The Corner Booth

We will NEVER forget 9/11.... on 9/11. But every other day, we can and do. Every other day outside of 9/11, American people don't see a need to be civil, to keep each other in our hearts and do whatever we can to protect others' wellbeing if it doesn't serve our own selfish purposes. Wear a mask to protect the greater good? Work hard to ensure that more fellow humans, no matter how old or what other health ailments they may have, don't die? Work to adapt lives and businesses to ensure health and safety first, rather than a "only the fit survive" mentality seen in The Hunger Games? Nope, that kind of thinking is only reserved for 9/11. It's sad, sickening, embarrassing, maddening. I read this insight recently online: In the wake of 9/11, we stood united as one nation. The commonalities that bonded us during that time seem to be lost now and we need to strive to return to that common purpose as a nation. Therefore, it is not just the tragedy of September 11,...

Sketch by Phoebe Tickner   Phyllisa Deroze remembers wondering, Do people of color with diabetes use insulin pumps or continuous glucose monitors? Based on Google search images, it seemed the answer was that only white people used these advanced diabetes tools. It was the same reaction she had after first searching for Black people checking their glucose with traditional fingersticks and taking insulin injections, too. That thought stuck with Deroze — a literature professor in Florida with multiple master's degrees and a PhD in English literature — during medical appointments in the early years following her initial type 2 diabetes (T2D) diagnosis. Even though she did know some people of color who were using insulin pumps and CGMs , she found herself wondering if doctors for the most part just assumed most people of color would not be suited for these devices the same way their white counterparts might be. Eight years later, in 2019, after years of struggling...

Despite a rosy spin by JDRF leadership that paints this national advocacy organization as becoming more “volunteer-powered” and synergized, the stark reality is that thanks to fallout from the continuing COVID-19 crisis, hundreds are losing their jobs and some critical research projects are being trimmed down or slashed entirely. This comes in a year marking the 50th birthday of JDRF, the world's most prominent organization focused on type 1 diabetes (T1D). It clearly never expected the economic gut-punch it's gotten in 2020, prompting a massive restructuring that includes staff layoffs, chapter consolidation, research funding cuts, and a shift in advocacy messaging. But even more concerning is that all of this may just be the tip of the iceberg, as COVID-19 continues to devastate America’s economy. Especially hard hit are health charities and medical nonprofits like JDRF because this pandemic has exposed the fault lines within the system and how broken the fundraisin...

As a professional race car driver, Charlie Kimball saw his life upended by the COVID-19 crisis like everyone else in early 2020. But toss in the birth of a second child and adjusting to managing type 1 diabetes (T1D) away from the racing circuit for the first time in 9 years, and it’s been a unique experience even in these strange times. Kimball was disappointed to have to forgo the usual start of the racing season in March. But this break has also afforded him a rare opportunity to be present in his newly expanded family’s day-to-day routine. He says being a dad of a toddler and a newborn just as pandemic-mode hit has been one of the most bittersweet moments in his life. We had a chance to reconnect with Kimball recently to chat about the impact on professional sports and personal lives during these unprecedented times. First Indy 500 driver with T1D While Kimball isn't the only T1D driver in professional racing, his story is probably one of the most renowned wit...

Like everything else in 2020, the biggest diabetes conference of the year was anything but normal. The American Diabetes Association's 80th annual Scientific Sessions were, for the first time ever, held completely online as a sprawling, fast-paced, virtual streaming experience. Thousands of medical professionals from across the globe tuned in for the five-day event, June 12 through 16, many in casual clothes rather than professional conference attire — from their kitchens, living rooms, and home offices with curious kids, home decor, and pets popping in occasionally. So it goes in 2020, as the world navigates the ripple effects of a global pandemic that's catapulted us into virtual business and telehealth mode. The SciSessions have been held as a huge in-person gathering consecutively since the org's founding in June 1940, with the single exception during World War II when the conference was not held. "There was a lot of trepidation about what this yea...

The beloved book series “ The Baby-Sitters Club ” is back in the spotlight, with a new Netflix series airing in July 2020 that will breathe new life to this set of stories first published in the 1980s. It's a charming tale of friends who form a babysitter's club for their small, fictional town in Connecticut. Many people with diabetes feel a personal connection to this series because one of the main characters is club treasurer Stacey McGill, who is depicted as living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The series, written by  Ann M. Martin , spanned  217 novels  between 1986 and 2000. There was also a  1995 movie  and a short-lived Disney series. Now, with a new Netflix series premiering July 3, 2020, the character of Stacey will be played by young actress Shay Rudolph. She's released a fun introductory YouTube clip where she reads aloud a section from the pivotal "The Truth About Stacey" book. Many women living with diabetes have commented on how ...