iPump, Inc.

Archive for the ‘Video Clips’ Category

This is iPump’s first video. Since it is our first, I wanted to start with where the idea for iPump came – from a 5-year-old with type 1 diabetes, named Elizabeth Rose.
Look soon for more videos about iPump, what we do, and how you can help!

Alyssa, diagnosed at age 3, was iPump's first client. See how she is doing today (click image for video) and help her raise money for her next "cure" walk

Little Alyssa, a child with a sunny smile and fiery spirit, was only three years old when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.  She was iPump’s first client, so tiny, so newly diagnosed.  Her mother, Cindi a busy mom of three, had no time to feel sorry for herself.  She has spent the past (almost) three years since Alyssa’s diagnosing rallying to raise critical funds for a cure for diabetes.

Here is a video Cindi just sent to us to show us how Alyssa is doing – and what their family is currently doing to raise funds for a cure.  Please have a hankie nearby when you view the video.  It is one of “those” heartwarming, heartbreaking” stories of a beautiful little girl full of life.

Thank you, Cindi (and family), for taking the time to share this video with us!

Video: All 4 Alyssa

Children who take shots to manage their diabetes must eat, exercise, and sleep, according to their shot schedule.  They live a very regimented life, painful life of multiple injects every day. For kids who take shots, their lifestyle must be adapted to insulin injections.

But children who can use an insulin pump (or an OmniPod) can get more of their “old”  life back.  They can eat, play, and sleep more spontaneously. They no longer have to take a small cooler for insulin pens or vials.  They can give themselves insulin discretely in public places helping them to feel more like other children and making it easier to go to movies, camps, school, and restaurants.

But there are a few drawbacks: they must wear a medical device 24/7 with a needle inserted into their bodies. Bath time (and pool time) often has to be centralized around cannula site changes. And kids must still count their carbs and take insulin to live.

Still, for children like Caleb, an OmniPod is much better than shots!

In addition to kids who want pumps, iPump has helped two children who wanted an OmniPod instead of a pump (maybe because Nick Jonas wears one!)

Your cash donations can help us get more kids off shots …. and on with life!

How far have we come since 1986?  View this interesting newstory (complete with 80’s hair and fashion) about the first implantable insulin pump.

Courtesy of tuDiabetes.com

Find more videos like this on TuDiabetes – A Community for People Touched by Diabetes

(or How NOT to be The Grinch)

In this podcast, we talk about two options to deal with your excess supplies of insulin that is still good to use, so that it doesn’t get wasted.

1) iPump.org: This is a nonprofit whose mission is to provide critical, temporary financial assistance and free supplies to diabetics in need of all ages throughout the United States. They accomplish this through donations from those of use who may have spare supplies sitting around.

(In the interest of full disclosure, I am a member of the board of iPump.org since May 2008.)

2) Insulin For Life: they collect excess unused insulin vials that can still be used and distribute them throughout developing countries in coordination with local centers and International Diabetes Federation’s “Life For a Child” program.

This page lists their collection centers where you can mail your insulin. Also, for members living outside the US, this another place you can send your excess supplies (specially strips).