Diabetes Blog Week - Changes

"Today let's talk about changes, in one of two ways.  Either tell us what you'd most like to see change about diabetes, in any way.  This can be management tools, devices, medications, people's perceptions, your own feelings – anything at all that you feel could use changing.  OR reflect back on some changes you or your loved one has seen or been through since being diagnosed with diabetes.  Were they expected or did they surprise you?"

I feel strongly about diabetes management, and I certainly want to see EVERYTHING the doctors and endocrinologists TEACH about diabetes management change. 

1. I want high carb, low fat diet education to be eradicated from doctor and nutritionist offices and replaced with low carb, high fat diet education.  
2. I want CGMs like the Dexcom G4 Platinum to be more widely advocated, especially for Type 1s and those with the inability to feel low/high blood sugars.
3. I want endocrinologists to test for thyroid issues and gluten sensitivities/Celiac disease, as well as Vitamin D deficiencies.  
4. I want a single, universal A1C chart to be adopted and used so that doctors and patients are all on the same page.
5. I want doctors and endocrinologists to encourage their patients to aim for non-diabetic blood sugar levels (83 mg/dl).
6. I want people to stop assuming that Type 1 diabetes can be cure or reversed by eating a certain way.  My pancreas is dead.  Dead is dead, unless the Lord so decides to resurrect it.  Type 1 is for life.  It is not Type 2, which can possibly be reversed if the right steps are taken in time.  It is also not gestational diabetes, which is only present during pregnancy.
7. I want people to understand that Type 1 is NOT caused by eating too much sugar.  It is an autoimmune disease caused by an attack on the beta cells in the pancreas by my own body.
8. I want insurance companies to cover any and all medical supplies/medications needed by diabetics.  No IFs, ANDs, or BUTs.  No preferred medication lists, either!