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2010 Year in Review

Happy New Year! With all twelve months of 2010 behind us and the exciting potential of 2011 ahead, our dLife Viewpoints and Expert columnists and Blogabetes bloggers have offered up their thoughts on and memories of 2010.

"The biggest news story for me—and unfortunately many other families throughout the world—is that insulin is truly not a cure. The unfathomable became fathomable as this strong diabetes community stood by watching helplessly as others were losing their children to this disease. It was the first time I can ever remember watching a community grieve the loss of children to diabetes and having to come to terms with the fact that children can actually die from this disease despite our best efforts and care. Those families—my family—remain hopeful and continue to work towards a cure for those still battling this hideous disease. My year in review is to remember those we've lost and to remember their beautiful faces. Godspeed, Jesse. We love you."

- Viewpoints Columnist Michelle Alswager, That's My Point

"For our family, the biggest advancement of 2010 is a reliable glucose monitor. Our son has wanted to use one prior to this, but we have always been told they are not reliable enough to make it worth using. He is using the Dexcom and it has been helpful in reminding him that he forgot to bolus before he gets super-high, or if he is playing sports, it tells him when he is beginning to drop before he goes very low. Like anything, it is not perfect and he does get frustrated sometimes using it. But it offers him some warning about going very high or very low that he did not have before."

- Viewpoints Columnist Karen Hargrave-Nykaza, A New Normal

"2010 was the year the Diabetes Online Community, and people beyond it, came together to impact the lives of nearly 2,000 children with diabetes in need. By watching the Big Blue Test video more than 100,000 times (why not watch it again?), viewers made it possible for a generous $75,000 donation from Roche to happen (they donated 75 cents per view). These funds will support the work of the Life For a Child program run by the International Diabetes Federation and Insulin For Life, two humanitarian programs focused on diabetes. Also, on World Diabetes Day, thousands joined the Big Blue Test worldwide. By testing their blood sugar before and after 14 minutes of exercise, people saw first-hand, once more, the impact of physical activity on diabetes in the form of a median drop of 14% in BG levels. We, the people with diabetes, have the power and we used it! We did it!"

- Viewpoints Columnist Manny Hernandez, Hola Diabetes

"I think the biggest moment of 2010 was, by far, the success of the Big Blue Test. This project was put together by a small group of diabetes advocates, all active in diabetes advocacy, and was sponsored by Roche Diabetes Care. The success of that project brought a $75,000 contribution to two charity organizations that provide insulin to those in need. We, the diabetes online community, found a way to provide life-saving help to many people in need. I'm proud of us!

- Viewpoints Columnist Scott Johnson, Which Way is Down