When entrepreneur, inventor, and supermom Pamela Heyward faced the challenge of raising two daughters with type 1 diabetes, she became driven to change the future of blood sugar management. We asked her about the work she’s been doing.
As a mother raising children with diabetes, what does blood sugar management mean to you?
As a mom who has raised two young daughters with diabetes, I’ve personally witnessed the incessant battle my children are fighting to survive 24/7, 365 days a year, year after year.
Diabetes is an incurable disease and takes no vacations. Management of the disease is expensive and time-consuming: Every 3 months there are visits to the endocrinologist, optometrist, reordering expensive meds and supplies, blood work, and more. We’ve checked blood sugars up to 12 times a day — 360 times a month. Just getting the right dose of insulin has been tricky business, too. Weather, exercise, stress, and eating all cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate constantly. Even a hot bath has induced my daughter into a diabetes-related seizure.
I am gravely aware that uncontrolled or mismanaged blood sugar levels can result in complications, such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, amputation, kidney failure, and death. Diabetes never sleeps, and I’m part of a full-time, ongoing battle.
What inspired you to start Glucose SOS?
My two daughters, Tayler and Emmi, are diabetics and are prone to serious blood sugar crashes. During a particularly horrible episode, I remember seeing the terrified expression on my girl’s face as she looked up at the medics pouring into our home, and couldn’t take it any more. I knew there was a better way to raise low blood sugar quickly without spiking.
Not satisfied with existing glucose products, I became a mom on a mission to develop an effective and appealing form of glucose to quickly and safely elevate low blood sugar. I wanted to make a fine glucose powder for raising low blood sugar that was truly convenient and great-tasting. I made sure each packet of Glucose SOS™ provides the 15 grams of glucose that is recommended by the American Diabetes Association guidelines for a controlled, metered approach to low blood sugar management.
What’s Next for Glucose SOS?
Recognizing that diabetes is one of the fastest-growing health challenges of the 21st century, I believe the future of Glucose SOS is bright and more important than ever. I am proud to announce our latest product in development: a new Glucose-Melt with revolutionary new technology to quickly melt in your mouth. The fourth product extension is now in R&D with a global company aiming to launch in new territories across the world.
SOS Life Sciences Corp also has a pet product, which is currently being rebranded. It’s estimated that 1 in every 300 dogs and 1 in 230 cats will develop diabetes during their lifetime, and those statistics keep rising. The 2016 State of Pet Health Report shows an upward trend in the prevalence of the disease, rising nearly 80 percent in dogs and 18 percent in cats over a 10-year period.
The mission of SOS Life Sciences will always be to provide the best rapid solution to treat a diabetes-induced low, and to prevent blood sugar spiking. Come join us on our journey and learn more at www.glucosesos.com.
This article has been paid for by Glucose SOS.
