The april fools joke was late this year...

All was too quiet.. I think I said that in the first of my two posts yesterday..(after not posting for a while) Last night 7pm pod change... 2 am.. Jared wakes nauseas with large ketones!! it is now 10:40 am and we are still getting rid of those suckers.. looks like he is getting an extra half week of spring break this year~!

1st question - WHY??? The pod change was done like the rest.. when I syringed the insulin directly to him, it wasn't spoiled... it worked... The cannula was not kinked, I didn't see any obvious occlusion.. it did not alarm.. his BG's prior to 2 am (midnite was not so far off base that we saw it coming)... Virus??? Maybe?? combined with pod issues?? huh? the question remains?? why?? I have to drop it - we will never really know.

I think that this experience again has reminded me that we love the pod, but even with killer algorythms comined with the dexcom (which we also currently use off and on) this is so FAR right now from reliable that we can't only count on this technology. ( to become the basis of an artificial pancreas) I know this seems dramatic - and we love the pod when it works (Which is most of the time) but when it doesn't wreaks havoc on poor 6 year old Jared, on me and even trickles to dad and his sister when the action happens middle of the night! ~ but truly, pod or pump, when you don't have your own working pancreas this can happen at anytime, with any technology or routine...

All was too quiet.. I keep thinking.. isn't that sick?!?! I an an optimist and belive in the power of intention... I sure hope my confidence did not trigger this episode (okay ~reality check ~ I know deep down it didn't) .. but seriously.. his numbers from the past month have been so stellar, we have consisered framing the print outs and have sent copies to his Endo who is also showing them off around the hospital like a proud mom with photo's of her child ;)I remember during our first few months on the pod (6 months post diagnosis) we would see blogs from fellow diabetics whose graphs were as straight and controlled as one could imagine perfection would be, it seemed so unattainable... we were getting there. This disease is so unpredictable - nothing is safe, or regular, or predictable!

Another day - back to the optimistic outlook - after all, in a few days we board a plane to visit great gramma across the continent... we all better be feeling our best - after all this rain... we are her sunshine!

Riddle me this...

The article below (especially highlighted area) suggests that a pod/pump with a CGM that syncs is somehow worthy of being called an artificial pancreas??

What do you think?? Is this the answer we were looking for?


ARTICLE:
Researchers Successfully Create Computer-Simulated Model for Evaluating Artificial Pancreas

- Key Step in Ongoing Research to Replicate Insulin-Producing Function of Healthy Pancreas for Type 1 Diabetes Patients -
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- A key step toward the successful development of an artificial pancreas for patients with diabetes has been achieved, according to new research published in this month's issue of Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics.
Researchers at the University of California at Santa Barbara, Sansum Diabetes Research Institute and Stanford Medical Center have effectively created a computer-simulated system for evaluating an investigational artificial pancreas comprised of the OmniPod(R) Insulin Management System--including the OmniPod insulin pump and Personal Diabetes Manager that controls it--and a continuous glucose monitor, in this case either the FreeStyle Navigator(R) or the DexCom STS7(R). The system also includes an algorithm that automates the interaction between the pump and monitor, and facilitates the running of a variety of tests and challenges to the software and component devices. The UC Santa Barbara-developed software and algorithms are also being used with a number of other pumps and monitors in developing additional systems.
"While we still have a ways to go, this new system brings us much closer to making the artificial pancreas a reality for type 1 diabetes patients," explained lead author Eyal Dassau, PhD, Diabetes Team Research Manager at UC Santa Barbara (UCSB). "This achievement is vital--we now have a way, prior to patient trials, to fully verify and validate that an artificial pancreas can efficiently operate in the variety of conditions reflective of a large group of patients with this disease."
The research is part of the artificial pancreas project, which is funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and is being conducted by an international group of diabetes research centers. The project's first goal is to integrate an insulin pump and continuous blood glucose monitor to closely replicate a healthy pancreas for patients with type 1 diabetes--patients whose pancreases no longer produce insulin, which is used by the body to control blood glucose levels. An artificial pancreas will allow for tighter and automated control of blood glucose levels, which would significantly help to avoid the long-term complications of the disease.
"This new system will really help streamline the preclinical trials; it will provide data central to the regulatory review process," said investigator Howard Zisser, MD, Director of Clinical Research and Diabetes Technology at the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute in Santa Barbara, CA. "We plan to begin using it in the next several months."
UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) is a leading research institution. The two groups involved in this study at UCSB are the Department of Chemical Engineering, which is committed to excellence in teaching and research and in 2007 was ranked ninth in the United States and second in the University of California by U.S. News and World Report, and its Biomolecular Science and Engineering Program, which offers a unique interdisciplinary approach to graduate training and research spanning Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering and Biomolecular Materials.
Sansum Diabetes Research Institute is a non-profit research center devoted to the prevention, treatment and cure of diabetes through research and education. In particular, it is known for its work on methods to detect and chart the progress of diabetes and its expertise in new diabetes technology.
The OmniPod Insulin Management System is manufactured and sold by Insulet Corporation (Nasdaq: PODD). The FreeStyle Navigator is a product of Abbott Diabetes Care, and the DexCom STS7 is a product of DexCom, Inc.

And the verdict is in...(or is that out?!?)

After deliberation, and discussions with both schools, we made the decision to send Jared to public school, to our local district public school. The one that has wronged us for the past two years, but yes, also the one who now has a new principal and district nurse.

They have assured us that his best interests are theirs too and we need not worry.

For now, I am not.

I am quiet... waiting, and preparing for a successful start... with the fore-planning done to get the school ready.

Sometimes, no new news is good news.

Sorry I have been so quiet... I have needed it ;)

p.s His current Private school has assured us that in a heartbeat (and a written cheque ;) ) they would take him back if they have space.... This helps...