D-Blog Week – topic 4 – Fantasy Diabetes Device!

Today let’s tackle an idea inspired by Bennet of Your Diabetes May Vary.  Tell us what your Fantasy Diabetes Device would be?  Think of your dream blood glucose checker, delivery system for insulin or other meds, magic carb counter, etc etc etc.  The sky is the limit – what would you love to see?

I have not thought about this before. I am not sure why.

Perhaps I have merrily gone about my 33 years of life with diabetes without wondering about devices, rather accepting what there is and getting on with using it. I know when I got type 1 and had to test my urine I felt like a leper. I know when the doctor said I now had to do blood glucose testing I rebelled, no I quite clearly stated, “I AM NOT DOING THAT”. But I did.

I know I was intrigued and quite pleased when moving from a needle which required attaching to the syringe, to an all in one syringe and finally, a pen for my injections. I know I have rejoiced each time blood glucose checking got easier, smaller, faster. And I know I worried, stressed and feared starting on a Insulin Pump but 11 years down the track would never go back. I also know that living life reliant on devices, on batteries and things that can break down or require refilling at the most inopportune moments is a life filled with stress.

But thinking about a fantasy device? I am not sure I have ever done that.

So for today’s topic, the first thing that came to mind was that I would like to say that my fantasy diabetes device would have to be quite simply a working pancreas. That is all. Is that too much to ask for? A pancreas that knows exactly when and how much insulin to release? A pancreas that does not involve wearing a device clipped to me 24/7 and cannula and line changes every 3 days? A pancreas that does not BEEP all the time, that does not require me to prick my fingers 15 – 20 times a day to tell it what to do, that does not require priming, that does not require me to take a 10 kilo handbag everywhere with spare pump supplies and needles “just in case” and that does not feel incredibly uncomfortable when I roll on it during the night?

Or how about a pancreas that does not get it wrong, that does not over or under shoot, that does not make me swing from trembling sweaty low, to desert mouthed, foggy brained high.

In short a pancreas that WORKS.

This is not a whinge. I live a full, happy and fruitful life despite diabetes and I am mostly positive. I am certainly very grateful for all the new developments in technology that enable me to live this life.

But a working pancreas – now that would be something to see in my lifetime.

And at the moment – that would also be a fantasy.