Saturday Feb. 2 was our “local” ADA Expo event here in Santa Clara, CA. I’ve been remiss not to mention that I was invited to take part in a very cool panel discussion on Trends in Diabetes, moderated by our own fave D-industry consultant Kelly Close.
As Kelly mentions, I was in excellent company with three other panel participants: Scott King, editor of Diabetes Health magazine; Dr. Karen Earle, head of the Adult Diabetes Center at California Pacific Medical Center, and Karen Talmadge, “the brilliant former CEO of Kyphon (orthopedic), which was purchased last year by Medtronic for $4 billion.” The latter Karen has raised a daughter who had Type 1 since the age of 2, and she (the mother) has been active in the ADA and in a number of entrepreneurial diabetes-tech companies for many years.
Essentially, our session included a brief introduction of each of us, followed by a barrage of questions from the audience. We talked about everything from Byetta vs. Januvia, to patch pumps to sanctions against the fast food industry. It was a blast and over far too fast. Good thing the panel was taped for DiabetesHealth TV so I can go back and watch it myself, because I can hardly remember any of the details after such a jam-packed day. (I’ll add the video link as soon as I get it)
Other cool stuff from our Expo day:
I met Manny! Such a great guy and committed activist.
And we met Landileigh 
So warm-hearted! She really made me grin.
And right across from my booth was Rickina of StickMe Designs! (If you haven’t checked out her stylin’ glucose meter carry bags yet, go now!)
BMI testing: I didn’t dare, but my husband was very pleased with his result
Sanofi’s SoloSTAR Lantus Pen — bigger than a chair. Just kidding! Actually, it’s a good bit sleeker than the original, chunky OptiClick pen (which I used to call Opti-Clunk).
All together, a very valuable event. Great to see so many thousands of kindred spirits under one roof.
And hmmm, don’t look now, but I think Manny might have some even jazzier photos of this event posted HERE.
Cool to see members of the OC together
Ummm, my mind’s in the gutter…is it just me or does that ginormous Lantus pen look like something unmentionable?!?
I love the Stick Me bags! Are they big enough to also hold the omnipod’s pdm? I’ve been looking all over for a nicer carrying case than the one that came with my starter kit…
Yes they are, Liz. We tested the theory empirically
Any word on when/if Insulet is coming out with a smaller, lighter version of the Omnipod? I received the starter kit, and it’s just not for me. The pod is large, and even the PDA is clunky. I can’t wear the pod without feeling like it’s about to fall off. If I wore it on my arm, I’d walk through doorways gingerly, etc. I’m so disappointed. I’ll wait to be a pumper until there are more discreet, comfortable units out there. I hope they are in the pipeline.