Welcome to another Thriveabetes interview. Today I'm with Ken Barclay, from Dublin who was diagnosed with diabetes when he was 10 years old. Ken is well known in the Dublin Adults with type 1 Diabetes group and also in the DIYAPS Do-it-yourself Artificial Pancreas Systems space where he offers endless support to people who want to learn more about it. 

In part 1 of this video interview, we talk about how he rebelled against this diagnosis and how that changed in adulthood. Diabetes technology features very strongly in living as an adult with diabetes for Ken so we touch on how he was one of the early adopters of an insulin pump which he started on in 2004.

In part 2, we talk about adding the continuous glucose sensor CGM to an insulin pump in 2015 and from there navigating into the world of #DIYAPS. 

Part 2 with Ken

In part 2, we talk about the difference the insulin pump made to his life with diabetes and again when he added the continuous glucose sensor CGM to his insulin pump in 2015 and from there navigating into the world of #DIYAPS. We also touch a bit on being part of a support community.

MORE INFORMATION

Additional Information from this interview: 

Ken wrote a blog post for Thriveabetes in 2016 about the value of finding support from other people with diabetes which you can read here.

Thriveabetes DIY Diabetes Day Dublin

The event that Ken mentions attending to learn more about #DIYAPS is available in a series of videos here. 

DIYAPS BOOK: Automated Insulin Delivery: How artificial pancreas “closed loop” systems can aid you in living with diabetes by Dana Lewis

DIYAPS Explainer Video: Understanding Automated Insulin Delivery YouTube 3 minute

Previous 2021 Interviews

• Dublin Adults with Type 1 Diabetes Group; Emma O’Toole and Niamh Downes

• Erin Dolan, Clare @CrazyAboutDiabetes on Instagram

• Noel Murphy, Dublin

• Mairead Parker Westmeath & Dublin, @Type1_Muinteoir on Instagram

• Aisling White, Limerick/Cork, International Diabetes Federation Youth Leadership panel

• Janie Lazar, Dublin, Diagnosed with LADA after a Type 2 Misdiagnosis

• Síofra Kelleher, Dealing with Coeliac disease, Secondary School Exams and College life

2020 Interview Playlist

Featuring all of these people with diabetes:

• George Clancy; former International rugby referee

• Aoife Gordon; The Sugar Fairy

• Kate Gajewska; Diabetes Educator, Psychologist and researcher talks about insulin pump access in Ireland

• Abbie O’Sullivan; Student

• Cayden & Pam Kavanagh; then age 11 and his mum.

Click here for playlist