#dedoc° blog
Learn about what really matters to people living with diabetes around the world.
The #dedoc° blog features articles and opinion pieces written by our international network of diabetes advocates: the #dedoc° voices. From scientific conferences to the latest diabetes research and technology, from challenges faced by those living with diabetes to global disparities in healthcare — our #dedoc° voices cover it all.
Diabetes advocates wishing to contribute to the #dedoc° blog are welcome to submit a guest post using the link below. Don’t hesitate to get in touch — we love to hear from you, and so do thousands of others!
All opinions are those of the authors.
Contact: blog@dedoc.org
Our children: a toast to the children of mothers with diabetes
“The one thing I really appreciate and cherish above everything else is the possibility of connecting and bonding with peers from all over the world,” writes Ana M Alvarez Pagola, who attended EASD in Hamburg in 2023 as a #dedoc° voice.
“This time was no exception. A group of us with grown (or almost grown) children began to talk about having children while managing and coping with our diabetes. But our conversation was not about pregnancies (as hard and difficult as some were). And it was not about bringing up our children while managing our diabetes.
“What we discussed is how we need to acknowledge the effort and the hard work our children have done in coping with a mother with diabetes.”
EASD 2023: the women agenda
“Discussions about menopause are gathering momentum all over the world: women are demanding more support for this stage of life, be it at work or medically,” writes diabetes advocate Alex Haggett, who attended EASD 2023 in Hamburg as a #dedoc° voice.
Alex arrived at the conference ready to ask loads of questions about getting older with diabetes, and particularly the impact of menopause on people with diabetes. But were her questions answered?
Navigating airport security with type 1 diabetes: advocating for a smoother experience
Living with type 1 diabetes often involves relying on essential medical devices, such as CGMs and insulin pumps, to manage blood sugar levels. When it comes to air travel, manufacturers of these devices strongly recommend against putting them through airport body scanners, as the radiation can potentially damage them.
This requirement is not just a matter of convenience; it's a matter of health and safety. For people living with diabetes and wearing diabetes tech, the airport security process can be particularly stressful.
My own experience at Hamburg Airport on my way back from EASD 2023 exemplifies the difficulties we often face. What should have been a straightforward process turned into a distressing ordeal.