Diabetes

When Systems Fail, Advocacy Begins: Samantha Markovitz and Type 1 Diabetes

A type 1 diabetes diagnosis reshaped Samantha Markovitz’s life in ways she couldn’t have anticipated. What she found in the aftermath was not a roadmap for how to live well with the condition, but a patchwork of obstacles: employers unwilling to adapt, medical systems that provided the basics but not the nuance, and insurance companies … Read more

Transformer-Style Full Body Insulin Pump Stuns at Comic-Con

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Comic-Con Cosplay Contest gave out awards today, and the votes were unanimous. Matthew West and his homemade Transformer armor won Best In Show, Judges’ Choice, Best Re-Creation, Best Original Design and Best Workmanship (list abridged for brevity). “We see Transformer re-creations yearly,” said longtime CC judge Charlotte Fey. “This … Read more

The Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center

Mary and Dick Allen combined their professional expertise and personal commitment to make a difference in the diabetes community. Their journey into the world of diabetes work and advocacy began with a personal mission to support their young granddaughter, Hannah, who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. What started as an effort to help one … Read more

You’re Just My Type (T1Diabetes)

At the age of 17, Laura Pavlakovich took significant risk of education abroad, despite not knowing where or how she could get a re-supply of insulin and test equipment, which were life sustaining for her type 1 diabetes. Her experiences in developing nations motivated her to do something meaningful with her life and lead her … Read more

Saving Abel’s Jared Weeks — A Journey Toward Sobriety

Jared Weeks is a musician best known for founding the rock band Saving Abel in 2004 with bandmate Jason Null. Their first single, “Addicted,” was released in March of 2008 and quickly rose to popularity, landing on the Billboard Hot 100 and Top 40 charts. Weeks left Saving Abel in 2013 to pursue a solo … Read more

The Journey is the Destination – Dustball Rally & Tribute to Dede Rogers

A bountiful soul, this article is in memoriam of Dede Rogers, the backbone of Dustball Rally. Her charity endeavors, including the El Paso Humane Society, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank, Ronald McDonald House El Paso, Polo Real, and Child Crisis Center El Paso, speak to her altruistic nature and selfless spirit. Throughout my life, … Read more

Major League Baseball — Playing With A Disability

Circa 2009 Many athletes with disabilities have succeeded on the professional playing field. Probably in no other professional sport is this truer than in Major League Baseball. Few fans are aware of the number of these players who have succeeded in the majors. This may be because of the athletes themselves, who either downplayed or … Read more

EEOC Bad Boys — Schooling the Employers

Circa 2010 The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces federal laws prohibiting discrimination in employment. The following are recent cases brought about from the EEOC. OLSTEN STAFFING SERVICES TO PAY $75,000 TO SETTLE EEOC DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION SUIT Nationwide Temp Agency Refused to Refer Deaf Worker in Wisconsin For Food Production Job Because of His Disability, … Read more

Diabetic Alert Service Dogs Sniff More Than Crotches and Butts

Dogs sure do love to sniff stuff, don’t they? The sidewalk, trees, fire hydrants, bits of canine and human anatomy we probably shouldn’t mention here… dogs seem to poke their noses around with reckless abandon and an utter disregard for humility. But what if dogs could use their impeccable sense of smell for something other … Read more

Syrian Refugees–“We Left Everything Behind”

One hundred fifty-three years ago, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman issued his definitive statement on war: “War is Hell.” In 2013, Syrian Christians and Damascus residents 14-year-old Mariamma (Mary) and her 16-old brother Outha (Joseph) were caught in the middle of a battle between rebels and government forces. They decided to split up. While … Read more

Austin Basis — Beauty and the Diabetes

CW’s hit show Beauty & the Beast is far from the Disney animation film you might remember as a child, rather it’s a fantasy, sci-fi, action series with super-soldiers from an experiment gone dreadfully wrong, as they turn into uncontrollable beasts. Every beast needs a close confidant and that is J.T. Forbes a loyal childhood … Read more

Spineto — Calculated Sailing

Two years ago, Erin Spineto sailed into the Florida Keys, tied her boat to the dock and headed into the Fiesta Key RV Resort restaurant. She wanted a burger and a Coke to regain the energy depleted during her 100-mile journey from Key Largo to Key West as captain of her own ship. “Did everybody … Read more

Music — America’s Got Landau!

America’s Got Talent sixth-season winner, Landau E. Murphy Jr., is the spokesperson for Everyone with Diabetes Counts (EDC) and appears in TV, radio and outdoor ads to promote diabetes awareness and prevention. Down and out one minute and within a series of unforgetable moments, feeling on top of the world. Since his win Landau … Read more

Charlie Kimball — Racing Against Diabetes

Security is tight and a veil of secrecy permeates throughout the caravans of massive, 18-wheelers at the Long Beach Grand Prix. What’s at stake is the protection of each team’s coveted racing technology, for one change in the engineering can alter the outcome of a race. But secrecy aside, on this particular day, members … Read more

The Skinny On Obesity— Breaking Down the BMI

Circa 2009 About 66% of adults and 31% of children in the United States are either overweight or obese. This has led to a rise in obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes among adults and, increasingly, among obese children. While being obese can change how we look and how we fit (or don’t fit) … Read more

Headlines — MICROSOFT, ADOBE & MORE

Circa 2008 MICROSOFT, ADOBE & MORE Like the famous Rat Pack featuring Frank Sinatra and his celebrity pals, a group of leading information and assistive technology companies, along with content providers and other key engineering organizations, recently formed the Accessibility Interoperability Alliance (AIA) to help developers create accessible software, hardware and Web products. AIA’s goal … Read more

Earl Bakken — Setting the Pace

A young boy sits in a dark theater staring wide-eyed. Completely fixated, he is entranced by the flickering images of Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory. Gripping the arms of his seat as electricity flashes across the expansive screen with a thunderous clatter, the boy gapes as the creation—and his own imagination—come alive. A dreamer is born. While … Read more

Childhood Obesity — The Skinny on a Big, Fat Problem

Circa 2008/09 As Sharon Rowland’s weight climbed to 210 pounds, she worried that her children would follow her example, especially her oldest girl. “She likes to eat, and I was concerned about that,” Rowland says of Kylah, now 12. “I also wondered if she was getting enough exercise.” It’s a concern shared by parents across … Read more

Music – The Blind Boys of Alabama

Formed some six and a half decades ago, The Blind Boys of Alabama are the Ironmen of the music industry. They predate Elvis, Little Richard and Al Green, yet even in their 70s they are still at the top of the gospel charts and have earned impressive three peat honors by winning consecutive Grammy Awards … Read more

Headlines – Medtronic, Eukanuba & DFW Airport

Circa 2004 DIABETES: MEDTRONIC SUPPORTS RESEARCH Approximately 18.2 million Americans have diabetes, which continues to be the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) has identified the development of a closed-loop artificial pancreas as one of six top priorities in improving diabetes management over the next five years, … Read more