SpareARose

The Box of Expired Lantus in My Fridge

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I have this box of Lantus that’s just sitting in my fridge at home. It hasn’t been opened. I’m unlikely to open it anytime soon, now that I use an insulin pump. I don’t really have a need for it anymore, considering that I have five fresher boxes of Lantus sitting underneath it. It expired in October last year.

There’s probably nothing particularly wrong with that box of slightly-out-of-date Lantus. The five pens in that box would likely last me a good two months if I were doing multiple daily injections full time.

That one box in a script of five only cost me around $7, thanks to subsidies through Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme here in Australia.

Yet I still can’t bring myself to throw it away.

As someone with type 1 diabetes, insulin keeps me alive. Insulin keeps me alive today, and every day for the rest of my life.

I am so lucky to live in a country where I have never had to worry about how I will be able to afford the cost of lifesaving, and very expensive products to manage my diabetes. Yet there are people in less fortunate areas of the world who are unable to access life saving insulin, diabetes supplies and basic healthcare.

While I am sitting in my cosy bedroom reading with lust about the newest advancements in diabetes technology, there are people who don’t even know how they will get their hands on their next vial of insulin.

This February, we in the Diabetes Community are encouraged to Spare a Rose. The premise is simple: buy one less rose this Valentine’s Day, and donate the value of that rose (approximately $6 Australian dollars) to the International Diabetes Federation’s Life For a Child program. The cost of that one rose provides life-saving diabetes supplies, medication, and education that children in developing countries need to stay alive. One rose, one month of life to a child with diabetes. A dozen roses, a year of life for a child with diabetes.

Giving the cost of that box of Lantus to Spare a Rose this February is a no brainer.

Will I finally bring myself to throw that box of Lantus away? That’s a much, much more difficult decision for me to make…

Selfish Perspectives

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I feel like I’ve been pretty selfish this week.

On Monday I shouted iced coffees for my team at work on a 42 degree day. I drove my air conditioned car to diabetes clinic, paid an overpriced fee to park undercover and complained about it. I made the decision to switch to an expensive insulin pump in May, even though I can do the same thing with injections. I whinged about an endo who wasn’t supportive enough, despite the fact that I had access to a diabetes specialist and paid absolutely nothing to see him.

On Tuesday I bought croissants to have for lunch the next day, even though I had bread in the cupboard at home. I bought my favourite coffee capsules that were on sale, despite the fact that I already had a stockpile in my locker and instant coffee in the kitchen that would do the same job in satisfying my caffeine fix. I also went out dinner with my family for Mum’s birthday, despite the fact that the cupboards and fridges at home are never empty.

On Wednesday I wanted to make a cake for my Mum’s actual birthday, despite the fact that we’d already celebrated with a fancy dinner. I drove my air conditioned car to the supermarket that is literally a stone’s throw from my house, despite the fact that I could have walked there. I bought cooking chocolate, almonds and whipping cream, even though I could have easily made a simpler cake with the ingredients on hand at home.

On Thursday I asked my team mates if they wanted to pitch in and play lotto for the $20 million this Saturday, even though I already have enough money to live comfortably. I walked over to the coffee shop at lunch time for an iced coffee, even though I had coffee capsules and instant coffee at work. I apologised for the gift card I gave to my Mum for her birthday because it wasn’t thoughtful enough, despite the fact that I’d spent a generous amount of money on it.

Which brings me to Friday. More than likely, I’m going to buy an overpriced coffee on the way to work this morning. I’ll be too lazy to make my lunch at home, and I’ll just buy junk food that I don’t really need to be eating. I’ll probably withdraw some money from the ATM on the way out for the weekend, even though I have bank cards in my wallet that do the same thing.

And you’re probably wondering what the point of this rambly post is, right?

I’ve been reflecting on all of this today, and it really got me to thinking about Spare a Rose and my own donation to Life For a Child a week ago. When I think of the disadvantaged children in other parts of the world who cannot afford insulin and diabetes supplies, my own complaints look really petty and selfish. Compared to all of the unnecessary money I’ve spent this week, my own donation to Life For a Child seems pretty poor.

So, today I’ve matched the donation I made to Life For a Child a week ago.

Without access to diabetes supplies, education and healthcare, people with diabetes will suffer. Without insulin, people with diabetes won’t survive. That’s a human being living with the same condition, just like you or I. Or a son. A daughter. A sister. A brother. A mother. A father. A friend. A family member. An aquaintance. Or even a stranger.

If you are reading this, you are touched by diabetes.

And nobody deserves to die because they have diabetes.

This weekend, consider telling your loved ones that you’ve given life to a child with diabetes rather than gifts.

Flowers die, but children shouldn’t.

Visit sparearose.org, and give life to a child with diabetes today.

Also be sure to check out the folks at t1interational, who advocate for people with diabetes in developing countries. I wrote about their Insulin 4 All campaign in November.

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Spare a Rose, Give Life to a Child With Diabetes

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My blood glucose meter often leaves me in doubt after bedtime tests. Thoughts will begin to race through my head. Did the test strip pick up more sweat than actual blood? Are my hands dry enough? Did any water get in there? How much has it dropped since the last time I tested? No, there’s no way that my BGL can be THAT high!

My head tells me that I’m being silly. But at the same time, my sub conscious tells me I need that second test, just to be sure. I don’t think about those less fortunate people with diabetes often enough. However during these moments of doubt, as I’m turfing a test strip for a fresh one, I often do.

I think about how lucky I am to live in a country where access to test strips is reasonable and affordable. I think about how lucky I am to be able to use test strips like water, if I need to. I think about the comfort and ease of mind I feel because of this life saving tool that I could not possibly live without. I think about how silly some of my rants on this blog must seem in comparison to more serious issues out there in the world.

Lack of access to insulin is the most common cause of death for children with diabetes in many countries around the world. In fact, in some parts of the world, the estimated life expectancy of a child who has just developed diabetes could be less than a year.

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That’s why this February, we in the Diabetes Community are encouraged to Spare a Rose. The premise is simple: buy one less rose this Valentine’s Day, and donate the value of that rose (approximately $6 Australian dollars) to the International Diabetes Federation’s Life For a Child program. The cost of that one rose provides life-saving diabetes supplies, medication, and education that children in developing countries need to stay alive. One rose, one month of life to a child with diabetes. A dozen roses, a year of life for a child with diabetes.

I have donated the gift of life to a child with diabetes. You can make a donation to Life For a Child too. Click here.

I will be taking Spare A Rose printouts into Diabetes Clinic on Monday.

I’ll also be supporting #SpareARose on social media. Grab the Facebook and Twitter covers here!

Spare a Rose, and give Life to a Child with diabetes in need this February. A far more meaningful gift than those corny flowers and pink stuff. Just saying.