Mutated Diabetes?? or the game I play??

Howdy from Atlanta,

So last week I was at the AADE National Convention with most of Team Type 1. I had a great time, and got to meet some of the most caring, and passionate people in all of diabetes, The CDE's! I got my A1C checked as I usually do at conferences to get an A1C of 5.1 using FreeStyle Navigator, Lantus, and Apidra. Exact same result as last year using Apidra, Omni-Pod, and Navigator.
While at a dinner, I was asked if I had a mutated form of diabetes, where my pancreas still works on some level, meaning it is "easy" to control my blood sugar. I know this was meant somewhat as a compliment, but it got me thinking out on the ride today, and I kept going faster. I look back at the 26 some odd years with diabetes, the many trips to the ER as a kid both from hypoglycemia (no such thing as projected alarms back then) or when I had the flu, having severe ketones, and not being able to hold food down, then having to get the one needle that actually scared me as a kid, an IV. My mom would let me bite down on her finger for as long as it took to get the needle in... Thanks Mom:)
But that was just a point in the game, a lesson when diabetes got a goal on me. What do you do when the other team is up?? Learn from your mistakes, and go out there and beat that team. Use the loss as motivation to do better, and leave your mark on the team. That is what I have done with diabetes. I am stubborn, and will try, and fail, then try again, and fail. This will repeat until there is success. I feel like I am scoring most of the goals, and diabetes has now become one of my best teammates. Outside of our games, it helps me to win. A hospital visit or lesson was just one step closer to a better A1C. And now when I apply those lesson's and discipline to real life, it is a synch. It is also a synch due to the treatment (lantus/apidra) and technology (Navigator/omni-Pod) that I can always win! I work with these companies, and am excited about their long term commitment to making our game easier.

But even with these goodies, we are still out on the field. It is still a 24 hour a day, 365 day/year job. I am the CEO of my body, just as much as you are the CEO of yours. Can your company beat mine? Can you be better than you were last year, and ensure the long term success?
My A1C is 5.1: I want to have fewer blood sugar under 60. That is my goal.

What is your goal? Where do you want your A1C to be? What is it going to take to get it there?
Being an election year, I would ask: Are there any politicians out there who would like to be responsible for ensuring these tools are in the hands of those who need it. Anyone who can make sure that no child or adult is left un-insured with diabetes? I hope so, and if you are one, or know someone, please pass that challenge along.

Thanks for reading the rant! Have a great day...

Phil