medicare guidelines. For eight months, theyâve been fighting to get the coverage that was initially denied, and earlier in March I was very sad to read they received an âUnfavorableâ judgement from an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) in their state on this issue.
Basically, the big hurdle that the Bergerâs and many PWDs face is that Medicare now dubs CGMs to be âprecautionaryâ devices, meaning supplemental rather than medically critical, which they would be if they satisfied Medicareâs definition of Durable Medical Equipment (DME). So CMSâ new classification of CGMs allows the agency to deny coverage of them.
Honestly, Iâm confused and frustrated by the term âprecautionaryâ â one that isnât even well-defined by Medicareâs itself, but basically doesnât translate to very important. Iâd argue that any diabetes supply or device is precautionary⊠Weâre trying to prevent hypoglycemia, immediate and long-term complications related to non-stellar blood sugar control, and deaths caused by hypo unawareness!
Naturally thereâs no guarantee you arenât going to be run over by a speeding car that comes out of nowhere any time you cross the street. But instead of allowing us the necessary tools to carefully look both ways and use the crosswalks, CMS is essentially forcing us to cross in the middle of the street with nothing but tunnel vision in the hopes we just wonât get run over.
Itâs all very frustrating, dealing with government terminology and regulation that seems to be missing the forest for the trees. While overlooking the forest fire thatâs coming our wayâŠ
What we can do?
Itâs always the same story: the best thing we can all do is raise our collective voice to let the decision-makers know what we want.Â
Here are four steps we can all take:
1. Legislative pushback on Medicare! In December 2013, Democratic Representative Carol Shea-Porter from New Hampshire introduced H.R. 3710, also known as the Medicare CGM Coverage Act that would add CGMs to the list of devices considered vital Durable Medical Equipment. As long as you have a doctorâs prescription and follow all of the prescribed criteria, youâd at least not be denied flat-out for CGM coverage. Sadly, the billâs been referred to committee and doesnât have much chance of getting heard or even brought to the full House floor for a vote. But it represents one of the best chances our community has in getting heard about CGM coverage.
You can ask your own Representative to co-sponsor the bill. Call your Congresspersonâs DC office and ask for the email address of your Congresspersonâs Legislative Assistant for health issues, then email that person and include the text of Shea-Porterâs letter along with a personal note about why this is important to you (the constituent). A full roster of House of Representatives along with phone numbers is available here.
2. Sign one of these two petitions at Change.org, calling for better Medicare CGM coverage. These latest petitions mirror others that have come before, but with the legislative attention and so many voices being raised on the issue now, the time seems ripe to get behind these petitions for maximum impact.
3. A bill to establish diabetes oversight: Thereâs also another legislative push to create an Office of Diabetes within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Rep. Pete Olson from Texas introduced H.R. 1074 about a year ago, and itâs currently caught up in a health subcommittee. If passed, this proposed Office of Diabetes, officially called the âNational Diabetes Clinical Care Commission,â would among other things oversee federal spending and allocation funds impacting diabetes â including FDA and CMS operations that impact us directly in the D-Community. There are some efforts among industry and advocacy organizations to raise discussion on this effort, but in the meantime we can also contact our lawmakers about the need for this office of oversight.
4. Let Medicare officials at CMS know how you feel! You can also file a complaint here, orcontact the Inspector General of Health and Human Services, about these issues. And via social media, feel free to ping @CMSGov, @medicaregov and @OIGatHHS about your concerns.
It is encouraging to know that the two major CGM vendors, Dexcom and Medtronic, are collaborating to address this. As Medtronic tells us: âWe are currently working with a coalition of patient and industry stakeholders (including non-profit organizations and other manufacturers) on a solution to address this access issue for the clinically appropriate Medicare beneficiaries who need and would benefit from this therapy.â
That ongoing effort mirrors what professional orgs like the Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, ADA and the Endocrine Society have done in demonstrating to private insurers the value of CGM in improving clinical outcomes for PWDs. Now itâs time for Medicare to get the message!
As Susan and Marc Berger, the couple struggling with coverage, push ahead with an appeal, all of us PWDs (even if not affected now) should be concerned about whatâs happening with Medicare â because the private insurance market, and likely now federal or state health exchanges, tend to follow suit on how Medicare handles diabetes coverage decisions.
So, this concerns us all.
We should raise our voices NOW about how this is important, before itâs too late.
The Diabetic Angels want to remind you that it is Daylight Savings Time on Sunday, March 9th in the U.S.! This means we can't forget to "Spring Forward" our Insulin Pumps, Testers, Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM's), Phones, Watches, etc. an hour ahead!Â
Our friend Ashley is looking for some help from some awesome diabetics! She's currently doing research through her college (Winona State University in Minnesota) on individuals with type 1 diabetes and their self-care behaviors! All she needs is some volunteers who are type 1 diabetics and at least 18 years old to take a super short survey!
If you would be willing to help out, let us know with your email address in the comment section here or inbox us at [email protected]!Â
Also if you know some people, PLEASE spread the word.
She needs 120 people by next month!
Christmas is only a few days away, and it is our hope here on the Diabetic Angels to help you get through the Holiday Season from office parties to family get-togethers with this handy #CandyCarbList!!
Enjoy your Christmas time and use this Christmas Candy Carb List on your phone or desktop whenever you need it! Â No need to look at the back of the candy rapper or dessert box, we've got it all here for you! Â
Click through for the entire list and mobile version you can save to your phone!
Tweet #candycarblist
See it on Pinterest!
Please feel free to share this! Please do not repost our content without credit.  If posting to tumblr, please reblog from us, Diabetic Angels, and please do not remove our credit. We've worked long and hard on this, and we appreciate your honesty. :) We've also posted this on Pinterest, so re-pin our post on there! Link is HERE.
DESKTOP VERSION:
Page 1 of The Diabetic Angels Candy Carb List - Desktop Version Page 2 of The Diabetic Angels Candy Carb List - Desktop Version Page 3 of The Diabetic Angels Candy Carb List - Desktop Version Page 4 of The Diabetic Angels Candy Carb List - Desktop Version Page 5 of The Diabetic Angels Candy Carb List - Desktop Version Page 6 of The Diabetic Angels Candy Carb List - Desktop Version
MOBILE VERSIONS BELOW: Directions to save to phone: -View this website on your iPhone IOS7 internet browser, SafariâŠgo to  www.diabeticangels.com -Then hold finger down on screen and click on "save image" for each of the "Candy Carb List - mobile versions" below  -which will then all show in your phone's photos section. ** To place SAVED images to an album...which is something we like to do, just to keep it all organized all #candycarblist wise... -click on "Camera Roll" -"select"** on the top right, -then click on the 4 mobile versions you just saved -and click on "Add To" on the very bottom in the middle of your screen into a "New Album" titled, "Carb Lists" (just for example)
We hope this helps, let us know in the comment section!!Â
MOBILE VERSION:
Page 1 of The Diabetic Angels Candy Carb List - Mobile Version Page 2 of The Diabetic Angels Candy Carb List - Mobile Version Page 3 of The Diabetic Angels Candy Carb List - Mobile Version Page 4 of The Diabetic Angels Candy Carb List - Mobile Version
Please feel free to share this! Please do not repost our content without credit.  If posting to tumblr, please reblog from us, Diabetic Angels, and please do not remove our credit. We've worked long and hard on this, and we appreciate your honesty. :) We've also posted this on Pinterest, so re-pin our post on there! Link is HERE.Â
If you use our #candycarblist, please like it and comment if it helps you and your family, we love hearing your feedback. _ _
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