This year Simon Marks the 17th day of remembrance of Friends For Life, the annual diabetes fest hosted at the Orlando Disney Humankind Resort by the non-profit Children with Diabetes, with the 2016 event wrapping up last week. Spell the conference started off serving type 1 children, it has grown over the eld to cover everyone in our ecosystem — from siblings to grandparents of children with diabetes, to adults with type 1 — some of whom first came to the result as children themselves days agone.

This was my first time attending FFL. I'd heard good things virtually it, but to be honest, I've been struggling with close to diabetes overload and I wasn't sure how I'd feel once I got there. The night before I dead soul, my mother asked me, "Are you looking forward to your conference?"

To which I replied flatly: "I tail't progress the energy to be excited about anything that deals with diabetes."

But as it turns out, I was wrong. It turns out that while we get into't have a cure for diabetes yet, we d o have a cure for all the bad crap that happens inside your head, mettle, and soul because you consume this yet-to-be cured disease. Yes, that bring around is to comprise immersed in a thousand of your own kind — people who catch on, people who share your struggles, people who walk in your place and are yet thriving and full of lifetime, love, and happiness.

Hello, Friends For Life!

Badge of Honor

My overnight journey from my home in New Mexico to Orlando, FL (in July) didn't undercoat me for an increase in energy, either. It tookmore than 12 exhausting hours and I was pretty stale when I finally arrived. Then, wouldn't you know it, there was many confusion at registration. Apparently I didn't exist. But luckily for me, Brenda Hitchcock—spouse of CWD FFL co-founder and ring master Jeff Hitchcock—knew who I was. She printed a DiabetesMine badge for me, adorned with a purple "First-Timer" ribbon, which I didn't know how to feel near. Adjacent, she one-handed me a green tyvek wristband and aforementioned, "Here's your badge of honor."

Viridity is for populate with diabetes. Orange is for family members. Yellow is for people with celiac. (Do they prefer to personify called PWCs? I'm not sure…). Already ill-tempered about diabetes, I wasn't feeling too honored to let the green band.

But 24 hours later, I was in love with it.

There were green bands all over. Oh look on. She has it, too. And he does. And that infinitesimal one over there. I'm non alone in the crowd together. I'm part of the push. Men. Women. Boys. Girls. Naive bands o'er all color of skin.

When the conference was over, I carefully cut off the dance band, neatly folded it, and packed it absent as a treasured memento.

A Packed Plan

Early estimates were that about 2,000 people from around the globe attended this year, a bit down from previous years, and that included a record number of "first off timers," like me. At final tally, group discussion organizers told me that they had about 700 first-prison term attendees.

There was a plethora of planned activities, social events, and workshops for PWDs of all ages—kiddos, tweens, teens, and adults—likewise A for sibs, parents, and grandparents. Offerings included presentations connected CGM information, communicating with children, sick day strategies, exercise and type 1, burnout, hypo prevention, carb counting, understanding A1Cs and more. There was also a European nation language track. The JDRF gave an update, as did the Diabetes Research Institute, about the latest in cure and diabetes research news (and DRI had some cool "May the Cure Embody With You shirts you could buy, too!).

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At that place were screenings for retinal damage, celiac, and TrialNet genetic markers, on with the opportunity to sign up for individual clinical trials. Mean solar day-long pump trials (with salty) were available with the Animas Vibe and Animas Ping systems, the Omnipod tubeless pump, and Tandem's full lineup of touch-screen pumps,

Generally speaking, as I looked at the schedule, I agonized over what to hang. There were only too many best choices in each time barricade. And dissimilar all other conference I've ever been to, I didn't need to jab my pen under my kneecap to stay awake. Not once. Even jet-lagged, without elision, the quality of the speakers kept me alert and engaged.

iLET Bionic Pancreas Updates

D-Dad Dr. Ed Damiano gave his yearly update on the iLET "bionic pancreas," the threefold hormonal compressed-loop artificial pancreas (AP) system of rules in development, now nether the newly formed company Beta Bionics. As has get expected imputable Ed's erotic love for FFL, many a iLET developments have become "must see news items" at this annual group discussion.

This twelvemonth was no exception.

The handsome update: a prototype of the dual infusion set design was disclosed. This double-cannula set features either a 6 or 9 mm brand acerate leaf. When I asked indefinite of the developers why nerve, I was told that they're using the virtually promising unchangeable glucagon conceptualization in development, which would melt a traditional plastic cannula. Now, a different formulation appears to constitute ahead in ontogeny, but it's as well after-hours to change run on the infusion set. Oh well.

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Still, I gotta enunciat, after listening to Damiano and visual perception his data, I'm a believer. For the first time, I think I'll live to view this artificial pancreas technology hit the streets. I just think it will live farther down the traveling than He thinks it will be. But not as far off atomic number 3 the colonization of Mars, like I had previously hoped-for.

For backclot, I need to prompt you all that I'm the last skeptic when information technology comes to AP systems, and I have good certification for my skepticism. I was one of the first people in the country to use constant glucose monitoring technology when it first came come out of the closet, and I'm probably the longest-jetting continuous user of CGM, non to mention having written several books on the topic. They've come a long way, baby, but I still wouldn't trust one to be the overlord of my insulin. Most of the time, my CGM whole kit and caboodle great. Just every once in a while, it does the funky crybaby dance and gives readings hundreds of points off.

Impart to that the fact that we unmoving don't have the capableness to run a twofold hormone pump (distributing insulin and glucagon), and you can get wind why I'm not expecting to see an AP on the street anytime soon.

Bottom line, IMHO: Go forward and ascent your pump.

One last prison term.

Speaking of Devices…

I doubt the warehouses at Insulet have arsenic many Omnipod insulin pods in threadbare as I saw on arms at the league, on with traditional belt-mounted pumps and a dizzying number of CGM transmitters worn openly and proudly, numerous decorated with bright colors and adventurous graphics. The jr. set is at one with their diabetes technology in slipway that would give been hard to envisage a tenner ago.

At the conference Exhibit Hall, everyone you'd expect to be present at a prima type 1 diabetes league was there, leave out for Medtronic. The hanker-clip supporter of the conference apparently pulled out somewhat at the last bit, nearly causing a cancellation of the event.

Shame on you, Medtronic. I power saw scads of your products clipped to shorts and T-shirts, but you weren't on that point with the rest of the companies for those victimisation or possibly interested in your product.

Heart-wise, Animas, Omnipod, and Tandem all had biggish booths. Lilly had a devil booth that exclusively showcased their support programs, rather than their products. Dexcom was of course of action ubiquitous, on with Novo, BD, Janssen, Sanofi, Ascensia, FreeStyle, and more.

Incomparable small booth that caught my eye belonged to Ticker Peelz, supported past T1 Emily Imblum and her hubby Scott Imblum, who make really great skins for pumps and CGM receivers, besides as decorative covers for CGM transmitters. Also abuse-kayoed-worthy is Glucolift, run by T1 St. Christopher Angell, which makes achromatic-free glucose tabs and gels.

We also saw some great other Diabetes Community folk there on the exhibit G. Stanley Hall floor, from our friend Kelly Kunik at the #IWishPeopleKnewThatDiabetes John Wilkes Booth who welcomed people to share their tidbits on colorful sticky notes; and the Nighscout Introduction that clinquant FFL badgets with assault and battery-powered lights that would last for days. We also took comment that this was the first class the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Concretion (DPAC) had a booth to promote its protagonism and lobbying turn on important diabetes issues.

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Celebs on the Scene

One of the most noticeable trends at FFL this year was the bearing of FIVE country music stars, all living with type 1 and some announcing a variety of industry partnerships. Basic, tidings hit on July 6 that country music star and D-chirrup RaeLynn had teamed improving with Novo Nordisk and JDRF to make a specific series of books for T1D youth ages 2-24. She was on hand at the FFL showing entrance hall and playacting, on with country Isaac Bashevis Singer Eric Paslay, who proclaimed that he's partnering with Dexcom and also performed for FFL attendees. The CGM company actually used "Rock on with Dexcom" A its conference theme, handing out T-shirts featuring that tagline.

Longtime D-friend and country singer Crystallization Bowersox was also at FFL again, this year announcing that she'll equal collaborating with Lilly Diabetes as the company's newest D-celeb spokeswoman who'll be making the tour rounds of diabetes camps in the U.S. Additionally, two other country stars — the multi-talented George IV Canyon and Amanda Jo — were also attendance FFL this year.

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On with these singers, T1D IndyCar racecar number one wood Charlie Kimball was also on the view signing autographs and sitting for photos with attendees.

Some Sacred Space

In addition to the more traditional sessions, I attended several unique synergistic sessions, only for green bands, moderated past FFL staff members who are typewrite 1 peeps themselves. The first ace I accompanied was on the challenges of being a bring up when you throw diabetes. I can't tell you anything about this session, because the rules were that everything aforementioned in the room stayed in the room. It was a sacred place for sharing. For happy. For crying. I found it so powerful that I blew off my planned schedule (sorry Bennet and Christel) and cared-for another interactive school term on complications. Information technology was, in a Good Book… mind-blowing.

Along the final day I made metre to attend a assorted session for couples, even though my infinitely better half was at home, as this was a work activate for me. Quick-eared "mixed marriage" couples verbalise openly and frankly about the challenges of the know trilateral that diabetes creates was, now and again, totally hysterical. But information technology also gave me perspective on how challenging it must be to be joined to unity of US.

Meals with the Family

At FFL, hoi polloi with diabetes pretty much runnel the world. Or at least the Orlando Worldly concern Center Marriott conference center, which is one of the largest in the existence. And never was that more vindicated than at mealtimes. All the meals were pre-carb-counted, a nearly year-long endeavor by staff nutritionist and lad type 1, Kristen Seiz.

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New this class, Seiz told me, was the sample plate for each and every food item on each and all buffet line, showing the portion size up that the carb counts were settled on. I saw one teenage boy with a heaping plateful of macintosh and cheese, no doubt his normal serving size, only easily 10 times the size of it the count was based on. At to the lowest degree with the sample distribution plate he could adjust the math for his bolus.

A Lifetime of Memories

Like crickets at twilight, Dexcom alarms were the serenade that accompanied all event. Grimaces and laughs followed fingersticks. Meters were shared when batteries died. Baskets of glucose tabs were everywhere. Speakers sometimes had to pause to check mark their blood glucose.

And yet we were ringing. If you were a complete stranger born in the middle of this conference, you'd never in a million years have guessed that it was, at its essence, a conference about the most challenging and dangerous of wholly chronic illnesses. You wouldn't see the dread, or the creeping complications. All you would see were healthy people of all ages, smiling and happy a lot.

Event brochures boasted the tag wrinkle: "This is a conference you won't always forget!"

How true! This conference most emphatically delivered.

It was a compounding of a shot in the arm and a breath of new publicise. I'm reinvigorated and ready to take up the fight once again. Merely unmatchable interrogative sentence remains:

Is a once a year pane of this medicine enough?