contact us

Use the form on the right to contact us.

You can edit the text in this area, and change where the contact form on the right submits to, by entering edit mode using the modes on the bottom right.​

         

123 Street Avenue, City Town, 99999

(123) 555-6789

email@address.com

 

You can set your address, phone number, email and site description in the settings tab.
Link to read me page with more information.

ardenHEADERnew.png

Arden's Day Blog

Arden's Day is a type I diabetes care giver blog written by author Scott Benner. Scott has been a stay-at-home dad since 2000, he is the author of the award winning parenting memoir, 'Life Is Short, Laundry Is Eternal'. Arden's Day is an honest and transparent look at life with diabetes - since 2007.

type I diabetes, parent of type I child, diabetes Blog, OmniPod, DexCom, insulin pump, CGM, continuous glucose monitor, Arden, Arden's Day, Scott Benner, JDRF, diabetes, juvenile diabetes, daddy blog, blog, stay at home parent, DOC, twitter, Facebook, @ardensday, 504 plan, Life Is Short, Laundry Is Eternal, Dexcom SHARE, 生命是短暂的,洗衣是永恒的, Shēngmìng shì duǎnzàn de, xǐyī shì yǒnghéng de

Fitbit and Dexcom!

Scott Benner

Fitbit and Dexcom to Develop Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Experience for People Living with Diabetes

press release

SAN FRANCISCO & SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fitbit (NYSE:FIT), the leading global wearables brand, and DexCom, Inc. (NASDAQ:DXCM), the leader in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for people with diabetes, today announced a collaboration to develop and market products to help people better manage their diabetes and get a more complete picture of their overall health with easy-to-use mobile tools.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170907005577/en/

The first planned initiative is to bring Dexcom CGM data to Fitbit's new smartwatch, Fitbit Ionic. Through this experience, Dexcom CGM users on either Android or iOS devices would be able to see both activity and glucose levels, right on their wrist.

"The strength of our brand and our ability to track critical health metrics continuously for up to 4+ days1, coupled with Dexcom's market leadership in CGM, present a powerful combination that we hope will help millions of people better manage their diabetes," said James Park, CEO of Fitbit. "With Ionic, we are focused on driving positive health outcomes and more health focused tools, and this collaboration is a wonderful example of how we plan to bring that vision to our users."

Dexcom CGM Display on Fitbit Ionic will provide data for those living with diabetes

The World Health Organization estimates2 that more than 400 million people around the world are living with diabetes. For those individuals being able to see both physical activity and glucose can be a vital tool for effectively managing their diabetes.

"The collaboration between Dexcom and Fitbit is an important step in providing useful information to people with diabetes that is both convenient and discreet," said Kevin Sayer, President and CEO, Dexcom. "We believe that providing Dexcom CGM data on Fitbit Ionic, and making that experience available to users of both Android and iOS devices, will have a positive impact on the way people manage their diabetes."

A health and fitness first platform, Ionic offers a highly personalized experience not previously seen in other smartwatches. Ionic features a relative SpO2 sensor, industry-leading GPS tracking, on-device dynamic workouts, improved heart rate tracking, and water resistance up to 50 meters. Plus, smart features like contactless payments, on-board music, smart notifications, and a variety of popular apps and clock faces available in the Fitbit App Gallery. Ionic also has all the core features from Fitbit like 4+ day battery life, automatic activity and sleep tracking, and cross-platform compatibility.

In addition to the Dexcom CGM display for Fitbit Ionic, with Fitbit's in-app Community, Dexcom CGM users will now be able to connect with millions of people, where they can ask questions, seek support and share successes in managing their health.

The companies are targeting availability as soon as possible in 2018 and will continue to explore opportunities to work together to develop tools and resources aimed at helping people better manage their diabetes.


Dexcom is a sponsor of the Juicebox Podcast. You can use this link to find out more about our favorite continuous glucose monitoring system. 

Make your own solar eclipse viewer from a Dexcom box

Scott Benner

Dexcom Eclipse Viewer

We wanted to see the eclipse but couldn't find those paper glasses and a proper filter for my camera was nearly $250! I definitely want to check out the NASA website and watch like an astronaut but we also want to go outside and experience the magic first-hand. So we made our own viewer from a Dexcom box and you can too. All you'll need is a pair of scissors, aluminum foil, some clear tape and a box.

I followed the instruction in this NASA video because if they don't know, who does?

You don't necessarily need fancy equipment to watch one of the sky's most awesome shows: a solar eclipse. With just a few simple supplies, you can make a pinhole camera that allows you to view the event safely and easily.

Finished viewer. I already tried it and it works great. The only thing left to do is hope for clear skies. Good luck!

Please remember that it is almost NEVER safe to look directly at the sun, even today. Unless you are somewhere that will experience a total eclipse and then you can only look while the sun is completely blocked by the moon. Everything you need to know about that can be found here. CNN story. When in doubt always choose to not fry your eyes, they don't regenerate like your skin does when sunburned. 

Shameless plug: You'll be outside for a while... might as well bring the Juicebox Podcast with you to help pass the time. You can listen online (below) or with your Apple device or Android phone.


Dexcom G5 CGM System is now covered under Medicare

Scott Benner

From Dexcom.com - July 14, 2017

Important information regarding the recent Medicare announcement

Dexcom has begun to distribute Dexcom G5 CGM System supplies directly to eligible Medicare beneficiaries. We have contracted with Ascensia to provide the Contour® Next One blood glucose meter in the bundle of products covered by Medicare. Today, we are not licensed to service all 50 states, so we will also be using Medicare distributors to support us.

What does this ruling mean? Who is covered? 
The ruling means Medicare patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes on intensive insulin therapy who meet the following criteria may now be able to obtain reimbursement:

  • The beneficiary requires a therapeutic CGM. The beneficiary has diabetes mellitus; and,
  • The beneficiary has been using a home blood glucose monitor (BGM) and performing frequent (four or more times a day) BGM testing; and,
  • The beneficiary is insulin-treated with 3 or more daily injections (MDI) of insulin or a continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) pump; and,
  • The beneficiary's insulin treatment regimen requires frequent adjustments by the beneficiary on the basis of therapeutic CGM testing results.
  • Within six (6) months prior to ordering the CGM, the beneficiary had an in-person visit with the treating practitioner to evaluate their diabetes control and determine that the above criteria are met; and,

Every six (6) months following the initial prescription of the CGM, the beneficiary has an in-person visit with the treating practitioner to assess adherence to their CGM regimen and diabetes treatment plan.

Note: With the initial Medicare coverage ruling, there is a requirement that patients only use the Dexcom G5 Receiver to view their glucose data and not a smart phone or other device. We realize that many patients want to use their smart phone to view their glucose data and we are continuing to work with CMS regarding this decision. For now, exclusive use of the G5 receiver is the requirement for Medicare reimbursement. Dexcom has no ability to override this decision, therefore, we must advise our customers not to use the app with the Medicare product. If a patient feels it is critical to have the ability to use the app, a non-Medicare reimbursed Dexcom system is available for purchase with a prescription. 

Get started with Dexcom today


The Medicare coverage decision for Dexcom G5 is a victory for patient access, and we hope, a first step in getting access to the entire Dexcom G5 set of capabilities. Beneficiaries should reach out to 1-800-MEDICARE with any questions about the Medicare requirements for Dexcom CGM.

Are other CGM products covered as well? 
The ruling specifically states that only CGM products labeled as a replacement of fingerstick blood glucose testing for diabetes treatment decisions by the FDA and referred to in the ruling as “therapeutic CGM” will be covered. Thus, Dexcom G5 CGM System is the only therapeutic CGM on the market set to be covered by Medicare at this time.

How do I get my Dexcom G5 CGM System? 
New patients should contact Dexcom by visiting Dexcom.com/medicare and submitting a Dexcom G5 CGM interest form. Priority will be given to existing Dexcom CGM patients followed by new patients in the order they were originally received. As our sales representatives work through the queue, patients can expect to hear from Dexcom or an authorized Dexcom distributor about getting started. This will be a slow process but we will ramp as quickly as we can. 

Who will send me my Dexcom G5 CGM System? 
We are happy to announce that Dexcom will begin to distribute Dexcom G5 CGM System supplies directly to eligible Medicare beneficiaries within the next few weeks. We have contracted with Ascensia to provide the Contour® Next One blood glucose meter in the bundle of products covered by Medicare. Today, we are not licensed to service all 50 states, so we will also be using Medicare distributors to support us.  

How much can I expect to pay for my Dexcom G5 CGM System? 
Patients who are covered by Medicare can expect to cover 20% of the costs, although this additional amount may be covered by secondary insurance. Medicare will cover the remaining 80%.

I am using a Dexcom G4 PLATINUM CGM. How will this affect me? 
The ruling specifically states that only CGM products approved by the FDA as a replacement of fingerstick blood glucose testing for diabetes treatment decisions would be covered, so the Dexcom G4 PLATINUM will not apply. Currently, only the Dexcom G5 CGM System meets this criteria and would be eligible for Medicare coverage. Patients using Dexcom G4 PLATINUM may want to talk to their physicians or Dexcom to see if they would be eligible for Dexcom G5 CGM System.

I still have questions. Who can I contact? 
Please call Dexcom Customer Service at 888-738-3646 for additional information.


Brenda Menjivar Guardado

Scott Benner

Please listen, share and call

Brenda Menjivar Guardado is a 21 year living with type 1 diabetes. She fled El Salvador and sought asylum in the U.S. but her insulin is being mismanaged by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Fearing for her life Brenda asked to be deported. She is currently in the system, now in Laredo Texas, and no one can be sure that she is receiving proper care.

Nasal Glucagon Study in Phase 3

Scott Benner

from Medscape, Marlene Busko

SAN DIEGO — Giving one puff of a dry glucagon powder inside the nose of an adult with type 1 diabetes who was having a moderate to severe hypoglycemic episode was easy for a caregiver to do and led to recovery within 30 minutes in almost all patients in a phase 3 study.

Specifically, the treated patients recovered from hypoglycemia within a half hour in 96% of cases, and 90% of the caregivers (typically a spouse) found the product easy to use, Elizabeth R Seaquist, MD, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, reported at the recent American Diabetes Association (ADA) 2017 Scientific Sessions.

It is premature to comment on when the product will be available in the US,” he cautioned, but if the NDA is approved, “we are excited to bring this product to market as quickly as possible.

"We conclude that this 3-mg dose of nasal glucagon in a needle-free, user-friendly package provides a potential alternative to currently available injectable recombinant glucagon," she said.

"It really does look like [this investigational product] could be a good alternative to [intramuscular injectable] glucagon for treating severe hypoglycemia away from a hospital setting," she reiterated to Medscape Medical News.

Read the entire report here