Hello Dear Readers and Empowered Patients Everywhere,
Today we are pleased to announce the WINNERS of our 2012 DiabetesMine Patient Voices Contest, a campaign to identify 10 articulate patients who can represent the Diabetes Community in our ongoing push for innovation to improve the lives of people with 
diabetes (PWDs) everywhere.
We asked folks to submit brief videos talking about their lives with diabetes and what they feel are the biggest unmet needs. We were delighted with the quality of responses.
Each of our winners will receive a scholarship to attend and participate in our newest DiabetesMine Innovation Summit event taking place at Stanford University on Nov. 16, 2012! They will also each receive a complimentary iBGStar Blood Glucose Monitoring System, the first meter to directly connect to an iPhone or iPod touch! This exciting new product was just introduced to market on May 1, 2012.
We plan to feature each of our winners here at the ‘Mine over the next few months…
Without further ado, our “Power 10″ Diabetes ePatient Winners are (in alphabetical order – click on each name to view their winning video):
- Jana Beck, who created a visually interesting video that calls for better integration and feedback from our existing D-tools.
- Shara Bialo, who’s completing her medical residency in pediatrics, and talks about retractable pump tubing (also an idea from a past Design Challenge), and waxes wise on making products “as flexible and modifiable as possible” (!)
- Julie Cabinaw, who is a user experience director as well as a PWD, and talks about device standardization, integration, and creating a “personal health cloud.”
- Sara “Knicks”, a beloved fellow D-blogger who makes the point that “diabetes is personal”!
- Sara Krugman, whose animated video calls for improved connection between the technologies, and between services, doctors, products and institutions.
- Tom Ley, a blind gentleman who presents the pressing issue of “Access Denied” for PWDs who have lost their sight.
- Ivoni Nash, a type 2 diabetes educator in Utah concentrating on the needs of the Pacific Islander community.
- Kathleen Peterson, who was part of the Artificial Pancreas clinical trial (!) and is working toward her PhD. She too highlights device integration, durability, and flexible tubing and form factors for pumps.
- Sara Vazquez, a college student and research assistant at Joslin Diabetes Center who encourages vendors to “think small” in diabetes care.
- Dave Weingard, who many of us know and love as founder of the Fit4D diabetes coaching program; he makes the indispensable comparison to the Information Technology industry, and also talks about the need for “scalable patient programs.”
Give them all a view — and then a hand, please!
* Winners — you’ll be hearing from us shortly. CONGRATULATIONS!!
What a great group! Congratulations to you all!
I send my thanks that DiabetesMine took the time to have a contest from the eyes of the people who have the challenges of diabetes. Congrads to all the winners. It is interesting to note that no one represended the view of a care giver of a diabetic on a day to day perspective. As always have a great day.
Dan
Oh man–nobody suggested a big dose of color and cheeriness to D supplies? I want lancing devices in different colors and sticker for pods and color tubing. d is depressing and monotomous–we need to spice it up with fun stuff.
I’m all over that. I totally had it on my “to mention” list but ran out of time. I, too, am sick of gray, blue, and black. I will make sure to bring that sentiment with me when I go in November.
I am so proud of David Weingard, my husband, who is trying to help people living with diabetes improve their health. He is applying for a grant through http://www.missionsmallbusiness.com In order to be considered, he needs 250 votes by Saturday, June 30th. Please go to the website (log onto the page, lower right) and type Fit4D in the business name. Thank you!
All great winners. The name Sara { or Shara} must inspire people!
[...] of interviews with the 10 winners of the 2012 DiabetesMine Patient Voices Contest, who were announced back in [...]
[...] of interviews with the 10 winners of the 2012 DiabetesMine Patient Voices Contest, who were announced back in June. If you’re at all interested in how diabetes technology might best address the [...]