Untitled Giving Project: Insulin Pumps & CGMs for kids

It has long been my dream to find a way to give insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors to children that need but can't afford them. Today after two years of research and preparation I am ready to take the first step towards making my dream a reality. 

I hope that you can imagine with me the collective good that would come from lifting just a part of the massive stress that managing a child's type I diabetes brings to a family. My family is lucky enough to have good insurance and the means to pay the out of pocket costs that are associated with these fantastic devices. I feel a grand desire to help the children that aren't as fortunate. I have a plan, an agreement to buy devices at cost and enough enthusiasm to lift my house, I just need one last thing... a little help. My goal is to identify and outfit the first child with a device by the spring of 2012. After that I'm going to keep going until I can't find another child suffering or struggling with multiple daily injections and wishing that they could use an insulin pump. I'm going to keep going until every parent has the peace of mind that comes from knowing that their child's CGM will wake them when blood glucose levels get dangerously low. Until type I is cured - I'm going to make these focuses my personal mission. I have the time, the knowledge, the desire and hope.

If I've ever helped, taught or inspired you please follow this link to find out how you can help me help others.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

I am going to write about one small moment from each day in November as an attempt to shed some light on what living with diabetes is like for a family whose child has the disease. Each entry will be made to this post - they'll be longer then a tweet but short then a blog post.

Tuesday, November 1

I miss counted Arden's dinner carbohydrates sending her blood glucose soaring over 300. Kelly had to spend the evening trying to get it back in range. She was careful and caring, tired from a day of work and helping Arden with a school project. I was unable to help her because I was with our son at his sports practices. High BGs are stressful.

Wednesday, November 2 (1:00am)

Arden's blood glucose has fallen too far. The last bolus see received at 8pm ended up being too much. Her BG was now 57 and two hours of temp basal rates couldn't stop her slow decline. Kelly went to the kitchen for a juice box and then laid in bed next to Arden, I knelt on the floor at the opposite side of the bed holding the juice. We both tried to get the other to go to bed. I said, "Kel you have to get up early for work... you should go to bed, I can take care of Arden". Kelly replied, "I'm the one that gave her too much insulin, I'll wait with her". - We both waited until Arden was stable.

Thursday, November 3

Today I ramped up my diabetes advocacy x 1,000... I hope you all come along for the ride! All the details.

Friday, November 4

Wore something Blue for Blue Friday.

Saturday - Sunday

I seem to have taken the weekend off...

Monday, November 7

Watched Jay Cutler play for the Bears with Arden - Tweeted him after to say thank you for his transparency with his type I.

Tuesday, November 8

Spoke to a fellow blogger about ways to make her really great idea for awareness a reality!

Wednesday, November 9

We made a $75 donation to Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS - Karma

Thursday, November 10

I entered into an agreement today that will significantly help one family that struggles with the cost associated with their child's insulin pumping. I will make the announcement on Monday November 14th, with all of the details.

Friday, November 11

Arden's DexCom is wearing blue for Blue Friday!

Saturday, November 12

Took the Big Blue Test - http://www.bigbluetest.org

Sunday, November 13

Spoke to a wonderful attorney about the Untitled Giving Project

World Diabetes Day

Announced that we will be giving a 3 year supply of infusion sets away to a child in need.

Tuesday, November 14

Vacuuming, cleaning, doing the laundry. If I don't get this stuff done Kelly will kill me and then I won't be able to be an advocate for diabetes any longer. So really... this is for the cause more then you know! :)

Ways to be involved with Diabetes Awareness Month

The internet is teaming with ways to spread awareness for Diabetes Awareness Month. Take a moment to check them out and if you know of something that I missed please leave a comment with the information/link.

The JDRF had it's first annual T1Day on 11.1.11 and they are asking for your help in spreading awareness.

Did you know that 14 minutes of exercise can decrease blood glucose levels by 15 to 20 percent? Check out the Big Blue Test for more information on how you can spread awareness and lower your BGs.

November 14th is World Diabetes Day.

Show your support for diabetes by adding a Blue Twibbon to your avatar on social media sites.

Wear something blue on Blue Fridays in November to help bring awareness.

If you are a diabetes blogger why not change your site colors to blue like we did here on Arden's Day. I used the World Diabetes Day twibbon color, color code 608EC5.