Hello dear readers, I’m back from vacation! I’ll share pictures soon.
Over the weekend I had the opportunity to attend my local JDRF Type One Nation Summit. It’s the first time I’ve been able to go to one and I’m so glad that I did. About a week before the summit, I got an email from my local Dexcom rep asking if I’d be willing to participate on a panel of Super Stars with T1D, which was a huge honor.
The day started with a research update from Kady Helme of JDRF. She talked about the artificial pancreas study that she’s a part of, Beta cell replacement and other research efforts that the JDRF supports. The current research gives me hope for improved treatment options for type 1 diabetes.
via JDRF Northeast Ohio Facebook
I attended a breakout session on the DOC led by Kristina and Greg of Inspired by Isabella. I’ve interacted with them online before but never actually realized that they are located here in my neck of the woods.
Following the session was lunch with Tom Grossman of Dexcom who talked about his run across the country.
Hearing Tom Grossman’s story of running to encourage people with #diabetes #jdfneo pic.twitter.com/iGiP6nbNl2
— Rachel Kerstetter (@ProbablyRachel) May 7, 2016
Next I attended a session with two dietitians on carb counting. It was framed as how to handle real-life situations like family parties and restaurants, but it was really just basic carb counting for parents of children with type 1. I was a little disappointed, if the description fit the actual session, I would have gone to a different one.
We closed out the day with the panel I was on. There was a great group of people I was honored to be on stage with including doctors and nurses who have diabetes. I was the only one on the panel diagnosed with type 1 as an adult. After the panel a lady came up to me to say hello and let me know she was diagnosed at age 22 as well.
The “me too” factor of the day was the most incredible thing to me. There were about 400 people there with diabetes or a connection to it. Insulin pumps were everywhere and normal. No one looked twice at my pod except to compliment my Pump Peel. I’ve never been in one physical location with so many other people who live with type 1 and totally get it.
Have you attended a Type One Nation event by your local chapter? If so, what were the highlights?
Rachel, I attended my first Type One Nation summit last year and it was amazing. I am looking forward to going again this year in Indianapolis.
I referred your blog to the TUDiabetes web page for the week of May 9, 2016.
Hey, Rachel!! Glad u got to go to the type one summit. I went both last year and again this year here in Boston & it was excellent!! I attended a topic on traveling w T1D which was VERY helpful since I’ve been trying to get to at least one T1D conference a year. And w TSA lines longer than ever now, I’ve already made use of the TSA Cares program. It was exceptional. Usually when I travel lately, I always seem to get the grumpyTSA agent.
I also heard the presentation about T1D and exercise. I’m very bad at figuring out how to plan ahead for exercise and especially how to handle spontaneous softball or soccer games or even just a good old walk. So the information was very apropo for me!!
Congrats on being asked to be on the panel!! I also came to this game late. I was diagnosed on my 52nd birthday! So I’m still kind is a newbie. I recently found ur blog and have found it very educational as well as very creative!! I also sew so I’m always interested in ur sewing projects!!
Hope u had a good vacation! Welcome back!!!
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