Less than a year ago, Bennet Dunlap decided that the status quo just wasn’t good enough for us.

We needed to band together as a community to talk about blood glucose meter accuracy and what it means to the 26 million people with diabetes (and growing). Better accuracy begets better control and better outcomes for those of us who rely on our blood glucose meters to give an accurate number. Better accuracy, quite frankly, wasn’t happening.

So, Bennet created the Strip Safely campaign and gave us all a voice under the Strip Safely umbrella. I’m the Robin to his Batman, mostly saying: “Holy glucose meters!” and ensuring our costumes are freshly pressed by Alfred. It’s an honor to work with him and every other person who believes in the importance of blood glucose meter accuracy.

Last summer, Strip Safely attracted the notice of those at the FDA and a relationship began to develop, one that has grown into something important for the diabetes community… and on Monday, you can see for yourself.

This is where all the cool kids will be on Monday… on a Live Chat with Bennet and Dr. Courtney Lias.

(P.S. You are a cool kid, if you were wondering.)

Here’s the details:

Talk with FDA expert Courtney Lias and Patient Advocate Bennet Dunlap about Glucose Monitors and Test Strips

Monday, March 31, 1:30–2:30 pm (EDT)

• Do you want to learn more about the role of the FDA in the regulation of medical devices, such as glucose monitors and test strips, used in the management of diabetes?
• Do you want to learn what the FDA is doing to increase the accuracy of blood glucose monitors and test strips?

When you participate in this friendly online chat, you will:

• Enjoy an informal, open discussion with a fellow patient advocate, Center for Devices and Radiological Health subject-matter-expert and others in the diabetes community.
• Learn more about the role of the CDRH, specifically the Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and its work to ensure the safety and effectiveness of medical devices used in the management of diabetes.
• Get your questions answered about the newest FDA draft guidances, which are proposing new recommendations intended to improve the accuracy and safe use of blood glucose monitoring test systems, giving healthcare providers and people with diabetes better tools to manage blood glucose levels.
• Whether you want to just listen to the interview, ask relevant questions about the medical device regulatory process or just speak your mind on the newest draft guidance document…. you should join in the conversation.

Register for this event and be sure to mark your calendars and join us on March 31st, 2014.

Please let your friends in the diabetes community know about this event. While not all the cool kids will be able to make it, I hope that you’ll join us all on the chat and learn how you can help the community and FDA. We are a community and we can’t do diabetes alone.