I joked with the cameraman that it was the best video he ever made about urine tests.
OK, not all the video shorts I taped lately in collaboration with medical supply giant Liberty Medical (yes, the folks with that legendary Wilford Brimley commercial) mentioned the joy of urine tests. Our topics included “what is an insulin pump?,” “intro to pump features,” “new wireless diabetes systems,” “how to use your glucose meter data to improve your health,” and of course, “Know Your Numbers” — about the five key lab test that every PWD should have and monitor on a regular basis.
Today, for your viewing pleasure, here is the first of our three-part series on insulin pumps:
The videos will appear on Liberty’s website, which reaches hundreds of thousands of mostly Type 2 diabetics, and hopefully also on a number of its relevant partner sites.
For the Type 1 diabetes community, this information is far from new. This is very basic diabetes information that many, many Type 2s in particular never seem to have proper access to. Let me give you a personal example there:
My dad, Larry (may he rest in peace), had diabetes for 15 years. I think that in all those years I may have ONCE seen him testing his BG with a glucose meter. I’m not sure he even owned one in the first decade or so. I think the doctor may have given him one near “the end” when he was in a bad way and they’d put him on insulin. After he died, my brother and I had to clean out this things. We found his car littered with unopened boxes of syringes, alcohol pads, and a few expired vials of insulin rolling around in the backseat amongst yellowing newspapers. In that last year, he had passed out at the wheel of his car at least 4 times (thankfully hurting no one but himself!)
My point is, you can’t tell me that Larry knew enough about controlling his diabetes. Clearly not, or he’d still be here with us today.
He saw a doctor for 10 or 15 minutes a few times a year — a GP, I believe. That was it.
Fast forward to my life with diabetes today, which has somehow become all about trying to help PWDs via information. (As Jeff Hitchcock of CWD likes to say, diabetes management is 10% medication, and 90% information.)
Given the chance to share some critical information on treating this disease in video format around the web, I’m all over it. You can’t fit a lot of detailed info into two or three minutes on camera, and maybe I even look goofy reciting what we do cover. I don’t care. Just maybe it can help some folks understand their options, or even become more motivated to take care of themselves. I hereby dedicate these videos to all the Larrys of the world: learn all you can, and please, ask for help when you need it!
Love it Amy!
You were great.
Not many, seriously and honestly, can smile while talking.
Definitely better than The ‘betus Brimley!
Kudos!
And here’s to educating and bringing awareness to others.
Amy, Great job! You look great and manage to stay articulate – no easy job. I’m forwarding to a T2 friend who just went on insulin a month ago, sending me a note that she had no idea how I did the diabetes thing (Type 1- 45 years!). She, like your dear father, is really not getting educated (even today!!!!) nor helped with the emotional issues involved and it drives me crazy so the more concrete information out there the better. Thanks!
Love it! Looking forward to more. One thing to note, the 2nd point under “Here’s what pumps can do for you”, is that there is “No need to carry loose diabetes supplies”.
I have found this to be just the opposite. I realize we are talking about different kinds of supplies with a pump vs. MDI’s, but there are definitely supplies that are necessary to carry with you. The recent focus on traveling with a pump really hammered that theme. Just a thought.
Great job Amy!
Tim
Good catch, Tim! We’re in the process of updating that to mention that you need backups/emergency supplies.
Very nice, Amy! I was also going to point out the extra supply thing, but other than that one thing, it’s a clear, good basic intro to pumping.
Great job! I should note that even today people are being undereducated about diabetes. Mom’s doctor has never broached the idea of testing — though she is the only one of her peers who does not test. She has only been told to take her oral meds in order… she doesn’t even know what an A1c is, much less what hers is… My Other Half’s aunt has had T2 for ten years (also treated by oral meds), and has been told only to test one of three fingertips, and only fasting numbers… last year she had a low which ended up with a call to 911…
On the one hand, I’m really worried about these folk; on the other, short of being there and having the money to pay for supplies for them myself, I don’t have any hope of helping them get on a tighter control schedule…
Great video .. can not wait for the next one..
[...] Video Alert: Don’t Look Now But… It Ain’t Wilford Brimley [...]
Amy! That was fabulous! You did such a great job.
Loved it! I just posted it on TuDiabetes.
Amy I thought you did a great job. I have been a diabetic for over 35 years but I still learn new things all the time from listening to things like this.