Beta Change recently interviewed me via Facebook Live
Katie Doyle of Beta Change emailed me one day asking to see if I’d be interested in doing an interview with them sometime. I was definitely flattered and delighted to share our story on their amazing global platform and couldn’t turn down this wonderful opportunity. We discussed a bit about Coral’s diagnosis, how I started the Blog, my T1dlife shop and mentioned a few resources to affordable insulin (scroll down to Additional Resources). See the YouTube Minisode below or click here. Much mahalos to everyone for supporting this blog, Zazzle shop, and our followers on Instagram @type1diabetic_life!
About Beta Change
Beta Change is a grass-roots organization aiming to create a global network and foster collaboration between all stakeholders within the diabetes community. Together, they hope to provide adequate and sustainable access to diabetes medication, equipment, education and support to all people living with diabetes by 2025. Learn more about Beta Change here.
Real Talk
I highly encourage all T1ds, especially parents of young T1d children like my daughter Coral, to continuously do their own research rather than rely on others for in-depth knowledge. Your endo or D-nurse isn’t always going to be available to help you make that change to your basal or I:C ratios. It’s up to us as parents to make educated decisions every day to keep our child(ren) healthy and thriving with this chronic autoimmune disease. We know our bodies or children’s bodies, behaviors and eating patterns best. Therefore, we must work out the timing of the pre-bolus (if needed) based on our own personal needs and documentation like with the Sugarmate app for iPhones. Be self-reliant, self-motivated, and take the initiative to learn more independently. Surround yourself with positivity and supportive people. Start your own Diatribe like we have! Take that first step to preventing diabetes complications in the future and stay healthy. It’s doable. You can and must do it.
Additional Resources
- T1International #insulin4all – a non-profit organization operated by T1ds advocating for people impacted by T1d and believes everyone should have access to insulin and diabetes supplies no matter what country they live in.
- Insulin For Life – IFL USA provides insulin and disease management supplies free of charge to those with diabetes who otherwise would go without these life-saving provisions. They collect in-date, unopened, supplies from individuals or organizations and, following careful inspection, deliver them to disadvantaged regions to be utilized by those in need. IFL-USA is fully licensed by the State of Florida to both receive and distribute medications for this purpose. All donations are tax-deductible in accordance with regulations.
- If shipping insulin for the first time, please contact me for further details prior to heading to the post-office.
- USPS.com has FREE shipping supplies online including Priority Mail Pdded Envelopes (aka bubble mailers). Print labels online to save you time waiting in line at the post-office.
- American Diabetes Association – Resources for those struggling with the rising costs of insulin and high deductibles or no medical insurance coverage at all.
- Novolog – fast-acting insulin coupon. Online form requires some of your information.
- Eli Lily – surprisingly they have discount programs and savings cards on their website.
- Walmart – generic insulin may not be as effective as name brands like Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly or Sanofi, but at least it will help hold you off until you’re able to regain some financial stability. Call or visit your nearest Walmart pharmacy to ask about NPH and R insulins and see further reading topics below. They have affordable diabetic supplies online too.
See here for the top three books I’ve recommended in the past. How you interpret and perceive information given to you is entirely up to you. I cannot help everyone, but I hope I’ll be able to help most of you who are new to this T1dLife, pumping, and/or Dexcom.
Further Reading Regarding Cost of Insulin
Nothing on this Blog or @type1diabetic_life on Instagram is to be taken as medical advice. Do not literally follow us. Always seek counsel from your physician or call 911 for an emergency.
T1dLife 