Today is World Diabetes Day.

I got dressed this morning and put on my blue sweater (the blue circle is the global symbol for diabetes) tucked into my pencil skirt. Like most of my skirts, there are no pockets. Where am I going to put my pump today? I can put it in the strap around my leg, then no one will notice it. But it’s uncomfortable to sit all day at my desk like that. I can clip it to the outside of my skirt, but I don’t really like when it shows. I can clip it to the waist band of my tights under my skirt, but is it the square lump noticeable?

Today is World Diabetes Day.

It’s been 2 days that I’ve gone without Gigi and I miss it terribly. I called Dexcom 2 weeks ago to order new sensors. However they informed me that I need a prescription refill from my doctor before the order could go through. They sent a fax to my doctor. Days went by with no response so they faxed it again. A week later, they still had not received anything back. I called my doctor’s office to inquire about the hold up. “It’s not even in your file that you are using Dexcom. What is it exactly that you need.” Uh seriously?! The woman didn’t know what to do so I asked again for the fax number to use and who I should have them fax to. I called back Dexcom with the new information. Another 2 days with no response. I called my doctor again and was finally transferred to someone else who understood and said that she would get to the bottom of it. I’m still waiting for the prescription so that my sensors can be shipped and I can start wearing Gigi again. You’d think a diabetes doctor’s office would have this down by now.

Today is World Diabetes Day.

There are people all over the world living with diabetes, type 1 and type 2. In fact, 382 million people have diabetes worldwide, that’s more than the entire population of the United States! By 2035 this number is expected to rise to 592 million! I complain about not having somewhere to place my insulin pump or that I have to wait a few extra weeks for an incredible glucose monitoring device that my insurance is willing to pay for. There are people around the world living with the same disease as me who may not even have access to insulin, the most basic necessity to live with this disease. They may not have insurance or a way to pay for the test strips, syringes, meters, medications, or doctor’s visits, let alone a pump or CGM. Then what happens if complications arise from  the sub optimal care as a result of not having access to these necessities? There are millions of people around the world that don’t have access to the care that they need and deserve! They don’t have the same education and prevention that we often take for granted. Did you know that 1 in 2 people with diabetes don’t even know they have it?! How can they then be expected to get the proper care? Everyone with diabetes has a different experience, but everyone deserves access to the proper care for a healthy life and future.

This year’s World Diabetes Day slogan is, Diabetes: Protect our Future. The campaign is working to strengthen recognition among the public that diabetes is a global health threat with serious and far-reaching consequences that affect us all. Diabetes is on the rise around the globe, but there are steps that we can take now to prevent type 2 from developing and to help those who have diabetes manage it. Prevention starts with education and awareness. Hopefully a cure is not far behind.

For more information about World Diabetes Day visit: http://www.idf.org/worlddiabetesday/

Image from http://www.idf.org/worlddiabetesday/