Tesch West

Hey everyone! My name is Tesch West, Welcome to my blog.

 

June 30, 2008

I returned yesterday from my trip to Jacksonville, Florida. My mom and I had a great time! We attended an ADA camp called Camp JADA on the campus of Jacksonville University. I talked with the campers about how kids can get involved in the fight against diabetes by becoming a diabetes advocate. Then we split into 6 groups to form a mini congress. Each group proposed a bill and I picked one to debate. We decided to discuss the bill designed to get rid of all homework as our practice legislation.

Two of the groups were legislators in charge of examining the good things and bad things about the bill. Then we called up “private citizens” to state their opinions. I was completely surprised that all of the “citizens” who spoke were in favor of keeping homework! Finally we voted and the bill did not pass. The group of probably 100 campers broke into applause when I said, “Congratulations we get to keep our homework!”

Once our congress ended its session I was able to make the connections to what our legislators do everyday and why we need to get involved. Our legislators discuss issues such as (1) more government funds for diabetes research programs (2) Ensuring equal protection for people living with diabetes at school and work and (3) Guaranteeing access to medical care for all people with diabetes. All of these issues will affect our lives as people fighting this disease and we should have the capability to states our opinions.

We gave the campers this chance in the end when the campers wrote letters to Governor Charlie Crist, the governor of Florida. I had a great time and I really appreciated the opportunity to see, first hand, the excitement in my audiences’ eyes when they got involved with their community.

 

June 22, 2008

Well I woke up today with 3 test strips tangled in my hair and 1 stuck to my leg. . . Is that normal? Does that ever happen to you?

So far summer has been a blast! I’m glad I still have two months left of fun before my senior year in high school. I’ll be back with more blogs.

June 15 - 20, 2008

I left good ol’ Utah to drive to Las Vegas, Nevada with 6 people from Skyline High School and 1 (not including myself) from Olympus High School for our National Debate Tournament. This was an amazing experience! I got through 6 rounds of extemporaneous speaking, in which you pick a topic from 3 choices and have 30 minutes to prepare a 7 minute memorized speech using as many statistics and quotations as possible. I was able to watch rounds of others as well and I learned what I need to do to improve my speaking.

After the tournament we toured ‘the Strip’ where Las Vegas sports all of its tallest hotels and attractions. We saw replicas of wonders such as the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Empire State Building, and Excalibur’s Castle. Our expedition also included Coke World, MGM, the Bellagio Hotel, and MnM World.

It was fun exploring the city, but I am glad to be home now and out of the 116º weather. One of the coolest parts of the trip was the acquisition of my new status as an NFL member. That stands for National Forensics League (debate) but I still love to freak out my friends when they think I’m playing football.

June 14, 2008

I rode in the Tour de Cure. This is our annual bike ride for the ADA and Utah is phenomenal! We broke the record for the largest team in the country, Select Health. Every year Utah raises thousands of dollars that are vitally important to funding research, education, and advocacy. I have a confession to make: I’m not a biker. I took the 25 mile ride and I had only been riding my bike for about 2 weeks prior to this event. I was hoping I could finish the ride because I had no idea how long 25 miles was!

We arrived in Brigham City early in the morning. There were giant colorful ADA tents and dozens of volunteers. Everyone was wearing their biking kits (the matching spandex outfit). I told my mom that if you had asked me a month ago if I would ever be seen in spandex the answer would have been no, but here I was with matching gloves and everything. The ride was fantastic!

I was absolutely taken aback by how gorgeous Utah is. I love the mountains and the greenery and when I ride my bike I get the chance to appreciate the sounds, sights, and smells. In the end I finished. Yea! We had some lunch and chatted with friends. Then when we got in the car to make the drive home I fell asleep immediately.

June 13, 2008

Friday the 13th! Kind of spooky but this was my birthday. I turned 17! Crazy I know! I swear I just got used to being 16 and now I’m a year older. Well I woke up to my mom and little sister singing happy birthday to me. My older sister Kalyn was on her senior trip in Florida. Then I went with my mom to KJZZ TV where I did a quick interview. I talked about the ADA and what we fight for. The focus was also on the Tour de Cure. Afterwards I went shopping with my friend Sophie.

When we finished shopping we sat a while in my favorite bookstore. This is my favorite place to relax because it has such a great environment. Not to mention you can always find a story to catch your interest... and they smell really good! Finally that evening I went to dinner with my family and then my friends took me to get ice cream. It was a great birthday and I enjoyed it.

 

June 12, 2008

View some of my photos taken during ADA's 68th Scientific Session.

June 9, 2008

San Francisco, CA - ADA's 68th Scientific Session
at 12:45 p.m.

Well it looks like I will be flying home to Salt Lake City today at 5:30pm and unfortunately my adventure must conclude. This has been the most fantastic experience. I am still blown away by the massive number of people here to learn more about diabetes. I see this event as the beginning of a new ripple. Tomorrow the 68th Scientific Session will close its curtains. All of these physicians, researchers, and endocrinologists will head back to their home states and countries where they will spread the new knowledge they have about diabetes. Considering that there have been over 14,000 people here I can only imagine how far this knowledge will travel. This is literally going to change the world and I’m sitting here at my computer watching it happen.
           
I want to thank all of the people here: The researchers who have spent years to find answers to questions that might make living with diabetes a little easier; the media and reporters ensuring that the public has a chance to see what is going on; the ADA volunteers who have spent long hours planning this event (they actually booked the Moscone Convention Center in 1995 when I was 4 yr old!).

I’ve had experiences here that have been inspiring, educational, and motivational and I just wanted to thank everyone who made it possible for me to be here and who made it possible for this event to take place. I hope that all of this information will travel not just to the people living with diabetes but also to the general public, because we need more diabetes education. 

Elliot Yamin and I agreed during our interview that we hear strange questions about diabetes. He said he was once asked, “Oh you have diabetes. That means you can’t wash your clothes in bleach. Right?”

Well despite the exaggeration, few people know what diabetes is.  I am glad we have events such as this to help us spread awareness.  One day we might not be stopped in the airports and asked to remove our cell phones (insulin pumps) or asked by our schools if we can eat sugar. The more people know about this disease, the better chance they have of taking action against it.

So once again thanks for this amazing opportunity. I hope my blogs have provided a little insight.  Until the next time Adios, au revoir, do widzenia, hejdá, arrivederci, and goodbye!

June 9, 2008

San Francisco, CA - ADA's 68th Scientific Session
at 10:45 a..m.

Rituximab, Rosiglitazone, Rapamycin…the technical terms attached to research are absolutely crazy! And yet I can’t get enough of it. I went to another session discussing Therapeutic Interventions for Type 1 Diabetes. The presentations centered on identifying biological factors that can be blocked to prevent the development of Type 1 diabetes.

The first presentation used language that I was more familiar with, and as a result I learned a lot. It is believed that diabetes is caused by both genetic and environmental factors. There is also the idea of a trigger setting off the autoimmune reaction. The majority of these studies attempted to identify what that trigger is. I also learned that once the deterioration of beta cells begins, the body does not actually begin showing symptoms until about 80-90% of the beta cells have been destroyed. This is one of the reasons diabetes is so difficult to prevent because by the time we notice any changes in our health, it is generally too late.

This presentation focused on investigating the role of B cells (different from beta) in releasing the agents that destroy the beta cells. These agents are called antigens and here is where all of the crazy terms come in to use. Many of these tiny biological cells don’t even have names but rather codes like CDC22 and Foxp3. Confusing! I have honestly gained a new appreciation for how much work must go into research and how much knowledge must be accumulated to even understand the basics.

At the end of this morning’s presentation the researcher announced that they we trying this new method of preserving beta cells (by blocking the development of b cells) on mice and it had been successful. He then noted that they will be testing this treatment on humans! My heart literally jumped out of my chest! We are getting so close and research has come so far. Will I have enough time to finish medical school before they find the answer? Who knows but hey, I am willing to find a new career if it means finding a cure. 

June 8, 2008

San Francisco, CA - ADA's 68th Scientific Session
at 5:00 p.m.

One of the coolest parts of the Scientific Session is the Exhibit Hall. I have been gawking at this hall from outside for the past day and half.  I finally got the opportunity to visit today!

When we first walked into the hall it took a moment to regain my balance after staggering back from the sheer size of the exhibits. Some of the displays are two stories high and they are all painted in bright colors. We had a fantastic time looking at the continuous glucose monitors, pumps, and pens. There was even a Wii! The whole area was packed with attendees and exhibitors.

It was a great opportunity to look at all of the different products from nearly every pharmaceutical company you could think of. It was wonderful to see patients, doctors, and researchers all side by side interested in the same technology. I still haven’t seen all there was to see!

The most exciting part about the Exhibit Hall is that it symbolizes all of the options we have as people living with diabetes. We can pick the treatment plan that best fits our lifestyle. Whether it is a pen or a syringe or an insulin pump, the point is we have the choices. That is a luxury that was not available even 10 years ago. Walking through the exhibition hall made me grateful that the ADA holds events like this. 

June 8, 2008

San Francisco, CA - ADA's 68th Scientific Session
at 3:10 p.m.

While here in San Francisco I have felt like a real reporter complete with the vest, audio recorder, and press pass. It has been so much fun to role-play, but I just had my first real experience as an interviewer. I just spent the last 30 minutes talking with Elliot Yamin and Erin Tetreault. Well to start, I was incredibly nervous because Elliot Yamin is Global Ambassador for the Inspired by Diabetes contest run by the Eli Lilly company and the American Diabetes Association. And if that isn’t enough prestige, he also place third in the 5th season of American Idol, has been interviewed by Ellen DeGeneres, Regis and Kelly, and is well known for his hit single “Wait for You”.

Erin Tetreault is equally impressive as one of the four U.S. national grand prize winners of the inaugural Inspired by Diabetes contest. She was recognized for her magnificent painting, “Self-Acceptance”, which depicts a young woman wearing an insulin pump.

Once we started chatting I realized I didn’t really need to be nervous, considering that both Elliot and Erin were incredibly friendly and easy to talk to. We chatted about camps and struggles that we have had with diabetes. Erin praised the benefits of attending the camps. She described it as ‘a big support group’. She will be participating as a counselor this upcoming year at their camp in Idaho now that she is too old to be a camper because she admitted, ‘I can’t go a year without camp’. I agreed with her that attending a camp is a great way to gain self confidence around new friends experiencing many of the same trials together. I really enjoyed talking to Erin and found that we had a lot in common.

I’ve been telling my mom for the past year that if I had the chance to choose whether or not I would get diabetes I would not change a thing. It was an immense relief when Erin said the same thing. We have had so many opportunities to learn about ourselves and share our beliefs with others thanks to this disease that we can now look at it as a blessing. I am glad I’m not the only one who feels this way. This interview really helped me to see how fortunate we are to have been diagnosed with a disease in a time when it is manageable and we can still pursue our dreams.

Speaking of dreams, Elliot is living the life of fantasy. In talking with him I learned that he was diagnosed at the age of 16. Since I was diagnosed at 10, it is had for me to even fathom what it would be like to have lived a normal life for 16 years and then have to make the transition to a completely new lifestyle. When I asked him about this he agreed, “One day I was a regular kid and then all of the sudden I had this life long incurable disease.”

He said that the best thing to do is just learn to accept diabetes. It was absolutely inspiring that in the face of adversity he was still able to accomplish all that he has. He is quite the role model with his hard work ethic and determination. I won’t forget his advice to all kids living with diabetes, “Dream Big.”

Well what an experience. I was able to see two people who have succeeded in not only controlling their diabetes, but also in pursuing their goals. I am glad I got a chance to speak with these remarkable people and gain from two new perspectives of life with diabetes. Oh, and my sister Kalyn is so jealous I got to meet and talk to Elliot Yamin!

June 8, 2008

San Francisco, CA - ADA's 68th Scientific Session
at 12 noon.

Today I began my day with a focus on biology. The session I attended was on autoimmune pathogenesis. Just from the sound of the name I had a feeling it would be fairly technical and boy was it! I can’t honestly say that I kept up with everything but there were a few amazing presentations that I was able to follow. Basically the session was about different contributing factors that could potentially lead to diabetes (a pathogen is a disease causing agent).

One of the first studies was observing the possibility of environmental and viral (viruses and germs) impacts on the development of diabetes. I was astonished by the massive effort that was put into finding an answer to one question. They were studying two different groups of mice that were fed cereal diets, or complex high-carb foods, and HC diets, which were basically healthy food choices.

The final results proved that dietary factors played the largest role in the development of diabetes, more so than even germ exposure. This was fascinating to hear from a scientific perspective and reinforced my commitments to a healthy lifestyle. It is clear that with healthy food choices and exercise, the chances of developing diabetes (along with numerous other health complications) are greatly reduced.

Many of the presentations dealt with beta cells and insulin production. For me, one of the most fascinating observations was made in a group of participants in a study of people who had been living with type 1 diabetes for 50 years or more. This particular researcher found that these peoples’ bodies were still producing insulin (not effectively or to a significant amount that would allow them to stop their diabetes treatment) however the c-peptide (insulin) was present in their beta cells!

This session was marvelous to attend because I got to view the next steps of diabetes research.  The progress made me feel hopeful that we will one day have a cure. There were dozens of physicians and researchers from every walk of life, all studying aspects of diabetes that were unimaginably diverse. So many different fields of this disease are being investigated. I am sure this accumulation of knowledge will show results.

At this point, I can say that the strongest feeling I have had during Sci-Sessions is encouragement. I can see discovery and development right in front of my eyes. I feel encouraged to keep fighting because it is clear that we are winning. Today we can live longer and more normal lives. We control our diabetes rather than vice versa and that is a huge victory to me.

June 7, 2008

San Francisco, CA - ADA's 68th Scientific Session
at 10:00 p.m.

In my final session for the night I attended an advocacy session. Since our visit to Washington D.C. for the ADA’s Call to Congress, my family and I have been aware of the lack of funding available to keep diabetes research thriving. In this session we addressed several issues: the spread of diabetes in minority ethnic groups, the current progress of research and our advocacy priorities.
           
Dr. Henry Foster, a very prestigious physician, spoke regarding the prevalence of diabetes in minority ethnic groups. Unfortunately we learned that diabetes is far more likely in groups such as Africans Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders than in the general population. This was important because it translates directly into the need for these ethnic groups’ participation in clinical trials.
           
After Dr. Foster’s presentation, we watched an uplifting group of slides describing the insurmountable progress we have made in diabetes research. From the discovery of insulin in 1922 to continuous glucose monitoring systems today, diabetes management has come a long way. People living with diabetes have astronomically higher chances of survival today than they would have had 50 years ago. I greatly enjoyed this part of the presentation because it directly correlated with why we deserve funding: because there are millions of Americans living with diabetes and this research is making our quality of life so much better.
           
Finally, Dr. Anderson identified some of the legislative priorities for the American Diabetes Association. We need $20.8 million for CDC (Center for Disease Control) which is approximately $1 for every person living with diabetes in the U.S. We also need a 6.6% increase in funding for the NIH (National Institutes for Health).  Mind you these increases in funding are barely enough to keep up with inflation and as we have seen from the growing numbers of people living with diabetes, the funds are absolutely necessary. ADA also supports the American with Disabilities Act Restoration Act. This legislation will expand the definition of disability to include diabetes. For me, this means that I can’t be fired just because I have diabetes.  It also means that I deserve protection under the law regardless of how well I take care of my diabetes.
           
This session was absolutely fabulous because it was so empowering. I know now what I need to do and how to get it done. I can’t help but feel like I can run outside right now and change the world.

June 7, 2008

San Francisco, CA - ADA's 68th Scientific Session
at 5:42 p.m.

I just attended my first session discussing a new way to translate the A1c. I have blogged before about how difficult it is to live with all of the numbers that come attached to diabetes. Diabetes can be incredibly overwhelming; even just understanding the basics can be difficult. This new reading, called the eAG (estimated Average Glucose), will translate the A1c so that it is easier to apply to diabetes management. Allow me to explain:

The eAG is a number that you can calculate from your A1c. For example, the translation of a 7% A1c is a glucose reading (eAG) of 150. That means that if you have an A1c of 7%, your average glucose (eAG) is around 150. This is easier to interpret because while a 7% really doesn’t mean much to me, the number 150 is something I can relate to what I see on my meter 8 times a day.

After attending this session, this idea seemed so logical and useful that now the only question is when we can see this number (eAG) used regularly. The answer is incredibly soon. The ADA already has a website that will do the conversion: you type in your A1c and it will tell you your eAG.  Go to www.diabetes.org/AG to learn more about this. It is now only a matter of time before we see this new number in general practice and that is definitely something we can be excited about.

The research was amazing but what really struck me at the meeting was the diversity of the reporters. There were reporters from Switzerland and Poland. One of the physicians was from Sweden. I was absolutely astounded by the huge numbers of people attending and participating. I observed people from all across the world fighting diabetes and striving towards making life easier for people like me.

 

June 7, 2008

San Francisco, Ca - ADA's 68th Scientific Session
at 2:30 p.m.

I have just arrived in San Francisco! It is my first time traveling to the west coast. The event, Scientific Sessions, is gigantic! I was able to see the exhibit hall from the walkway, it is filled with so many different booths and displays. There are almost 15,000 people here!

It is exciting to just walk into the press room with all of the reporters working on their stories. Well I can’t wait to go to my first session and learn all that I can. The coolest part so far is that I get a press badge!! I’ll catch up with everyone later with more information about the latest research.

 

June 1, 2008

School is finally. . . almost over and there couldn't be a better way to start the summer than with the ADA's upcoming 68th annual Scientific Session. This event will be taking place in San Francisco, California from June 6 to June 10. I am so excited to attend and report back to everyone on Planet D about what's happening at the meeting!

There will be over 13,000 scientists, physicians and health care professionals from all around the world gathered together to share their latest findings on their paths to finding a cure for diabetes. There will also be new treatment recommendations and technology. I really can’t wait to get there and not just for the sights, but also for the feel of progress.

I have known for a while now that the ADA focuses on research, education, and advocacy, but to see the actual advancements, the new ideas, amazing and inspiring scientists revive the hope that this disease is getting more manageable and closer to a cure.

Diabetes can be a difficult thing to live with and we all know that. But we manage and take care of ourselves as best as we can. While this is an amazing feat to accomplish the only time we can truly feel like we are making any progress with this disease is through our research. When we get closer and closer to living normal lives we can honestly feel that we are defeating diabetes and that we are the people in charge of our lives. The 68th annual Scientific Session is event I’m excited to witness for this reason. To feel re-inspired do my best to continue fighting diabetes because I know it is going to get easier and I have a chance to eventually win the battle.

Be sure to check back this weekend, when I will be blogging from San Francisco!

 

May 10, 2008

As we celebrate Mother’s Day, what could be a better time to show your appreciation for the women who do so much for us all?

My mother is honestly the most amazing person I know. I have always said that my family and I were diagnosed 6 years ago and it is true. Diabetes is something that affects everyone I’m around. My sisters are healthier and more aware of nutrition, and my friends understand the workings of my disease, but my mother does it all. She deals with diabetes in a very different way than I do however she lives with it just as much. She reminds me to test, bolus, and watch my exercise. She thinks about diabetes at the same times that I do. However diabetes is difficult for her in the sense that she can only watch and give advice. I am the only one who has control over my diabetes and while she encourages me to do my best I am the only one who can take the action. Knowing this and how much she loves me inspires me to do the best I can in managing my diabetes. I control my disease to the best of my abilities not just for myself but also for my mother, sisters, friends, and family because I know they all love me too. My mother helped me realize that we all take care of ourselves for that reason: for the one we love, and diabetes is no different.

My mom is one superhero that is very real. She has more spidy-senses, super-strength, and premonition than all the cartoons combined. I can see these abilities when she takes care of me and my sisters.

I love my mom and I’m glad I have caught a few glimpses of everything she does so I can recognize how remarkable she is. Our mothers do more than we could possibly imagine and never ask for applause. On Mother’s Day we can finally give these amazing women the standing ovation they all deserve. Thanks again for everything you do! I LOVE YOU MOM!

May 3, 2008

I just returned from my first trip to Washington D.C for the ADA’s annual Call to Congress and it was absolutely amazing! When we first arrived we spent the first day training and learning how to communicate with our congressmen and their staff. We had some training that included role playing and I acted as the distracted senator and tried to sidetrack the constituents by asking random questions about school and waterskiing. It was really fun and we were all prepared when it came time to walk up to the Hill the next day!

We asked our legislators for three specific things this week: 1) $20.8 million for CDC (Center for Disease Control) programs (approximately $1 for every person living with diabetes in the U.S) and a 6.6% increasing in the funds going towards NIH (National Institute of Health) programs, 2) Passing of the ADA (American’s with Disabilities Act) Restoration Bill, that would redefine ‘disability’ to include diabetes and ensure people living with diabetes are protected from discrimination, and finally 3) A multiyear extension of the SDP (Special Diabetes Programs) that fund research for type 1 diabetes and give money to Native American programs, that help to prevent diabetes in their sovereign communities.

While in D.C I met new people and revisited with friends. It was great to see some of the ADA members I hadn’t seen since Oct. of last year. There were about 210 temporary ADA lobbyists in Washington D.C that week, including my mom and I. Everyone was and always has been so kind and helpful. I want to take this opportunity to thank them for all of their help and advice.

We had a great time and made a lot of progress. Amongst others we met with the Health Care Advisor for Senator Orrin Hatch’s office. She was marvelous to talk to, engaging us with questions and understanding our situation. She listened to everything my mother and I had to say and then told us her story. Turns out, she has diabetes in her family and has been going into the hospital recently to be tested for pre-diabetes. I was amazed that diabetes honestly affects just about everyone.

All in all it was a fabulous experience and we are all looking forward to continuing our advocacy work at home and returning to congress next year.

April 23, 2008

Numbers, numbers, and more numbers! Being a person living with diabetes I have gotten very comfortable with mathematics. I am constantly calculating how many carbs, how much insulin, corrections, time passed, time till and so much more. However there are two specific numbers that I have focused on the most: 4.0 and 6.1. They were the standards I set for myself; 4.0 was the GPA (grade point average) I struggled to achieve and 6.1 was the A1C I dreamed to obtain. They became a problem when I fell to my absolute dedication to perfection. I wanted all A's on my report card and I wanted my blood sugar to metaphorically reflect the same results. Finally after nearly developing an ulcer I stopped and took a step back. Perfection is just not possible and more than that it's not desirable. The only way we can learn is from making mistakes.

Lately I have been stressed with AP exams and, quite honestly, my A1C wasn't that great at my last visit to the doctor, but that's okay! I am only human and I can't control when I get stressed out. The most important thing is that I tried my hardest and learned what I need to do next. I'm not going to push myself into crazy expectations because it isn't fair to me. I've learned it's actually easier to meet your goals when you can forgive yourself for your mistakes and recognize their messages.

Numbers are a great thing to help me keep my diabetes and my life in control but in the end I discovered life is more enjoyable when you don't require yourself to be flawless. So while I will continue racing my Mother's calculator to determine my evening bolus, I won't be obsessing over perfection anymore.

April 23, 2008

Diabetes costs this country $174 billion a year. Listen to me speak about Call to Congress and the importance of calling your Congressman or Senator to do more to fight diabetes.

March 17, 2008

March 8, 2008 was an exciting day for me. It was State Debate for our school team. We really need to call it something else because 'state debate' rhymes far too well. We should call it 'showdown debate' or 'last man/woman standing debate'?... or not. Well anyway it was a crazy day but here is how it went:

I got up at 5:30am (on a Saturday), tested my blood sugar (132- oh heck yes) and then jumped in the shower. I got dressed in my favorite maroon jacket and long black pants. After quickly doing my hair, grabbing a bite to eat and barely making it out the door in time to catch the bus, we arrived at Murray High School. Its always scary having a tournament at a school you have never been to and this one was no different. Quite honestly it was intimidating! I got a map and started to learn my way around the school.

Then it was time for the rounds to start. I had my box of information and was trying to get into my zone. The first 4 rounds went really well. I felt like I understood the topics and my time was close to 7 mins. Unfortunately the rounds were going a little slow so we didn't have time for lunch but around 4pm we had finally made it to the 5th round. It was nerve wracking because after the 4th round the judges add up all of your points from your previous speeches and pick the best 7 debaters to compete in the last battle!

After 20 nail biting moments they announced the final 7. I made it! But I was the first speaker of the final round. Ah don't panic whatever you do DON'T PANIC! Well despite my attempts to meditate I was still freaking out. I got to my room and there were 3 judges and a timer! 4 people all staring at me! My leg started to shake and I began my speech. It went fine at first but then I started stuttering and I couldn't get the words in my brain to form coherent sentences! What was going on? I felt like I was completely loosing it. I couldn't even hear what I was saying anymore, but I just kept talking.

I was so ashamed. I left my round feeling like an absolute failure. I went outside to walk it off but I felt like I was going to cry. My coach found me and was really sweet about the whole thing. He told me that my mess up probably wasn't as bad as I thought and I was still a great debater. Then he asked me the question I should have asked myself from the beginning: Did you go low? The answer was yes. I hurried back to my box where my tester was and my blood sugar was 46. I was so nervous for the tournament I had not paid attention to the passing time. I had not eaten lunch and being so anxious had made my blood sugar drop. I knew I should have tested before I started my last speech. If I had I would have been able to pop a couple glucose tablets and avoid this whole disaster.

At about 5pm we had awards ceremony. I won 2nd place! Turns out that in my first 4 speeches I had been ranked 1st and superior, out of rankings between 1-5 and superior, excellent, or fair. My last speech had not be as great as I had wanted, I was ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd by the different judges, but my other 4 speeches made up for the points. I was very happy, even when I had 'bombed it' one of my judges still ranked me 1st; maybe my speech wasn't that terrible.

Well in the end I had learned my lesson. Getting nervous lowers my blood sugar more than I thought and in the future I will test and eat a little bit before each round. I was very grateful for my compassionate coach and at the end of our day our team placed 3rd overall. We learned a lot, had some fun, and walked home with quite a few medals. It wasn't such a bad day after all.

February 24, 2008

WOW…Yesterday I went to the black tie gala dinner for Dr. Mario Capecchi, the Nobel Prize winner for medicine in 2007. There have only been 7 universities in the United States that have housed a Nobel Prize winner and the University of Utah is the 7th to receive the honor! It was absolutely fabulous! Here’s how it went:

We met at the Grand America in Salt Lake City in one of the reception rooms in front of the ballroom. In this room there was an amazing display of all of the accomplishments of Dr. Capecchi. There were pictures of the research he had done with mice including his actual handwritten notes. In the middle of the room the Nobel Prize medallion was displayed in a glass case.

I was there with my Human Biology Teacher Mrs. Blumel-Wilson and we met with many of the other 75 students who were invited from all across Utah. It was great trading stories about what branches of medicine we wanted to go into whether pediatrics, biotechnology, or endocrinology. After about 30 minutes we were moved into the ballroom. It was gigantic! The chandeliers were enormous and the whole room had a tint of red and gold. At the front of the room there was a stage with a University of Utah podium, 2 screens with projections on either side of the stage, and a giant metal double helix DNA strand model painted orange and gold behind the podium.

The majority of the people were wearing red (including myself) to support the University colors. The program started with an explanation of what the acceptance of the prize was actually like. His wife did most of the talking because for as brilliant as Mario Capecchi is he is surprisingly shy and very humble. His wife explained that they accepted the prize from the King of Sweden after they met princesses, princes, dukes, and duchesses!

Then there was a portion of time dedicated to talking about what he has been doing with gene targeting that enabled him to win this award. Now I don’t completely understand every aspect of it but basically he has found a way to manipulate the genes of mice, referred to as the ‘noble mice’, to change everything in the animal from their appearance to contraction of a disease such as diabetes!

Several colleagues and admirers got up to give him thanks. Even Senator Hatch came to congratulate him, attributing his support of stem cell research to the influence of Dr. Capecchi’s research and insight.

He was later awarded a personalized parking spot at the University of Utah, which the President of the University explained they do for all their Nobel Prize recipients. (Haha) They also renamed a local street, ‘Mario Capecchi Drive,’ in his honor.

To my surprise, I sat right next to a colleague of his, Carol Lenz, who has worked very closely with Dr. Capecchi for the last 20 years, or Mario as she called him! She was incredibly kind and I didn’t even know she was directly connected with Dr. Capecchi until they mentioned her when thanking his team. She gave me her e-mail and asked if I wanted to visit the lab for a tour. I am so excited! I’m going to get to see an actual research lab! At the end of the dinner, the students were invited to take a picture with Dr. Capecchi and shake his hand. We also received souvenir medallions with Dr. Capecchi’s name and face on them. I even got to speak with him! Leaving the Grand America I felt excitedly eager to begin my own research and pursue a cure for diabetes.

February 17, 2008

Big news for Utah: Dr. Capecchi is a scientist at the University of Utah who in the last couple months won the ‘Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine'! Okay well if you don’t know you this man is I will share some background but he is absolutely phenomenal! Mario Capecchi is an Italian-American who was born in Verona, Italy. He has overcome outstanding obstacles to get to where he is today. During World War II while still Italy Capecchi's father was an Italian airman reported missing in action while manning an anti-air craft gun in the Western Desert Campaign and his mother was taken away to a concentration camp for belonging to an anti-Fascist group. Capecchi lived on the streets for four years at the age of four and a half. He almost died of malnutrition before his mother found him. Later they traveled to America where he attended George School from which he graduated. He then transferred to Harvard to join the lab of James D. Watson, co-discoverer of the structure of DNA. He has accomplished many things since then but most recently he won the Nobel Prize in 2007 for his work with knockout mice. Amazingly enough there will be a dinner in his honor at the Grand America in Salt Lake City and he insisted students be invited. I sent in an essay and application about three weeks ago. I was selected to represent the Granite School District and I am so excited because I get to talk to him and ask him a few questions! This is the type of research and the type of person who can really make a difference in the lives of people like us. And look what an inspiration he can be considering the amazing obstacles he has conquered. The dinner is on February 23 and I will get back to you with the details. Now my only dilemma is to find a gown with a place to hid my pump.

February 7, 2008

Hello and welcome to the Food Channel. My name is Tesch West and today we will mixing it up with fabulous healthy snac... No I'm just kidding I don't actually have a cooking show, but my friend and I both love to cook and we have always kidded around about starting our own show.

For me when it comes to snacking there are a couple of requirements. 1- It has to taste good, 2- It can't take a lot of time to make (my life is chaotically busy) and 3- It has to be healthy. I can already see some eyebrows rising in skepticism but it is possible to get all of these qualities into one snack. And it's available now for the amazing price of just $19.99! Well not really.

When it comes to snacks, eating something out of a package that says it's healthy can be pretty risky. Prepackaged foods tend to be high in sodium (salt) and calories. Our greatest obstacle, as people living with diabetes, is when we look for healthy foods and only pay attention to the carbohydrates. Some things say they are 'sugar free' or contain ' less than 1 carb' but if you look a little closer they may also be loaded with fat and salt.

But back to how to find a tasty healthy snack in just 10 minutes or less. For me, I love fruit. After school when I'm looking for a snack I can always go for a banana. But don't limit yourself; pick whatever you like best. It doesn't have to be just apples and oranges. There are tons of options: cantaloupe, kiwi, grapes, watermelon, an African horned cucumber. The more options the merrier.

Don't let yourself get bored with the same thing everyday because then you won't enjoy it. If you don't like fruit you could try any number of items from the produce section. I enjoy a good bell pepper just as much as the next person. You can eat it like an apple, just not the seeds.

Well in the end the golden rule to snacking is just to pick something you love that will help fill you up until dinner. The best options are fresh because they are full of flavor, healthy, and you avoid the risks that come along with additives in packages.

Snacks are very important to keeping your energy up throughout the day and you want to make sure you are putting the healthiest and most efficient fuel into your precious tank engine.

Well, thanks again this has been Tesch West with the Food Channel. Catch me next week on Animal Kingdom where I'll be wrestling purple 'gators!

January 13, 2008

It's quicker than a racing cheetah; swifter than a karate Chop; faster than a speeding bullet no, it's not Superman it's time. It flies faster than the man in the red spandex!

Have you ever been hanging with friends or watching TV and suddenly 3 - 4 hours have passed? Well I have. In fact, it happens to me all the time, but I don't always mold in front of the TV. I mold in front of my books too.

I'm taking a couple of really hard classes this year and my teachers require us to do a lot of reading. I mean huge, 30-page chapters. I'm a pretty slow reader so it takes me a while, especially if I'm taking notes. So quite often I come home from school, start on my homework and before I know it 3 hours have passed, and the last time I tested was lunch-time at school!

I usually focus completely on my homework, so I end up going long periods of time without testing. One time, I showed my log to my mom and her spidey-senses started tingling. She noticed something was not right.

Lengthy gaps showed up in my log, increasing the chances of not catching a problem in time. My mom, being the super hero that she is, found a solution: texting. Now she sends texts throughout the day to help me remember to test. I take care of most of it myself, but with school being so chaotic I tend to forget. Her texts really help me stay on top of things and sending her my numbers all day keeps us on the same page.

So the next time my nemesis, Time Flying, comes knocking, I can count on my Super Mom to help me keep him at bay. We may not be living in a cartoon world, but there is nothing wrong with asking for a little help.

January 2, 2008

Oh the fantastical POWER of the mind! It makes me want to try and levitate or bend a spoon just by staring and thinking about it… Okay so maybe you can’t bend a spoon or levitate but the influence of your brain over your entire body truly is amazing. Did you know that if you were say… running in a marathon, just by mentally not wanting to continue your muscles will cramp? I know what you’re thinking… “what the heck is she talking about?” (and I know this through my mind reading psychological abilities, not really I’m just kidding).

Well it turns out our minds and our emotions can play a huge part in our diabetes as well. Take for example this week at school. I was in precalculus class when my teacher announced we would have a pop quiz!!! I hadn’t memorized the formulas. They were confusing things like Sin 60º = √2/2.

Well of course I panicked and I could feel my stomach drop. Unfortunately my blood sugar dropped with it. Within a matter of MINUTES my blood sugar was down to 48 when it had been 116 less than an hour earlier.

Well now I had a new problem. I couldn’t think my way through the quiz either, which by the way was 1 ½ minutes long (that only made me panic more). When the quiz was over I had gotten a big fat 0 out of 5.

For the next hour, each time I thought about my score my stomach would drop again along with my blood sugar out of dread. I ended up eating and eating just to keep myself from continuing to drop. Talk about the power of the mind.

The good news is that the quiz didn’t count for very many points and my teacher let me make up the ones that I had missed when I explained the situation. However I learned a valuable lesson that day. My emotions play a huge part in my blood sugar levels and I need to anticipate that another situation like this one could arise.

So whether you’re going to get a flu shot or riding a bike over a steep hill you have been dared to conquer, make sure to test often and respect the power of the mind.

December 10, 2007

Wow! Life sure is busy but to be honest I wouldn’t have it any other way. I was very busy this last week but I managed to squeeze a few fun events in between the tests and homework. On December 5, I had an opportunity to go to the American Diabetes Association Sixth Annual Volunteer Recognition. We talked about volunteerism and recognized those who had reached new heights. My speech focused on the miraculous impact volunteering can have on the lives of many people. I aimed to express that volunteerism is an amazing power behind any cause, and yet the volunteers themselves are very humble. I then shared a couple of my stories and experiences. (I’ll write them down later, but just a heads up - the Fisher and Laura story is one of my favorite) Anyway, I finally came to the end of my speech, and by then I had everyone standing to put their right hand over their heart while I recited a revised constitution that Kalyn, my older sister, and I wrote.

"We the people of the ADA in order to form a more perfect school system, establish equality, insure testing abilities, provide for the occasional disaster, promote the general healthcare, and secure the blessings of technology to ourselves and our families, do ordain and establish this promise for the American Diabetes Association."

We had a great time and my mom, Libby, won the 'Volunteer Vangaurd Award' for being involved in virtually everything the ADA does. Dawn and Marcina (two fabulous volunteers and friends of mine) also won awards. In the end I was glad I went even if it meant staying up till 1am to finish chemistry.