COVID-19 and DIABETES

Although today the data are certainly not encouraging in general, I wanted in part to reassure T1D patients and family members with respect to the published images and tables that report a 35.5% mortality in Italy for subjects with DIABETES as co-morbidity. Today during the videoconference of the Istituto Superiore della Sanita I made an intervention asking specifically to clarify if there was an analysis available that differentiates between Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes. It has been confirmed to me that these are statistics related Type 2 Diabetes where the majority of patients are over 65 years of age and often have other co-morbidities.

Even among the 17 (data of 17 March) deceased patients who were under the age of 50 and in particular among the 5 deaths between 31 and 39 years of age, the subject with diabetes was affected by T2D and not T1D. Mortality among males is much higher than that of females, for reasons yet to be determined, but Type 1 Diabetes is not currently an increased risk factor. However, the rules of my previous posting on metabolic control and trying to keep an immune system in good condition, including diet and avoid smoking, apply, since hyperglycemia poor metabolic control can affect the immune system capability to fight infections in general.

Also today, in response to my comment / question, I have been told that an important emerging figure is the very high level of inflammation in the blood detected in these patients with Type 2 Diabetes, as detected for example by the very high levels of PCR (c reactive protein) detected in these subjects.

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Fonte delle immagini: Istituto Superiore della Sanità

NOTE: Omega 3 or Vitamin D if one takes them already for any reason there is no reason to suspend, but of course there are no specific randomized, controlled, prospective studies for COVID-19 and there is no rigorous research that indicates their possible use in curative terms for COVID-19. So keep staying at home and following the directions of the CDC in this direction.

Camillo Ricordi

Diabete e bambino. Cosa succede quando mangiamo? La vera storia del cibo dalla bocca agli zuccheri, grazie al lavoro di Fata Insulina.

Da Padre a padre, dico grazie all'autore per aver fatto sorridere la mia bambina. Ci ha relagato uno sprazzo di magia

Ho pianto nel vedere la mia bimba felice  di leggere di una bimba come lei
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Vuoi parlare con le migliaia di amici che hanno già sperimentato le soluzioni proposte su DeeBee.it? Vuoi fare qualche domanda su un argomento specifico per conoscere le opinioni ed i suggerimenti di chi ci è già passato? Vuoi suggerire tu qualcosa dicendo la tua?
Non devi fare altro che iscriverti nel gruppo Nightscout Italia ed otterrai risposta ad ogni tua domanda! Nel nostro gruppo affrontiamo ogni tematica inerente il diabete (non solo tecnologia ma anche leggi, sport, alimentazione, accettazione, gestione quotidiana, L104, ecc., sia per adulti che per bambini).
Enjoy!

Solo, the patch pump that no longer leaves the OmniPod on its own

In 2019 the choice of insulin pumps in Italy will be expanded by the introduction of the Accu-Chek Solo (Micropump system) made by Roche. The device was awarded a CE mark in July 2018 and is approved for use by patients from 2 years of age. The pump is based on the design by Medingo. Ltd which was approved by the FDA in 2009 and purchased by Roche a year later.
Unlike the more well known OmniPod, the Solo has a semi disposable unit which is controlled via Bluetooth using a touchscreen handheld device with an intergrated Aviva Accu-Chek glucometer.

The part that attaches to the body is:

• An adhesive patch ( the pump holder) which has a plastic grafted inlay where the pump base and reservoir sit, this lasts up to 3 days.

• A pump base that contains the minimotor (with a piston system similar to that contained in conventional infusion pumps, and therefore different than the OmniPod system) and electronic components. It can be used for up to 4 months. The disposable reservoir part is inserted into this.

• The insulin reservoir, this can contain between 80 and 200 units of insulin and is replaced every three days. It is made of transparent material so that it is easy to see both the level of insulin as well as the presence of air bubbles.

It can be applied in four possible areas of the body: abdomen, legs, upper buttocks and arms.

Even though it looks very similar to its “cousin” the Omnipod there are a few important details that make the two quite different.

• The Solo micropump has two lengths of cannula available, a 6 mm and 9 mm these are made of soft teflon.

• The dispensing of insulin can take place by not only using the Personal Diabetes Manager, but also by pressing two buttons on the sides of the patch pump, thus avoiding inconveniences in case of loss or defect of the PDM (see below). By simultaneously pressing the two side buttons, after the audible confirmation, you can dispense insulin quickly in what is called a, “quick bolus”. Each time you press the buttons, it delivers insulin as needed, from as little as 0.20 to 2 units at a time.

• The pump part is water resistant but must not be immersed in water. It needs to be removed when having a bath or swimming. In these circumstances only the pump holder should be left on the body.

• The minimum basal rate is 0.0U / h (compared with 0.05U / time OmniPod), and the minimum bolus is 0.01U (0.05U compared with the OmniPod)

The Handheld Device

This is called the Personal Diabetes Manager (or “PDM”) it has a 4-inch colour display which can be locked preventing any accidental operation of the device. The display on the status screen allows you to see the time and date, the insulin level in the reservoir and the current basal rate. The battery is charged just like an ordinary smartphone, it features a display which confirms the bolus delivery and an integrated blood glucose meter port.
(The picture below shows the comparison in size between the remote control of Accu-Chek Insight and that of the Solo micropump).

Introducing a new Accu-Chek Italian User Group

With the imminent arrival in the Italian market, we reveal a new Facebook group dedicated to the new addition to the Roche family: This will be a place where members can exchange information, ideas and views on the new pump. As with all the other DeeBee groups, this will be a digital closed group , to protect the privacy of its members, please visit the group, we are waiting!

Diabete e bambino. Cosa succede quando mangiamo? La vera storia del cibo dalla bocca agli zuccheri, grazie al lavoro di Fata Insulina.

Da Padre a padre, dico grazie all'autore per aver fatto sorridere la mia bambina. Ci ha relagato uno sprazzo di magia

Ho pianto nel vedere la mia bimba felice  di leggere di una bimba come lei
©Riproduzione riservata
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Vuoi parlare con le migliaia di amici che hanno già sperimentato le soluzioni proposte su DeeBee.it? Vuoi fare qualche domanda su un argomento specifico per conoscere le opinioni ed i suggerimenti di chi ci è già passato? Vuoi suggerire tu qualcosa dicendo la tua?
Non devi fare altro che iscriverti nel gruppo Nightscout Italia ed otterrai risposta ad ogni tua domanda! Nel nostro gruppo affrontiamo ogni tematica inerente il diabete (non solo tecnologia ma anche leggi, sport, alimentazione, accettazione, gestione quotidiana, L104, ecc., sia per adulti che per bambini).
Enjoy!

Dexcom G6 vs Eversense XL vs Dexcom G5. Part one.

We tested the two Dexcom top sensors and the Eversense implantable sensor. That's what happened.

Author: Mario Migliarese

Saturday is always my favorite day, working week ended, the prospect of a Sunday with my family. Perfect day to start the test. It will certainly be challenging, it will take great attention and spirit of observation, but I’m sure it will be worth it. I’ll use my faithful Eversense, Dexcom G5 and the latest arrival at Dexcom’s house, the long-awaited G6, at the same time. I had a little initial hiccup with the apps because I’m running everything on the same mobile phone.

Here they are, all together after a daring trip, in Italy and beyond. Eversense, already implanted on July 24 remains obviously in the arm, and I put the other two “guests” on the abdomen. One on each side, so to have an identical site for both of them.

Inserting the G6 is dramatically easier. One click and it’s done. Too bad there is still an impressive amount of plastic to dispose of, nothing to do with the other sensors. It is not to be underestimated, because in my opinion preserving the environment is very important.

To avoid early detachments, given my very busy lifestyle and the fairly old Dexcom G5, I preferred to use a veil of Mastisol to increase grip.

At first glance the G6 will last longer. As it was designed, very close to the patch and not tilting like its brothers born earlier, you can hardly get caught in the clothes. I may be used to Eversense, which once removed the transmitter is as if it were not there, but I must be very careful not to take the two Dexcom away drying after a shower or during a game.

I’m amazed by the initial alignment of the three sensors, I can’t believe the very few points of difference between the different technologies. I may seem exaggerated, but it’s really exciting:

Eversense: 127
Dexcom G5: 121
Dexcom G6:116

The dance of glycemic values begins to change pace when (on purpose) I eat a cookie in the middle of the morning. And this screen says it all.

Eversense: predictive warning of hyperglycemia
Dexcom G5: oblique arrow on rise
Dexcom G6: stable arrow

Eversense is immediately reactive in perceiving the ascents and descents, the G5 follows it closely and the G6 more slowly. But we’re talking about a few minutes, not more. And I don’t know if this could also depend on the sites where I inserted the two Dexcom.

But also between the two sensors of the house Dexcom I see differences: the G5 tends to be more “ready” to climb, while in the descents happens the opposite. The newcomer is more ready.

I noticed that the two Dexcom hold the rod a bit higher than Eversense, the values are a few points away, but up.

Glucometer: 110
Eversense: 106 (deviation from the glucometer: -3,5 %)
Dexcom G5: 120 (deviation from the glucometer: +9,0 %)
Dexcom G6: 134 (deviation from the glucometer: +21,8 %)

Undoubtedly, the juiciest observations are those related to out-of-range blood sugar levels. It’s interesting to see what happens during hypoglycaemias. So, I specially made a slightly abundant bolus (don’t do it!). Here is the result:

Eversense: 66
Dexcom G5: 72
Dexcom G6: 66

Note: I have only calibrated Eversense and the Dexcom G5: seeing this precision is really amazing!

And if the blood sugar levels were acceptable during the day, on Saturday evening, thanks to a dinner with friends, a prolonged hyperglycemia put the whole system to a hard testing. I let you imagine a “singing” night between Dexcom alarms and Eversense vibrations. To preserve my nervous system, we decided to remove the alarms from the two different twins and have them followed at a distance by someone else on the DeeBee team. Sick common half jubilation? Was that the saying?

But I’ll talk about this sweet night concert in the next article…

Diabete e bambino. Cosa succede quando mangiamo? La vera storia del cibo dalla bocca agli zuccheri, grazie al lavoro di Fata Insulina.

Da Padre a padre, dico grazie all'autore per aver fatto sorridere la mia bambina. Ci ha relagato uno sprazzo di magia

Ho pianto nel vedere la mia bimba felice  di leggere di una bimba come lei
©Riproduzione riservata
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Vuoi parlare con le migliaia di amici che hanno già sperimentato le soluzioni proposte su DeeBee.it? Vuoi fare qualche domanda su un argomento specifico per conoscere le opinioni ed i suggerimenti di chi ci è già passato? Vuoi suggerire tu qualcosa dicendo la tua?
Non devi fare altro che iscriverti nel gruppo Nightscout Italia ed otterrai risposta ad ogni tua domanda! Nel nostro gruppo affrontiamo ogni tematica inerente il diabete (non solo tecnologia ma anche leggi, sport, alimentazione, accettazione, gestione quotidiana, L104, ecc., sia per adulti che per bambini).
Enjoy!

MiaoMiao ad its accessories: where to buy them? Use DeeBee.it coupons!

Those who follow our site assiduously, surely now know well the MiaoMiao: it is a small device (it is not the only one) that rests on the FreeStyle Libre “sensor”. In a nutshell, this device is able to transform the famous white button of Abbott in a CGM, giving it the ability to suddenly warn in case of hypo and hyperglycemia.

In addition to interfacing with the official app, MiaoMiao can be used with three apps that DeeBee.it has analyzed several times: xDrip+ and Glimp (Android), Spike (Apple).

Purchase of MiaoMiao

You can buy the device online, from the European Union, for a quick delivery, or directly from the manufacturer for a mini price. It is good to clarify one thing: whether you make a purchase across the border or you do it abroad, the MiaoMiao will be perfectly usable.

But DeeBee.it wants to surprise you, giving its readers a $10 coupon, spendable in the official store MiaoMiao.cool and a coupon with 10% discount spendable in the accessories store 3Diabetics.com!

Here is a list, constantly updated, of online stores, with their prices (shipping costs and coupons included) and shipping times (working days), from which you can buy the cat from the East.

Origine Prezzo* Consegna Sito
Italy 220 € R.D. ** Purchase
Spain (EU) 185 € 1-2 gg Purchase
Slovenia (EU) 180 € 3-5 gg Purchase
International 174 € 5-10 gg Purchase

* Indicative prices: Euro/Dollar exchange on the date of publication and our $10 coupon included.
** “Ready to Deliver”: Doesn’t specify how many days. According to the experiences reported by the users in the Italian group MiaoMiao the delivery times are variable.

The stated warranty of all the shops mentioned is that of the manufacturer, ie 1 year, although the minimum duration of the European warranty must be by law at least 24 months (2 years), except for certain special promotions.

Purchase of accessories

In addition to the MiaoMiao, are also available for purchase accessories, ranging from the armband, the shell that doesn’t use glue in case of allergy or redness, to stickers to make Libre the coolest button on the road!

Arm strap for MiaoMiao

There are several bands on the market, the cost of which varies between 20 and 30 €. Some are created with amateur materials, such as ABS and PLA, therefore less durable and that we do not feel like proposing. Still others with professional materials, as nylon, more resistant and not aggressive with the skin.

Bark Bark (use our Coupon)

Elastic band with minimal dimensions and various colors, which allows you to graft MiaoMiao inside by equipping it with loops.
PROS: elastic, also covers the Libre, size, color, material
CONS: size, band monochrome

MiaoMiao Holder

Band in white rubber material, particularly appreciated by those who are looking for a non-rigid solution.
PROS: ductility, also covers the Libre
CONS: generous size (including thickness)

Bark Mini (use our Coupon)

The smallest elastic band on the market. Various colours. Allows you to graft MiaoMiao inside it by equipping it with loops. Useful especially for those who are afraid to lose the MiaoMiao.
PROS: the smallest, colors, material
CONS: does not cover the Libre, necessary adhesive

MiaoMiaoFix

Elastic band in PLA material. Very good the presence of many colors, less good the resistance of this product, which is fragile and has two corners towards the middle of the shell at “risk of entanglement”.
PROS: many colors, colored bands
CONS: fragile, not perfectly smooth surface

Guardian

This band, is located halfway between the Bark Bark and the MiaoMiao Holder.
PRO: ductility of the material used (like MiaoMiao Holder)
CONS: narrow band, which gives a feeling of instability; very “massive” design

Solutions to avoid adhesives and allergies

In addition to the classic band, there are also some shells designed specifically to place MiaoMiao on top of the Libre without the use of glue or stickers. Here they are.

Kiwi (use our Coupon)

Particular nylon shell, widely used among the communities in the industry, has smooth walls and rounded edges. The main feature is to fit on the Libre, without glue or bands, keeping the MiaoMiao in place and protecting it.

Kiwi Slim (use our Coupon)

It uses the same principle as the Kiwi, but leaves the MiaoMiao exposed, allowing you to place the stickers on it, to give a touch of cheerfulness!

Stickers

In addition to the “useful” accessories for MiaoMiao, some shops specializing in accessories related to the aesthetics of the FreeStyle Libre have quickly flourished because, as always, the best solution is the one that can make an accessory more aesthetically pleasing to performers.

Pepmeup

German shop run by a girl with type 1 diabetes. Creates and sells stickers for sensors and readers FreeStyle Libre. The shop’s feminine and well-kept mould does not go unnoticed.

Coupon

By popular demand, here are the coupons that you can use on the sites MiaoMiao.cool and 3Diabetics.com, for the purchase of the following products:

  • MiaoMiao Reader
  • Bark Mini
  • Kiwi
  • Bark Bark
  • Kiwi Slim

TO GET DISCOUNTS
USE THIS COUPON:

DEEBEE.IT

Other shops

Are you looking for stores that sell diabetes accessories? Check out Beezar, the DeeBee bazaar!

Diabete e bambino. Cosa succede quando mangiamo? La vera storia del cibo dalla bocca agli zuccheri, grazie al lavoro di Fata Insulina.

Da Padre a padre, dico grazie all'autore per aver fatto sorridere la mia bambina. Ci ha relagato uno sprazzo di magia

Ho pianto nel vedere la mia bimba felice  di leggere di una bimba come lei
©Riproduzione riservata
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Vuoi parlare con le migliaia di amici che hanno già sperimentato le soluzioni proposte su DeeBee.it? Vuoi fare qualche domanda su un argomento specifico per conoscere le opinioni ed i suggerimenti di chi ci è già passato? Vuoi suggerire tu qualcosa dicendo la tua?
Non devi fare altro che iscriverti nel gruppo Nightscout Italia ed otterrai risposta ad ogni tua domanda! Nel nostro gruppo affrontiamo ogni tematica inerente il diabete (non solo tecnologia ma anche leggi, sport, alimentazione, accettazione, gestione quotidiana, L104, ecc., sia per adulti che per bambini).
Enjoy!

Nightscout over the clouds

This article has been translated with an automatic algorithm. We are looking for volunteers to translate our free services and articles into English. If you are interested, please contact us here: info@deebee.it.

He found a very special way to remember his longest space walk outside the ISS, the International Space Station, the American astronaut Aaron Wallace. Once back on board, during a live link broadcast on the Station’s FB profile, he told that during the hours spent out, the main thought was directed at his seven-year-old son Adam, who had three afflicted with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

This is testified by the photos taken during the seven-hour space walk, during which Adam’s blood sugar levels rose sharply. This represents the record for remote glycemic control in terms of distance. Before returning home, the astronaut plans to do one last extravehicular activity to prepare the station for the berthing of future capsules.

iss

The International Space Station, which is in orbit between 330 km and 435 km above sea level and has been travelling at an average speed of 27 600 km/h, has been inhabited since 2 November 2000. In recent years, crews of different nationalities have alternated on board, consisting of two to six astronauts. It should remain in operation until 2024, the date set for achieving the scientific objectives, before being partially dismantled, destroyed or reused.

Diabete e bambino. Cosa succede quando mangiamo? La vera storia del cibo dalla bocca agli zuccheri, grazie al lavoro di Fata Insulina.

Da Padre a padre, dico grazie all'autore per aver fatto sorridere la mia bambina. Ci ha relagato uno sprazzo di magia

Ho pianto nel vedere la mia bimba felice  di leggere di una bimba come lei
©Riproduzione riservata
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Vuoi parlare con le migliaia di amici che hanno già sperimentato le soluzioni proposte su DeeBee.it? Vuoi fare qualche domanda su un argomento specifico per conoscere le opinioni ed i suggerimenti di chi ci è già passato? Vuoi suggerire tu qualcosa dicendo la tua?
Non devi fare altro che iscriverti nel gruppo Nightscout Italia ed otterrai risposta ad ogni tua domanda! Nel nostro gruppo affrontiamo ogni tematica inerente il diabete (non solo tecnologia ma anche leggi, sport, alimentazione, accettazione, gestione quotidiana, L104, ecc., sia per adulti che per bambini).
Enjoy!

My first two weeks with Miao Miao and his app

This article has been translated with an automatic algorithm. We are looking for volunteers to translate our free services and articles into English. If you are interested, please contact us here: info@deebee.it.

I had the opportunity to have Miao Miao a few weeks ago and realized that in order to use it immediately I would have to learn… Chinese. A language not very close to mine. Being tough in nature, I did not pull back.

I couldn’t wait; I got stuck with impunity and I did! It took a few days before I could use the app with my iPhone. Apart from the language difficulty, which can be overcome as soon as the English version is released, the app is quite complex. But it is also complete and, in addition to the usual options, gives the possibility to exchange information and compare notes with other people who use it.

Day by day, I have understood more and more and my enthusiasm has increased. Within two weeks, I had my blood sugar readings every 5 minutes, there were no problems or disconnections. And that’s not all: blood sugar values were also transferred in parallel to Apple Health.

To my surprise I realized that after two weeks and a few hours of use, the remaining capacity of the battery was 60%!

The second FreeStyle Libre in CGM is being tested with my Samsung S4 mini with xDrip + (special). After 5 days and 4 hours, the battery still shows 80%.

If the communication between xDrip + and Miao Miao remains as good and stable as the original Chinese app, it will be a really wonderful thing! And I would be even happier if Miao Miao were integrated into Glimp!

Bruno Bolli

Diabete e bambino. Cosa succede quando mangiamo? La vera storia del cibo dalla bocca agli zuccheri, grazie al lavoro di Fata Insulina.

Da Padre a padre, dico grazie all'autore per aver fatto sorridere la mia bambina. Ci ha relagato uno sprazzo di magia

Ho pianto nel vedere la mia bimba felice  di leggere di una bimba come lei
©Riproduzione riservata
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Vuoi parlare con le migliaia di amici che hanno già sperimentato le soluzioni proposte su DeeBee.it? Vuoi fare qualche domanda su un argomento specifico per conoscere le opinioni ed i suggerimenti di chi ci è già passato? Vuoi suggerire tu qualcosa dicendo la tua?
Non devi fare altro che iscriverti nel gruppo Nightscout Italia ed otterrai risposta ad ogni tua domanda! Nel nostro gruppo affrontiamo ogni tematica inerente il diabete (non solo tecnologia ma anche leggi, sport, alimentazione, accettazione, gestione quotidiana, L104, ecc., sia per adulti che per bambini).
Enjoy!

Miao Miao: Unboxing and first impressions

Note. This article has been translated automatically. DeeBee.it is a No Profit Association and it’s looking for volunteers and translators. If you’re interested, write us: info@deebee.it Thank you!

As we have anticipated, DeeBee had the privilege of receiving one of the first units of Miao Miao for countries outside China, with limited editions. There are currently two versions of the reader: one Chinese, which is sold with Tomato’s proprietary software (soon in English, but now only in Chinese), the other international and open to third party software – such as GlimpxDrip+ e Spike,, whose fearless programmers are rapidly implementing the appropriate interfaces to communicate with the newcomer.

Want to be always updated on Miao Miao? Join the Miao Miao italian community, dedicated to this reader. It is a closed group, respecting the privacy of each member.

Shipping

Since the manufacturer has shipped the device to us to test it, only 7 working days have passed that, if compared with the biblical times that often takes to arrive the goods from China, is a respectable timing.

Miao Miao arrives in a small anonymous box, whose origin can be guessed only because the recipient’s address shows “Italy” and, next to it, three pictograms (which, presumably, mean “Italy” – but by?-).

Opening the box

Inside the feather-weight box, we find the object of desire: Miao Miao, wrapped in a layer of pluriball that prevents any possible impact. The first impression is one of extreme attention to detail: every view you look at always looks just where it should be.

Opening the package

One thing is more impressive than the others: the opening of the package. Yes, because the eyes are hidden by a reader who doesn’t believe in it until one has it in front of them: it is incredibly small, small and thin. It looks almost like a Libre! My first thought was, Miao Miao, you are embarrassing! Good fun, of course: I like it so much that every reader I’ve tried before gets pale!

Content

In addition to Miao Miao, we also find the Miao Miao charging cable which, we remind you, has a declared duration of 14+ days. In addition, the Chinese language manual of the dedicated app peeps out, but it only contains the main indications on how the app works (it has many functions, which we’ll discover gradually) and nothing else.

Final considerations

My own heart surprised me, let us say. Small and light. So light, that I wanted to weigh it with the precise Lidl scale.

To give you an idea of the size of Miao Miao, I took a couple of photos that depict, in order (starting from the left): the tank of the Omnipod pump, the transmitter of Eversense, the reader Miao Miao and the sensor Dexcom G5 with its base (or G4 first edition, which has the same size as the G5) .

Now all that remains is to recharge it.
And expect another chapter…

Fabrizio Casellato

Diabete e bambino. Cosa succede quando mangiamo? La vera storia del cibo dalla bocca agli zuccheri, grazie al lavoro di Fata Insulina.

Da Padre a padre, dico grazie all'autore per aver fatto sorridere la mia bambina. Ci ha relagato uno sprazzo di magia

Ho pianto nel vedere la mia bimba felice  di leggere di una bimba come lei
©Riproduzione riservata
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Vuoi parlare con le migliaia di amici che hanno già sperimentato le soluzioni proposte su DeeBee.it? Vuoi fare qualche domanda su un argomento specifico per conoscere le opinioni ed i suggerimenti di chi ci è già passato? Vuoi suggerire tu qualcosa dicendo la tua?
Non devi fare altro che iscriverti nel gruppo Nightscout Italia ed otterrai risposta ad ogni tua domanda! Nel nostro gruppo affrontiamo ogni tematica inerente il diabete (non solo tecnologia ma anche leggi, sport, alimentazione, accettazione, gestione quotidiana, L104, ecc., sia per adulti che per bambini).
Enjoy!

Spike, the App you should try!

Recently a new wind is blowing in the diabetes’ apps panorama. This time it comes from Portugal. The creator is Miguel Kennedy. We met him in order to introduce him to you:

Thank you very much for giving me this interview. I am very curious to know something about you. Can you tell us for example what kind of studies you have done and where your passion for information technology comes from?

My pleasure! Thank you for having me!

I’ve always liked science (mathematics, physics, chemistry, etc.) since I was little. I got my first computer when I was 16 and since then I felt in love for code. When I was 18 I studied Computer Science and Engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon, then worked as a computer programmer for a few years and also as a teacher. Later in life I switched careers and got into nutrition and sports. I missed my programming days so I decided do create Spike as a comeback. Being able to contribute to the diabetic community and impact people’s lives in a positive way fills me with joy and happiness.

Is there a particular reason that brought you to adopt technology to manage diabetes disease?

It came very natural to me. I’ve always used technology for everything I do in life. Adopting a more technological approach to diabetes management was the only logical step for me. I was diagnosed only 2 years ago so I already had a broad technological background to apply to my management.

How was the now very popular app ‘Spike’ born? This app is a big success and is beloved by many people!

The response has been overwhelming and unexpected. Spike is still a baby project that was released to the public only 3 weeks ago. More than 2000 people in 72 countries already use it.

Spike was born thanks to Johan Degraeve. Johan started a project called iOSxDripReader one and half years ago. He did an amazing job porting some core xDrip features to iOS. Around 6 months ago I joined Johan and started contributing to iOSxDripReader development. At that time, I also started developing a new UI for the app. While I worked on the UI I started changing a lot of iOSxDripReader’s code and adding new features. As time went by I decided to release it as a different app, with a different name and set of features and more targeted to the general public.

After Spike was released I invited Johan to join me and help me develop it even further. I’m very grateful to have him as my partner in Spike. His talent and generosity towards the diabetic community are an essential part of Spike’s success.

Which is the difference between Spike and other similar apps?

Spike is an app developed with the #WeAreNotWaiting mindset. It’s made by diabetics for diabetics. Highly integrated with the open source diabetic community, apps and services. Spike is not a medical app and that gives us more freedom to develop features that are yet no available to the general public. There are too many features in Spike to list so I invite everyone to visit spike-app.com to learn more about the app and request an invite to try it for themselves.

How long have you been working on this project? My impression is that you are now operating 24 hours a day, aren’t you?

Spike has been in development for about 5-6 intense months. It might not seem much but that’s because it was built from iOSxDripReader. So I would say that total development time to make Spike a reality is around 2 years.

I do have a day job but I’m fortunate to manage my own business. I was able to take some time from my regular job to focus on Spike in its first month of release so I could make it as stable as possible and give support to new users. Now that Spike is used by a lot of people, most users are able to support each other which gives me and Johan more time to focus on development.

How many people are working with you?

Right now Spike is developed by Johan Degraeve and I.

Can you tell me something about the cooperation with the x-drip team? I am asking because I was hoping that it could happen one day, even if it seemed almost ‘science fiction’. But it occurred and in a full spirit of cooperation and solidarity.

xDrip is a big part of Spike. The algorithm that Spike uses to calibrate blood glucose readings and connect to different brands of transmitters was initially developed by the xDrip team and later ported to iOS by Johan. We are all friends and talk to each other on a regular basis. That allows us to share information and discuss strategies on how to bring more advanced features to the public. There’s a great spirit of cooperation between developers in the diabetic community. Everyone is always available to help when needed. Our cooperation is focused on finding solutions for common development problems, but each team is responsible for developing its own set of features for its own app.

Will it be possible to synchronize all data (database, settings, glucose levels) with a personal Cloud? So that, if you lose the mobile phone, you can keep using the app logging in with user name and password without having to wait two hours for the calibration and without losing chronology.

Yes! We are currently working on this feature (and many others!). It’s quite a challenge to develop such a feature, especially since we want people to be able to sync settings and data between Spike and xDrip, but development has already began and we are confident that soon we will be able to bring it to our users.

Are you thinking about creating an Android version that should not be a competitor of x-drip but a follow up of your project? In this way it could be possible to change from Android to Apple technology and without being obliged to change app or abandon Spike world. In other words it could be a kind of retention tool for the two operating systems.

No, it’s not planned. The Android community already has a great app, xDrip. Spike will only be available on the iOS platform but since we are trying to achieve data synchronization between Spike and xDrip, users can switch easily from iOS to Android and vice-versa. This seems to be a better approach for our vision. It will allow users to have all the benefits and each development team can focus on it’s own platform.

 

DeeBee created a portal that exports (with CGM or not) the glucose data from FreeStyle Libre everywhere (to smartphones Android and iOS, PC, Tablet, etc.) without complicated procedures. According to our experience we could see that people are often scared of too much technology. Are you thinking about a project in this sense?

No the same features, no… Spike currently allows users to follow other users if the master uploads data to a Nightscout site and the follower gets data from that same Nightscout site. Spike can also connect to another Spike directly, without Nightscout or an Internet connection, as long as both Spikes are on the same Wi-Fi network. We are planning a new follower mode that will allow Spike followers to follow Spike masters directly (Spike to Spike), without a Nightscout site, even if both users are not connected to the same Wi-Fi network. We are currently researching and testing solutions to make this a reality.

You declared that Spike will always be open source and this honors you. What kind of feedback did you receive from the community of persons with diabetes and parents of children with diabetes?

The feedback has been amazing. I get a lot of emails and messages everyday from users telling me that Spike has been of great help managing their diabetes and a lot of feedback from parents that use Spike on their child’s phones and follow their glucose values on the parent’s phones using Spike follower mode. It’s very rewarding knowing that Spike is impacting people’s lives in such a positive way. It makes it all worth it. Spike is free and will always be free and open source. It was born with the purpose of contributing to the diabetic community and reaching as much people as possible.

Could it be possible you to visit Italy, schedule permitting, and do a speech during a DeeBee meeting? I am waiting for you!

Of course :) That’s something that can be arranged… As long as you allow me to speak in English, Spanish or Portuguese. My Italian is horrible! :)

Thank you for having me. It’s an honor to be on DeeBee Italia.

Diabete e bambino. Cosa succede quando mangiamo? La vera storia del cibo dalla bocca agli zuccheri, grazie al lavoro di Fata Insulina.

Da Padre a padre, dico grazie all'autore per aver fatto sorridere la mia bambina. Ci ha relagato uno sprazzo di magia

Ho pianto nel vedere la mia bimba felice  di leggere di una bimba come lei
©Riproduzione riservata
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Vuoi parlare con le migliaia di amici che hanno già sperimentato le soluzioni proposte su DeeBee.it? Vuoi fare qualche domanda su un argomento specifico per conoscere le opinioni ed i suggerimenti di chi ci è già passato? Vuoi suggerire tu qualcosa dicendo la tua?
Non devi fare altro che iscriverti nel gruppo Nightscout Italia ed otterrai risposta ad ogni tua domanda! Nel nostro gruppo affrontiamo ogni tematica inerente il diabete (non solo tecnologia ma anche leggi, sport, alimentazione, accettazione, gestione quotidiana, L104, ecc., sia per adulti che per bambini).
Enjoy!

Miao Miao: a promising reader for FreeStyle Libre in CGM

A new star shines in the sky of diabetes control devices.

Note. This article has been translated automatically. DeeBee.it is a No Profit Association and it’s looking for volunteers and translators. If you’re interested, write us: info@deebee.it
Thank you!

Close your eyes and think of a white cat. But only by name, because the product that we illustrate to you today is not in any way all sleep and melted, on the contrary.

We mentioned it briefly in our previous article, but now we see more closely this new solution to make Libre a sensor with continuous readings, alarms in case of hyper and hypoglycemia and remote vision. It comes from China and is a further evolution of BluCon, the Californian device that has made so much talk of itself.

Dimensions and weight

The challenge on the scale is all in favour of the newcomer: only 8 grams (0.018 Ib), against the 11 of BluCon (0.024 Ib) battery included.

Unlike other solutions, Miao Miao Miao does not stand on Libre, but simply sits on its side. And this choice allows a much smaller thickness but, above all, leaves the sensor free, without risking detachment or movements that can compromise the readings.

If the BluCon alone has a thickness of 0.39″ (to which you add almost 0.12″ of Libre), Miao Miao Miao measures almost half the size: only 0.30″. The new entry device, although less cumbersome than BluCon, is slightly longer: 1.50″ compared to 1.42″.

Hypermeability

Another advantage of the new born is the water resistance, with an IP67 class. This allows short dives and the possibility of glycemic monitoring even in the case of showers.

Battery

Unlike BluCon, Miao Miao, unlike BluCon, does not need to replace the batteries but requires charging by means of a special magnetic connector: the wallet thanks you. In addition, a skilful design and the use of Bluetooth protocol 4.0, give the device up to 14 days of autonomy that is equivalent to the duration of the Libre.

How to Order Miao Miao

My Miao Miao is orderable here at a cost of 595 yuan, which at today’s rate correspond to about 80 euros but, at present, the site is only available to Chinese users. In case you are an early adopter interested in buying, you could get help with the Google machine translation service (in the official page, however, only Chinese provinces are served). For the time being, the few units issued in Europe – including the one intended for our editorial staff – have been sent by the manufacturer for testing.  Shortly – the company tells us – Miao Miao Miao will also be able to order from Europe.

App

At the time we write, the official app of Miao Miao Miao has already been published, but currently only in Chinese language (the name could be Tomato, if a literal translation is made at the time of international release). In addition, both the “Apple team” of Spike and Android of xDrip are developing the interface to Miao Miao, as you can see also from this first print screen, taken from a device testing the green robot.

Conclusion

If in past years Nightscout has undeniably had the lion’s share of the innovation in unofficial diabetes, in this last year we are witnessing further significant steps forward and, in this panorama, we have the impression that Miao Miao will become a very bright star. Although it is really too early to reach objective conclusions, this Libre reader leaves us with a very good impression. The perceived build quality and the strong team behind the new project make us breathe a more professional air than the rivals. Will it be a true and lasting feeling? The next few weeks and the reactions of early testers including DeeBee. it, as well as the reactions of the first buyers, will give us further answers.

We would like to thank the young Kamil Armacki, a student at Manchester Metropolitan University Business School and followed by youtuber on his Diabetic Energetic channel for support and friendship. Thank you Kamil!

Diabete e bambino. Cosa succede quando mangiamo? La vera storia del cibo dalla bocca agli zuccheri, grazie al lavoro di Fata Insulina.

Da Padre a padre, dico grazie all'autore per aver fatto sorridere la mia bambina. Ci ha relagato uno sprazzo di magia

Ho pianto nel vedere la mia bimba felice  di leggere di una bimba come lei
©Riproduzione riservata
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Vuoi parlare con le migliaia di amici che hanno già sperimentato le soluzioni proposte su DeeBee.it? Vuoi fare qualche domanda su un argomento specifico per conoscere le opinioni ed i suggerimenti di chi ci è già passato? Vuoi suggerire tu qualcosa dicendo la tua?
Non devi fare altro che iscriverti nel gruppo Nightscout Italia ed otterrai risposta ad ogni tua domanda! Nel nostro gruppo affrontiamo ogni tematica inerente il diabete (non solo tecnologia ma anche leggi, sport, alimentazione, accettazione, gestione quotidiana, L104, ecc., sia per adulti che per bambini).
Enjoy!

Glimp for Web. From today also shared statistics with diabetes therapist and much more

This article has been translated with an automatic algorithm. We are looking for volunteers to translate our free services and articles into English. If you are interested, please contact us here: info@deebee.it.

Only two weeks have passed since our readers started using Glimp for Web, the latest project by DeeBee. it, the result of careful programming work that allows us to see the FreeStyle Libre sensor’s remote blood glucose in a completely new and extremely easy way. No complicated procedures, but a simple DropBox account and sensor values will be visible from any device.

The many suggestions and the great interest (more than 5000 accesses already made on the portal) have given a new boost to our accelerator. We have added new options and services, useful for both management and data sharing. Obviously, as always, the services are free and extremely simplified, in full DeeBee spirit.

Let’s see in detail what’s new!

Stats

A new button appears in the portal: statistics button. By pressing it, you access the dashboard that provides information about the patient’s blood sugar history.

Summary

The first information is shown on the summary table, which shows the most significant values: average blood glucose, median, percentages that indicate how long we have been in hypoglycemia and hyperglycaemia, standard deviation, and the inevitable glycemia estimated. All this, divided into three columns representing the short, medium and long term.

Distribution

The percentages that, remember, give us a relative representation of the period spent in the target, are then reported visually, through three cakes concerning the last week, the last month and the last quarter.

Percentages

Very useful for correcting both the basal bands (for microinfusions) and the boluses, they follow the three graphs that report the five significant percentiles: the band between 10° and 90° in light colour, the band between 25° and 75° darker and, finally, the demarcation line of the 50th percentile of blue colour. The closer and narrower the bands are, the more homogeneous the blood sugar management is with varying days; the more bands converge towards the blood sugar target, the better the management.

Sharing with diabetes therapist

With the new service, it is possible to share these statistics with your diabetologist: simply provide him with the user and password of his Glimp system (which is based on DropBox, of which we suggest the creation of an ad hoc user). In this case, the statistics will also be available to the doctor at the following address:

www.deebee.it/glimp?mode=stats

Variable range

If your therapy has different ranges, simply access the portal settings and change the hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia thresholds.

International unit of measurement

Given the increasing diffusion of DeeBee. it and Glimp, a final pleasant surprise concerns users from countries where blood glucose values expressed in milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL) are not used, as we do. Also among the settings, it is now possible to change the units of blood glucose measurement in millimoles per litre (mmol/L) which, let’s remember, is the one adopted by the International System and, as such, represents the reference standard worldwide. If mmol/L is selected, the statistics will also be redrawn in the new unit.

Future developments: translation (and the search for translators)

What will the future hold for us? Surely, the ability to view the portal of Glimp for Web also in other languages. We take advantage of this to remind you that on Deebee. it it is already possible to choose the language of view of our articles. To do this, simply choose the language from the side menu “drop-down” in the upper left corner. If you are reading from your smartphone, you can find the “curtain” scrolling towards the bottom.

Are you interested in joining us, helping us in translations? DeeBee. it is constantly looking for volunteers of any nationality who translate articles into their native language.

Please write to us at: info@deebee.it

#inaltoinostrismartwatch

Diabete e bambino. Cosa succede quando mangiamo? La vera storia del cibo dalla bocca agli zuccheri, grazie al lavoro di Fata Insulina.

Da Padre a padre, dico grazie all'autore per aver fatto sorridere la mia bambina. Ci ha relagato uno sprazzo di magia

Ho pianto nel vedere la mia bimba felice  di leggere di una bimba come lei
©Riproduzione riservata
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Vuoi parlare con le migliaia di amici che hanno già sperimentato le soluzioni proposte su DeeBee.it? Vuoi fare qualche domanda su un argomento specifico per conoscere le opinioni ed i suggerimenti di chi ci è già passato? Vuoi suggerire tu qualcosa dicendo la tua?
Non devi fare altro che iscriverti nel gruppo Nightscout Italia ed otterrai risposta ad ogni tua domanda! Nel nostro gruppo affrontiamo ogni tematica inerente il diabete (non solo tecnologia ma anche leggi, sport, alimentazione, accettazione, gestione quotidiana, L104, ecc., sia per adulti che per bambini).
Enjoy!