Diabetes by the Numbers

Stephen Shaul

I've been living with Type 1 diabetes since 1991. Since April 2012, he has been writer of the diabetes blog Happy Medium, and since then, has covered a number of diabetes-related subjects, including participation in clinical trials, living a week gluten free as if he were newly diagnosed with celiac disease, and the complex relationship between patients, corporate interests, and government entities. In November 2014, he spoke before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration during a public workshop on interoperability between diabetes devices. Join me as I discuss diabetes care, drugs, devices, and more with newsmakers of the day.

  1. 02/11/2019

    Diabetes By The Numbers: Episode 32 - Renza Scibilia

    One of the surprising things I've found out about myself while interviewing people for Diabetes By The Numbers is that I'm one of the worst pronouncers of names I've ever met. That's horrible, especially when I have a guest as special as Renza Scibilia. Renza is a diabetes superhero worldwide, with her blog, her work for a large diabetes organization in Australia, and her presence at the forefront of the most important issues facing all of us. After Renza gets me straightened out on the correct pronunciation of her last name, we talk about the upcoming ATTD conference in Berlin, the importance of #LanguageMatters, and how critical the Spare a Rose campaign is. Which is timely, because this episode of Diabetes By The Numbers is part of Diabetes Podcast Week, February 10 through 16. All of the podcasters and video bloggers are throwing their efforts this week behind the Spare a Rose, Save a Child campaign through the International Diabetes Federation's Life for a Child program. As I've mentioned before, the cost of one rose (about $5 USD) saves the life of a child for one month. The cost of a dozen roses gains a child in another part of the world an entire year to play, go to school, and be with their families. Who doesn't love that? There are children all over the world who are depending on us. So please, take time right now. Go to LFACInternational.org/SpareaRose and make your life-sustaining donation.  I hope you enjoy my conversation with Renza! Reference Material - Click below for more information on this topic Renza Scibilia is a gifted writer, and you can read her at: Diabetogenic.wordpress.com Be part of the Spare a Rose, Save a Child campaign this year by making your donation at: LFACInternational.org/SpareARose

  2. 09/04/2017

    Diabetes By The Numbers: Episode 24 - Clinical Trial Participation

    Clinical trials come and go, and often they may seem like the same thing is just being tested over and over again. But it's really not like that at all. Case in point is the clinical trial beginning at the University of Virginia Center for Diabetes Technology. Jess Robic and Jennifer Pinnata from the CDT are here to talk about this trial specifically, and to answer a few questions surrounding clinical trial participation in general. This trial is specifically recruiting MDI (multiple daily injections) users, but it's using algorithms developed for use in artificial pancreas systems. There are many super interesting aspects to this study. The best part is all the diabetes stuff you get as part of participation in the trial. It includes: - Insulin for the length of the trial - Use of an innovative insulin "smart" pen - Use of a Dexcom G5 continuous glucose monitor - Test strips for the length of the trial - A stipend, dependent on the number of in-person study visits you complete before the end of your participation. Seriously, if I was an MDI user, I would sign up for this trial yesterday. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- A quick note: this interview was conducted two days before the unrest in Charlottesville, Virginia on August 12. If you're wondering why we're so cheery in the interview, and why we're not even acknowledging anything about the racial discord of that weekend, or the fact that someone lost their life, it's because it hadn't happened yet. In the aftermath of that sickening weekend, all of us decided to wait a bit before airing the episode. If you qualify, I hope you will consider signing up for this study… I believe it will help lead to something truly unique in insulin delivery for people living with diabetes. Reference Material - Click below for more information Jess and Jennifer talk about CDT's Recruitment Database... to join the pool of potential clinical trial participants, CLICK HERE. To see the clinical trials currently recruiting and taking place at the University of Virginia, CLICK HERE.

  3. 03/29/2017

    Diabetes By The Numbers

    How do you do two interviews on the same subject on different days within the same week?  It helps if something big happens on one of the days in between interviews. "Everything in my life, every decision I've made throughout my life, has always been framed around, 'Will I be able to get health insurance?'." In part two of my discussions with leaders of the March for Health, the wonderful organizer of the Nashville march, Cara Richardson explains perfectly why, even though the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives pulled his "repeal and replace" healthcare legislation from consideration last Friday, there is still a need for a March.  She explains exactly why access to care and spreading knowledge of patient's rights are such an important part of her life.    Trust me... this will be well worth your time. Reference Material - Click below for more information on this topic Cara Richardson is organizer for the March for Health in Public Square Park, Nashville Tennessee, Saturday, April 1st at 11:00 a.m.  To find out all about March for Health Nashville, or to find another city where you can march; or to help support March for Health with a donation, go to: MarchForHealth.org March for Health still needs volunteers who can help with everything from e-mails to fundraising to setup and cleanup.  To become a March for Health volunteer, email: volunteer@marchforhealth.org Cara writes about her life with diabetes at the blog Every Day, Every Hour, Every Minute: countrygirldiabetic.blogspot.com

About

I've been living with Type 1 diabetes since 1991. Since April 2012, he has been writer of the diabetes blog Happy Medium, and since then, has covered a number of diabetes-related subjects, including participation in clinical trials, living a week gluten free as if he were newly diagnosed with celiac disease, and the complex relationship between patients, corporate interests, and government entities. In November 2014, he spoke before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration during a public workshop on interoperability between diabetes devices. Join me as I discuss diabetes care, drugs, devices, and more with newsmakers of the day.