IT MAY SOUND CLICHE to say “We Are the World,” but in reality, we are moving in that direction.
Over 150 people a week join the "CGM in the Cloud" Facebook group (the world's largest Type-1 Diabetes Facebook group in the world).
As we celebrate 18,000 Members in our main group, we note with great joy that for the first time, the Nightscout world groups grew faster than the main group in new members (and the main group has not slowed down in growth so we realize that the world growth is indeed accelerating). With T1 Diabetes plaguing the world, we need nothing less than worldwide access to the needed solutions.
The solutions come in all shapes and sizes, from *all* parts of the world along with their own unique challenges. None of the tech solutions matter if you do not have the basics for T1D care.
Without access to insulin and proper medical personnel, pumps and CGMs are just words and acronyms being bantered around in the online groups. I am impressed with the tireless efforts of the charities & groups that work to bring the basics of T1D care to the most vulnerable amongst us worldwide. I applaud the “Pay It Forward” groups that help individuals receive very real lifesaving equipment (and know that many of those in our group are also working in these other groups as well).
Once families and individuals have the basic tools, they soon realize that SO much more is needed in order to avoid the very real burnout, frustration, anger, fatigue, sleep deprivation, and pressure on relationships (among other maladies) that are associated with people living with T1D and those caring for loved ones living with T1D.
Nightscout has 30 individual country specific groups around the world.
We cannot do it all, but we know that we can bring what we *know* along with what we *have* in order to improve the lives of others all around the world. I TRULY BELIEVE that the biggest commodity we have in our worldwide group is love and care. I have personally witnessed this non-stop in the group for the past two years and see that those participating in this effort have not ceased in their efforts…in fact, truth be told they are doing more now than ever before.
We have spent the past two years challenging and changing the status quo, we no longer believe that we should remain quiet in our corner of the world and wait for dearly needed solutions from the handful of companies that control the T1D industry. #WeAreNotWaiting #WeAreNotWaiting and we invite the T1D industry and all those in need of greater solutions to join us in bringing what we *know* in addition to what we *have* in order to solve the very real problems that plague us all on a never ending daily basis.
AND FINALLY… I can’t close without paraphrasing Lane Desborough the co-creator of Nightscout and the *original* passionate creator and supporter of the #WeAreNotWaiting clarion call.
“We want those with T1D to be safe and happy,
and we know how to do it.
We are not waiting.
We can, we should, we will.”
NEXT UP… PHASE-2 of the WeAreNotWaiting movement…already in progress…
Cheers!
-Weston