April 2007
Hi there!

Another issue of Yada Yada with heaps of news in the tune of D: an event in Melbourne, a review of the new continuous monitor/sensor device, some laughs and more.
Diary Date: Melbourne Event
 
For the first time in ages, there will be a genuine Reality Check event happening in Melbourne! We're working together with Diabetes Australia-Victoria to put on a gig at The Melbourne Town Hall on the afternoon of Saturday 28th July.

Put the date in your diary and more details to come soon! Most of it is coming together but any suggestions welcome too!

I see it but I don't believe it!!!
 
Continuous blood glucose monitoring has come leaps and bounds in recent years, and some Reality Checkers have now had the chance to try out the new Real-Time monitor.

A sensor is worn for approx. 3 days and transmits your blood glucose levels constantly direct to an insulin pump that you wear as well. Press a button, and there's your sugar right now! Press again: the last 3 hours. Again: the last 24 hours!

Sounds like magic ... But is it all it cracks up to be???

Read on for Lambo, Matt and Kate (me) comparing notes about our experiences with this new gizmo.

My glucometer after Easter Sunday
 



An oldie but a goodie!

Sometimes you just gotta laugh, and get on with life.

Get our page of laughs in the tune of D onto speed dial for those moments when you just gotta laugh.

How do you explain what it feels like to be high?
 

If you don't live with Diabetes, you just can't get it entirely. But lots of us have people in our lives who try to understand, and we have to try to explain it all. It's hard.

One of the stranger things to explain is what it feels like to be high. Some Reality Checkers have been giving it a red hot go, coming up with:

  • Thirsty, tired, need to pee.... Kinda feel dirty inside describes it best i think
  • there isn't one certain thing I can pin point in particular when I'm high.
  • Like you have lead in you.
  • A mouth like the bottom of the proverbial cocky's cage
  • Bloody emotional

And many more suggestions too.

Update on the Starter Kit for Newly-Diagnosed Adults
 

In 2003-04, many people helped us write a book for adults when they first get Type 1 diabetes. The Starter Kit was printed in October 2004, a second, updated edition printed in 2006 and it is being reprinted again this month.

The map shows all the centres who are using the Starter Kits across Australia.

As at the end of last year:
  • 226 centres across Australia using the Starter Kit with their newly-diagnosed patients
  • 2,248 Kits distributed
  • 94 participating centres, see less than 10 newly-diagnosed adults per year
  • Only 7 centres see more than 50 per year, which goes some way to explain the "that's unusual" response many people get - but when you add it all up it's no so odd at all to be diagnosed as an adult.



The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing funded the project to develop, test and produce the Starter Kit. We are very grateful to Abbott Diabetes Care for providing ongoing support for the printing and distribution of the Starter Kit in 2006 and 2007.

All the information from the Starter Kit is also available as an easy-to-access resource at www.d1.org.au/starterkit/

Footy Fever
 

The footy season is all of a sudden upon us and just in case you weren't sure exactly which team to follow this year, have a look over at Adelaide (don't scoff Melburnians!).

Nathan Bassett, All Australian AFL player in 2006, is doing us proud as a little D champion.

Bassett has spoken a number of times about his diagnosis with diabetes, his comments including: "A lot of young men aren’t the best communicators in the world, so it took me a while to talk about it. Once I did, life became easier."

Keep an eye on this champion Crow!

That's all folks...
 

If you have any feedback, news or stories to share, hit reply, or visit the Reality Check forum at any time.

Cheers,

Kate
Founder & President
The Type 1 Diabetes Network
Managers of www.realitycheck.org.au and www.muntedpancreas.com

 

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