Mary Tyler Moore Dead at 80

Mary Tyler Moore was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 33... 

from the Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Mary Tyler Moore, the star of TV's beloved "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" whose comic realism helped revolutionize the depiction of women on the small screen, has died.

Moore died Wednesday with her husband and friends nearby, her publicist, Mara Buxbaum, said. She was 80.

Moore gained fame in the 1960s as the frazzled wife Laura Petrie on "The Dick Van Dyke Show." In the 1970s, she created one of TV's first career-woman sitcom heroines in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show."

She won seven Emmy awards over the years and was nominated for an Oscar for her 1980 portrayal of an affluent mother whose son is accidentally killed in "Ordinary People."

She had battled diabetes for many years. In 2011, she underwent surgery to remove a benign tumor on the lining of her brain.

The entire AP article is here.

Actress Mary Tyler Moore is the international chairman of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and spoke on raising awareness and funds for Diabetes.

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Decision Moves Continuous Glucose Monitors One Step Closer to Medicare Coverage

great news from JDRF.org !!

January 12, 2017

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices approved by the FDA for use in making diabetes treatment decisions are durable medical equipment, according to a decision today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). That determination removed a major roadblock to the devices’ coverage under Medicare. Today’s decisions mean that CGMs approved by the FDA for use in making diabetes treatment decisions are eligible for reimbursement under Medicare.

Today’s decision creates a pathway for Medicare coverage for the devices that will bring the nation’s largest insurer in line with the vast majority of the country’s private payers. Although the significant benefits of CGM use have been known since 2008, CMS had previously refused to consider covering the devices under Medicare, saying they did not meet the statutory definitions of durable medical equipment or any other category the agency could cover. Today’s decision removes that impediment.

“JDRF is encouraged by this decision, which will bring us closer to Medicare coverage for continuous glucose monitors,” said Aaron J. Kowalski, PhD, JDRF’s Chief Mission Officer. “I want to thank the tireless JDRF advocates and Congressional champions who have made this progress possible.”

the entire press release can be found here on the JDRF website

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Arden's 10th Anniversary JDRF Walk

Arden was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes just after her second birthday in August of 2006. That October we participated in our first JDRF Walk.

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First Walk 2006, Age 2

Yesterday we walked for the tenth consecutive year...

Arden designed her own walk shirt this year to mimic a softball t-shirt. Big thank you to OmniPod for being cool with us using their Podder logo to make the shirt. It was a great day, the weather was perfect and a ton of Arden's friends and teammates came along in support.

i'm trying to decide what to do with the extra shirts...

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Darth Vader has Type 2 Diabetes

Did you know that James Earl Jones has type 2 diabetes? 

So many people live each day with diabetes. Regular folks like Arden, actors, athletes and even Sith Lords bent on destroying the universe or at least the actors who give them their voices.

You know what the worst disease in the world is - the one you have... 

Type 1s and type 2s may face different day-to-day challenges but they are eternally united in many other ways. Please use diabetes awareness month to remind yourself that no matter what "type" you are, we are all fighting the same evil empire. Advocate for all becasue no one person's struggle is any worse or more difficult than another's. The worst disease in the world is the one that you or a loved one has - it's not a competition.

So don't take your tolerance cues from Darth Vader... be a Jedi - a diabetes advocating Jedi!

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How about a little non-diabetes related bonus content today? Please enjoy the all new Star Wars posters that we're released yesterday. Perhaps they would make a great background for your child's phone (or maybe the little kid in you would like one on yours). May the force and the support of every person living with diabetes, be with you!

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JDRF T1D Looks Like Me Campaign

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

I want to start diabetes awareness month by highlighting a social media campaign that the JDRF is sponsoring. The JDRF is inviting people to visit http://jdrf.org/t1dlookslikeme and use their cool web based mini photoshop doohickey to shade a picture of themselves in blue. After the blue tint is applied (all of this takes just a few moments) your photo will be adorned with the "JDRF T1D Looks Like Me" logo and you are then able to download the image and or share it online with one of your social media accounts. Such an easy and wonderful way of putting a face to type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Don't forget the hashtag, #T1DLOOKSLIKEME

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