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Holiday Gift Guide for People Living with Diabetes
We're making a list and checking it twice! But this time our list is curated specifically for people living with diabetes! Here are some of our favorite products that make great stocking stuffers and awesome gifts:
Pump Peelz
Pump Peelz makes thousands of designs for all of your diabetes devices! Whether you have a Dexcom, an OmniPod, Medtronic, Animas Ping, or even a smart watch you've come to the right place for diabetes accessories!
Myabetic
Our friends at Myabetic make fashionable cases and other products that add a little style to carrying your meters, insulin, lancets, test strips and more!
Genteel Lancing Device
The Genteel® Lancing Device allows those with diabetes to draw the perfect drop of test blood without the pain! Perfect for kids and adults alike that are sick of sore finger tips.
GlucoLift Glucose Tablets
Apple Watch or Pebble Watch
Two watches in two different price ranges! Not only do they tell time, but they can remotely access your Dexcom CGM data and have it readily available on your wrist.
Sugar Linings
Our friend and diabetes role model Sierra Sandison is an inspiration for everyone living with diabetes! Her book, Sugar Linings, is a great read for anyone with t1d and their loved ones!
Screen Protectors
Not only does Pump Peelz make awesome graphics for devices, but we also have a wide variety of accessories including screen protectors! Keep your Dexcom and Tandem scratch free and looking good as new!
Spibelt
Designed for athletes and those living an active lifestyle, Spibelts are a great product to keep all of your diabetes supplies handy!
American Girl Diabetes Accessories
For the little girl or little girl at heart! American Girl has little insulin pumps and other diabetes supplies to pair with your favorite doll.
Oh, Baby! Emily and Scott are expecting!
baby boy at 12 weeks
Springing Forward to Easter!
Is it really March already!? Wow! This year seems to be flying by! And it will go by one hour faster on Sunday the 13th as it will be the start of Daylight Savings Time, so don't forget to set those clocks, insulin pumps, CGMs, and meters all ahead one hour!
Easter is just around the corner, and so will be lots of fun activities like coloring or dying Easter eggs, filling little plastic eggs with prizes, and getting plans together for Easter egg hunts! I can remember getting to dye eggs when I was a kid and it was SO much fun, but it can also be a messy job as well. Did you know there is an awesome way to dye your eggs in rainbow or tie-dye fashion using food coloring and whipped cream?! I didn’t until I saw someone post it on Facebook. It looks totally fun!! I can’t wait to do this with my kids!! (Keep in mind, the link above uses shaving cream - which is not recommended. Follow the same instructions, but with whipped cream or Cool-whip instead!)
Of course, we also loved getting baskets of goodies from the Easter bunny! Mine would be filled with sugar free Russel Stover “turtles” (chocolate covered caramel and pecans) and any other flavor sugar-free chocolates, but those were my absolute favorites!! Now, with my kids, the Easter bunny fills their baskets will all sorts of little trinket toys, books, and their favorite treat too.
You know another thing that goes great in those Easter baskets? PUMP PEELZ! There are LOTS to choose from for almost any diabetes device you have. The Crystalized pattern is a pretty neat one for Spring/Easter! And, if you want a different design than what is available, remember we also have the custom Designer Tool that will allow you to upload and order any design you want! Please keep in mind, though, that custom orders take a bit longer to make and send, so order those sooner if you want them in plenty of time before Easter!
New Year, New Products!
The new year is here and is in full swing. We are staying super busy, though, trying to bring you new products to decorate your diabetes devices!
If you look around the site, we have launched a few new Peelz lines this year, including ones for the Livongo InTouch and OneTouch Verio Sync! We are also working on one to fit the Bayer Contour Next Link meters (that also fits the regular non-link version as well) so that Medtronic users can also mix and match their pump and meter skins! And, we've also added the Pebble Time Peelz to our lineup as well, and they will work on both the Time and Time Steel!
We also have started a new line of Dexcom transmitter Peelz, so that you can dress up your transmitters to match everything else!
Why be plain when you can personalize? Not that being plain is bad, but if you’re like me, a little bit of personalization makes it seem not so drab to use the medical equipment I have to use every single day. I like that I can mix and match patterns or choose a pattern and get it for all of my things. Either way, seeing that little bit of design makes me happy. That’s why I love Pump Peelz. I can change things up quickly, keeping my d-devices looking fresh and cute.
Speaking of fresh and cute, PumpPeelz has 30 new designs to choose from this season! A few favorites that we have in our store are the Crystalized and Watercolor Heart patterns. But the top favorite right now is the Amethyst Sparkle for the Dexcom transmitters. Who doesn’t love a little purple sparkle!? 
As always, we want to do our best at not only making good, quality peels of you, we also want to be the best we can in our customer service to you. We love what we do, and we want to make sure it shows! If you’re not happy with your order or if you have any problems applying your peels, please reach out to our friendly customer service team by emailing us at hello (at) pumppeelz.com and referencing your order number.
Thank you guys for your continued support and helping to make Pump Peelz a success! Wishing you all the best in 2016!
It's The Holiday Season!
The holiday season is here and I cannot be more merrier! I don’t know what it is about this time of year, but I seem to get bit peppier in my step. I guess it’s because of the pretty lights and decorations, the smells of apple-cinnamon pies or Christmas tree candles, and the music that fills my heart with joy to sing.
This year, I took on a little project of making hand and foot print ornaments with the kids out of salt-dough. It was super simple to do, just had a lot of passive time for baking. There are a lot of recipes for it on Pinterest, but the one I used was 1 cup salt, 1 cup flour, and 1/2 cup water. Granted, I had to add a bit more flour, so I would honestly cut back to just 1/3 cup. After needing and rolling out the dough, I got my kids together and had my son make a handprint, and I did a footprint of my baby girl. Then, I cut around the impressions, removed the excess, used a straw to make a hole for the ribbon later, and smoothed the edges. All that had to be done next was to bake them at 200 degrees F for 4 hours (yes, FOUR hours!), flipping them over after 2 hours, and then let them cool. After that, just sand the edges down and paint however your artistic heart desires. Here’s ours!
Of course, there are lots of ways to get creative with ornaments if you’re someone who likes to have an eclectic or mantle garland. Lots of people make ornaments out of used Omnipod pods. All you have to do is take the pod tape off of the back, trim the canula away, and use a bit of hot-glue to secure a ribbon to the back. Some even use stick-on felt to cover the back and sandwich the ribbon between them. While our Peelz are reusable for maybe one or two more applications, you can also leave them on the pods and use it as the pod’s decoration. We have a lot of neat and festive peelz this season that would look awesome in your holiday decor!
Now, I'm not usually a very crafty person, but these are two easy-to-do craft projects that are fun and simple!
Don’t forget, we love seeing all of the photos from our wonderful customers, so keep them coming! Be sure to tag us so we are sure to see them!
Happy holidays!
Deck Your Device with New Holiday Peelz Designs
The holidays are right around the corner and that means lots of get-togethers and time with family and friends. If you’re looking for a few fun ideas to add just the right accessory to your winter wardrobe, we have just the thing for you. Take a look at some of our latest holiday-themed insulin pump peelz and deck your device for the season.
Shimmer and shine
Nothing reminds us of the warm glow of the holidays more than this design. Each golden sparkle captures the energy and excitement of fun parties, twinkling lights, and New Year’s fireworks. Whether you are going out or staying in, the Gold Sparkle is sure to add some glitz to your holidays.
O Christmas tree
Crank up the holiday music, grab the decorations from the attic, and round up your loved ones as you decorate for the season. This whimsical design is sure to bring a smile to your face as you count down the days until Christmas. Fun colors and shapes mean you can accessorize this Swirling Tree for Omnipod Peelz with just about anything.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
The Snowflake for Dexcom includes a myriad of complex shapes and patterns, reflecting the intricate designs that occur when ice crystals fall through the Earth’s atmosphere. Shades of blue and white help bring the Snowflake Peelz to life. Throw on your winter coat, grab your sled, and go play in the snow.
Will you accessorize your holiday ensemble with a winter-themed Peelz design? For more inspiration, check out our entire selection of holiday insulin pump Peelz.
Diabetes Awareness Month is Here!
October seems to usher in the start of the busiest season of the year. It's the transition from Fall to Winter and monthly activities and festivities that bring everyone closer together before ringing in the New Year.
While October has seemed to fly right past us, November will always be the month that we hold near and dear to our hearts: National Diabetes Awareness Month. As a community, we hold several events during the month to celebrate as well.
On November 1st, the JDRF this year is raising awareness for Type 1 through an online T1D Looks Like Me "Thunderclap" initiative, where you "donate" your social media status to them by allowing them to post a message to your account for you. No need to remember to share - it's done automatically for you as well as all of the others who have signed up, essentially raising a loud voice or presence online to kick off Diabetes Awareness Month.
On November 14th, as always, we all come together - Type 1, Type 2, LADA, etc - to raise awareness and spread as much blue support as possible on World Diabetes Day, either though wearing blue, sharing selfies with blue circles, lighting our houses blue, or even petitioning for monuments to be lit blue - which several have over the years! It's the day we look back and remember where we would be if it weren't for the discovery of insulin by Dr. Fredrik Banting, and wish him a Happy Birthday. Blue cupcakes, anyone?
Throughout the month (from October 14th - November 30th, actually), The Diabetes Hands Foundation (DHF) hosts the BigBlueTest - an initiative to get up and get moving. It's a fun, exciting way to get moving and log activity (at least 14 minutes [in honor of WDD Nov 14th]) and in turn, $1 for every entry is given toward life saving diabetes supplies, education, and services for those in need. So get up, get moving, and hep others out! And it doesn't have to be activity where you dress in workout clothes. You can log a workout by vacuuming the floor or playing ball with the kids. Get creative and get moving!
Along with turning things blue on the 14th, we also celebrate by wearing blue every Friday with the Diabetes Community Advocacy Foundation (DCAF). Granted, it's a year-long initiative, but it is really amped up and rallied for during the month of November. All you have to do is dress in blue, snap a picture, and share it with the hashtag of #BlueFridays. It may not seem like much, but sometimes it's seeing the sea of Blue support that helps others know they are not alone.
Of course, it's also the month of feasting, celebrating, and giving thanks for all that we have and those we have in our lives. Food seems to be a big deal around holidays, doesn't it? Well, it doesn't have to be heavy or carb-loaded if you don't want it to be. One side dish I've never really liked but always seems to be served is Deviled Eggs. I used to think they were "yucky" as a kid, but now that I've gotten older, I've come to really like them. They're almost as versatile as a casserole can be, and provide lots of protein and fat to help balance out blood sugar. Here's my favorite way to prepare them:
- 4.00 large, Eggs - Whole, raw
- 1.00 dash, Salt, table
- 1.00 dash, pepper, black
- 1.00 tsp, Worchestire Sauce
- 2.00 Tablespoon, Real Mayonnaise
- 2.00 tbsp(s), Honey Mustard Sauce
- Boil 4 eggs on medium-high heat for approximately 10 minutes. Allow to cool.
- Cut in half lengthwise and scoop out the yolks into a bowl. Mix with other ingredients.
- Add to a sandwich bag, but off one tip, and pipe into the egg whites.
- Chill and serve.
This preparation makes (2) 4 deviled egg servings and has 4g of carb (like, a half carb per piece!) per my recipe calculations on MyFitnessPal. Others have suggested adding Paprika or even crumbled bacon on top! I haven't tried it that way myself but it sounds delish! A deviled egg along side of some baked ham or turkey and maybe some roasted asparagus or other veggies would be an awesome lunch or dinner for me!
We wish you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, and we hope that you have big plans to support and advocate for Diabetes Awareness this month!
How I Lowered My HbA1c
At the beginning of this year, I saw my endocrinologist for my usual quarterly visit. The appointment started off a little like this: "Your A1c is 7.9." Now to some of you that number may be dreadful and to others that number may desirable. For me, that was my lowest point in taking care of my diabetes over the last five years. When I left the appointment, I knew something had to give.
Realizing things had to change was the first and most difficult step.
This was about me defeating diabetes and regaining control. I wanted to succeed so I started small. First thing was first, I needed to evaluate my daily routine, the food I was eating and how it was impacting my blood sugar, how much insulin I was taking, and the amount of exercise I was getting. It sounds like a lot, I know, but just observing taught me so much!
Believe it or not, I decided to take a break from my pump (Animas Ping) and do multiple daily injections to try to make myself more aware and conscious of the food I was eating and how much insulin I was using. Needless to say I was hesitant to lose the convenience of the pump but felt it was necessary in part of this learning experience. I have not looked back since that day I unhooked my leash. Now, I am not saying I will never use an insulin pump again because I know that day will come! For now, I am doing better than ever.
Getting my long acting insulin correct made the biggest difference!
After losing the pump and observing myself for a while, I began to make changes one at a time. I started by working on really nailing down my long acting insulin needs. Next, I had to stop eating things that were not agreeing with my blood sugar. What had to go? Bagels, cereal of any kind, popcorn, having a cup of coffee first thing in the morning (my insulin resistance is terrible in the morning so I have to wait until the afternoon to drink coffee - meaning coffee + milk and Truvia only), pretzels, and a lot of other carb heavy foods just were not cutting it. Looking at that list right now, I realize how bad those foods are anyhow!
I found foods that I like and work well for my blood sugar, especially in the morning!
Here are some new things I am eating these days:
- plain Greek yogurt with a tablespoon of protein powder + PB2 (think cookie dough yogurt - yum!)
- protein mug cakes (recipes here)
- low carb microwave bread (recipe here)
- peanuts and almonds
- broccoli + other veggies, and yet more protein (usually in the form of chicken or eggs).
Eating better and getting over those foods that were just ruining my blood sugar anyway made me feel so much better!
Exercise also makes me feel better not only physically but mentally too! To keep active, I run and/or walk every day. Exercise always lowers my blood sugar tremendously so I use that to my advantage! I track my activity levels daily and try to be as consistent as possible.
Probably the most challenging thing I learned was not to be scared of insulin.
I am sure I am not alone when I say that insulin, while a lifesaver, can be scary. Thinking about how powerful just a few drops are can be intimidating! In the past, and sometimes still, I had the mentality that I was safer with higher blood sugar readings than with lower. Well, in the short term I might feel safer but in the long term I am damaging my body.
My fear of going too low needed to stop. I am living with type 1 diabetes so I need insulin and that is that. I monitor my blood sugar with my Dexcom and do finger stick checks frequently. While lows still happen the highs are far and fewer in between.
Unfortunately, there is no secret or trick to lowering your HbA1c! It has taken me nearly this entire year to get to my HbA1c goal of less than 6.5!
I am not a medical professional of any kind so please don't take what works for me as a prescription for lower A1c success! Simply devote yourself to your health and you will find the best way to achieve your goals with the help of your medical professionals!
Fall Is Here!
Tis the season for colorful leaves rustling around, pumpkin patch fun, hayrides, and of course, all of the seasonal pies and treats! Fun festivities abound with pumpkin carving contests, garage sales, and bake sales that include any possible variety of apple and pumpkin pies that the mind can imagine! Not to mention wonderful, warm Apple Cider too!
My fondest memories as a kid were trips to the mountains in North Carolina around Maggie Valley and Cherokee. The mountains looked like a flowing blanket of beautiful hues of oranges, reds, yellows and greens. There was a distinct smell and feel to the air that could only be described as Fall in my mind - the woodsy, cool and crisp air that would awaken and renew the soul. It’s why Fall is my favorite time of the year. In fact, that’s why I chose October as the month I wanted to get married!
And, of course, it’s October, so we can’t forget Halloween! My family plans costumes for the kids months before now, and a few of us even dress their families up in themed costumes for the family. Last year, my brother in law and his wife were bee-keepers and their baby girl was the bee! How cute!? This year, my nephew and niece who are only 5 months apart are going as Pebbles and Bam Bam. Of course, there’s the task of decorating the Trick-or-Treat buckets for all of those yummy treats they’ll be collecting. Speaking of treats, there are many handy charts going around that show the carb counts for all of the awesome fun-sized candies that we diabetics stock up on. Most are usually 10-15g of carb which is the perfect serving size for treating lows, and this time of year gives us ample variety to choose from (Nerds are my favorites!) Here’s one of my favorite charts by Diabetic Angels on Pinterest:
Don’t forget we have the Create Your Own design tool now on our Pump Peelz site that you can use to make the perfect “costume” for your diabetes devices,
or choose from one of our available Halloween designs, such as Candy Corn, Pumpkin Swirl, or my favorite, Spider Web.
