LIVINGLIVING
The dad of a diabetic relates his endeavours in trying to pin
down diabetes technology definitions for a dictionary listing
and explaining terms from COB (carbs on board) and 'door
handle moment' to TIR (time in range) and xDrip.
A dictionary of diabetes tech
K
evin Winchcombe
describes himself an
IT geek, but above
everything, he says, he
is 'proud to call myself
a diabetes dad'. His daughter Amy was
diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2010
at the age of 10. Winchcombe has since
become an active member of the Diabetes
Online Community (DOC) on Twitter and
Facebook. He is also a peer supporter for
Hampshire-based Sugarbuddies, and is
also a contributor at www.t1resources.uk
In January 2015 Winchcombe
became involved with the DIY medical
technology solution known as Nightscout,
being one of the first people in the UK to
build an xDrip device. He, his daughter
and colleagues from the Nightscout
UK support team went on to give many
presentations to a wide range of people
with diabetes and diabetes healthcare
professionals in order to spread
understanding of what Nightscout is
(also known as the #wearenotwaiting
movement) and the idea of do-it-yourself
artificial pancreas systems (DIY APS), the
users of which tend to just call it 'looping'.
Meanwhile at www.t1resources.
uk it became apparent that as diabetes
tech came on leaps and bounds,
there was going to be a need for some
sort of glossary or dictionary of terms
used, otherwise many folk would not
understand what was being talked about.
Winchcombe says, "It seemed like a
good project and surely it would only take
a day or two, right? Writing the website
for the dictionary was no problem at all,
however getting all the definitions live
was. I thought there would only be 50 or
so, but we currently stand at nearly 300.
I've also added some terms just for fun. It
will continue to be added to and evolve."
In a word
Click the link at the end of the article to
see the work in progress. When you click
through, you will see on the left is the most
recent terms added to the dictionary, plus
a random term that anyone visiting the
site can learn about. Winchcombe says,
"If there are any terms not listed, click the
'Want us to add a new definition?' link
and say what you would like to find out
about. If there are any definitions that you
think are wrong, click the icon to the right
of each explanation and let me know what
to change."
Clearly, as new technologies come
about new terminologies will also appear,
and from these phrases that users prefer
start to be created, like 'looping'. So
this project is likely to be one that needs
continual updating. But if you ever come
across a word or acronym that you
just don't have a clue about, check out
Winchcombe's online reference tool and
likely as not you'll get an explanation.
www.t1resources.uk/dictionery
Kevin Winchcombe prior to a presentation about DIY APS
at the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh.
OTHER RESOURCES
www.t1resources.uk
www.t1resources.uk/dictionery