Tom Webb – T1D Exchange

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- 1 year, 3 months ago
  
  Cristina Jorge Schwarz has commented in the same post you commented in :
  Have you ever had a diabetes alert dog? If not, would you ever consider it?
  @TS, reputable organizations do exist for training dogs, for sure. But there is no standard of training and testing for diabetes dogs, which must be trained in the specific scent(s) of their person (lows smell differently than highs, for each individual's specific sweat). Example: a certified vision loss service dog must undergo a minimum of 120 hours and six months training, then pass an independent test of a defined list of skills, before being certified to serve. No such standard exists for diabetes service dogs in the U.S. *In the U.S., service animal and trainer certifications are not required for any service dog, either. An honor system exists. It really is buyer beware - question and research thoroughly!
- 1 year, 3 months ago
  
  TS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  Have you ever had a diabetes alert dog? If not, would you ever consider it?
  Actually, there are a few legit organizations out there that train to detect lows. You have to be very careful and do your homework though. Most people who need a service dog can't afford them so I found organizations that are sponsored and don't charge the participants. One that I am on the waiting list for is Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs in Florida.
- 1 year, 3 months ago
  
  Leona Hanson has commented in the same post you commented in :
  How many times in 2022 did you get a comprehensive eye exam (including dilation with eye drops or retinal imaging) with an ophthalmologist or optometrist?
  Couldn't afford to travel to the eye doctor it takes a day to get there and a day to get back home
- 1 year, 3 months ago
  
  mbulzomi@optonline.net has commented in the same post you commented in :
  How many times in 2022 did you get a comprehensive eye exam (including dilation with eye drops or retinal imaging) with an ophthalmologist or optometrist?
  I go every six weeks to get Eylea injections in both eyes. Been doing this for a long time. I'm fortunate that Medicare and my Federal BCBS insurance covers all. No Copays
- 1 year, 3 months ago
  
  KarenM6 likes your comment at
  How many times in 2022 did you get a comprehensive eye exam (including dilation with eye drops or retinal imaging) with an ophthalmologist or optometrist?
  I have retinopathy and was seen by my optometrist , ophthalmologist, and retinologist.
- 1 year, 4 months ago
  
  Samantha Hunter has commented in the same post you commented in :
  For caregivers of children with T1D, do you have any accommodations at your child’s school for managing T1D? For adults with T1D, did you have accommodations when you were in school? Please share more about your experiences managing T1D with caregivers and school staff in the comments.
  I technically received accommodations, but still received a lot of judgment and discouragement from using those accommodations. In seventh grade, I had to leave five minutes early before lunch to go to the nurse to have my blood sugar taken (I had just been diagnosed and wasn't comfortable doing it myself), and my seventh grade history teacher would literally stop what he was doing to glare at me as I left the room...
- 1 year, 4 months ago
  
  PamK has commented in the same post you commented in :
  For caregivers of children with T1D, do you have any accommodations at your child’s school for managing T1D? For adults with T1D, did you have accommodations when you were in school? Please share more about your experiences managing T1D with caregivers and school staff in the comments.
  @Lawrence S. - 504 refers to Section 504 of a government act that declared diabetes a disability. This allows students to have a 504 Plan that allows for them to do thinks like take breaks, eat a snack, or take insulin when needed while in school.
- 1 year, 4 months ago
  
  PamK has commented in the same post you commented in :
  Have you ever had a diabetes alert dog? If not, would you ever consider it?
  I'm not a "dog person," so I don't see myself getting one. If the need should arise, I might consider it, but I doubt I would get one.
- 1 year, 4 months ago
  
  Kelly Wilhelm has commented in the same post you commented in :
  Have you ever had a diabetes alert dog? If not, would you ever consider it?
  I have one currently in training. It will be my first alert dog. I’m super excited as I live alone.
- 1 year, 4 months ago
  
  T1D4LongTime has commented in the same post you commented in :
  Living with T1D can be difficult, but many folks experience positives living with T1D too! No matter how small, is there anything you’re grateful for related to T1D this year? Select all the options you’re grateful for or share more about your experiences in the comments!
  I am grateful for support of my T1D and Tandem online community members and my family. A BIG positive for my endo and his staff too. The aggressive marketing of Dexcom CGMs on TV has been a blessing too with less explanation as to what the CGM is and what is does. A greater awareness of T1D in the general public would be welcome, but it is very slow in coming as the public lumps us all as Type 2 (in my opinion).
- 1 year, 4 months ago
  
  Vicki Breckenridge likes your comment at
  Have you ever had a diabetes alert dog? If not, would you ever consider it?
  I did not have a diabetes alert dog but my dog would become very agitated when my blood sugar changed. If it was low he would bark at me and he never barked.
- 1 year, 4 months ago
  
  Lawrence S. has commented in the same post you commented in :
  Have you ever had a diabetes alert dog? If not, would you ever consider it?
  Very interesting.
- 1 year, 4 months ago
  
  T1D4LongTime has commented in the same post you commented in :
  Have you ever used expired glucose strips in your meter?
  I have a huge supply of strips for my old meter that paired with old Medtronic pump (on a Tandem now). Even though expired, they test very close to the actual lab blood test every 4 months, so I can't see why not to use them up.
- 1 year, 4 months ago
  
  T1D4LongTime has commented in the same post you commented in :
  How much do you use the standard deviation measurement (the measure of how variable your blood glucose readings are) when reviewing your glucose reports?
  I use the Dexcom Clarity reports at least once per day to review my sensor glucose average and standard deviation. Average glucose means nothing if you have a huge Standard Deviation (how far above and below are the average do the glucose readings). I strive for a STDev less than 25, but 30 isn't too bad either.
- 1 year, 4 months ago
  
  T1D4LongTime has commented in the same post you commented in :
  For caregivers of children with T1D, do you have any accommodations at your child’s school for managing T1D? For adults with T1D, did you have accommodations when you were in school? Please share more about your experiences managing T1D with caregivers and school staff in the comments.
  I was in school in the 60s and 70s, so 'accommodations' didn't exist. After several hospitalizations in 7th grade, I was allowed to go to my locker outside of allowed time period to eat a snack. Not really an 'accommodation'. No food or drinks in class in my school years, so Lifesavers were my low treatment choice
- 1 year, 4 months ago
  
  lis be has commented in the same post you commented in :
  Have you ever had a diabetes alert dog? If not, would you ever consider it?
  i would much prefer to have a dog bark at me then a robot yell at me! on which route would I incur the lowest costs? (my sense of humor, i don't know much low sugar alert dogs)
- 1 year, 4 months ago
  
  Bruce and Audrey Coleman has commented in the same post you commented in :
  Have you ever had a diabetes alert dog? If not, would you ever consider it?
  Over the 30 plus years I have had Type 1 Diabetes many dogs have passed through my door. At this time I have 4 but I have had more at times. Unless their indication of my low blood sugar is "let's bark and tell Mom we have to go out now" , they have never alerted for me. They are dogs which have been trained in obedience and retrieving skills but reacting to a low is not in their vocabulary obvious ly. I would consider getting a dog which is already trained to alert.
- 1 year, 4 months ago
  
  Bonnie Lundblom has commented in the same post you commented in :
  If you have used an insulin pump, have you ever stopped using a pump and switched back to multiple daily injections for more than one month at a time?
  I only insulin I use in my pump is Novolog, the doses of Fiasp and Tresiba given on the day I had problems with the pump were injections.
- 1 year, 4 months ago
  
  Ms Cris has commented in the same post you commented in :
  Have you ever had a diabetes alert dog? If not, would you ever consider it?
  I had looked into this at one point, but as a scientist I looked for real studies and evidence. These companies are scams - they are unregulated, non-standardized, with no independent certifying body. The dogs can't alert you soon enough, either - to either lows or highs. I found a couple studies done comparing these dogs' alerts to meters, and found them no more accurate than chance... accurate about 30% of the time. And they have to sleep, so what to you do then? The price tag is $15,000-$25,000! They've been sued successfully left and right for their false claims. Get a CGM instead.
- 1 year, 4 months ago
  
  Patty Harris has commented in the same post you commented in :
  How much do you use the standard deviation measurement (the measure of how variable your blood glucose readings are) when reviewing your glucose reports?
  I have read that a standard deviation of less than 40 was considered good. Today, after a rough night, mine is 40. I do glance at it every week, but not sure where to go to get help on how to use this information to improve my readings.
- 1 year, 4 months ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  Have you ever had a diabetes alert dog? If not, would you ever consider it?
  I love dogs and my previous dog occasionally seemed to notice when I would be having a low blood sugar, but not all of the time. I had him before I got a CGM. With my CGM, I doubt I would ever have a DAD, but a dog for companion ship? Definitely.
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