Basic Biology
Pump it Up
T1D in Pop Culture
Diabetic Athletes
Diabetes Math
100
This number, measured in mg/dl in the U.S. (mmol/L in Europe), indicates the concentration of glucose in a person’s bloodstream.
What is blood glucose (blood sugar)?
100
As an alternative to daily injections containing long-acting insulin, an insulin pump is a wearable medical device that supplies a continuous flow of this type of insulin underneath your skin.
What is rapid-acting insulin?
100
This pop star, part of a famous band of brothers, has appeared in two Super Bowl commercials advertising the Dexcom CGM—and the product was clearly visible on his arm during a recent live performance where John Legend showed up as a surprise guest.
Who is Nick Jonas?
100
Mark Andrews and Noah Gray are two diabetic NFL players that both play this position, the same one most famously played by Taylor Swift’s fiance.
What is Tight End?
100
Your insulin:carbohydrate ratio is 1u:15g. For a breakfast of two Eggo waffles, totaling 28g of carbs, you'll take this much insulin. (Round up to the nearest 0.5 unit.)
What is 2 units?
200
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system attacks and destroys these pancreatic cells, which are responsible for producing insulin.
What are beta cells?
200
Insulin pumps deliver a continuous supply of tiny background insulin doses to maintain blood glucose levels in the absence of meals or intense exercise. This term describes how the doses are programmed on an hourly schedule.
What is Basal Rate?
200
Shortly before her eponymous show debuted in 1970, this actress, best known by her three full names, was diagnosed with T1D at age 33.
Who is Mary Tyler Moore?
200
This Broncos and Bears quarterback was diagnosed with T1D before his third NFL season, two years before he started dating future wife Kristin Cavallari.
Who is Jay Cutler?
200
You’re about to eat two slices of pizza with approximately 64g total carbohydrates, 31g fat, 11g protein, and 3g fiber. Your i:c ratio is 1:15, but your doctor told you to increase your insulin dose by 30% if your meal has >30g fat. You're bolusing for this much insulin. (round up to the nearest 0.5 unit.)
What is 6 units?
300
These three types of macronutrients can all affect blood glucose levels and need to be taken into account when a diabetic administers insulin.
What are carbohydrates, protein, and fat?
300
This is a single, large dose of insulin provided on demand by a pump at mealtimes or to correct high blood sugar levels.
What is a bolus?
300
If you’re a millennial, you may have first learned about Type 1 diabetes by reading about the struggles of Stacey McGill, a character in this children’s book series (later adapted into a Netflix show).
What is The Baby-Sitters Club?
300
This NH native and T1D cross-country skier represented the U.S. at the Winter Olympics in 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014. (In 2002 and 2006, he was teammates with Svati's cousin Carl Swenson!)
Who is Kris Freeman?
300
You have to visit the endocrinologist every 6 months to maintain insurance coverage for your insulin. These doctor visits cost $140 before you meet your annual deductible, but only $45 after you meet your deductible. If your first visit of the year is in February, and you meet your deductible in May, then you will have spent this much on endocrinologist appointments by the end of the year.
What is $185?
400
This acute condition is life-threatening but usually easy to treat by ingesting simple sugars such as dextrose and fructose. It occurs when blood sugar levels drop too low.
What is hypoglycemia?
400
Many insulin pumps today can automatically deliver boluses or make basal rate adjustments based on data from sensors connected to these devices, abbreviated as “CGMs.”
What are Continuous Glucose Monitors?
400
In this 2002 thriller directed by David Fincher, a young diabetic played by Kristen Stewart nearly dies from hypoglycemia while hiding in a vault with her mom, played by Jodie Foster, while burglars ransack their house.
What is Panic Room?
400
T1D and former NBA center Chris Dudley unsuccessfully ran for governor of this state in 2010.
What is Oregon?
400
It’s 5pm, your blood sugar is 269 mg/dl, and you have an important cardio workout scheduled for 6pm. You are not supposed to exercise with a BG > 240 mg/dl. You calculate a correction bolus with a factor of 1 unit:50 mg/dl, targeting 120 mg/dl, following your doctor’s advice to cut insulin doses in half during the two hours before exercise, and also taking into account an estimated 1 unit of insulin remaining in your bloodstream from the bolus you took at lunchtime. Your correction bolus is…
What is 0.5 units?
500
Diabetes is marked by persistently elevated blood glucose levels due to a lack of insulin. Doctors can estimate a person’s average blood glucose levels over a three-month period by performing this test, which measures the percentage of hemoglobin proteins that are coated by glucose.
What is an A1C test?
500
This disposable kit, featuring tubing and a plastic cannula guided under the skin by a needle, delivers insulin from a pump into a diabetic’s subcutaneous fat, where it is absorbed into the bloodstream.
What is an Infusion Set?
500
A major plot point in this 1997 campy action film was Nicolas Cage’s character trying to find insulin to treat his friend’s hypoglycemia, which makes no medical sense.
What is Con Air?
500
Currently the third ranked tennis player in the world, This athlete was controversially barred from injecting insulin during a match at the 2023 French Open, a ruling that was later reversed.
Who is Alexander Zverev?
500
It’s 5:45pm and you’re supposed to go for a one-hour run at 6pm. Your blood sugar has dropped from 269 to 209 in the past 45 minutes, a result of the 0.5 units of insulin you dosed at 5pm. At what rate is your blood glucose falling, and will it stay high enough for you to get through the run safely? Assume that your BG drops at a rate of 140/hour during a run, and you can’t run with a BG lower than 80.
What is 80 mg/dl and no?