Joe's Insulin Pump Fund
Donation protected
In May 2012, Joe was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and since that time has made tremendous progress managing his condition the best he can. Despite his progress, Type 1 diabetes is an unforgiving condition that cannot be reversed with just healthy eating and exercise and can lead to many other health conditions if not managed properly. Joe’s thyroid is the only other organ that has been affected by his diabetes, and we would like to stop there.
In recent years, I have watched Joe struggle and become frustrated daily to maintain a healthy blood sugar despite his routine exercise, very low carbohydrate diet, finger pricks and shots. He has had numerous visits to the emergency room because of irregular blood sugars, two hospitalizations, two 911 calls due to unresponsive life threatening low blood sugar and far too many other hypoglycemic incidents to count that luckily someone was able to recognize and correct before it was too late.
Not only is managing diabetes incredibly difficult and costly but, doing it manually, as Joe does, is proving to be very risky. We have looked into insulin pumps with continuous glucose monitors but have found most all devices start off around $6,000 with all of the necessary supplies (transmitter, tester, tubes, etc.). I have researched many foundations with the hope that Joe would qualify for a donated device, but have yet to come across a non-profit that donates to adults with type 1 diabetes. Our family has applied for assistance to just about every durable medical equipment company but do not meet the criteria for assistance because we have insurance. We have found ourselves in a loophole; paying for supplies but unable to afford the supplies Joe really needs. Unfortunately, paying for needles, insulin, test strips and lancets has been the only option for Joe because of the $5,000 durable medical equipment deductible we must meet before the device is covered, which is essentially the cost of the entire device itself.
I have decided it is time to ask for help.
A continuous glucose monitor will attach directly to Joes skin and check his blood sugar every 5 minutes, alerting him of a high or low. If he does not acknowledge the alert, the device begins to get louder to alert the closest person to him. This device will hopefully spare the few times I found my husband laying on the floor shaking and unresponsive while experiencing hypoglycemia or the many phone calls I have answered during a low when he is working, praying he is alert enough to hand the phone to someone so I can instruct them on what to do next. A CGM is such a crucial item for him. An insulin pump will eliminate the 5 or so shots Joe gives himself daily. Instead, insulin will release from a pump that is already placed on his skin.
Of course an insulin pump with a continuous glucose monitor will not cure Joe’s diabetes, but it will certainly make a world of a difference to the best father and husband I could ask for.
Thank you so much for your help.
With love,
Shannon Mahoney
In recent years, I have watched Joe struggle and become frustrated daily to maintain a healthy blood sugar despite his routine exercise, very low carbohydrate diet, finger pricks and shots. He has had numerous visits to the emergency room because of irregular blood sugars, two hospitalizations, two 911 calls due to unresponsive life threatening low blood sugar and far too many other hypoglycemic incidents to count that luckily someone was able to recognize and correct before it was too late.
Not only is managing diabetes incredibly difficult and costly but, doing it manually, as Joe does, is proving to be very risky. We have looked into insulin pumps with continuous glucose monitors but have found most all devices start off around $6,000 with all of the necessary supplies (transmitter, tester, tubes, etc.). I have researched many foundations with the hope that Joe would qualify for a donated device, but have yet to come across a non-profit that donates to adults with type 1 diabetes. Our family has applied for assistance to just about every durable medical equipment company but do not meet the criteria for assistance because we have insurance. We have found ourselves in a loophole; paying for supplies but unable to afford the supplies Joe really needs. Unfortunately, paying for needles, insulin, test strips and lancets has been the only option for Joe because of the $5,000 durable medical equipment deductible we must meet before the device is covered, which is essentially the cost of the entire device itself.
I have decided it is time to ask for help.
A continuous glucose monitor will attach directly to Joes skin and check his blood sugar every 5 minutes, alerting him of a high or low. If he does not acknowledge the alert, the device begins to get louder to alert the closest person to him. This device will hopefully spare the few times I found my husband laying on the floor shaking and unresponsive while experiencing hypoglycemia or the many phone calls I have answered during a low when he is working, praying he is alert enough to hand the phone to someone so I can instruct them on what to do next. A CGM is such a crucial item for him. An insulin pump will eliminate the 5 or so shots Joe gives himself daily. Instead, insulin will release from a pump that is already placed on his skin.
Of course an insulin pump with a continuous glucose monitor will not cure Joe’s diabetes, but it will certainly make a world of a difference to the best father and husband I could ask for.
Thank you so much for your help.
With love,
Shannon Mahoney
Organizer
Joe Mahoney
Organizer
Sparta, NJ
