On 1/27/2017 11:38 AM, Al Kaiser wrote to Allen Prunty:

> One thing I did not realize was that she had lost most of her site to it.  I
> know and worked with people who have lost their legs and their lives to it.

Type 1 Diabetes is a wicked condition... one can lose one thing but not the
other.  It effects each one of us differently.  The Legs are usually
because the Diabetic did not want to follow a diet or medication schedule
correctly.  There are things that can accelerate the loss of limb / sight
like drinking... but the #1 reason why diabetics suffer so much is that it
costs so much to manage.  Each test strip  averages out to .75 (for the
good ones there are now budget ones but in this case you get what you pay
for).  To achieve the level of control that I have I have to test 9-10
times a day.  At $7.50 a day it makes the Dexcom sensor that I use
reasonable at $50 per sensor that monitors my blood sugars ever 5 minutes
justifiable.  MTM fought to help those without financial means get what
they need.

When I needed my insulin pump in the 1990's Nicole Johnson (Miss America)
and MTM both wrote letters to help me get it.  Nicole Johnson is the Miss
America with Diabetes that educated the nation about insulin pumps.  Hallie
Berry is another one who has Diabetes and an insulin pump that helps people
too.

MTM had the resources and the means to afford the best of care.  As she
would tell many of us in her inspirational talks that Type 1's did not get
this way because of what we ate, or failed to exercise or from Grandma. 
Type 1 is an autoimmune response and it can just happen... she was a mighty
warrior for us and sadly I am afraid the diabetic community lost one of our
superheros.  MTM was that vocal for us... and I have a feeling that
Diabetes will be very prominent in the next few months as her
accomplishments are talked about.

I really didn't know MTM, but I feel so sad... it's like I've lost someone
I deeply care about and I just don't know why.  She was a beautiful person.

Allen
 
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