Member-only story
How My Diabetes Monitor Reconnected Me With My Parents
A life-changing diagnosis — and the medical device to help manage it — created an enduring familial bond
In January of last year, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. For reasons that are still unclear, my immune system revolted against the cells in my pancreas that produce insulin. Without insulin, my body had no way of absorbing glucose from my bloodstream and freaked out — technically, it went into diabetic ketoacidosis, an extreme and potentially lethal version of the metabolic state those keto diet folks hope to induce by eating only avocados and butter.
“Bad news,” said the doc in the emergency room. “You’ll be dealing with this for the rest of your life. Sorry, buddy.”
I said, “Okay, what’s the good — ”
“Let me finish,” the doc said.
“Sure.”
“Good news is Type 1 is hot right now. Lots of research. Lots of new technology.”
He wasn’t kidding. As soon I was out of the hospital and set up with insulin pens and a fingerstick-style glucose monitor, I started receiving mailers and internet ads for next-generation insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors with marketing campaigns for people with an “active lifestyle,” which, as…
