Diabetes Connections With Stacey Simms | Type 1 Diabetes |

When John Costik figured out how to display his son's Dexcom CGM readings on any web-based device, it was a breakthrough that forever changed how we're able to look at diabetes. John talks about the collaboration that followed, leading to Nightscout and CGM in the Cloud. This week's Community Connection is Kent Schnakenberg, who's vowed to take part in every JDRF Ride this year and travel through all 48 continental Unites States. Stacey talks about how her family manages Halloween and explains their strategy has changed through the years.

Dexcom's Chief Technical Officer Jorge Valdez answers questions about their new G5 Mobile CGM, the partnership with Google and what's next for Continuous Glucose Monitoring technology. Stacey also talks about CGM/Medicare legislation in front of Congress. 

American Jeremy Larsen has traveled the world and currently lives in Japan. He started the 70-130 project (the "perfect" blood sugar range) to show that type 1 diabetes shouldn't hold anyone back from travel. Our Community Connection features a family that loves to visit exotic locations and their advice for taking diabetes on the road. 

Speaker & author Moira McCarthy shares an emotional experience from a recent JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes. Moira has been on several JDRF rides but this was the first with her daughter, Lauren (diagnosed T1D at age 6). Stacey also talks to Kady Helme, who works at JDRF and recently took part in an artifical pancreas trial. 

DPAC is a new effort to make it easier for people with diabetes to communicate with policy makers. Co-founder Bennet Dunlap explains how Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition works and how we can all take part. Our Community Connection is with Stacey's cousin, Aaron. He shares his experience at JDRF Children's Congress this summer. 

Worried about alarms she couldn't hear, Dana Lewis and Scott Leibrand "hacked" into the programming of her CGM. What they learned led them to a do-it-yourself closed loop artificial pancreas system that Dana has been using since December 2014 (and which she wore during their wedding in August). We find out how they did it, why they make their methods public and what it may mean for the future of diabetes management. In the Community Connection segment, we hear about LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults). 

Named the 2014 Diabetes Educator of the Year by the American Association of Diabetes Educators, Gary Scheiner answers questions from our social media feeds. Gary is the owner and director of Integrated Diabetes Services and has lived with type 1 since 1985. Also this episode, Stacey shares her frustrations with trying to manage and learn about diabetes while sometimes not knowing even what questions to ask ("not knowing what we don't know").

"A Mile in My Shoes," is a fun, interactive project by diabetes nurse educator and family therapist Joe Solowiejczyk. Joe's been living with type 1 diabetes for 50 years. The Community Connection this week features Will's Way, which helps families with health insurance pay for diabetes supplies. We talk with Lisa, who started the non-profit after her son Will was diagnosed with type 1. This episode features a giveaway for "A Mile in My Shoes." Contest entries close on 9/13/15 at midnight.

Richard Vaughn was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1945 at the age of six. This month, he marks 70 years of living with T1D. Vaughn shares how diabetes management and tools have changed over the years and why he thinks he's been able to stay healthy. Our Community Connection features a woman who's also lived a long time with type 1 (40 years) but still encounters some awkward situations. She shares an uncomfortable moment she had while traveling and how she dealt with it.

Diabetes Hands Foundation's slogan is "no one with diabetes should feel alone." You'll hear from DHF interim executive director Melissa Lee. She did feel alone with her diabetes for a very long time and shares how she came to find support. This episode also features blogger and speaker Kelly Kunik about I Wish People Knew That Diabetes.  It started as a hashtag on Twitter and is now blossoming into an exciting new campaign.   

Sebastien Sasseville was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 22. Since then, he has climbed Mt. Everest, finished multiple IronMan races, run across the Sahara Desert and, last year, completed an incredible run across Canada. It took 9 months and equalled 180 marathons. We talk about his motivation (he says he's not really an athlete!) and what he hopes those of us who aren't climbing mountains or running marathons can learn from his exapmle 

Going to college is stressful enough for most students and diabetes just adds another challenge. Stacey talks to Mindy Bartleson from the College Diabetes Network about resources to help students, families and even roommates. In the Community Connection, you'll hear from a sophomore student-athlete who explains what advice he'd give himself as a freshman. And Stacey shares something she wrote about diabetes, numbers and emotions that hit a nerve on Twitter.

Stacey interviews Natalie Irish and Chase Pelletier, both part of the Animas Heroes program. Irish is a gifted artist who one day decided to paint in a unique and remarkable way. She “kisses” the canvas, using her lips to create her art. She appeared on Conan O’Brien show with her bright pink insulin pump in 2012. Her portrait of Conan still hangs in his show’s green room. Pelletier is a 19 year old touring car driver who’s already setting records. He’s part of the Drive 4 Diabetes program as well as competing in the F2000 open wheel racing series in Canada, and the Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car-A racing series in the U.S. 

Back to school time (almost)! Stacey talks to Crystal Jackson, with the American Diabetes Association's Safe at School program.  She has information on legal rights, common challenges and advice on forming a partnership with your child's school. You'll also hear from a mom whose child with diabetes attends a charter school. Stacey shares ideas for setting goals that make sense at the elementary school level. 

Moira McCarthy is the author of Raising Teens With Diabetes: A Survival Guide for Parents. She speaks frankly about the challenges she and her daughter faced, after years of being a "model" diabetes family. This episode also features an adult with type 1 who looks back at her self-described rebellious teen years. Plus, what I learned recently about talking to my ten year old that I hope will help in the "challenging" teen years to come:

The Nightscout Project is an open-source DIY project that lets users see blood sugar numbers from a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) on a smartphone, computer, tablet or Pebble watch. It came on the scene in 2013 and continues to grow at astonishing speed. Stacey speaks to Kate Farnsworth, a Pebble watchface designer for the group and James Wedding, president of the Nightscout Foundation. This episode recorded at the Children With Diabetes Friends For Life conference.

16 years ago, Laura Billetdeaux logged onto a diabetes chat room and asked if anyone wanted to meet up with her family during their vacation in Florida. That action sparked what would eventually become Friends For Life, the largest diabetes family conference in the world.  Stacey talks to Laura about what happens at the annual gathering and what it continues to mean to her family.  In Community Connection, advice from a mom who couldn't find the kind of support group she wanted for her toddler son, so she created it herself.

Stacey talks with Justin Thomas, the director of Camp Carolina Trails, an American Diabetes Association camp and Galen Horton, a staff member at the camp who works with Animas Corp. Both men were campers at the program  (Galen was Justin's counselor once upon a time) and have a lot to say about why the experience is so meaningful and why they keep coming back. This summer marked Galen's 30th! You'll also hear from a once-reluctant camper who turned her experience around. This will be Sara's 9th year at Camp Kudzu. Stacey shares her son's experiences at "regular" non-diabetes day camp and sleep away camp.

In 2014, Sierra Sandison won the Miss Idaho pageant with an insulin pump clipped to her bikini, prompting the #showmeyourpump social media movement. We talk about her new book and online projects as well as take a look back at her incredible experience at the Miss America Pageant. In Community Connections, you'll hear about a new diagnosis, a new school, and a fortuitous meeting for the family of a first grader.

Stacey talks to blogger, author and speaker Kerri Sparling, of Six Until Me. Kerri talks about the power of ordinary success with diabetes, how she decides what to keep private and the Spare a Rose charitable campaign. We'll also hear about a connection at theater camp and Stacey has some advice if you're looking to connect with other people with diabetes in real life.