JDRF Advocacy http://advocacy.jdrf.org JDRF Advocacy Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:26:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5 In the News: CC 2013 Delegate Blog: Capitol Hill Essentials http://jdrf.org/blog/2013/capitol-hill-essentials/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=in-the-news-cc-2013-delegate-blog-capitol-hill-essentials http://jdrf.org/blog/2013/capitol-hill-essentials/#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:26:47 +0000 bjohnston http://advocacy.jdrf.org/?p=1478 RehrmanA_cropWhen my friends pack for trips with their families, they worry about remembering their swimsuit or their favorite book or an extra pair of socks. For my trip to Washington, D.C., next month—where I will be one of 161 delegates at JDRF Children’s Congress—I’ll be thinking about similar things. But there’s a whole other list of essentials that I can’t forget—all the supplies I need to treat my type 1 diabetes (T1D)! To help me remember what to pack in my suitcase—and to give you an idea of what it’s like to travel as a person with T1D—I created this video. The other delegates and I have a very important job to do in Washington. We have to stay healthy while we do it!  By Amelia Rehrman (11 years old, Pennsylvania)

]]> http://jdrf.org/blog/2013/capitol-hill-essentials/feed/ 0 In the News: Diabetes has been a part of my daughter’s life for a quarter-century http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/diabetes-has-been-a-part-of-my-daughters-life-for-a-quarter-century/2013/06/17/9718acb2-c2f4-11e2-914f-a7aba60512a7_story.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=in-the-news-diabetes-has-been-a-part-of-my-daughters-life-for-a-quarter-century http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/diabetes-has-been-a-part-of-my-daughters-life-for-a-quarter-century/2013/06/17/9718acb2-c2f4-11e2-914f-a7aba60512a7_story.html#comments Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:11:40 +0000 bjohnston http://advocacy.jdrf.org/?p=1472 insulin pump_postMy daughter has been a Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic since she was 10 months old. There were some scary moments when she was very young, and some rough times when she was a teenager. But she’s doing quite well now. One of the silver linings of the early onset of a chronic disease is that you learn to treat it as an unfortunate fact of life, though one that must be constantly monitored and managed. By Lenny Bernstein, Published: June 17, from The Washington Post.

]]> http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/diabetes-has-been-a-part-of-my-daughters-life-for-a-quarter-century/2013/06/17/9718acb2-c2f4-11e2-914f-a7aba60512a7_story.html/feed/ 0 In the News: CC 2013 Delegate Blog: Word to the Wise http://jdrf.org/blog/2013/word-to-the-wise-a-t1d-slang-dictionary/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=in-the-news-cc-2013-delegate-blog-word-to-the-wise http://jdrf.org/blog/2013/word-to-the-wise-a-t1d-slang-dictionary/#comments Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:16:52 +0000 bjohnston http://advocacy.jdrf.org/?p=1470 GialketsisReed_cropSometimes people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) get so accustomed to our own slang and “inside” phrases, it’s easy to forget not everyone knows what we’re talking about. Heck, even to this day my grandmother still thinks “LOL” means “lots of love.” (Grammie, if you’re reading this, I’m sorry you had to find out this way. We just didn’t have the heart to enlighten you when you texted us things like “I know you can fight your high blood sugar LOL.”) But you see my point; it’s perfectly normal to turn to your nine-year-old with T1D in the grocery store and ask “are you high?” but everyone else in that store will think you’re crazy. By Reed Gialketsis (17 years old, Nevada)

]]> http://jdrf.org/blog/2013/word-to-the-wise-a-t1d-slang-dictionary/feed/ 0 In the News: CC 2013 Delegate Blog: Delegate Do’s and Don’ts http://jdrf.org/blog/2013/delegate-dos-and-donts10-ways-to-make-the-most-of-childrens-congress/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=in-the-news-cc-2013-delegate-blog-delegate-dos-and-donts http://jdrf.org/blog/2013/delegate-dos-and-donts10-ways-to-make-the-most-of-childrens-congress/#comments Wed, 05 Jun 2013 20:12:24 +0000 bjohnston http://advocacy.jdrf.org/?p=1468 Jonathan_3_cropWow, time flies—Children’s Congress is less than five weeks away! I know from experience that when the delegates and their families actually get to the capital on July 8, time will fly even faster. And in all the excitement, it can be pretty easy to forget some important things. So I have a special message for the delegates—a few tips I learned when I was a delegate at Children’s Congress 2011. I hope this will help you be the most effective delegate you can be (and have the most fun, too). By Jonathan Platt (nine years old, California)

]]> http://jdrf.org/blog/2013/delegate-dos-and-donts10-ways-to-make-the-most-of-childrens-congress/feed/ 0 In the News: CC 2013 Delegate Blog: My Friend, My Inspiration http://jdrf.org/blog/2013/my-friend-my-inspiration/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=in-the-news-cc-2013-delegate-blog-my-friend-my-inspiration http://jdrf.org/blog/2013/my-friend-my-inspiration/#comments Wed, 29 May 2013 22:25:18 +0000 bjohnston http://advocacy.jdrf.org/?p=1462 Curtiss_cropI can still remember the exact moment, almost three years ago, when my mom told me that my friend Lindsi had passed away. My mom had picked me up from school and was taking me to dance class. A rush of emotions swept over me as my mom looked over to make sure I was OK. Not only was I shocked and upset over losing a friend, I knew that Lindsi’s and my roles could easily have been switched. Lindsi also had type 1 diabetes (T1D), and we were the same age. Had I been the one with the overnight low blood sugar, it could have been me. Had I been the one whose CGM lost battery power, it would have been my family mourning and preparing my memorial service. By Catrina Curtis (15 years old, Mississippi).

]]> http://jdrf.org/blog/2013/my-friend-my-inspiration/feed/ 0 Heroes on the Hill: Senators Collins and Shaheen http://jdrf.org/blog/2013/heroes-on-the-hill-senators-susan-collins-and-jeanne-shaheen/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=heroes-on-the-hill-senators-collins-and-shaheen http://jdrf.org/blog/2013/heroes-on-the-hill-senators-susan-collins-and-jeanne-shaheen/#comments Tue, 28 May 2013 20:07:17 +0000 bjohnston http://advocacy.jdrf.org/?p=1453 JDRF has its champions in Congress to thank for their work in helping to push us over the finish line. In particular, the co-chairs of the Senate and Congressional Diabetes Caucuses have spearheaded efforts that have resulted in unprecedented support among their colleagues for the T1D community. Their efforts have helped us achieve some crucial goals. These achievements bring us closer to providing better treatments, prevention, and ultimately a cure for T1D.

In this article, we focus on the Senate Diabetes Caucus co-chairs, and two of JDRF’s most committed and effective supporters: Senator Susan Collins of Maine and Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire.

]]> http://jdrf.org/blog/2013/heroes-on-the-hill-senators-susan-collins-and-jeanne-shaheen/feed/ 0 Heroes on the Hill: Representatives DeGette and Whitfield http://jdrf.org/blog/2013/heroes-on-the-hill-representatives-diana-degette-and-ed-whitfield/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=heroes-on-the-hill-representatives-degette-and-whitfield http://jdrf.org/blog/2013/heroes-on-the-hill-representatives-diana-degette-and-ed-whitfield/#comments Tue, 28 May 2013 20:04:54 +0000 bjohnston http://advocacy.jdrf.org/?p=1449 JDRF has its champions in Congress to thank for their work in helping us to cross the finish line. In particular, the co-chairs of the Senate and Congressional Diabetes Caucuses have spearheaded efforts that have resulted in unprecedented support among their colleagues for the T1D community. Their efforts have helped us achieve some critical goals. These achievements bring us closer to providing better treatments, prevention, and ultimately a cure for T1D.

In this article, we focus on the Congressional Diabetes Caucus co-chairs, two of JDRF’s biggest champions: Representative Diana DeGette of Colorado and Representative Ed Whitfield of Kentucky.

]]> http://jdrf.org/blog/2013/heroes-on-the-hill-representatives-diana-degette-and-ed-whitfield/feed/ 0 In the News: CC 2013 Delegate Blog: Life Under the Microscope: My Summer as a Research Intern http://jdrf.org/blog/2013/life-under-the-microscope-my-summer-as-a-research-intern/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=in-the-news-cc-2013-delegate-blog-life-under-the-microscope-my-summer-as-a-research-intern http://jdrf.org/blog/2013/life-under-the-microscope-my-summer-as-a-research-intern/#comments Wed, 22 May 2013 17:05:40 +0000 bjohnston http://advocacy.jdrf.org/?p=1427 ChenCindy_cropImagine a world without type 1 diabetes (T1D). A world in which there would be no more need for test strips, lancets, reservoirs, infusion sets, shots, and that darn insulin pump. A world in which there would be no more kids crying as their parents try to coax them into poking their fingers. No more little kids in hospital beds receiving the scary news. I want to play a part in this amazing future. That is why I want to pursue a career in endocrinology. By Cindy Chen (17 years old, California)

]]> http://jdrf.org/blog/2013/life-under-the-microscope-my-summer-as-a-research-intern/feed/ 0 Commentary: There’s no time out for Type 1 http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_23262901/commentary-theres-no-time-out-type-1?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=commentary-theres-no-time-out-for-type-1 http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_23262901/commentary-theres-no-time-out-type-1#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 17:38:21 +0000 bjohnston http://advocacy.jdrf.org/?p=1436 I’m a mom of a Type 1 diabetic.
If you had asked me eight years ago how I would feel about this statement, I would have been indifferent as I knew next to nothing about this disease. That is, until the day my 3-year-old son Austin was diagnosed.
It was a very scary day, with an ambulance ride, an emergency room visit and a multitude of specialists. After just a three-day recovery, we were sent home equipped with a few days of training and many fears about the future and managing life with this disease. I focused on arming myself and Austin with as much information regarding daily management of Type 1 diabetes, various support groups and what is being done to find a cure.
By Gabrielle Brits, for The Campbell Reporter.
]]> http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_23262901/commentary-theres-no-time-out-type-1/feed/ 0 In the News: CC 2013 Delegate Blog: A Numbers Game, or: We Are All Number One http://jdrf.org/blog/2013/a-numbers-game-or-we-are-all-number-one/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=in-the-news-cc-2013-delegate-blog-a-numbers-game-or-we-are-all-number-one http://jdrf.org/blog/2013/a-numbers-game-or-we-are-all-number-one/#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 17:02:15 +0000 bjohnston http://advocacy.jdrf.org/?p=1420 GialketsisReed_cropAt this year’s Children’s Congress, 161 kids and teens will gather in Washington, D.C. But there’s another number that I think deserves attention―the more than 1,300 kids who applied for the event but won’t be going. While I’m so excited to hear that so many people applied this year, the huge number is also a bit shocking. My school has 1,300 students, and five have type 1 diabetes (T1D)―compared to other schools, five is a pretty large number! So when I think about more than a thousand kids applying for the chance to go to Children’s Congress, it really starts to put it all in perspective. By Reed Gialketsis (17 years old, Nevada)

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