Support

When I was first diagnosed with diabetes, my mom tried really hard to get us involved with support groups.  I can remember going to group events with other T1 kids . . . .  and I hated it.  I was painfully shy and group situations were pure torture, regardless of the diabetes connection.

It’s funny how things have completely changed.  Now I get support from many different places - so when the #dsma blog carnival asks us to describe our ideal support group, I am lucky enough to say my ideal support group already exists!

The first place I turned for support as an adult was the diabetes online community, or DOC.  In many ways the DOC is the best support group around.  It’s filled with fun, caring people.  And because you can connect with others all over the world, there is always someone online at any time of the night or day that you need support.

I’m very lucky that so many of my online DOC friends have become true real-life friends, but because we are spread out all over the place I don’t get to see them as often as I would like.  And as great as online support is, there are times when you just need sit down with another person with diabetes for a good chat.  And that is where my Fairfield County Dinner Group comes in.  Our dinners are fun and always feel festive, and these ladies are always willing to lend an ear and give advice about all things diabetes.  The best thing?   We talk about so much more, and I love that our group shares a bond that goes far beyond our diabetes.  I really don't know what I'd do without Rachel, Kathleen and Erin!

And to round things out, I’m also involved with my local JDRF T1 Adult Outreach groups.  These gatherings tend to be larger and more diverse, because JDRF has the resources to let more people know about the meetings.  I also love that we do a mix of events - some casual hang-outs and some more structured and informational meetings.  It’s nice to have the variety.  And our planning dinners are just as much fun as our actual events - we are lucky Joan is so organized or we'd probably spend so  much time socializing we'd never get any actual planning done!

My ideal support group exists, cobbled together from three different sources of support!  Where do you turn for support?

This post is my April entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival.  If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2012/april-dsma-blog-carnival-2/

Medical IDs - do you or don’t you?

While dining with my local Fairfield County Diabetes Dinner group two weeks ago, the discussion rolled around medical ID’s - do we or don’t we wear them.  We all agreed on the importance of wearing a medical ID, but not all of us actually do.  Part of the problem seems to be that many medical IDs are just plain ugly.  But they don’t have to be!!  I told my Fld County Dinner friends to keep an eye on my blog for an upcoming give-away - and here it is!!

Jenna White, of Lauren’s Hope Medical ID Bracelets recently emailed me and offered to provide a bracelet to give away to one lucky blog reader.  After hearing the story behind the company and seeing how pretty these ID bracelets are, I could hardly refuse!


Here is some information about Lauren’s Hope, directly from Jenna:

When you or your child was diagnosed with diabetes, your life instantly changed forever. As your doctor explained medical procedures, medications, and other lifestyle adjustments, you may have been overwhelmed thinking about all the things that would have to change. One thing that your condition shouldn't affect, though, is your individualized sense of style! In the past, medical bracelets have been big, bulky, impersonal and unattractive - which meant a lot of people would opt not to wear them.

That’s why Lauren’s Hope was founded - to create medical alert jewelry that people would actually want to wear. This inspiration for the business came from a family friend of the company’s founders. As a teenager with diabetes, Lauren refused to wear medical ID jewelry because it was “ugly” and could “draw attention” to her illness. Lauren’s mother asked for a fashionable medical ID to keep her daughter safe, and the rest is history.

Today, Lauren’s Hope is still dedicated to making beautiful medical ID jewelry for people of all ages, with any condition, and with any sense of style! Whether you have a style-savvy teenager with a penicillin allergy or you feel self-conscious wearing your own chunky diabetes ID to a dinner party, we can help you find a fashionable alternative that will keep you safe. People with diabetes, severe food, drug, and insect allergies, heart conditions, asthma, autism, a visual or hearing impairment, epilepsy, or any chronic illness need to wear medical alert jewelry with that information engraved, as well as people who are on certain medications or are gastric bypass, lap band or organ transplant patients.

In the event of an emergency, your medical ID will do more than just make you look good - it can also save your life! Your medical ID bracelet should be custom engraved with a few important details so medical personnel will know how to treat you best. They will need to know your name, your medical condition(s), any allergies and important medications that you have, and emergency contact numbers.

The winner of this contest will be able to chose from one of five bracelet choices.  The prize includes one complete bracelet, including the tag, custom engraving and shipping.  Your bracelet choices are:
This is the Mood Bead medical ID bracelet. Don't like to keep your emotions all bottled up? Set them free with this psychedelic, color-changing mood bracelet! Featuring color changing mood beads surrounded by Swarovski crystals and sterling silver Bali beads, this medical ID bracelet will take you all the way back to the 70s. Attach your custom engraved medical ID tag to complete the look and show the world what you're feeling. The lobster clasps attach to your custom engraved medical ID tag. Slap on your medical ID bracelet and see what kind of mood you are in today!
This is the Fiona medical ID bracelet. Everyone loves stylish simplicity - especially when it comes to medical ID jewelry. If you want a style that is elegant-yet-modest, you can't go wrong with this triple strand medical ID bracelet. This sophisticated design features black tubing and gray Swarovski crystals to create a look that is subtly stunning. Simply attach your custom engraved medical ID tag with our signature lobster clasps for instant, trouble-free elegance.
This is the Multi Crystal medical ID bracelet. A simple yet fun combination of Swarovski crystals in pastel tones, sterling silver, and Bali beads makes this medical alert bracelet a must-have for any jewelry lover! This bracelet has it all: a little sparkle, a little shine, a lot of color and, as always, our signature lobster clasps that make it oh so easy to attach your custom engraved medical ID tag. If you need to wear a medical bracelet, you can still be fashionable!
This is the Into the Dark medical ID bracelet. Are you a fan of glow in the dark beads? This unique medical ID bracelet features 2 lime green glowing beads. The sides of the bracelet feature black tubing and you can attach this medical ID bracelet to your custom engraved medical ID tag with lobster clasps.
This is the Undercover medical ID bracelet. If you are confident and strong, with a bit of an edge, this stainless steel medical ID bracelet is perfect for you. The unique crisscross pattern and durable stainless steel are things you might not want to keep under wraps! This stylish bracelet can hold up to 3 lines of your important medical information. Combine safety with style when you snap on this medical ID bracelet.

If you’d like to enter the drawing, simply leave a comment on this post telling me if you wear medical ID  a) always, b) often, c) on occasion or d) never.  The winner will be drawn on Friday morning!  Good luck!

For more about Lauren’s Hope, check out their Facebook page, Twitter account and blog!

You've got mail . . . eerrr, dinner . . .

Last night, I did something I've never done before. I sat down to dinner with three other Type 1s. Three complete strangers, who quickly felt like friends. People who I met thanks to the Internet and the Diabetic OC.

You may have read over at Kerri's blog about the Fld County Diabetes Dinner she arranged. The idea appealed to me immediately for two reasons. 1) I live in Fld County and 2) I've never ever shared a dinner with other Type 1s. I was nervous, yes, hoping I wouldn't revert back to Junior High Karen who was painfully shy. As it turns out, there was absolutely no need for nerves or shyness.

I arrived a bit early, and babbled to the hostess that I was meeting a group - but I didn't know how many of us there were or what name the reservation was under. Luckily, a minute later, Kerri showed up to take charge. She also babble to the hostess that she didn't know how many of us there were (and that we didn't have a reservation because we didn't need one on a Monday night). From that moment, I knew things were going to be fine (although I'm sure the restaurant staff wasn't as optimistic!!)

We were seated at a table with a clear view of the door so we could attempt to watch for others meeting us. Soon J joined us, and a few minutes later R arrived. We all chatted so much that the poor waiter had to come back three times before we were ready to order. We compared how long we've had diabetes (I "won" with almost 29 years, but all false pride at that fact was lost when I realized this also meant I was the oldest person at the table). We "pumped" J for her perspective on being diagnosed as an adult, just 6 months ago. We listened to R's insights about going through pregnancy as at Type 1. We were entertained by D-blogging stories that only Kerri could tell. We talked about husbands and boyfriends and parents. We talked about jobs and cats and dogs. We talked about lows and highs. We tested our blood sugar (and no one asked what the results were). We ate our dinner, and we talked and shared and laughed until the waiters started putting up chairs and turning off lights in a desperate attempt to make us go home!

A shared disease is no guarantee that people will be compatible, but these three women are people I would be happy to hang out with even without the diabetes bond. The fact that we could share our diabetes trials and tribulations with people who really get it was the icing on the cake. (And yes, we can have cake, we just need to bolus for it!)