樂悠30胰島素保冷(溫)袋

我有三個小孩...在照顧小孩的生活起居方面，我還算是滿得心應手...直到我年紀最小的寶貝女兒得了「第一型糖尿病」時，完全粉碎了我多年累積的"媽媽自信"...。「第一型糖尿病」!?這到底是什麼樣的病症呢?從發病到瞭解到接受到學習...種種過程刻不容緩，猶如回到學生時代般，要上醫生、衛教師、營養師的課，要做筆記、要找資料、要勇於發問、甚至要實地操作，直到成績及格，才能回家...，回家後，依然要不斷操作，觀察，尋找有利之工具來輔助，這時候...感謝「松威糖尿病食品專賣店」介紹「康泰基金會」讓我認識，也幸運的讓我在網頁中，看到「美綠.樂悠30胰島素保冷袋」的體驗活動，才發現原來有這麼好用的工具，可以一解我苦思無法的問題所在，頓時讓我的心情都美麗起來了。俗話說的好-"工欲善其事，必先利其器"，這句話來形容「美綠.樂悠30胰島素保冷袋」再適合不過了!我本身是住南部，南部的天氣大概3/5都是太陽公公執勤的日子，想當然爾這白天的溫度，隨隨便便都超過30度是稀鬆平常的事，可是那嬌滴滴的"胰島素"卻無法頂著烈日依然盡忠的履行它的功能，直到「美綠.樂悠30胰島素保冷袋」的出現，讓胰島素這溫室的花朵，仍然能受到完善的保護。另提一事，因為我小女兒是使用混合抽取式的針筒注射，一開始樂悠是寄"雙筆袋型"的保冷袋給予體驗，對我來說並不那樣的合用，而該公司瞭解了我的處境，馬上善解人意的替我更換"小袋型"的保冷袋給予體驗，這讓我還未使用其產品便已有極佳的好印象。試問...該公司若不用心，既可隨便敷衍了得，無需替我更換，態度更是親切宜人，自不在話下。拿到該產品，有詳細的使用說明，讓我輕鬆就能上手，況且那外袋的防塵防滲套，儘管內袋吸滿飽足的水，它仍然不為所動，一滴水從未滲出，即便我跟自已的物品同放在一個包包裡，我也絲毫不擔心，馬上又能持續的恢復使用效果。對我而言，我能很輕易的完成後續的保養工作，卻可一直保持胰島素的存放安虞。希望跟我一樣的父母親或朋友們，能跟我一同幸運的認識「美綠.樂悠保冷袋」，也能享受它所帶來的便利既安全性，讓慢慢長路的糖尿病生涯裡，增添更多輕鬆愉悅的心情。

很高興有機會參與此次「樂悠30胰島素保冷袋」體驗專案，記得今年初陸續看到IDDM病友在FaceBook、部落格上分享、討論此一創新產品時，心中已有定見，一定要親自去體驗它，期能徹底解決胰島素的保存困擾。

IDDM病友註定要一輩子與胰島素長相左右，尤其對一天四針、常常出門在外的我而言，隨身攜帶的胰島素如何妥善保存、保持藥效更是一大煩惱。雖說常溫下胰島素可保存一星期，但是一年四季如何隨時保持「常溫」更是一大考驗，在此之前只能消極地讓它盡量避免接觸高溫的環境。如今看到我的長效短效胰島素筆針保存在「樂悠30胰島素保冷袋」，總算有「安心」的感覺。

「樂悠30胰島素保冷袋」更讓人驚艷的是，它的綠色環保及輕巧便利，保冷袋只要經過純水浸泡5-10分鐘，袋中特殊的保冷晶粒會膨脹吸飽水份即可保冷使用，經驗上經過5-7天會發現保冷袋隨著水份蒸發會體積輕微縮小、重量減少，此時只要將保冷袋再度浸水膨脹，即可重複使用非常便利。而且保冷袋吸水膨脹後柔軟有彈性，筆針裝入袋中，像是給筆針加裝安全氣囊，非常有「安心」的感覺。

現在裝著筆針的保冷袋如同血糖機已是我外出的必要裝備，剛好下個月要到歐洲出差，保冷袋正好派上用場，而且我近日已再添購一組保冷袋，畢竟出國在外胰島素一定都要有備份。誠摯地推薦此保冷袋給所有的IDDM病友，產品有價，但「安心」的感覺是無價的。

自從我3歲的小女兒在去年聖誕節酮酸中毒之後，我每天幾乎都得花好幾小時在網路上爬文，找尋各種可以幫助她的治療方式或是任何可以讓她活得更自在的資訊，第一次得知樂悠30胰島素保冷(溫)袋的訊息，是在糖友順子的網站中有了初步的認識，當時的我很認真和老公討論，媗媗的狀況需要購買使用嗎？一天兩針的孩子與一天四針情況比較起來，中午可以免除挨針的情況，保溫袋購買急迫性似乎低了些。

    但是幾個月來，一些情況讓我不得不審視我之前的決定是否正確？！像是幾個月前媗媗感冒發燒的時候，我為了補打胰島素，我必須先衝回家拿出空針，抽出正確劑量再衝去幼稚園補打，那一天的血糖難以控制，我每2-3小時就得瘋狂趕路，只因為幼稚園的冰箱裡堆滿了點心與食材，我真的不敢想像我的胰島素放在其中，會是什麼情況？過年返家途中，擔心胰島素變質，只好拿出放入先前拿來保存母乳的保溫袋，大小果然完全不適合，玻璃瓶碰撞的聲音，薄薄的保溫袋是否能真的保溫都讓我質疑？更別說是保麗龍或是保冷劑的使用，我都怕胰島素直接接觸冰涼的保冷劑，不是讓媗媗打針更疼痛，就是變質無法使用！今年早春天氣變化多端，有時寒冷，有時卻又像酷暑般讓人無法忍受，媗媗連續幾天無法預測的高血糖，終於找到兇手，原來那透明的胰島素，居然有了一絲絲細微雜質，胰島素真的變質了！！炎熱夏天還沒到，我該找到一個可以真正保護救命胰島素的幫手，有了它，我再也不用擔心胰島素的保存問題，胰島素也可以安全的帶在身邊，隨時可供使用，無須擔心，我也終於可以帶媗媗出去旅行，不用在下午趕著回家，不用再擔心在外打針的問題！感謝這一次美綠國際股份有限公司提供試用機會，我會好好運用它，並且將心得與大家分享，希望大家都能和我們一樣，找到小小的、平凡的幸福。

    終於收到了樂悠30胰島素保冷(溫)袋，外包裝標有清楚的使用方式，相信新手也可以輕鬆上手，內袋吸完水後變得飽滿，把玻璃瓶裝的胰島素放入，感覺很安全，不會碰撞損害的感覺。晚上出門將保溫袋放在包包裡，不會佔空間，也沒有濕濕黏黏的感覺，和先前母乳的保溫袋差很多。放置了一晚上，雖然這幾天以高溫如同夏日一般，放置內部的玻璃瓶仍和昨天我放入的感覺一樣，帶點冰涼，胰島素沒有異狀，這幾天就讓胰島素跟著媗媗行動吧！

    幾天下來，協助打針的爸爸說胰島素沒有任何異狀，放在包包裡也不會讓東西弄溼，我們原本將胰島素放置在夾鍊袋中，現在放置在樂悠30胰島素專用保冷(溫)袋，胰島素不會與袋中物品混雜在一起，玻璃瓶也不會破掉…浸完水的樂悠30胰島素保冷袋胖胖的，是絕佳的保護袋呢！從包包裡拿出來，也不會像夾鍊袋一樣，一眼就被人看透，比較有隱私的感覺。

    週末的時候，終於可以讓媗媗在外面吃晚餐，是期待已久的義大利麵家庭餐館呢！為了讓媗媗吃得更放心，我們在車上先量完血糖，接著就是在車上注射胰島素，雖然天氣有點炎熱，但是胰島素都能在安心的環境下保存著，注射完後媗媗可以像一般孩子一樣在外面享用餐點…雖然還是要控制份量啦！但是可以像以前一樣晚上吃完餐點後逛逛百貨公司，已經是很大的幸福了！能體驗這次活動，我們終於再也不用趕回家注射，晚餐也能有更多選擇了！

    五月中旬爸爸因為工作，必須帶瑄瑄前往桃園住宿3天，有了這兩週成功的經驗，我相信媗媗可以和爸爸一起挑戰在外過夜，也能夠不用擔心胰島素的保存與注射上的問題！希望能藉這一次的心得分享，幫助一些還在擔心胰島素保存上存有疑慮的人，能夠更加確定自己的需求。天氣逐漸炎熱，讓每一次外出都能確保胰島素的品質，相信至是每一位病友與家長的希望！

 使用〝樂悠30胰島素保冷袋〞後，讓我們知道，原來帶女兒出們可以不用再那麼麻煩。女兒是去年100年11月發病〝第一型糖尿病〞的小朋友，從發病之後，帶她出門變成是我們很頭痛的事情~因為除了胰島素的保冰之外，還有打針的器具、血糖機、紀錄表，時間、飲食….等。每次帶她出門就像是打仗，戰戰兢兢。因為不知道有樂悠30胰島素保冷袋這麼好用的產品，先前帶女兒出門都是用很大一個母乳冷凍袋裡面放保冰磚，然後裝小小的一瓶胰島素出門，而且要不斷的擔心保冰磚退冰或過冰，到定點就是要找冰箱冰冰磚跟胰島素，真的是很累的一件事。

這段時間使用了樂悠30胰島素保冷袋之後，我可以很放心的帶女兒出門，不用擔心胰島素會不會變質。保冷袋裡面膨脹成膠狀之後的保冷效果的確很好，胰島素一直是在一個恆溫的情況下，不會不冰或過冰~尤其這次我老公公司舉辦三天兩夜的員工旅遊，帶著女兒出門不再是我煩惱的問題，三天兩夜下來我甚至不用擔心女兒的胰島素，到飯店也不用急著把藥冰冰箱，又怕忘記拿~真的很感謝這樣的一個產品。

將來我女兒大一點可以自行施打胰島素的時候，我就不擔心她無法好好保管這樣的藥品，甚至她出遠門我都可以放心~

保冷袋在回覆原狀的方面也很理想，雖然需要在通風處幾天的時間，但是相對於我之前要用一個大母乳冷凍袋在那邊裝，又要隨時冰著冰磚備著，這樣的產品相對便利許多~也好收放。真的是解決我不少女兒這一方面的問題。

最後，還是要感謝貴公司提供這麼好的產品。感謝！

    在體驗樂悠30胰島素保冷袋之前是使用一般束口袋保存筆針,因為束口袋比較薄可以放在口袋,但缺點是無法維持溫度,雖然衛教師有給我存放胰島素的保溫盒,但保溫盒就像一般鉛筆盒一樣,四四方方,放入口袋非常難,但這兩星期使用樂悠30胰島素保冷袋發現它的優點就是方便放在口袋又可以保持溫度,所以只要我出門就會使用樂悠保冷袋,因為我使用的筆針是超短效,只要一吃飯就須要注射胰島素,所以去工作時,也須帶著筆針出門,這時我就會把筆針放入樂悠保冷袋,一起帶出門,不用擔心存放空間太大,也不用擔心無法維持溫度而使胰島素變質,所以我會推薦樂悠筆袋給跟我一樣須要這項產品的朋友們!

              我使用胰島素注射（筆針）治療約莫快30年了，過去使用經驗中，我並沒有另外特別保存，如果使用一般塑膠針筒注射，就是把胰島素存放冰箱冷藏，外出使用筆針時，則是放在隨身包包內，沒有特別保存。使用過樂悠30胰島素保冷袋後，我想，未來我需要外出或外宿時，例如：國內外旅遊、出差時，一定會使用樂悠30胰島素保冷(溫)袋。或者，如果家中會停電幾天或是冰箱壞掉時，這個冷藏保冷袋應該會很適用。

         因為它操作起來很方便，「啟用時」只要靜置泡水15分鐘後即可使用，倘若短時間不用時，把它靜置風乾約一週後，就可恢復原狀，然後可收納。而且可多次重複使用，既環保又省錢。更可以長時間讓胰島素保持冷藏，以維持胰島素品質，對於出外旅行或出差時，特別方便實用。此外外觀素雅簡約大方，即使吸水膨漲後體積適中，不會太占空間，且材質柔軟亦可保護胰島素防撞防摔。

         這次使用期間，我有推薦其他的第一型糖尿病友嘗試看看，大家聽到後都覺得產品很讚，有外出旅遊機會時，會考慮購買。

        已往帶小炎出遠門時，除了血糖機外一定要帶一個保冰袋和冰包放胰島素，但是今年有帶他出國的打算，戴上飛機的隨身行李有限，所以想找一個更好的方式保存開封使用中的胰島素。在一次甜蜜家庭的聚會中，看到有家長使用樂悠30胰島素保冷袋，聽說保冷的效果不錯，因為體積小而且攜帶方便所以很讓我動心，後來看到康泰基金會有體驗活動，就決定來試試看。

        我選的顏色是黑色，一方面小炎是男生，另一方面黑色會吸輻射熱，如果黑色的樂悠保溫袋都能發揮作用那就真的厲害了。試用的第一天，我把保溫袋放到陽台，保溫袋用衣夾固定掛在空中(沒有直接照到陽光，當時用電子溫度計量的空氣溫度為32.5度)，半小時後我把電子溫度計插到保溫袋內，溫度立刻往下降，約5分鐘後測到26.5度，我發現它是真的可以保持內部溫度在30度以下。

        得到糖尿病對於病友和家屬來說真的很不方便，但是我們可以藉由一些產品的幫助減少這些不便。有了這個樂悠30胰島素保冷(溫)袋，我們可以更放心的帶小炎出遠門，只要用冷開水泡一下保冷袋就可以使用，不用到處急著找冰箱冰冰保冷劑，也不用擔心如果小炎去參加露營活動沒有冰箱的問題。我還想再買一個小袋裝備用的胰島素，我也會介紹給其他的病友或家長使用。

此次透過康泰南區分會邱會長的引薦有此機會體驗樂悠30胰島素保冷(溫)袋，之前使用像鉛筆盒袋的保溫袋比較薄也比較輕，但就是無法維持從冰箱拿出時保持冰涼的溫度，所以都會在加入一塊保冰劑，但往往過了3-4小時就如同是放在室溫下的溫度了，由於天氣越來越熱，往往室溫的溫度也會超過30℃，難免會擔心胰島素變質；記得去年6-7月份有至台東旅遊，就是使用鉛筆盒袋，遇到血糖300-400mg/dl怎麼增加胰島素劑量都降不下來的窘境，換了新的胰島素血糖才下降，哇…真的天氣太炎熱，太可怕!使用樂悠30胰島素保冷袋裡面泡水膨脹成膠狀之後的保冷效果的確很好，胰島素一直是在一個恆溫的情況下，外出旅遊3天2夜回家後，還依然保持著保冷的效果呢!真是方便極了! 希望能藉這一次的心得分享，讓使用胰島素的人有不一樣的選擇!

我目前是國一學生，過年前在學校例行的健康檢查中被發現得了第一型糖尿病，須終身施打胰島素。記得剛出院不久，有天早上和家人外出，遵照住院時護士阿姨的指導，將長效與速效二種胰島素小心翼翼的用透明塑膠袋包著，放入裝滿冰塊的食物罐裡，避免照射陽光還放在車子的中央置物箱裡，到了下午要取出注射時，發現冰塊早已融化，塑膠袋入水了導至胰島素整支浸泡在冰水中，因為得糖尿病後第一次缺乏這類經驗，家人擔心冰水滲入瓶身〈後來才知不會〉不敢使用，結果只好將那兩瓶胰島素丟掉，造成得提前回去門診取藥的窘境。又有一次是生日當天在學校想和同學一起吃蛋糕慶祝，於是將胰島素帶去學校準備中午加打。有了上次慘痛的經驗於是將帶去的胰島素寄放在保健中心，沒想到校護竟將它放入冷凍庫！等到中午欲前往取回時，看到變成冰棒的速效胰島素整個傻眼到爆！最後眼睜睜的看著同學開心地吃著我的生日蛋糕，我因為沒加打一口也不敢吃，只能留下一段難忘的生日回憶！

一日：在糖老師俱樂部的FB看到樂悠30胰島素保冷(溫)袋體驗活動，於是勇敢的報名幸運的擁有這次體驗的機會。自從我拿到樂悠胰島素保冷(溫)袋，詳讀始用方法。方法出忽意料的容易，只要將內袋泡在水中幾分鐘後取出，把胰島素放入內袋，再放進外袋，從不會有滴水的情形發生。試用初期心理上多少還存有一點點的不放心，怕保溫袋效果不好導至胰島素變質而影響血糖的變化。但是在體驗的過程中血糖一直呈現穩定，證明樂悠胰島素保冷(溫)袋確實發揮了它的功效！現在的我，上學或外出一定將裝有胰島素的保冷袋帶在身邊，方便臨時加打，且每天放學之前，我會先完打胰島素再回家，一回到家或直接去補習班時就可以直接吃晚餐，無形中也節省時間，媽媽不會再為了之前擔心胰島素冰存問題而疲於奔命了！享受科技的進步無形中也提高了生活品質何樂不為！在此：感恩康泰醫療基金會和美綠公司提供這次難得的體驗，希望更多的病友能早日接觸到這項便利的產品！

樂悠30 ~ 追夢吧! 任何人都不能阻礙你內心的渴望 !

~IDDM第一型美國大兵的故事

翻譯自美國糖尿病學會(ADA)網站: http://www.diabetesarchive.net/diabetes-forecast/jul2005/back.jsp

你可以想像一個美國士兵身處在遍佈沙漠的伊拉克是怎樣的處境，各種威脅隱藏在你想像不到的地方。到處都是乞討食物的孩子，在他們當中夾雜的攜帶AK47步槍的民眾，你完全無法預測他們的意圖， 一不小心就可能有生命危險。 絕大多數的人一定不想待在這樣的環境當中，然而馬克.湯普森~一個IDDM的美國大兵，卻極力爭取請調伊拉克。這當中的故事是什麼?他如何在嚴酷的環境挑戰下維持身體的健康且完成自己的夢想!?

湯普森，28歲，是愛荷華州人。他已經結婚9年，並有一個兒子。他總是有一種探索世界的渴望, 這種渴望啟發湯普森從軍。因為大學時聽到年紀較大的室友，曾在越南戰爭中擔任士兵的冒險故事，這讓陸軍步兵聽起來像是一場探索與冒險。當時湯普森也需要錢，所以在1996年，簽署了4年志願兵役，希望先從軍存錢，然後完成大學教育。但湯普森之後就沒有回到校園。因為發現軍旅生活是他最熱愛的地方。

但在2000年，湯普森體種快速下降。常常感到口渴和疲憊。一天早晨，在行走過程中暈倒。當進醫院檢查，血糖值超過600mg/dl。醫生診斷他患有第一型糖尿病。這診斷可能意味著湯普森的軍旅生涯即將結束。很多士兵因為身體健康因素而被迫退役, 因為他們不能證明身體的健康程度能從事軍隊的工作。但是湯普森決定不想落得像那些戰士一樣。並確信IDDM不會影響他熱愛的工作。

湯普森接受胰島素治療，而軍隊中的醫療委員會審閱他的病歷，要決定是否能繼續在軍事單位服務。湯普森在2002年期間HbA1C 平均6.2%。血糖控制的很好，最後委員會批准為“適合軍旅工作。”

湯普森保住了熱愛的軍旅生涯。可以繼續在軍隊服務，但他卻被限制前往無冷藏設備及醫療用品來之不易的作戰地區。

為夢想奮戰

當時湯普森是部隊中人力資源單位的職業顧問，幫助士兵在軍隊的職業生涯規畫選擇。但湯普森覺得自己沒有實戰經驗，要如何輔導士兵呢?他總覺得缺少些什麼!

2002年，阿富汗戰爭爆發。一年後，美國士兵移防到伊拉克。在2003年春天，湯普森的第1步兵師，接收到命令，將在2004年1月部署到伊拉克。湯普森被分配到“後備支援”這意味著他要在第1步兵的大本營~德國美軍基地留守。

“後備支援是一項重要工作，” “但是這不是我想要的，這不是我加入軍隊目的。” 湯普森說。

所以湯普森必須先做一些功課，來說服他的長官讓他前往伊拉克。

首先，他要確保在伊拉克-提克里特的美軍基地醫院有足夠的胰島素庫存以便他用胰島素幫浦來注射，同時也準備注射器以備不時之需。為保持胰島素的效果，買了冰箱，就近在營區裡面使用。

湯普森佩帶胰島素幫浦，面臨最主要的挑戰是必須將胰島素保持在30°C(86°F)以下，然而所在的每一個地方，溫度都可以飆升超過100°F。他找到了可重複使用的的樂悠胰島素保冷袋(FRIO Pouches)，這是一種特殊材料製成，浸泡水後就可以有效的保存胰島素，避免藥物失效。這保冷袋不需要電力就可以在這樣的高溫的天氣中維持胰島素涼涼的。如果胰島素幫浦壞掉，也可以使用隨身攜帶備用胰島素和注射器。

湯普森的研究得到了回報。陸軍第一步兵師的醫生，邁克爾中校，起初認為太冒險了。但中校醫官邁克爾說 :“他全面的了解自己的身體，飲食以及胰島素需求，而且也有深入的應變計劃”。湯普森被核准前往伊拉克，但有幾個條件：他要準備8個月用量的胰島素，導管，備用血糖儀，注射器。如果他的血糖波動太大，或是健康處於危險之中，他會被遣返回德國美軍基地。

在伊拉克

湯普森走遍伊拉克，造訪第1步兵師的各單位。 “我得隨身攜帶所有的食物包括營養穀物食品，熱量補充品….等等。”當戰事平靜時，士兵可能只是穿防彈背心。但大部分時間，他們必須穿上全副武裝：背心，防彈衣，保護眼鏡，頭盔，彈藥和物資。這整個重量至少有60磅。

2004年4月，糟糕的情況發生了，胰島素幫浦壞掉。加上因為某種原因無法進行正常的食物供，湯普森和他同行士兵只能吃一些事先預備的加工食品或不易腐爛的飯菜。這些食物很難計算碳水化合物量，而且沒有胰島素幫浦，很難保持穩定的胰島素注射。

但湯普森告訴自己，他不會被遣送回家。在接下來的4個星期，每天10次測量血糖值。用預先準備的注射器，一直到收到新的胰島素幫浦。最後應急計劃有了成效：湯普森這段在伊拉克的時間，糖化血色素停留在6.5％左右。

夏天來了，難以想像的熱。到了6月，全師已停止穿著全副武裝，因為溫度達130°F這根本無法忍受。在沙漠的空氣吹來 “整顆頭像是在烤箱中烹調的感恩節火雞一樣”湯普森說。但湯普森hold住了。隔年2月，湯普森在伊拉克完成他的任期。

湯普森感到自豪，他達成這不可能的任務，成為他軍旅生涯永生難忘的經驗之一。

這場為自己的夢想奮戰的結果是~他贏了。

糖尿病和軍事

在美國的軍事規定上，糖尿病人禁止從事戰地軍事。然而在馬克·湯普森的故事之後，軍方已作出一些改變。

糖尿病患者能否從事軍事活動的關鍵是：

•能否優秀的管理您的糖尿病

•專業人士要能向軍事審查小組提出證明糖尿病如何影響你，為什麼它不會影響你的工作。

有關詳細信息，請致電1-800-342-2383在美國糖尿病協會。

Diabetes Forecast July 2005

FOR TYPE 1/TYPE 2

Back From Iraq: A Soldier's Story

Staff Sergeant Mark Thompson convinced the Army that having type 1 diabetes shouldn't keep him from serving in Iraq.
by Laurie Meyers

The soldiers set off in their Humvee. Sandbags were wedged against their doors, stuffed behind them, even resting under them, as seats. The bags wouldn't offer much protection if they hit a land mine or faced a roadside attack, but they were better than nothing. Even garbage in the road was a threat—a possible hiding place for explosive devices.

They passed children with hands outstretched, begging for food, and men carrying AK-47s. Were the men hostile or friendly? No way to know: Just keep the weapons pointed outward and shoot to kill if approached.

They drove for 2 days, stopping only once, for the convoy to refuel. Stopping was like putting on a big red bull's-eye. Insurgents could and would appear out of nowhere. They had to keep moving until they reached base.

That drive—from Kuwait to Tikrit, Iraq—is not one most of us would want to make. But Staff Sergeant Mark Thompson fought his own personal war to be part of it.

This Soldier's Story

Thompson, 28, is an Iowa native. He's been married for 9 years and has a son, Kyle, who's 2. He's always had something of a travel bug, and it was this desire to see the world that inspired Thompson to join the Army.

That, and the stories he heard from his college roommate—an older student who had served in the Vietnam War. As Thompson listened, the Army started to sound like an adventure. Thompson also needed money for college, so in 1996, he signed on for 4 years, expecting to do his time and then finish his education.

But Thompson never went back to campus. He had found his place, and it was in the Army. He was a "lifer."

Then in 2000, Thompson began losing a lot of weight. He felt thirsty and tired all the time. One morning he collapsed during a run. When Thompson made it to the hospital, his glucose level was over 600. The doctors told him he had type 1 diabetes.

This diagnosis could have meant the end of his career. Plenty of soldiers who are diagnosed with serious medical conditions must leave because they can't prove they're healthy enough to do the Army's work. Thompson was bound and determined to not end up like one of those soldiers.

He went from having an A1C of 12.5 percent at the time of diagnosis to 6.2 by the time the Army's medical board reviewed his case in 2002. Because he was able to control the disease so well, the board found him "fit for duty."

Thompson's victory wasn't absolute. He was told that while he could continue serving, he would not be allowed to do it from combat zones where refrigeration and medical supplies are hard to come by.

The Battle At Home

But Thompson wanted to go where he was needed most, and by 2002, war had broken out in Afghanistan. A year later, American soldiers also were moving into Iraq. Thompson is a career counselor, which means that he helps soldiers choose career paths within the Army and asks them to reenlist.

"I'd be sitting across from a soldier with a [combat] patch, counseling him, and I wouldn't have the combat experience," Thompson said. "It just didn't seem right."

In the spring of 2003, Thompson's division, the 1st Infantry, received word that it would be deploying to Iraq in January 2004. Thompson was assigned to the "rear detachment," which meant staying at the 1st Infantry's home base in Germany.

"Rear detachment has an important job," Thompson said. "But it's not where I wanted to be. It's not why I joined the Army."

So Thompson did some homework.

He called to make sure the military base hospital in Tikrit could stock a 5-month emergency supply of the insulin he uses—fast-acting for his pump, and some NPH to mix with it if he needed to use syringes. He bought a camping refrigerator that he had converted so that it could be plugged into a Humvee.

Thompson wears an insulin pump, and his main challenge would be keeping the insulin at 86°F or less, all while on the go in a place where temperatures can soar well over 100°F. He discovered reusable Frio pouches, which are made of a special material that is activated when the pouches are immersed in water. They keep contents cool for well over a day in such temperatures. If the pouches failed or if the pump broke, he could get insulin from the hospital and switch to the backup syringes he would be carrying.

Thompson's research paid off. Lieutenant Colonel Michael Brumage, MD, division surgeon, 1st Infantry Division, initially thought it was too risky. But Thompson "showed me that he had a comprehensive knowledge of his body, his diet, his insulin needs, and that he also had an in-depth trouble-shooting plan," Brumage said.

Thompson had the permission he needed, but with a few conditions: He would carry an 8-month supply of insulin, catheters, spare blood glucose meters, and syringes everywhere he went. And if his glucose levels fluctuated too much, or if his health was in danger, he would be on the next plane back to Germany.

In Iraq

After that initial 2-day drive into the heart of Iraq, Thompson traveled around the country, visiting the 1st Infantry's various units. "I kept multiple baggies of food with me all the time—Nutri-Grain bars, power bars, any quick source of food I could pick up at the dining hall."

When things were relatively calm, soldiers could just wear bulletproof vests. But most of the time they had to wear full combat gear: vests, body armor, eye protection, helmet, ammunition, and supplies.

The whole ensemble weighs at least 60 pounds, and it was too much for Thompson's pump. In April 2004, the pump broke under the pressure. It was the worst possible time. Thompson and his peers were subsisting on prepackaged, nonperishable meals that feed soldiers when regular food supplies are for some reason cut off. These meals made it hard for Thompson to calculate carbohydrates, and without his pump, it was hard to keep a steady supply of insulin.

But Thompson told himself he was not going to be sent home. He checked his levels 10 times a day for the next 4 weeks until his replacement pump arrived, and he put the new pump in a lower pocket to protect it.

The checking and emergency planning paid off: Thompson's A1C during his time in Iraq stayed at about 6.5 percent.

Home Again

Summer came, bringing a blast of unimaginable heat. By June the whole division had stopped wearing full body armor because it was simply unbearable. Temperatures hit upwards of 130°F; even the rock candy Thompson's mother had sent from home melted.

The desert air, especially if there was any wind, "felt like sticking your head in the oven while cooking the Thanksgiving turkey," Thompson said.

But Thompson was holding his own, and so were his pouches. He never even needed the refrigerator. And by February of this year, Thompson had completed his tour of duty in Iraq.

Thompson thinks often of his time there, of that harrowing drive to Tikrit, of the sinking feeling he had the day he realized his pump was broken.

He also feels proud, because while the final chapter of the war in Iraq has yet to be written, Thompson waged his own war, of sorts, to be part of the experience there.

And he won.

Laurie Meyers is an associate editor of Diabetes Forecast.

Fit For Duty: Diabetes And The Military

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and many state anti-discrimination laws, it is unlawful for an employer to have a blanket ban that prohibits anyone with diabetes from holding a given job. Rather, an employer must look at each case individually. The exception is when another federal law or regulation "trumps" those laws. This happens very rarely. One place it does happen, however, is in the military, where people with diabetes are prohibited from serving. However, as Staff Sergeant Mark Thompson's story shows, the military has made some exceptions.

The keys to staying in the military following a diabetes diagnosis are having:

• Excellent management of your diabetes
• Health care professionals on your side who can explain to military review panels how diabetes affects you and why it will not prevent you from doing your job

For more information, call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-342-2383. You can request a free packet on employment discrimination. You can also ask to speak with the legal advocate about your situation.

           Nat Strand 她是第一型糖尿病友，也是位醫師。 參加美國真人實境秀(Reality TV) Amazing Race比賽，擊敗所有參賽者脫穎而出贏得百萬冠軍。她除了要面對比賽與競爭，更要控制飲食以及調整胰島素的劑量，控制好血糖以免在比賽過程當中發生休克的危險. 她的事蹟被美國糖尿病學會刊載在官網上，鼓勵糖尿病友控制好血糖.  只要你願意就做得到。全文請參閱 :  http://forecast.diabetes.org/magazine/features/nat-strands-amazing-race

以下摘錄部分內容 :  

          Amazing Race比賽從在北極圈狗拉雪橇到在阿曼峽谷跳傘,再到韓國速度滑冰和在俄羅斯的馬鈴薯田​​的辛苦工作，她和最好的朋友和隊友Kat Chang在短短的23天共完成了32000英裡的比賽，足跡遍布四大洲，10個國家和31個城市. 她們以自己的方式追求100萬美元的獎金。

          Nat說:“你能想象一名糖尿病患者在最困難的情況下比賽，資源有限，沒有規律的時間表以至無法控製你的食物，比賽常常是非常的間歇性，還要面對時區的變化。”

           Nat精力充沛，今年32歲。在12歲時被確診患有1型糖尿病，但這並沒有讓阻止她，成為一名醫生，跑馬拉松，滑雪，潛水，或旅行以及做任何事情。盡管如此，她知道，這比賽是她最大的生理和心理的挑戰︰“老實說，我想了一下，如果我能做到這一點，我可以做任何事情。“ Nat 說。

比賽當中如何盡量減輕背包的重量, 是很重要的事!

因此，Nat花了幾個星期時間和她的醫療小組討論，以確定可能將一個月的所需全部放在背包裡，以便能在世界各國比賽。 “說實話，我最大的擔憂是，Nat並不適合這些愚蠢的背包，我們不得不做出一些艱難的決定，留下重要的東西在背後”她的糖尿病衛教師，卡羅琳羅伯遜說。羅伯遜提出寶貴的意見，把胰島素幫浦和輸液器放入拉鏈式袋，以節省空間。並使用FRIO樂悠在溫暖的地方使胰島素維持冷溫(請參閱下方原文)。她還建議隊友Kat在她的袋子放入全套的用品，以免背包遺失或被盜以至於Nat無胰島素可用。

Nat Strand's Amazing Race across four continents, the $1M prize… and the FRÍO® Wallet!

American Diabetes Association: Diabetes Forecast May 2011

A physician with type 1 circles the globe and wins on reality TV

Does the stress of having to bungee jump off a 150-foot crane (when you’re deathly afraid of heights) affect your blood glucose? Is it possible to get some much-needed rest if your insulin pump is beeping every hour on the hour—and you’re sleeping on a sidewalk in the middle of a busy foreign city? How do you dose insulin when you’re eating a boiled sheep’s head—eyeballs, tongue, and all?

These are just a few of the absurd quandaries faced by Nat Strand, the first contestant with diabetes on The Amazing Race, the rugged, exhausting reality-TV competition. From dog sledding in the Arctic Circle and rappelling down a canyon in Oman to speed skating in South Korea and toiling in Russian potato fields (while dressed like babushkas, of course), she and best friend and teammate Kat Chang traveled a total of 32,000 miles in just 23 days, sprinting their way across four continents, 10 countries, and 31 cities, all in pursuit of a $1 million prize.

How do you pack light when you have diabetes—and absolutely no idea where you’re going?

Essentially, The Amazing Race is a worldwide scavenger hunt that pits 11 teams of two against one another, in an ongoing quest to solve cryptic clues that lead them from one new city or country to another. As they trek from place to place using a set allowance to cover expenses, the duos must compete in a series of challenges—anything from skydiving to a memory test to drinking a goblet of pig’s blood—with myriad “detours,” “roadblocks,” setbacks, and switcheroos along the way. The goal is to finish all tasks and arrive at each destination’s “pit stop” checkpoint first, in order to win prizes or an advantage of some sort—and, ultimately, to avoid elimination.

All of the crazy riddles, bizarre brain games, and harrowing physical tests notwithstanding, Strand insists that the most difficult aspect of her reality-TV gig, by far, was cramming everything she’d need to stay healthy into a single carry-on backpack: a month’s worth of insulin, test strips, syringes, batteries, alcohol swabs, snacks, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), several blood glucose meters, glucose tablets and gel, a glucagon emergency kit, extra pump reservoirs, cartridges, and more.

“I didn’t know what countries we’d be in, what the weather would be like, or what we’d be doing or eating,” she recalls. “I had to think of every single disaster that could happen and try to plan ahead for it.” This careful preparation was even more critical because the show’s producers gave her no special treatment and steadfastly refused to carry extra insulin or other supplies during taping, which took place in May and June of last year.

As a result, Strand spent weeks working with her medical team to determine exactly what she might need for a month of madcap globe-trotting. “My biggest concern, honestly, was that she wouldn’t be able to fit everything in the stupid backpack and that we’d have to make some hard decisions about leaving important stuff behind,” says her diabetes educator, Carolyn Robertson, RN, ACNS, BC-ADM, CDE, of the University of California–Los Angeles. Robertson made valuable suggestions like repacking bulky pump reservoirs and infusion sets into Ziploc bags to save space and bringing a handy-dandy Frio pouch to keep insulin cold in warmer climes. She also recommended that Chang carry a full set of supplies in her bag as well, in case one backpack was lost, stolen, or held up in customs.

“I had so much [diabetes-related] stuff that I didn’t even pack a hairbrush,” says Strand, lamenting her “pretty crazy hair” throughout the race, usually kept in place by her trademark blue bandanna. “But thankfully, I had absolutely everything I really needed.”

“我幾年前就有Frio樂悠了,我想不通為什麼不能每一個糖尿病患都擁有一個Frio. 我最近去墨西哥旅行,那是一個相當偏僻的地方,我靠我的Frio保護我的胰島素. 我承認,不誇張的說. 那裡熱浪襲人,但每天早上我總是帶著Frio袋到酒吧或食堂. 第一天上午是有點複雜,我的西班牙語說的不好，但隨行的人很快明白,一旦有需要,就會提供一杯冰水,一點問題都沒有的. 我們吃早餐時. 只用一杯水浸濕了我的Frio袋,一切就都搞定了。我真是幸福的女人. 在那裡，胰島素得到了完全有效的保護, 我的血糖試紙，也是被保護的十全十美.整個行程是我一生都不會忘記的. 如果我必須倚賴冰塊或其他的方法,我就做不到這點. 現下，我會毫不猶豫地去旅行,因為我知道我的胰島素有Frio來保護，我一點也不用擔心. 順便說一下，我利用一切機會,讓其他糖尿病友也知道這是一個偉大的產品.”

Peggy Ruedi

Mexico Trip: "I have had my FRÍO® for several years"..

"I have had my FRÍO® for several years and can't imagine why every diabetic doesn't have their own. Recently I took a trip into a fairly remote area of Mexico and relied on my FRÍO® to get me through. I admit to some initial reservations. It was very hot where I was. Each morning I took my Frio pouch to the bar/dining area. The first morning it was a little tricky explaining what I wanted in my weak Spanish, but once the attendant understood I needed my pouch to be cooled in water, it was no problem. I came to breakfast. He soaked the pouch in the ice and water in his drink cooler, and I was a happy woman. The insulin stayed effective for the time I was there, and my blood glucose was perfect. The trip was something I will never forget. If I'd had to rely on freezer packs, I could not have done this. And, I won't hesitate to go on future adventures because I know my FRÍO® will get me through with no worries. By the way, I take every chance I get to let other diabetics know what a great product this is."

Peggy Ruedi

“糖尿病患面臨的主要問題之一,是遇到極端海拔高度的溫度過冷或過熱都會有可能導致胰島素變質. 一直以來,我們都在不斷努力去尋找方便攜帶的組合包裝、用來完善的儲存胰島素。如人所願，FRIO冷卻產品就正是我們所期待的。產品本身就代表著品性,代表著世界的標準. 事實上我已經開始使用它不僅僅是在極端的環境下(我打算在今年夏天使用). 我向所有的需要儲存胰島素的糖尿病患推薦FRIO冷卻包來儲存胰島素! ”

摘自2000年IDEA FRIO冷卻袋審查意見摘錄

主席Todd Clare, IDEA 2000.
Cerro Aconcagua 探險隊

PS:Cerro Aconcaqua 南美洲安第斯山脈的第二高峰。地處阿根廷門多薩省西北端﹐臨近智利邊界﹐

Expedition to Cerro Aconcagua, IDEA 2000

"One of the main issues faced by a diabetic at extreme elevations is the temperature ranges encountered, and the potential for insulin to denature if it gets too hot or too cold. In the past, we have tried combinations of creative packing, placement, and a little luck to let the insulin survive. In summary, my experience with FRIO Cooling products has been exceptional, seemed to protect the insulin from freezing, it was snowing and there were 70 mile per hour winds, my FRIO wallet forgot to find its way back into my sleeping back one night, I woke up and my insulin was fine just as cool (or warm) as it had been for the whole trip. The product itself delivers on its promises, and will become a standard piece of equipment in my gear bag. In fact, I have begun using it in less extreme environments (I plan to use it this summer). I would personally recommend the FRIO cooling wallets to any diabetic who needs to take their insulin with them"

Extract from IDEA 2000 Review of FRÍO® Cooling Wallet Performance
during the Expedition to Cerro Aconcagua (height 22800 feet) Todd Clare, President, IDEA 2000

 “這個保冷袋真正的保存了我的胰島素﹗在蘇格蘭東南部的旅行中，那時氣溫真的很高. 我還發即使在很高的海拔，它也能提供足夠保護，以防止胰島素凍結﹗[聖母峰越野馬拉松]. ”

Dawn Kenwright, 99年聖母峰越野馬拉松.

"The bags were essential for me to keep my insulin cool during the lowland trek when temperatures were very high. I also found that they provided sufficient insulation to prevent insulin from freezing at high altitude [during the Everest Marathon]

Dawn Kenwright
First Lady, Everest Marathon '99

Everest Marathon是世界上最高的越野馬拉松賽, Dawn Kenwright女士曾在1989年贏得該項比賽. 但隨後便第一型糖尿病發,在血糖控制良好以及醫師的同意之下於1999年再度參賽. 除了必須克服氣候與高海拔的不適感, 還必須在嚴酷環境下控制飲食與調整胰島素注射的劑量. 另一方面也考驗胰島素保存的問題. Kenwright 再次參賽並且能夠在惡劣環境下控制好血糖,希望帶給糖尿病患者正面的鼓舞.

他的故事請看以下聯結:

 http://www.everestmarathon.org.uk/index.php/previous-races/1999-race-report