BeingDiabetic.co.nz » Funding

Diabetes radio, and help a parent day.

Nic — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:38:27 +0000

Hi everyone – I got an emails from two readers last week which I would love your input on please.

ONE:

My mum is hosting a radio segment in New Plymouth which starts up soon about diabetes…along with the medical team up there and has been asking me for a name for her segment. Wondered if you had any ideas on a name and some topics you think would be important to cover? They will be talking about all kinds of things to do with diabetes and interviewing medical people on the show.
Can you help this BeingDiabetic reader out? Questions:

- what should her Mum call the show?

- what topics would you want covered in a radio…

Pharmac takes over hospital meds.

Nic — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 19:00:12 +0000

Hi guys, hot off the press news for you all (thanks to Lisa and Chris for sending me info) – an announcement was made yesterday that Pharmac is now going to take over the buying and managing of hospital medications/equipment – they previously only did “community pharmaceuticals”.

The most interesting part of the article (link below) is the part where they say they’ll take on insulin pumps first:

Ryall also said Pharmac would have a role in the new Shared Services Agency in the management and procurement of medical devices, starting with insulin pumps.

Full article here:

http://tvnz.co.nz/health-news/pharmac-takes-over-new-responsibilities-3669595

What are your thoughts, people? I suppose my take on it is that we shouldn’t get too excited, because it’s not like…

Desert dingo racing.

Nic — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:48:31 +0000

I saw a mention of this in a newsletter which came into my inbox about World Diabetes Day and I was intrigued. What is this Desert Dingo Racing I wondered, and what has it got to do with diabetes? I went to their site, saw the car (see image on the right), and was instantly enamoured.

I remember as a very little girl my brother and I were big fans of the Herbie movies (like Herbie goes to Monte Carlo etc) and this car (a 1969 VW Beetle) is just like it.

So I still haven’t put the pieces together for you. It’s pretty simple really – the…

Over 18? Take a number, honey.

Nic — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 21:32:10 +0000

As those of you who’ve been reading this blog a while know, I was extremely fortunate to be given a ‘permanent loan’ of an insulin pump from Waitemata DHB, late last year. When I was waiting to hear if I was going to be one of the lucky ones to be issued with the pump, I spoke to various people at the hospital to keep up to date. One conversation didn’t go so well because the person on the other end was telling me the committee responsible for allocating the pumps had been strongly in favour of only loaning them out to people under the age of 25 (at that point I was…

John McLaren Youth Award – $1000 up for grabs.

Nic — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:43:11 +0000

Hi all

I got this in my email a few weeks ago and have been meaning to publicise it. Diabetes Youth New Zealand has the John McLaren Youth Awards every year, and there are four $1000 prizes up for grabs. I’ve put a copy of the application form here for you to download for yourselves or on behalf of your kids. Unfortunately this is only available for under 25s. Applications close October 31st.

More about the award, taken directly from the application form:

THE JOHN McLAREN YOUTH AWARD is our yearly Achievement Award for Youth with Diabetes. This Award recognises the pursuit of excellence in the cultural, academic, and sporting fields by…

Yay!! Jenna got her wig.

Nic — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:41:05 +0000

Ahhhh this is the best news I’ve heard in a long time. Little Jenna, whom I did a post on last week (T1 preschooler, about to go to school, also has alopecia and needed a specially made wig which would cost several thousand dollars) has raised enough money to get said wig. I am so happy for her and I really, really wish her all the best.

BeingDiabetic readers who gave a donation: well done. Jenna: enjoy school!

We are beholden.

Nic — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:10:39 +0000

Like it or not, as insulin addicts, we are in a bit of a tight spot when it comes to the world markets. As those of us on Cozmo insulin pumps found out last year, market forces can have a profound effect on the availability of products we rely on to keep our diabetes under control.

The most recent example of this has sprung up in the last week, with insulin manufacturing giant Novo Nordisk deciding they won’t cut their prices for the Greek market, resulting in them stopping supply of “modern insulins”. I’ve had a bit of a search and…

Cutting back diabetes services? Really?!

Nic — Sun, 30 May 2010 04:39:22 +0000

Thanks to Helana for sending me this story from the Stuff website…. apparently the MidCentral DHB is talking of cutting the diabetes services in the area by $500, 000 – which would result in 6.2 less staff for the area’s diabetics.

Full article here.

Kathy Scott – how can the BeingDiabetic community help? Can we send an email of support for you to pass on or something?

Mish mash.

Nic — Wed, 26 May 2010 21:10:29 +0000

Hi guys, it’s a bits and pieces Thursday here at BeingDiabetic. A few things for you:

1. Diabetes Youth New Zealand conference timetable announced:

As you may know, I’m speaking at this year’s Diabetes Youth New Zealand conference in Rotorua. It’s on on the 21st and 22nd August.

You can see the full program (and enrol) here. Let me know if you’re thinking about going! Last year’s was really good.

2. Variety Club does it again!!

Fantastic news for the Hanlen family. I’m so happy for you and your lovely kids (what classic quotes in the article!). Also, special mention to Miss World NZ for raising money for Sarah Smit’s pump. Way…

Zilch.

Nic — Thu, 13 May 2010 21:56:25 +0000

I go through phases of being into ice cream. I was at the supermarket the other day and thought I’d grab some though, and ended up buying some vanilla Zilch. I forgot how GOOD that icecream is!! My Mum used to buy it for me when I still lived at home, and I think since moving back to NZ as an adult I thought it was a little too expensive. I think I’m back on board now…. I’m much more conscious of carb contents of things now, and if you can ‘budget’ out your carbs, all the better (especially at night time, I try not to eat anything too crazy on the carbs too close to bed so I can…