Two of the three primary pieces of our system have become widely used by people with diabetes, and more commonly, parents of children with diabetes. 

What about this system strikes a chord with those impacted by type 1? Let me explain...

Type 1 diabetes robs a person's body of the ability to regulate blood sugar. Through no lifestyle or dietary "mistake," the body's immune system begins to attack the insulin producing cells of the pancreas.

No insulin? Sugar is stuck, it cannot pass to cells and be metabolized. Blood sugar, or blood glucose will continue to rise, an unquenchable thirst takes over to force sweat and urine to pour as much sugar out as possible. It is fruitless ultimately, and your body begins to consume muscle for energy, your blood becomes dangerously acidic, and it kills you. 

Less than 100 years ago, if you had type 1 diabetes, it was going to kill you.

Fortunately, we now have insulin analogues and other wonderful technology to help us manage and survive with type 1 diabetes. I am thankful to all the scientists, engineers and motivated people that have made life with type 1 "better." 

I am thankful, because I can continue to enjoy life with this amazing person, my son Evan.

When he was diagnosed, life changed. 

My wife, Laura, and I immediately felt, saw the deficiencies in the processes, the standards by which type 1 diabetes is managed. So much data was generated and tossed away everyday.

We began to collect and log all of Evan's pertinent nutrition data. How much insulin does n carbs require... at this time of day? Was he active? What was the activity? Is he nervous, excited, happy, sad? Measurable or not, we tried to take note - and find the factors that weighed heaviest on Evan's blood glucose levels. 

From a simple website to log data, to sophisticated web apps and deep analysis of the collected data... we saw that even modest use of these tools shifted outcomes so rapidly in Evan's favor. 

And then we discovered the G4:

A continuous glucose monitor, offers a frequent look at blood glucose levels - this feature alone makes it a worthy (should be standard!) weapon in the war with t1d.

By removing the location limit enforced by the standard receiver, the android + g4 receiver was just as life changing as the CGM alone.

What we grieved for in those early days after diagnosis... the limits t1d places on a child's life, the lives of all of us in the family... many of the limits evaporated. My wife and I can go out on dates, Evan can go on sleepovers, play on the hill with his sister... for hours, just as his mother and I did as kids. We thought those things were gone, but here they were again.

When word of these tools got out; after a few tweets over the course of 2013, hundreds, now thousands of families and individuals have found the power of these tools.  Nurses at school, grandparents in Texas, a girlfriend in Australia... all these people can be connected to a person with diabetes single most important piece of data: their blood glucose. Helping to keep them safe, watching their back if so desired. 

What if one day, the life you thought you knew, was taken from you? What if you found away to take it back? What happens when you make it open source and set it free for others like you? This happens:

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