When Technology Changes Healthcare
Rob Taub
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I’m 65 years old and I have diabetes. It’s a progressive disease that accelerates over time, so I’ve learned to adjust and adapt to the changes since I was first diagnosed fifteen years ago.
Diabetes is a disease with symptoms you don’t always see or feel, yet the harm it does to your body can be significant. Nerve damage, kidney disease, blindness, loss of toes and limbs are results of unchecked diabetes, and for those of us who are aware and proactive about the disease, its still been very difficult to manage because of how various foods affect our glucose (blood sugar) levels.
When we eat, our digestive system breaks down food and changes it into glucose/sugar, which enters the bloodstream. Insulin then causes the body’s cells to absorb the sugar and use it for energy to operate effectively. However, diabetics don’t produce enough insulin, so sugar can remain in the bloodstream, causing the bodily damage mentioned above.
Until recently, diabetics measured blood sugar by pricking their fingers with a lancet (needle) and placing the blood on a “test strip,” which would then be inserted into a reader that posts the amount of sugar in the bloodstream. It’s messy, cumbersome and — because of the blood — something preferably done in private. According to statistics, the average diabetic finger pricks only 1.7 times per day, giving them little insight into their health.
Fortunately, technology has changed that with the CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor). I now wear a FreeStyle Libre 14 day sensor (about the size of a quarter) on my upper arm and by simply touching it with my iPhone (they also have a scanner) it gives me an immediate blood glucose reading.
The device is non-invasive and can be employed as frequently as the user wants, giving diabetics a new insight into their bodies by understanding how they react to food, exercise, medication and stress. I’ve taken readings on the subway through a heavy winter coat, while running on a treadmill, and after drinking a glass of bourbon at my favorite steakhouse.
Having constant contact with my glucose levels has made me a better steward of my body, so I can manage my diabetes and overall heath with a level of ease that was once impossible. It’s crucial that diabetics become proactive about our health rather than reactive, and the FreeStyle Libre enables us to do so.
The Russian Tea Room is serving up a new type of dish…
Located steps from Broadway, the New York institution has been a go-to gathering spot for artists, celebrities, and royalty since its opening nearly 100 years ago and Broadway at The Russian Tea Room is a weekly one-hour AM radio show/streaming/podcast dedicated to productions from Broadway, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center and every venue in between.
Host Rob Taub is a devoted advocate of the arts, previous host of radio programs on iHeart Radio as well as a long-time contributor to People Magazine. Rob is also a national spokesperson for Know Diabetes By Heart. Broadway at The Russian Tea Room has created a “safe space” for actors, writers, directors and producers to discuss their achievements, artistic dreams, hysterical off-nights, and continued hopes as they share stories about their careers.
Broadway at The Russian Tea Room is a unique program, with a host who’s been attending a wide range of productions for more than 50 years. We reach a sizable audience across the globe, and we are not here to review or critique, but rather to promote and support the arts.
The program airs Sundays from 5 – 6 pm on 970 AM and is live streamed at www.am970theanswer.com Podcasts can be found here: https://omny.fm/shows/broadway-at-the-russian-tea-room/playlists/podcast
Tune in Sunday at 5pm on 970 AM or livestream here.
Podcasts of past shows!
Rob Taub has enjoyed an eclectic career in film, television, radio and journalism. His work in television has encompassed everything from scripted comedies to producing World Wrestling Entertainment. As a journalist Rob has written more than 200 articles for top tier outlets including People Magazine, Foxnews.com The Cauldron/SI and The Huffington Post. Rob’s distinctive voice can be heard in several of the Coen Brothers most memorable movies including Miller’s Crossing and Barton Fink. Rob has made more than 200 appearances as a political pundit/humorist on Fox News where he shares his unique perspective on the world with viewers. He also plays the role of Russell Carlton on The Onion News Network and is a regular contributor to numerous Sirius XM Radio shows where he offers his opinions on politics, sports and popular culture. Rob hosted Tech Hub, a weekly radio show on WOR-AM and is a frequent speaker/commentator on type 2 diabetes as well as being a spokesperson for Know Diabetes by Heart, a joint venture of the American Heart Association. His new radio program, Broadway at The Russian Tea Room can be heard on AM970 The Answer on Sundays from 5 – 6 pm. Rob serves on the Board of Directors of the Foreign Press Correspondents Association. Rob is a graduate of Ithaca College. Learn more about Rob at www.robtaub.com twitter @robmtaub
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