Every year, many people engage in volunteer service in honor of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Have you ever volunteered with a diabetes-related organization?

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- 3 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk likes your comment at
  Have you ever had a diabetes-alert dog? If not, would you consider it?
  While I think having a dog is great, the other requirements necessary of having an appropriate residence (yard, size, etc.) and needing to take them regularly out for walks and relief breaks doesn’t fit my lifestyle.
- 1 hour, 19 minutes ago
  
  Marty likes your comment at
  Have you ever had a diabetes-alert dog? If not, would you consider it?
  While I think having a dog is great, the other requirements necessary of having an appropriate residence (yard, size, etc.) and needing to take them regularly out for walks and relief breaks doesn’t fit my lifestyle.
- 20 hours, 59 minutes ago
  
  TEH likes your comment at
  In 2024, did you add, remove, or change T1D devices? Select all that apply!
  I changed to the Dexcom G7 from the Dexcom G6. I got a new Tandem T:slim X2 last year (2023) to replace my old one that was out of warranty.
- 23 hours, 12 minutes ago
  
  Lawrence S. likes your comment at
  In 2024, did you add, remove, or change T1D devices? Select all that apply!
  I kept my Tandem pump, but changed From Dexcom G6 to G7.
- 23 hours, 13 minutes ago
  
  Lawrence S. likes your comment at
  In 2024, did you add, remove, or change T1D devices? Select all that apply!
  Upgraded from Dexcom G6 to G7.
- 23 hours, 13 minutes ago
  
  Lawrence S. likes your comment at
  In 2024, did you add, remove, or change T1D devices? Select all that apply!
  I switched from Dexcom G6 to G7 this year. I've had the same Tandem T:slim X2 pump model for many years now, although it's been replaced a couple of times for charging problems.
- 23 hours, 13 minutes ago
  
  Lawrence S. likes your comment at
  In 2024, did you add, remove, or change T1D devices? Select all that apply!
  I changed to the Dexcom G7 from the Dexcom G6. I got a new Tandem T:slim X2 last year (2023) to replace my old one that was out of warranty.
- 1 day, 3 hours ago
  
  Cristina Jorge Schwarz likes your comment at
  Do you try to have healthier options on the days leading up to a holiday get-together?
  I always try to eat healthy. Holiday time is no different.
- 1 day, 3 hours ago
  
  Cristina Jorge Schwarz likes your comment at
  Do you try to have healthier options on the days leading up to a holiday get-together?
  Your brain may be having a holiday, but your body is still T1D. It doesn’t take vacations or holidays. Changing routines rarely works out well.
- 1 day, 13 hours ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk likes your comment at
  In 2024, how much did you spend out-of-pocket on diabetes medications and supplies?
  I had to enter not sure. I can’t recall any direct expenses. However, I paid several thousand dollars for Medicare and the supplemental insurance that paid for my supplies.
- 1 day, 21 hours ago
  
  Lawrence S. likes your comment at
  In 2024, how many appointments did you have with your T1D healthcare provider?
  I had 4 with my endocrinologist because I have a pump and Medicare requires it also had 1 appt with a diabetes pharmacist
- 1 day, 21 hours ago
  
  Lawrence S. likes your comment at
  In 2024, how many appointments did you have with your T1D healthcare provider?
  My endo would be happy to see me only 2x a year vs 4x a year because of my good diabetes control BUT, Medicare mandates a visit every 90 days to the prescribing physician for any approval of claims for insulin pump supplies....penny-wise and pound-foolish, IMO.
- 1 day, 23 hours ago
  
  TEH likes your comment at
  In 2024, how many appointments did you have with your T1D healthcare provider?
  My endo would be happy to see me only 2x a year vs 4x a year because of my good diabetes control BUT, Medicare mandates a visit every 90 days to the prescribing physician for any approval of claims for insulin pump supplies....penny-wise and pound-foolish, IMO.
- 2 days, 1 hour ago
  
  Gerald Oefelein likes your comment at
  In 2024, how many appointments did you have with your T1D healthcare provider?
  Oh, I also went to diabetes training camp for the second year and honestly, that's the most helpful thing I do. Several days with endocrinologists, educators, dietitians, sports physiologists, and others, most of whom also have type one.
- 2 days, 13 hours ago
  
  dholl62@gmail.com likes your comment at
  In 2024, how much did you spend out-of-pocket on diabetes medications and supplies?
  It depends if you include my Medicare Part B and Part D premiums. Those are $156 and $180 per month.
- 2 days, 13 hours ago
  
  dholl62@gmail.com likes your comment at
  In 2024, how much did you spend out-of-pocket on diabetes medications and supplies?
  I had to enter not sure. I can’t recall any direct expenses. However, I paid several thousand dollars for Medicare and the supplemental insurance that paid for my supplies.
- 3 days, 9 hours ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk likes your comment at
  If you use an insulin pump and it fails, do you know how much long-acting insulin to take?
  Before I get to using the long acting insulin, I’d go to my backup pump then the MDI.
- 3 days, 9 hours ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk likes your comment at
  If you use an insulin pump and it fails, do you know how much long-acting insulin to take?
  Yes I do and I keep long acting insulin in my supplies. But for periods of a day or two I usually just take small doses of my fast acting (Novolog) every two to four hours and do fine with that... Luckily I am 75 years old and get up to use bathroom several times through the night; also my insulin needs are low, about 25 to 30 units per day
- 3 days, 17 hours ago
  
  Anita Stokar likes your comment at
  Do you use insulin pens or vials?
  I do! Also for if I want a larger bolus (I'll often use the pod for part and the pen for part) to avoid over saturating the pod site, or if I'm worried my site isn't absorbing well enough but I'm not 100% convinced enough to pull it off. I always have a pen in my bag in case of emergencies (though I do use vials to fill my pods) and I figure it's good to use the pen occasionally in the "use it or lose it" mentality. I'm happy keeping an active pen for many months or even a year but I'm sure it would fail eventually and need to be tossed.
- 3 days, 20 hours ago
  
  Lawrence S. likes your comment at
  If you use an insulin pump and it fails, do you know how much long-acting insulin to take?
  Yes for close, accuracy is a challenge and the dose may be off, just part of the process.
- 3 days, 20 hours ago
  
  Lawrence S. likes your comment at
  If you use an insulin pump and it fails, do you know how much long-acting insulin to take?
  I am blessed, in 30+ years of pumping I've only had one pump failure. A Minimed pump failed on a flight home.
- 3 days, 20 hours ago
  
  Lawrence S. likes your comment at
  If you use an insulin pump and it fails, do you know how much long-acting insulin to take?
  Before I get to using the long acting insulin, I’d go to my backup pump then the MDI.
- 3 days, 20 hours ago
  
  Lawrence S. likes your comment at
  If you use an insulin pump and it fails, do you know how much long-acting insulin to take?
  I don’t know how much long acting insulin I would need if my pump stopped working. I would simply contact my doctor, asking for the long acting that I’ve have used and would ask him to help me figure out how much of it I would need on a daily basis. When that has happened recently, I would just give myself periodic shots of my regular fast acting to tide me over.
- 3 days, 20 hours ago
  
  Lawrence S. likes your comment at
  If you use an insulin pump and it fails, do you know how much long-acting insulin to take?
  I don't, but I also don't have any long acting insulin
- 3 days, 20 hours ago
  
  Dennis Dacey likes your comment at
  If you use an insulin pump and it fails, do you know how much long-acting insulin to take?
  Before I get to using the long acting insulin, I’d go to my backup pump then the MDI.
Clear All

Every year, many people engage in volunteer service in honor of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Have you ever volunteered with a diabetes-related organization?

How many nights in the past week has T1D disturbed your sleep?

Sarah Howard

Sarah Howard (nee Tackett) has dedicated her career to supporting the T1D community ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Manager of Marketing at T1D Exchange.

11 Comments

Linda Murphy

I would like to help others who are adapting to being diabetic or not comfortable with the equipment, but not sure I’m allowed since I’m not a nurse or diabetes educator.

4 years ago Log in to Reply
Chris Deutsch

I volunteered with the local chapter of the ADA for many years, but it was not in response to M. L. King Day.

4 years ago Log in to Reply
Janice B

I have volunteered before but not specifically for Martin Luther King’s birthday.

4 years ago Log in to Reply
Mick Martin

The volunteering I’ve done was based on Local Diabetes Support Group. I have, many years ago, raised money for Diabetes-Related Charities as I used to run marathons and decided that this would be a worthwhile cause … nothing at all to do with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. however. 😉

4 years ago Log in to Reply
Richard Vaughn

I volunteered for the research being done on long term type 1 diabetics at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. I have participated there on two occasions, and will do so again.

4 years ago Log in to Reply
Lorri McLuckie

I attended a meeting with Congressman John Dingell along with the local JDRF group to speak to him about my lifelong journey of 50+ years with Type 1. I have also walked in several JDRF fundraising walks.

4 years ago Log in to Reply
William Bennett

Pro-bono admin for a prominent site in the Diabetic Online Community. Does that count?

4 years ago Log in to Reply
Ernie Richmann

Yes- JDRF, Camp Ho Mita Koda- a camp for diabetic children and Lions Club. Many people may not know that Lions Club provides grants for diabetes related projects. Our Lions district was awarded a $60,000 grant to renovate the cabins at Camp Ho Mita Koda. Our Lions JDRF walk team raised over $7000.

4 years ago Log in to Reply
Kristine Warmecke

Yes the ADA first with their Bike-A-Thon, then local walk. I volunteered a few summers as a RN at Camp E.D.I.

4 years ago Log in to Reply
Virginia Barndollar

Yes I volunteer at the local ADA and Camp Courage (ADA camp for kids with T1DM). The week at Camp Courage is one of my best weeks of the summer.

4 years ago Log in to Reply
Patricia Dalrymple

Yes, many years ago but we met to organize at a pizza parlor and they served pizza and real coke and I was like – they don’t get it. I used to love Pepsi but I haven’t had one since I was diagnosed 20 years ago and am healthier for it. But I do contribute.

4 years ago Log in to Reply