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    • 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
      Lee Tincher likes your comment at
      When you change your insulin pump site, do you tend to notice a spike in your blood glucose levels afterward?
      I oftentimes give myself a little insulin for when I go unplugged while changing pods, depending on what my current sensor reading is.
    • 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
      Lee Tincher likes your comment at
      When you change your insulin pump site, do you tend to notice a spike in your blood glucose levels afterward?
      Always, until I began to increase the "cannula fill" amount. I found I need a good bit more than the (1.3u) to "prime the site" to have the next blood sugars be in goal. Just remember "every body is different". Darn than OmniPod does not let you change that amount, have to use "fake carbs". Something to consider.....
    • 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
      KarenM6 likes your comment at
      How well do you understand the details of your health insurance coverage?
      At the risk of being overly simplistic, it boils down to: "Heads, you lose. Tails, You lose." ╰── ──╮
    • 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
      KarenM6 likes your comment at
      How well do you understand the details of your health insurance coverage?
      They change all the time. Generally not in a direction to improve my health, but to increase the money in their wallet.
    • 1 hour, 29 minutes ago
      KarenM6 likes your comment at
      How well do you understand the details of your health insurance coverage?
      "Slightly," I think, maybe. Insurance companies change their policies, constantly. Prescription coverage changes every time I look at it. Medicare is a huge question mark. Honestly, Health insurance has become a big money making business, for them. I get different answers every time I call, depending upon whom I am talking with. I say it's time for socialized medicine.
    • 1 hour, 29 minutes ago
      Lee Tincher likes your comment at
      When you change your insulin pump site, do you tend to notice a spike in your blood glucose levels afterward?
      Sometimes, which makes sense to me. It seems like it takes a while til the new insulin is absorbed.
    • 5 hours, 44 minutes ago
      KSannie likes your comment at
      When you change your insulin pump site, do you tend to notice a spike in your blood glucose levels afterward?
      **cannula
    • 12 hours, 2 minutes ago
      Kathleen Juzenas likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      I find a using the T-Connect app I have the main features needed, CMG, bolus, battery level and remaining insulin.
    • 12 hours, 54 minutes ago
      Kathy Hanavan likes your comment at
      When you change your insulin pump site, do you tend to notice a spike in your blood glucose levels afterward?
      There are certain areas on my body where the insulin is more effective than others.
    • 15 hours, 56 minutes ago
      TEH likes your comment at
      When you change your insulin pump site, do you tend to notice a spike in your blood glucose levels afterward?
      There are certain areas on my body where the insulin is more effective than others.
    • 15 hours, 56 minutes ago
      TEH likes your comment at
      When you change your insulin pump site, do you tend to notice a spike in your blood glucose levels afterward?
      Sometimes, which makes sense to me. It seems like it takes a while til the new insulin is absorbed.
    • 16 hours, 4 minutes ago
      atr likes your comment at
      When you change your insulin pump site, do you tend to notice a spike in your blood glucose levels afterward?
      There are certain areas on my body where the insulin is more effective than others.
    • 16 hours, 6 minutes ago
      atr likes your comment at
      When you change your insulin pump site, do you tend to notice a spike in your blood glucose levels afterward?
      Usually the opposite. Fresh insulin sometimes sends me low.
    • 16 hours, 18 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      Mostly pump because I want to quickly see insulin on board. Tandem on IPhone when holding my great-niece while she sleeps since getting my pump out of my pocket always wakes her ☺️. Dexcom app if not in need of insulin.
    • 16 hours, 18 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      usually the pump; sometimes my phone.
    • 16 hours, 19 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      My pump (Tandem X2). Since I have to carry a work phone close to 247, I don't want to deal with two phones (device overload!). As I go about my day, looking at my pump meets my needs, I can decide to bolus etc - and edit the bolus. For more in depth data review and analysis, I use the TConnect.
    • 16 hours, 19 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      I read it from my pump.
    • 16 hours, 19 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      On my insulin pump
    • 16 hours, 19 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      My pump. Keep it simple.
    • 16 hours, 22 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      How well do you understand the details of your health insurance coverage?
      Do you realize what you have just said: "Obscurantism, gobbledegook, and pointillism used not as an art form but as a 'Gotcha!' of legal/financial determinism?"
    • 16 hours, 23 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      How well do you understand the details of your health insurance coverage?
      How much of this is intentionally misleading? My mail order prescription service says that can’t possibly know the cost of a medication until after it’s been shipped, which is too late to cancel or return, of course, and makes it impossible to comparison shop.
    • 16 hours, 24 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      How well do you understand the details of your health insurance coverage?
      I have an MA in writing and lit, but gobbledegook is gobbledegook. The fancy term is obscurantism.
    • 16 hours, 26 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      How well do you understand the details of your health insurance coverage?
      They change all the time. Generally not in a direction to improve my health, but to increase the money in their wallet.
    • 16 hours, 40 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      When you change your insulin pump site, do you tend to notice a spike in your blood glucose levels afterward?
      Usually the opposite. Fresh insulin sometimes sends me low.
    • 1 day, 13 hours ago
      Sarah Berry likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      My pump
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    Have you had any issues obtaining life insurance because of T1D?

    Home > LC Polls > Have you had any issues obtaining life insurance because of T1D?
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    If you have never participated in a T1D research study, what stops you from participating? Select all that apply to you.

    Sarah Howard

    Sarah Howard has worked in the diabetes research field 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 Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange.

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    " At T1D Exchange, we’re proud to announce our Medical and Research Advisory Team — an accomplished group of leaders in endocrinology, research, and quality improvement. Together, they are redefining what’s possible in type 1 diabetes (T1D) care through rigorous data analysis, innovative research approaches, and real-world implementation. Their collective expertise is central to our mission of improving outcomes for all people living with T1D.  “We’re excited to be working with our advisors given their deep expertise across a broad range of areas in T1D,” said Dave Walton, CEO of T1D Exchange. “Their involvement magnifies our reach, knowledge, and impact. These advisors are shaping the future of diabetes care — driving innovation across research, clinical practice, and quality improvement.”    Meet the Medical & Research Advisory Team  The T1D Exchange Medical and Research Advisory Team brings together four leading endocrinologists, each offering a unique perspective and shared commitment to advancing T1D care:    Jenise Wong, MD, PhD Pediatric endocrinologist at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital and Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco Focus areas: Diabetes technology adoption and usability; health equity and access to care and technology; community-based and peer-support interventions; culturally responsive care          Jennifer Sherr, MD, PhD Pediatric endocrinologist at Yale Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut Focus areas: Clinical trials in diabetes technology (CGM and AID systems), disease-modifying treatments and immunotherapies, and emerging technologies and medications, including continuous ketone monitoring and nasal glucagon     Viral Shah, MD Adult endocrinologist at Indiana University Health and Professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana Focus areas: Diabetes technology and adjunctive therapy trials; translational and data-driven research; T1D complications and bone health         Nestoras Mathioudakis, MD, MHS Adult endocrinologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine and Associate Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland Focus areas: AI-driven clinical support tools; EMR-based data analytics for clinical decision making; data-driven quality improvement; health equity in T1D care        This accomplished team’s expertise spans adult and pediatric endocrinology, research, and quality improvement affiliated with leading institutions nationwide. Collectively, they have authored over 500 diabetes publications and secured research funding from organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, Helmsley Charitable Trust, the American Diabetes Association, and Breakthrough T1D — while remaining actively engaged in both clinical care and research.  “These individuals represent an impressive body of work while remaining deeply involved in the day-to-day realities of diabetes care,” said Walton. Their expertise covers the full spectrum of T1D care — from AI and predictive analytics to complication prevention, automated insulin delivery, continuous glucose and ketone monitoring, GLP-1 treatments, health equity, mental health, autoantibody screening, and disease prevention.    Turning insight into impact  The team’s work goes beyond research, focusing on translating insights into real-world practice. By leveraging data to scale best practices, the goal is to drive meaningful, measurable change across clinics and communities.  “Our advisors will help to extend our impact — whether through QI strategy, research innovation, funding opportunities, or new data-driven solutions,” said Walton. “We want to take what’s working at individual centers and spread that as broadly as possible.”   He added, “As a Collaborative, we’re also focused on advanced population health strategies such as exploring predictive data models to identify risks earlier and intervene before complications even begin to happen.”    The power of the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative  Central to this work is the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative (T1DX-QI) — a nationwide network of clinics working together to improve care through shared data, benchmarking, and evidence-based practices.  “I’m thrilled to serve as a Medical Advisor for T1D Exchange, because I’ve seen firsthand the impact this network can have on patient care,” said Dr. Nestoras Mathioudakis. “T1D Exchange is the premier organization for quality improvement in type 1 diabetes, with unparalleled assets like a large EHR database and robust patient registry.”  He added that he is excited to apply his expertise in EHR research and big data analytics to generate real-world evidence across diagnosis, management, and outcomes.  Dr. Viral Shah echoed that perspective, reflecting on T1DX-QI's evolution: “I have been involved with T1D Exchange since its early days and have had the privilege of witnessing how it has transformed the quality of diabetes care across the United States. I’m delighted to return as a Medical Advisor.”  He emphasized the importance of accelerating impact. “I look forward to working closely with the team to accelerate the evidence generation and to help translate these insights to improve patient care.”   Dr. Jenise Wong highlighted the visible impact of T1DX-QI on the delivery of care. "I’m truly honored and grateful to be working with T1D Exchange as a Medical Advisor. T1DX-QI is a remarkable resource for centers that are using continuous process improvement to improve the quality of care for people living with diabetes.”  “Diabetes centers working with T1DX –QI have done amazing work using QI methodology to make care accessible and equitable for all people with diabetes,” she said. “It’s inspiring to be a part of a collaborative in which centers have been creative and thoughtful with initiatives to address individual and systemic challenges to care, improving clinical outcomes as well as the patient experience."  Looking ahead, Dr. Sherr highlighted the opportunity to build on the existing strong foundation. “I’m very excited to be working as a Medical Advisor for T1D Exchange,” she said. “It’s a privilege to help shape what comes next for a group that’s already doing such impactful work.”  “Sharing what’s happening in clinical practice, benchmarking across centers, and understanding outcomes is how we figure out what’s working, what’s not, and where we go next,” she said.      The future of T1D care   With this team’s vision and expertise, T1D Exchange is positioned to accelerate progress in T1D care — bridging research and real-world practice to drive meaningful, measurable impact.  Together, we look forward to advancing innovation and improving outcomes for everyone affected by type 1 diabetes.   "

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    24 Comments

    1. Anthony Harder

      My parents bought a life insurance policy for me as an infant before being diagnosed with T1D. I have never purchased life insurance individually because of the extremely high cost, proof of eligibility, and low benefit. I have purchased life insurance through employers, but extending it has the same issues as individual purchase.

      3
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    2. Philip Bunsick

      I am not able to get life insurance on my own. I have high blood pressure also but for some reason the industry seems to think I am going to drop dead tomorrow. The only life insurance I am able to get is Group insurance or if I am luck to be able to get guaranteed issue – which I found and took advantage of for a small amount of coverage.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    3. Henry Renn

      In early 1980s had offer of group insurance for diabetics. Disqualified bc I was diagnosed before age 5. Missed cut off by 5 months. I’m still here. Dropped individual $10K policy that had been converted from group life after retirement. Increase in rates showed that company was encouraging people to drop it. Holding down funeral costs by choosing cremation & burial in church memorial garden.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    4. Kristine Warmecke

      I was lucky, my parents bought life insurance for myself & my brother before either of us were diagnosed. Thankful for this, as my brother was diagnose at 7 months old.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    5. connie ker

      Fortunately, I had life insurance before diagnosis and so does my son who is an adult now with T1D. He has very low premiums because he was young and healthy when his policies were purchased. My husband bought 2 policies rated up because of his T1D and the premiums ballooned higher and higher each year that he lived. We managed to keep those policies, but they became cost prohibitive as he aged into his 80s. I had trouble getting health insurance and was on the state high risk plan which was replaced with OBamaCare. Thankfully, the doors opened up that year and I could get onto Medicare with a supplement and RX plan. Who knows what to expect forthcoming.

      1
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    6. Greg Felton

      I am lucky to get basic life insurance for myself through my employer’s benefit package, but I can’t “enhance” the policy without “evidence of insurability” (the insurer’s term) and T1 disqualifies me.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    7. Jimmy Boling

      Was able to purchase but was rated.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    8. Joan Fray

      Tried to get it when Our son was born, for myself, but t1d at age 12 made it way too expensive. We bought land in California instead. He will be well fixed when we die

      2
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    9. Megan W

      I only have term life through my employer. I can increase it by 10k every year without having to do the evidence of insurability, so I do that as it isn’t too expensive. Otherwise, it is much too cost prohibitive or I won’t be approved to have a policy on my own. I prefer to save through other avenues because of that.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    10. Nicholas Argento

      Expense was a major issue. I was rated at 400% even with good control and no meaningful complications, many years ago. I got it with multiple small policies over time, some as term which did not require medical screening, but have now let them all lapse, because their cost was going up too much based on my age, and my kids are grown, etc. No longer worth it.

      1
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    11. Derek West

      I did not have an issue obtaining life insurance but I did have to pay a higher premium because of T1d

      1
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    12. Alison Neumann

      My mortgage company denied life insurance for me, but accepted for my healthy husband. Instead we went to our independent insurance agent who found a great life insurance option for me, although it is about $100 more per year than my husband, but I’m happy with the coverage.

      1
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    13. Bob Durstenfeld

      The only way I could get life insurance that was not tied to an employer was on a chance employment that offered a roll over policy upon leavjng.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    14. Alyne Branson

      I have term life but it is more expensive than my husband’s and he has more family history or problems. All I have against me it the T1D.

      1
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    15. Steve Rumble

      Years ago I was charged a higher premium for whole life. I subsequently cancelled that policy and obtained term life through my Federal employment. That policy got more expensive as I aged, but I had less need of the insurance once my kids were grown and let it revert to 25% (free) once I retired,

      1
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    16. Jerome McClellan

      I have term but pay 3X what my wife’s premium is. Both the same age. Fortunately the policy has been the same price for 20 years and we’ll probably drop it in 4 years once my son’s out of college.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    17. Lynda Covello

      I find that insurance companies do not distinguish between Type 1 and 2, with the result that the larger and generally older Type 2 population obscures the Type 1 data and skews the ratings so that Type 1 is penalized with unfairly inflated premium rates — as far as i am aware, this hasn’t changed since 1983, when i first applied, at the 10-year mark of living with Type 1.

      1
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    18. Ken Raiche

      No problem what so ever just super expensive.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    19. KarenM6

      I’ve been flat denied life insurance a couple of times. I didn’t even get a chance to be offered super expensive life insurance!

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    20. Julie Akawie

      Like many have already said, my parents purchased LI for me as a child, which I’m certain has a TINY payout. I also get guaranteed coverage from my employer, but will never apply for any additional coverage that requires a statement of fitness. The actuaries do not seem to care that my A1c is below 6%, or that my weight is stable, or that people diagnosed before the age of 5 statistically have a lower rate of kidney failure or other life-threatening complications. Sigh. Now that my kids are older, it’s less of a concern, but I’m still a bit cranky about it all.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    21. Cheryl Seibert

      Yes, I am unable to get an affordable individual life insurance policy. However, I always have taken out supplemental life policies through my employer. At exit from the company, they are normally convertible to private policies without re-enrollment questions about health conditions.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    22. Ginger Vieira

      Insurance companies treat T1Ds like we’re a walking death sentence. They’re basing this on extremely outdated data about the longevity of people with T1D and it’s really, really wrong!

      1
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    23. Sally Numrich

      It has always been an issue. Anyone with diabetes or cancer is done. I can now only get it through work.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    24. NAK Marshall

      I was able to get it during the one time my school district (I was a teacher) offered it from a company that had no medical questions. I had researched and researched and no company would do it and they absolutely did not care how well controlled I was and had no side effects although I’d been Type 1 already for 35 years. so I was lucky.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply

    Have you had any issues obtaining life insurance because of T1D? Cancel reply

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