Famous People with Diabetes: A Source of Inspiration

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Katie-Machia-Famous-People-with-DiabetesA short time after I was diagnosed with diabetes and still feeling rather “bummed” about the whole thing, my parents got on the computer (which is always risky) and did a search on “famous people with type 1 diabetes.” They found the names of several actors, musicians, sports and political figures.

The one that struck me, however, was a teenage boy who was a member of a popular rock band. At that time I had become a big fan of the group and had read on my own that he had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a young teenager. It may have put him in the hospital for a short time, but it didn’t stop him from pursuing his dream as a performer and traveling the world with his brothers. Continue reading →

May FingerPricks™: A Diabetes-Inspired Cartoon Series by Haidee Merritt

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Haidee-Merritt-May-Cartoon-2For all the data we’re expected to absorb from healthcare providers, nurses, diabetes educators, nutritionists and specialists with suffixes spanning the letters of the alphabet, it becomes easy to overlook that the lone voice you reeeeally need to be listening to is your own. Count on your experience, the knowledge of your own body and what feels right for you to make diabetes-related decisions. Take a moment once in a while to silence those other voices and listen to your own.

*Suite D Blog Disclaimer.

Joey’s Diabetes Day at the Capitol

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Joey-ADA-AmbassadorMy son is taking on and conquering way more than I ever could have at age 11! I am so proud and excited for him. It sounds like a cliché, but I really am amazed at what he is doing. He was very nervous about taking on the Wisconsin Ambassador position for the American Diabetes Association – and rightfully so. He would have to speak in front of people that he has never met, tell his story about having type 1 diabetes, and try to inspire kids and adults alike. I believe that he is doing that and more.

As part of the Ambassador program, Joey was invited to take part in the Diabetes Day at the Capitol. It’s a day where volunteers from around the state of Wisconsin come to Madison and go before lawmakers to gain support for diabetes issues. You really gain insight as to how the system works. Continue reading →

The Arslanbob Village Experience: A Diabetes Eye Opener

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Check out this video to learn more about Sean’s experience with the culture and people of the Arslanbob Village.

One of the main reasons I create these community components on all my expeditions is to keep myself humble. Those of you with type 1 diabetes know it’s hard to live with diabetes everyday…going through the same steps over and over and over. As I always say in my motivational talks: Diabetes is like the movie Groundhog Day—the same thing over and over. Continue reading →

Eating While Abroad with Diabetes

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While changing his Pod in the dark due to electricity issues in Kyrgyzstan, Sean talks about the how the OmniPod has
helped him keep an active lifestyle and manage his diabetes while on his adventures.

In the days leading up to our experience at a traditional Kyrgyz village, I found myself a little bit nervous. I’d been sick with a cold for over three days and I was still recovering. My main concern was how I would deal with the food and my diabetes. There was no menu to order from—we ate what the family would cook for us. As someone who has a sensitive stomach (who had a horrible case of food poisoning in the Cook Islands two years ago that scarred me!) and diabetes, I’m always hyper-aware of foods. And in a place like Kyrgyzstan, I wasn’t about to take any chances. Continue reading →

What Can You Do with the OmniPod?

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Calling all OmniPod wearers!

In the spirit of not letting diabetes hold you back, we’d like to hear the types of things the OmniPod allows you or your loved ones to do – despite having diabetes.

Please send us your responses in a format similar to the one below in just one sentence:

I can ________________.

For example, “I can give myself insulin without everyone knowing what I’m doing.”

Submit them to us at suited@insulet.com by Friday, May 10th, and we may feature your quote here in Suite D and in our exhibit booth at this summer’s Children with Diabetes Friends for Life conference.

My “Must Have” Packing List for Traveling with Diabetes While Sick

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Sean talks about his community outreach efforts in Kyrgyzstan and the role diabetes played during his trip.

After spending two weeks in Kyrgyzstan during a horrible cold and flu season back in the U.S., Mollie and I learned a lot about the most important items to bring while traveling with diabetes. Especially knowing that Kyrgyzstan is still developing in many ways—including their medical facilities and infrastructure—we prepared for the worst and then put those supplies to good use. Continue reading →

Diabetes in Kyrgyzstan: Airport Security Issues

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This winter Sean and Mollie Busby took a trip to Kyrgyzstan to ski, snowboard and reach out to the locals – providing snowboard supplies, medical kits and other tools to villagers and local guides. Come along for the journey as Sean shares their experiences.


Check out this video to learn more about why Sean decided to visit Kyrgyzstan and his early impressions of the country.

A lot of people ask me, “Why Kyrgyzstan?” My answer is simple: “Why not?” I was doing some research and discovered that Kyrgyzstan (pronounced KER-GIS-STAN) is an incredibly mountainous country with a developing infrastructure. Local villages are starting to rely on winter tourism to sustain their families through the otherwise uneventful winter. Me, operating as I usually do for these things, took this opportunity to travel to a unique place to snowboard, while also winding up in a community where we could give back to the local villagers. Continue reading →