No Batteries Required

photo by deanj

Why are we so drawn to every technological fix? I’m no exception. I’ve been fascinated with gadgets my whole life. These days, I’m the new cliché with smartphone always in hand. I feel a little panicky if I leave it behind.

It’s getting hard to step back and try to see the difference between short-term convenience and something that actually improves our lives. The technology around insulin delivery is a good example. There’s much excitement among insulin users about advancements in pumps and continuous glucose monitors. Everyone presses closer and peers longingly at these nifty inventions. “How wonderful to just wear this device on my belt to always display my blood sugar level and beep in such a caring manner when it’s low! And Ooh, now it can wirelessly communicate with the pump unit strapped to whichever is the least irritated site on my body? Oh joy. And did you see the ad for the special case that keeps insulin vials climate controlled so they won’t freeze or get too hot?”

It’s all amazing. And the companies that sell this stuff swear it’ll improve your lives. They’ve paid for the research to prove it.

Of course, this is all assuming you need to be using insulin in the first place. Nobody, except the rare heretic like me, suggests backing up to a spot prior to that assumption. Insulin doesn’t address what causes diabetes. The guy that figured insulin out 100 years ago was obviously smart, but surely we can do better now. We should not be asking whether a pump is better than a needle. We should be looking at the growing evidence for a diet-based solution. Even for Type 1’s.

But alas, there’s no gadget for breaking your food addictions and reducing your stress. At least for me, it was just old-fashioned discipline, consistency, and a willingness to look beyond the diabetes establishment gospel that allowed me to nurse my still-functioning pancreas back to a state where I’m maintaining A1c levels well under 6.0 with no lows, no complications, and no lifestyle compromise. I check my blood sugar once a day. I’d check even less if I didn’t want to keep a good data record to help tell this story. But the point is, instead of wearing various battery powered devices and carrying around insulin and glucose tablets and constant worry, I only travel with knowledge and strength. Wherever I am I know what I can eat and how to stay cool. I use consistent strength and willpower to stick to it. No batteries required.