open conversation that’s unfettered by privacy concerns, Big Pharma gate-keeping, or anything else. “The philosophy is to clear the air, encourage conversation and access to unbiased information, and to accelerate research,” he says.
Glu will offer patients a variety of networking opportunities. They will be able to compare their data with that of their peers, suggest research projects for scientists to pursue, and make recommendations to other patients on everything from diet and exercise to the proper use of insulin pumps. Much like other social-networking sites, Glu will offer mobile capabilities and the ability to use geo-tags to drive location-based recommendations such as local restaurants with menu items suitable for people with diabetes.
Joshi believes the educational aspects of the site will be especially useful to Type 1 diabetes patients who live outside major metropolitan areas. “In Boston and New York, patients are savvy,” he says. “But someone living in Topeka doesn’t have access to the same resources.”
T1D Exchange is one of dozens of health programs supported by the Helmsley Charitable Trust. The fund donates money to diabetes summer camps and educational programs around the country. And it has a strategic partnership with the New York-based Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to support the development of new technologies, such as artificial pancreases and alternative insulin-delivery systems.
As for Trouble, the little white Maltese died in June at age 12. No word on how much of her $12 million fortune is left over, though a spokesperson for the family did tell the New York press that the remaining funds would revert to the Helmsley Charitable Trust. Alas, the dog that was Trouble in life will be leaving a little something for people dealing with the hassle of diabetes.
