Bitter-Sweet Chips . . . .

Here in New England it’s way to cold to venture out today.  So instead, I’m venturing out virtually to hop around the web.  Join me?

• Spare A Rose is in full swing again this year.  If you buy your Valentine just one less rose and donate that cost, you can provide ONE MONTH of insulin to a child and save their life.  Hard to argue with something as simple as that, right?  Please make your donation now and help spread the word about #SpareARose.  Flowers die, children shouldn’t.
• Sara is celebrating her diaversary by matching Spare A Rose donations.  And that is pretty darn awesome.  You’re going to donate to Spare A Rose anyway, right?  So let Sara know and she will match your $10 donation.  (Of course, you can donate more than $10, which I did, but just let her know you donated at least $10 for her to match.)
• As I mentioned above, the mild winter we started with here in New England has more than made up for itself.  An extended forecast showing nothing but snow and below freezing temperatures does nothing to pull me out my current spell of depression.  And no, I don’t want to build a snowman, thank you very much.
• Three more of my posts have gone live over at the ReliOn blog.  This time I’m weighing in on finding the right doctor for you, dealing with foods that cause blood sugar problems, and finding support (which is, of course, a topic near and dear to me!). ** My disclosures can be found here. **
• You probably know today is Blue Friday, right?  But did you also know today is also National Wear Red Day? This year I’m wearing red in honor of my friend Leigh, who shares some of her story here.  We’re very thankful to still have her here with us.

Okay, it’s time to crawl back under my blankie.  And maybe brew another pot of coffee.  Stay warm!

Sick Day Chips

We’re less than three days into Fall and I’m already nursing my first cold of the season.  (We are less than three days in, right?  Any counting errors are surely the fault of my aches.)  So while my eyes and brain take a little rest, I thought I’d resurrect “Bitter-Sweet Chips” and share some tasty morsels from around the DOC.

• Do you live in the Tucson area?  If so my friend John, the co-founder of ShugaTrak, may need your help!  ShugaTrak is an app being developed that plugs into a meter and shares blood glucose readings by text or email.  John is looking for some people willing to sign up as test users.  You’d head to the Tucson office of the company that makes the ShugaTrak bluetooth adaptor to test and troubleshoot issues.  You need to be an Android phone users and use one of the following meters:  OneTouch Ultra, OneTouch Ultra2, OneTouch UltraMini, OneTouch UltraLink, FreeStyle Lite, FreeStyle Freedom Lite, Bayer Contour, or Bayer Breeze2.  If you’re interested in helping out, please email John Fitzpatrick at john@applivate.com.
• The 2013 World Diabetes Day Postcard Exchange is underway!  The WDDPE is a great event in which participants send and receive home-made postcards, and the exchange has been revamped this year to make it even more fun.  Click here to see all the rules and to sign up!
• A couple of years ago I was fortunate enough to meet and chat with RDN / CDE Hope Warshaw at a TCOYD event and I’m happy we PWDs have her in our corner.  So I’m flattered to be included in a wonderful resource she has put together to spread the news about the DOC not only to patients and caregivers, but also to healthcare professionals.  You can read all about it and download the flyer here.
• Speaking of the DOC and HCP interaction, that’s the topic of this month’s #DSMA Blog Carnival.  Check it out on the DCAF website, where all #DSMA business now resides.  September is flying by, but you still have time to participate!

Phew, okay, I need a cup of tea and a nap.

These chips won’t melt in the heat!!

We dealt with quite a heat-wave here in New England over the last few days and everyone is feeling mushy and fried.  (And also?  The heat is wrecking havoc with my emergency chocolate stash - which is sorely needed this week, if you catch my drift and sorry for the over-sharing . . . )  It seems my email in-box is as hot as the weather, crammed with so much stuff it’s ready for a melt-down.  I could try to devote a whole post to each and every tidbit I’d like to pass along, but by the time I got done there would likely be snow on the ground and the information would be stale.  Instead, I’ll give you some fresh tasty “Bitter~Sweet Chips” that withstand our high 90 temps much better than my beloved emergency stash!

• On the first day of Friends for Life, several great “Focus Group sessions” were offered and it was difficult to choose which ones to attend.  I’ve already blogged about Lee Ann’s wonderful Diabetes Art Session.  Another one I chose that day was “Targeting a Cure For Type 1 Diabetes: How Long Will We Have to Wait?”,  presented by diaTribe.  The team shared some fascinating information about the different research projects currently happening.  You can find out more here: http://www.diatribe.us/cure  Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of that page to download your copy of the““Targeting a Cure For Type 1 Diabetes” eBook.
• Also at Friends for Life I had the opportunity to meet with several representative from Eli Lilly about a brand new Lilly/Disney collaboration.  Usually hearing of any new diabetes diagnosis makes me sad - but in this case, I was delighted to hear of a Disney character that has Type 1 diabetes!  Coco, pictured to the right, sports a medical id bracelet and a backpack of d-supplies!  As a kid who spent much of my teen years hiding diabetes from my friends, I applaud this initiative to help kids with diabetes feel more confident about their disease.  I also love that this campaign will help to raise awareness and information about what diabetes is and isn’t.  Included in the campaign will be a series of books aimed at younger kids and tweens - one of which, called “Coco and Goofy’s Goofy Day”, was provided to me by Lily. along with a “Birnbaum Guide to Walt Disney World” that had a section of Type 1 tips (which came in handy as Pete and I navigated the parks in the blaring July heat).  Also worth checking out is the new online section of Family.com  for families with Type 1 and the Once Upon a Time contest where the prize is a trip for four to next year’s Friends for Life conference!
• This Friday Wego Health will be hosting their first Twitter Chat for Health Activists. The topic?  It’s all about empowerment, which has been Wego’s focus for July.  Be sure to follow the #HAchat hashtag on Friday, July 29th at 1 p.m. EST to participate and be empowered and inspired!
• Has the heat fried your bloggy-mojo?  Too overheated to come up with a blog topic?  Well hop on over to the DSMA blog and participate in the July Blog Carnival!  It’s your chance to weigh in on what you’d like to see in terms of technology for our diabetes devices.  Go ahead and put your wish list out there - you never know who you might inspire!

Bitter~Sweet Chips

Today I’m sharing a few tasty morsels that have recently made their way into my in-box!

• How would you like to spiff up your Spring wardrobe, save some cash, and donate to a worthy cause all at once?  Check out the JDRF and Gap Inc.'s Give and Get event.  From March 17th - 20th you can save 30% at The Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic - and 5% of your purchase goes to JDRF.  Click here to get your shopping pass!
• In late September, the United Nations High-Level Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases will be held in New York.  In preparation, the International Diabetes Federation has began an electronic signature campaign to gather support for essential care for all people with diabetes.  You can help by clicking over to http://www.idf.org/I-agree to add your e-signature and learn more about how to promote the campaign and get involved.
• The 2011 Diabetes Mine Design Challenge has been announced!  You have until April 29th to submit your idea for something that will improve life with diabetes.  I always love seeing what the brilliant minds out there come up with and I can’t wait to see this year’s entries!
• I’ll be posting more about this soon, but if you are in or near Fairfield County, CT be sure mark your calendars for the first JDRF Fld County Chapter Type 1 Adult Outreach Event.  Join us on April 28th for some beverages, snacks and chatting!  Click here for more details.
• Have you taken a look at the #DSMA March blog carnival topic, Exercise Does A Body Good?  You have two weeks left to share your favorite exercises and what keeps you motivated.  Or share the most difficult part of exercising and what your favorite and least favorite exercises are.  Don’t forget to leave us a link to you blog post in the comments section!

Bitter~Sweet Chips: 2010 Wrap Up

Before we bid a fond farewell to 2010 and head off into 2011, here are some fresh tasty morsels you shouldn’t miss  . . .

• Do you use Apidra brand insulin?  Or are you considering giving it a try and looking to hear from others who already use it?  Well Lorraine of This Is Caleb has created a fabulous Apidra Linky List.  Here Apidra users can link blog posts they’ve written about Apidra, and those seeking info can find just what they need.  Visit Lorraine’s Apidra Linky post to learn all of the details.
• Are you looking to take your diabetes management to the next level in 2011?  You might consider attending Type-1 Diabetes University, an on-line school offering live and pre-recorded classes that go beyond just the basics.  T1 University founder Gary Scheiner MS, CDE, explains “This is nothing like a basic diabetes education class. These courses are for insulin users who want focused, expert information on specific topics that are relevant to their daily lives.”  There are quite a few courses listed already that will start on January 4th, with plans for more to be added over time.  I may check out Blood Glucose Control During Sports & Exercise or Weight Loss for Insulin Users myself.
• How about ending the year right by supporting some great diabetes organizations?
  
• TuDiabetes and Diabetes Hands Foundation, who have done great things in 2010 including The Big Blue Test, need help reaching their end of the year goal.  Donate before we ring in 2011 and you’ll be eligible for some nifty thank-you gifties.  (I’d like to thank WEGO Health for a panel opportunity I was able to participate it, which resulted in a donation to DHF made on my behalf.)
• Diabetes Research Institute is wrapping up their Be Part of the Cure campaign, which I posted about earlier in the year.  It’s so exciting to see how much the collage has filled in over the past two months.  There are still a few spots left, so be sure to make your donation and upload your picture before we bid adieu to 2010!
• Have you heard about the Children with Diabetes Friends for Life conferences held each year?  You do know that in 2011 there will also be a bunch of sessions that are geared specifically to adults with Type 1 diabetes, right?  And you’ve seen the list of 2011 FFL Faculty?  It sounds like it’s going to be a wonderful event and I’m all signed up and counting down the days!!  If you are thinking of going too, remember that early registration (with a bit of a discount) ends tomorrow.  Check out all the details and let me know if I’ll be seeing you there!
• In case you missed it yesterday, I was honored to do a guest post for Kerri over at Six Until Me.  Click on over if you want to find out why I always carry glucose tablets.
• I want to say a big thank you for the wonderful responses to my Wish List post, both in the comments section and by email.  Seeing the enthusiasm is very encouraging and there are so many great suggestions I never would have thought of.  We’re compiling a list for our next meeting, so if you haven’t left your ideas please do.  We appreciate your help as we work to gets this local T1 Adult Outreach Group up and running!

Thank you all for your friendship in 2010.  It’s a wonderful thing to be a part of the D-OC Bubble after feeling so isolated with this disease for most of my life.  I look forward to all of the great things we will do together in 2011!!   HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Bitter~Sweet Chips

What are Bitter~Sweet Chips?  Well, they are some tasty morsels for you to enjoy!  Seriously, there is a lot going on the in the D-OC these days.  And more and more great info is finding it’s way into my email in-box.  So Bitter~Sweet Chips will be my place to share these tasty morsels with you on an ongoing basis.  It may become a weekly feature, or it may just be a once in a while thing, depending on what is going on in the world of diabetes.  So settle in and enjoy these yummy tidbits . . . .

• Today is Friday and Cherise of Diabetic Iz Me has come up with the great idea of Blue Fridays.  Every Friday in November let’s wear our blue loud and proud to raise awareness of World Diabetes Day and diabetes in general.  Better yet, snap a picture of yourself dressed in blue and post it to your blog or tweet it with the #wddbluefridays hash-tag!
• If you live near Bethesda, Maryland, you might be interested in attending the Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation’s Diabetes Transplant Summit taking place this Thursday, November 11th.  You’ll hear from leading researchers and surgeons in the islet transplant field.  You’ll also hear from patients who have already received islet transplants.  You can find a press release, event flyer and registration information on the Event Information Page.
• Do you shop at Acme^®, Albertsons^®, Cub Foods^®, Farm Fresh^®, Jewel-Osco®, Shaw’s/Star Market™, Shop ‘n Save^®, or Shoppers Food & Pharmacy^®?  If so, you might be interested in a new program the SUPERVALU family of grocery stores has launched.  It’s called “Living Healthy with My Diabetes”.  From November 7th - 20th special services such as free blood glucose screenings, reduced cost A1C, cholesterol and liver screening, and coupon booklets will be offered.  Other on-going programs such as diabetes-friendly menu planning and in-store diabetes education and monitoring will be offered.  For more information, simply visit the customer service desk of your favorite SUPERVALU store  for a list of specifics on what your store is offering.
• And don’t forget to start thinking of the six things you want people to know about diabetes for Diabetes Blog Day (#dblogday) on Tuesday.
• Oh, and also remember view the Big Blue Test video!  And make your donation to DRI and Be Part of the CURE!!