Bring Your Child to Work Day 2012
My wife's company, Novartis, does an amazing job every year with Bring Your Child to Work Day, they put a lot of resources and manpower into creating an informative and fun day for the kids. This year the focus was on how products are imagined, marketed, and brought to a store near you. People from all different parts of the company spoke to the children and explained what their department did and why it was important to the process. After each "talk" the kids performed different tasks with the goal of producing a cookie that they could sell at the end of the day.
All of the proceeds from the cookie sales are being donated to our JDRF chapter so the last talk of the day was from me and Arden. We explained the difference between type I and type 2 diabetes, gave an overview of the JDRF and had a hands-on look at Arden's OmniPod insulin pump and her DexCom CGM. Insulet was kind enough to send me some non working or dummy OmniPods so that the kids could try them on if they wanted to.
The day was a wonderful success raising $1,100 for the JDRF, an amount that will be matched by Novartis 100% for a grand total of $2,200!
One of the best parts of the day was watching the kids work so hard on their cookie ideas, boxes and then seeing the hustle they all showed selling the cookies. It was while they were selling that I began to really notice all of the OmniPods on their arms and I have to admit that it was a very warming experience to see the children so enthusiastic and excepting of it. If I had enough pods I think every kid in the room would have been wearing one.
Arden and her team sold chocolate chip cookies and their marketing hook was that they had a celebrity endorsement, if you look closely at the boxes you'll see, "Arden's Favorite Cookies" on the sides.
Big thanks to Novartis, my lovely wife Kelly for suggesting that the JDRF would be a great place to send the funds collected and Insulet for sending the pods for the kids to wear.
I explained to the children that advocacy and awareness is what people with type I need the most from them and that I hoped they would tell someone about the good work that they did. I was very proud of all of them for the attention, effort and concern that they displayed throughout the day... it was a great experiance for everyone!
JDRF Announces Research Collaboration with Dexcom, Inc. to Develop
I love the varied ways that the JDRF supports diabetes research. Getting behind a company like DexCom and assisting them with their search for better CGM technology is forward thinking philanthropy. I can't wait to see what great devices are born from this union.
NEW YORK, April 24, 2012 - JDRF, the leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes (T1D) research, announced today that it has partnered with Dexcom, Inc. (NASDAQ:DXCM), a San Diego, CA-based medical device company focused on developing and marketing continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems. The goal of the partnership is to accelerate the development of a novel wireless "smart transmitter" that would allow a CGM system to communicate directly with an artificial pancreas control device currently being used for research studies, instead of only with a CGM receiver.
JDRF will provide Dexcom up to $500,000 over 12 months in milestone-based funding to complete the development, testing, and manufacturing of a custom "smart transmitter" prototype, which will be used for studies within JDRF's Artificial Pancreas Project academic research consortium. The direct communication capability enabled by the smart transmitter will be an important feature for artificial pancreas trials in outpatient (real-world) settings, as it would eliminate the need for a trial participant to carry multiple devices all wired together while testing an artificial pancreas system's ability to manage glucose levels.
People with T1D are burdened with constantly having to determine the right amount of insulin to dose at the right time, multiple times every day. Yet even with diligent monitoring, a significant portion of the day is still spent with either high or low blood sugar, placing them at risk for devastating complications. The artificial pancreas under development will be an external device that people with T1D could use to do what their bodies cannot-automatically control their blood sugar around the clock. It will work by combining an insulin pump and a CGM, which provides glucose readings every 1-5 minutes, with sophisticated computer software that allows the two devices to "talk to each other" to determine and provide automatically the right amount of insulin at the right time. Currently, all in-hospital artificial pancreas studies use wires and cables to connect a CGM system and an insulin pump to laptop computers or smartphones, which act as the artificial pancreas controllers.
In current CGM systems, the transmitter sends real-time glucose levels from the sensor to a receiver. In comparison, Dexcom's next generation of "smart transmitters" will have the ability to wirelessly transmit a glucose value directly to multiple devices, including several versions of an artificial pancreas controller.
"This robust wireless capability could greatly enhance the performance of closed-loop algorithms in outpatient studies, and we are proud to be working with JDRF on this exciting venture," said Terrance Gregg, chief executive officer of Dexcom.
"In order for us to truly achieve real-life outpatient studies of artificial pancreas systems, we need systems that will allow people the freedom and ability to move around while also providing safety, monitoring, and data collection," said Aaron Kowalski, Ph.D., assistant vice president of treatment therapies for JDRF. "Dexcom's 'smart transmitter' will allow the sensor to talk directly to multiple artificial pancreas control devices, and essentially eliminate the hassle of being encumbered by wires and other devices while trying to be active. Now that the first outpatient studies have started, the development of robust wireless connection capability is a key step toward accelerating the delivery of an artificial pancreas to all patients with T1D."
WDD: Hero of the week
The International Diabetes Federation is asking, "Do you know someone that is active in promoting the diabetes cause or that are engaging, motivating and leading others to take steps toward creating healthier lives". If you know someone that fits this description please nominate them at this link. There are so many "Diabetes Heroes" in the DOC, please help to get them the attention that they deserve.
I want to thank the IDF for the unbelievable pleasure that comes with being recognized by them and for the honor of being called a "Diabetes Hero". I am humbled by this distinction and I hope you can take a moment to visit their site and learn more about their amazing efforts in the diabetes community and the world.
America's Got Talent but no phones
Follow Arden's Day on Instagram @ardensday
Even before type I diabetes we didn't go out very often without our kids. Since type I, well, we do it less. That fact takes it's toll on a lot of aspects of our lives. Please don't misunderstand, we love having Cole and Arden with us but sometimes a person needs a break. Yesterday was our break. Kelly and I went to New York to see an 'America's Got Talent' taping. Kelly is a big fan of the show and I was very interested to get a sneak peak at how Howard Stern would be as a judge. The tickets said that the taping would run from noon to four or five. Arden doesn't get home from school until four. We needed a babysitter...
We only have two D-babysitters...
They were both busy...
We talked about not going.
I was really motivated to find a sitter because Kelly has been working so hard for so long and I really wanted to see her get this break. I did something next that I've never done before, I dropped D-proficient from my babysitter qualification list deciding that I could manage the diabetes on my own remotely if the person on the other end of the phone was focused, confident and understood the gravity of the situation. We have a lot of good friends and know many people that fit that description. Jen answered the call and our plans were back on.
The directions from 'America's Got Talent' said no phones would be allowed in the theater. I (hopefully) thought that they were just trying to persuade folks to leave their phones at home. Within moments of arriving at the Hammerstein Ballroom I heard the first production assistant announce that, "cameras and phones will be checked... no one will be allowed to bring a camera or phone into the taping". I completely understand that they don't want videos popping up on YouTube but I didn't have any designs on such things, I just needed to be able to text with our babysitter. "What to do now" was the question that I asked myself as we stood in line. If I ask politely, they may say no and then I'm cooked... I'd have to summon up my inner teenager, luckily he hasn't gone too far. So for the next hour or so I stood in that line with my iPhone jammed into the side of my left shoe.
I was almost home free when I realized that there may be a metal detector inside. My fear was soon realized as our friends went through the door, Paul turned around and mouthed to me, "wand", they were using a hand-held metal detector, I was about to get caught. Just as I was practicing my speech that was meant to let me keep my phone, the security guard put his arm out and stopped Kelly and I. "Hold on", he said and then directed us to the secondary entrance... the entrance with no wand!
The taping was great fun and I think that anyone who watches 'America's Got Talent' and only knows Howard Stern by reputation will be very happy with how he judges the show. We had a great time and much to our pleasure, never needed my phone. The taping ended exactly five minutes before Arden would get off her bus. I was able to manage her diabetes by phone and text without issue as we drove home. Our sitter (Thanks Jen!) said that Arden seemed very confident with her OmniPod PDM and that our son Cole was extremely helpful as well.
I think that yesterday was the beginning of the next step for us... More and more of Arden's management will be transferring to her in the coming years. It's an exciting and slightly nervous feeling, but a very good one.
Arden's Day Gives: Application for Incorporation
Yesterday was a momentous day around here. Way back on November 3, 2011, I announced my intentions to launch a charity that would strive to lesson the financial burden for young people associated with purchasing insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors - I called it the 'Untitled Giving Project'. In the days after my announcement I received cash gifts from my readers totaling almost three-thousand dollars, everyone said the same thing when they sent their gift, "use this money and do your best to make this happen".
There was a lot more to do then I could have imagined and I've encountered a speed bump or two along the way but yesterday we submitted the paperwork necessary to be incorporated by the state of New Jersey! I should hear back in a few days and then it'll be time to submit the 501(c)3 paperwork to the federal government. 501(c)3 grants a charitable status, making the charity a non-profit, tax exempt entity.
The timetable is fluid but my goal is to be granted an incorporation certificate by the end of next week, which will allow me to finally stop saying "Untitled Giving Project" and begin using the charity's intended name, Arden's Day Gives.
A lot of behind the scenes stuff will happen in the months between now and when the 501(c)3 is obtained. I'll be building... building a website, an online following and relationships within the community.
I want you all to know that the gifts you made back in November are being treated as if they were my own money. I shook with responsibility when I wrote the first check to cover legal expenses and have been exceedingly careful to only spend exactly what I've had to. I'm happy to tell you that I've only used about a third of the money that you all gave so generously and the balance should be more then enough to establish a web presence, set up the office and get to the good part... collecting donations that will purchase devices for kids in need.
For now if you could show your support by following Arden's Day Gives on twitter that would be a great beginning for this next step. More details will be coming soon and I'd love for you to be able to follow along as we build this idea, born on my diabetes blog, into a force for good. In the coming days and months we'll be making many announcements... I wish I could tell you who "we" are, I'll be able to soon but let me say this for now. The Board of Trustees is comprised of three people, myself, a wonderful pediatrician and a leader in the Pharma industry. Most importantly my lovely wife Kelly who has almost twenty years of Pharma experience will be the Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. Arden's Day Gives may have initially been my idea but it would exist without all of you and Kelly's tireless efforts.
I'll be introducing everyone very soon, introducing our logo and so much more... I can't wait to tell you all about it! Imagining, launching and hoping for our charity has been one of the true pleasures of my life.
In the beginning the best way to hear all the details will be by following Arden's Day Gives on twitter. Please follow us and tell your D-Tweeps - @ArdensDayGives
https://twitter.com/ardensdaygives
'Arden's Day Gives' received corporation status from New Jersey today! Now it's time to file the 501(c)3 paperwork with the federal government. I'm still amazed to see what good can come from a well supported idea, this is an amazing community of wonderful people! I can't wait to take the next step...