Feeding the Soul - #cwdffl16 Part 1 . . .

In 2011, Pete and I attended our first CWD Friends for Life.  And we happily went back for the following three years.  But last year, we decided Pete deserved a vacation that DIDN’T revolve around diabetes.  #blamePete  Okay, okay, that isn’t entirely true.  We decided together that we both needed a year when our vacation dollars were spent on something without a diabetes focus.  Sure, we can’t really take a vacation from diabetes, but going somewhere non-diabetes related is important sometimes.  And so we took a Canada / New England cruise, which was a fantastic adventure.  But we missed FFL.  A lot.

So this year, it was time to go back.  And we’re both thankful that we did.  Friends for Life is more than just a conference for us.  It’s also a family reunion and a vacation and a second home and a bunch of other indescribable things with a ton of happy feelings.  It’s a week when I get to hang with some of my most favorite people from the internet.  In short, it feeds my soul.  And here is why . . .

I got to spend time with Cara and Becky.  Cara and I call ourselves twins because we were born on the same date and are so much alike. So time with her is always wonderful. And finally meeting Becky in real life, who came all the way from the UK, was a huge treat this year.

I've been Twitter pals and blog pals with Rick and Trip for quite some time. Finally getting to hang with them in person was priceless!

I reunited with my fellow New Englanders in the expo hall.  Funny thing is, I don’t think I’ve ever actually been in New England when I’ve seen any of them.

Dinner and silliness are always important!!  I love this crazy bunch.

I had no idea Wil would be attending, so seeing him was a very nice surprise.  He wrote a great post about his experience as a first-timer this year.

Diabetes can feel so isolating at times.  Working primarily from home in the on-line world also feels very isolating.  So spending the week in a place where I felt decidedly not-isolated was exactly what my soul needed.  And exactly what Friend for Life gave me.

Hangover . . . . .

I’ve spent the last week with what I can best describe as a Friends for Life Hangover.  Lethargic, moody, emotionally achy and just feeling the need to avoid the internet.   Don’t get me wrong, I love the DOC and am so grateful to be able to connect on-line any time day or night.  But there is something crazy special about being in the same room, talking face to face, and hugging it out. 

Meeting friends for the first time in real life.

Reconnecting with friends I don’t get to see enough.

Acting silly.

And just hanging out.

Sometimes I forget how much I need the real-life stuff, in addition to the on-line stuff.  I miss it.  And I have a Friends for Life Hangover.  I kind of wish I could stay there forever.

But. of course, someone at home needs me too.  And she showed me how much she missed me the second I walked through the door.

I missed her.  But still, I miss my Friends for Life too. 

Spread the Love - #DBlogWeek Day 7

You can find more Spread the Love post on the Sunday 5/19 Link List.

 As another Diabetes Blog Week draws to a close, let’s reflect on some of the great bloggers we’ve found this week. Give some love to three blog posts you’ve read and loved during Diabetes Blog Week, and tell us why they’re worth reading. Or share three blogs you’ve found this week that are new to you. (Thanks to Pearlsa of A Girl's Reflections for inspiring this topic.)

Until I sat down to write this post I didn’t realize how very tough this topic would be for me.  First of all, there are SO MANY fantastic posts that I’ve read this week that it’s really hard to pick just three to share.  And secondly, of course, I’m so far behind on reading DBlogWeek posts that I can’t even imagine the posts I haven’t gotten to yet.  (I will get to them all though, I promise!!  It may take me quite a while, but I do plan to read each and every one!)  So anyway, tough or not, today I’m sharing three of the many many many post that I’ve read and loved so far.

• I thought this Day 2 petition to artificial sweeteners from Unexpected Blues was brilliant.  Be sure to read all the way to the end, because the names of those who signed the petition should not be missed!!
• When I watched this Day 4 video post from Melissa at Sweetly Voiced  I cried and smiled and was amazed at her talent and touched by her lyrics.  And yes, she absolutely is “sweetly voiced”.
• The thing I look forward to the most during DBlog Week is finding new or new to me blogs.  That’s why I really loved finding this accomplishment post for Day 4 from newish blogger Jessica at One Girl’s Diabetic Life.  I admire that she’s challenging herself to share even though it’s out of her comfort zone.

Is that three posts already?  I could easily link a dozen  more!  How about you - what have you read this week that touched your heart?

Wordless Wednesday - Mail Call

Beautiful, right???  My dear friend Hilary of Rainie and Me made this mug for me.  That’s right, SHE MADE IT after we talked about my coffee addiction and how I drink it out of a big container that is meant to hold knitting needles.  (Not that exact one, mine has hunter green yarn.)  My new mug is too pretty to use, but I will use it because I hate when people say that about things I’ve knit.  (Oh, and she sent a cat card too . . . . . I love her!!)

I don’t know how I got so lucky to have so many wonderful friends in the DOC.

Apples and Oranges

I got to know Kate of Sweet Success during the second Diabetes Blog Week.  I felt like we hit it off right from the start and she was one of my Find a Friends during this year’s DBlog Week.  Even thought we were “just on-line friends”, I’ve always felt very close to Kate.  It makes me so so happy when I have the opportunity to meet an on-line friend in person, and Kate has been high on my list of people I still really needed to meet.  I’m in Connecticut and she’s in Arizona, but I always believed we would somehow meet some day and I always told Kate it would happen.  So when she told me she was coming to Connecticut to participate in a panel, I didn’t think twice about letting her know I would drive up to meet her.  We worked out our plans and on Thursday I drove up to her hotel so we could have dinner!

Yay, me and Kate in her hotel lobby!!

I knew I’d be writing a post about the wonderful time we had.  I thought it would be all about  how the on-line friendships we are making in the DOC are real friendships that transcend the boundaries and borders of the internet.  But, of course, that’s been said so many times by so many others (and probably by me as well), so it’s hardly news to anyone.  And then I read Kate’s post about our meet-up, and as I sat there with tears in my eyes I knew exactly what I wanted to write about.  Kate talked about how although Type 1 and Type 2 are both diabetes, with so many of the same issues and treatments, they are also very different in some ways.  I agree and spending time with Kate gave me an even better understanding of this fact.

But do you know what?  I was shaking my head in bewilderment when Kate wrote that she felt like I have a lot more to do to handle T1 than she does for T2.  Because honestly, as we talked Thursday night I couldn’t help but feel how much easier I have things than Kate does.  She told me about her long flight the day before, which happened AFTER a three hour drive to the airport.  And how when she finally arrived at her hotel she was greeted with a high blood sugar.  So what did she do?  She did what she had to - she went down to the fitness center and walked on the treadmill.  I was so impressed - understanding how exhausted she must have been and knowing that when faced with the same situation I would just press the buttons on my pump for a correction bolus and go to sleep.

At dinner we both chose some tasty salads.  I used my phone to look up the carb count for my salad and was taken aback to find it supposedly had 51 grams.  No croutons, no starchy vegetables besides a few carrot shreds, no bread sticks served with it - restaurant dressing aside 51 grams still seemed high to me.  I casually told Kate I’d under bolus quite a bit since I had an hour’s drive home alone and didn’t want to go low.  I said I’d rather end up higher for my drive than lower, and if needed I’d correct back down when I got home.  What I didn’t tell Kate was that I was secretly wondering how many carbs were in her salad, and what it would do to her blood sugar.  I felt guilty that I could correct a high down fairly easily, while she might have to force herself into another late night workout.  Who had it harder that night?  In my opinion, Kate did, hands down!!

Type 1 and Type 2 are both diabetes.  It’s not a contest as to who has it easy - nobody does, T1 and T2 are both hard.  We walk similar paths and deal with similar issues.  But I agree with Kate when she said comparing us is like comparing apples to oranges.  Yes, I’m taking over 100% for my pancreas, while Kate is an executive assistant for hers. She can’t imagine testing 4 times in as many hours like I did on Thursday (although I usually don’t test THAT often, there were a bunch of extenuating factors in play).  I can’t imagine trying to manage on one test strip a day and using diet and exercise as my main treatment options.  Perhaps the grass is always greener on the other side?  Frankly, I don’t think so.  I think the grass is pretty well-worn on both sides of the diabetes fence.

Kate, thank you so much for the lovely post you wrote and the lovely visit we shared.  Thank you so much for the kind words about what I and other T1s do to stay healthy.  And to you and everyone living with Type 2 - I salute you.  I understand a little better the road you walk and the work you do and the struggles you face.  You are all inspiring to me and I admire all of the hard work YOU do to stay healthy.

Guest Post: Our surprise diabetes meet-up

During Diabetes Blog Week this year I had the pleasure of getting to know Michael, a producer at DiabetesMonitor.com.  He emailed to check I’d be okay with him signing up the bloggers at The Diabetes Collective to participate in DBlog Week.  Of course, I was glad to have them joining in!  And today I’m thrilled to host a guest post from one of the bloggers at The Diabetes Collective, my good friend Scott K. Johnson.  He tells about the first time he and I met!!

Our surprise diabetes meet-up

It was only a few short years ago, but it feels like a lifetime. In February of 2009, I was able to extend a business trip in the Los Angeles area to visit George Simmons and his family. That trip was fantastic in so many ways.

I didn't know it at the time, but George is the master of making sure his guests have a great visit. We only had a few short days together, but there was a lot of action packed into them. We spent time at his house near Los Angeles, and then drove for a few hours into Las Vegas to meet Christel. Both George and I will go through a lot for a quality diabetes meet-up, and meeting Christel ranks way up there. In fact, it ranks right up there with our next diabetes meet-up.

Meeting Karen face-to-face
It may sound crazy, but after Las Vegas, George and I spent another five-plus hours in the car bound for San Diego to meet with Karen and Pete for dinner! The fun part about all of this was that George didn't tell anyone that I was coming along.

It was all a surprise!

We met Karen and her husband, Pete, at a Denny's if I remember correctly, and it was such a blast watching Karen's reaction. George didn't tell her anyone was coming with him. As we were walking up to them he casually mentions "Hey, I brought a friend with me."

Her face went from being ready for the required polite social pleasantries, to recognition, then surprise, then confusion (because I was so out of place there), and finally excitement! It was something I'll never forget.

We held court in that Denny's for what seemed forever. Luckily, we had the sweetest waitress who took such good care of us. She even tolerated my poking fun at her by saying that the four of us travel around the country eating at as many Denny's as we can find. She even brought out an entire carafe filled with Diet Coke.

You should take another look at Karen's post about all of this from back then--there are some great pictures. It was, by far, one of the best diabetes meet-ups of all time.


Why diabetes meet-ups are special
A diabetes meet-up with someone you know from the diabetes online community is really a special thing. It is a testament to how they share of themselves so openly when you can meet them in real life and are already good friends. That even extended to Karen's husband, Pete. It didn't take any longer than a few minutes before both George and I felt like we had known both of them forever.

Since then, I've had the pleasure of seeing and visiting both Karen and Pete several times.

I'm so thankful to have them in my circle of friends. They are worth their weight in gold. And insulin.

Thank you so much for the great post, Scott!!  It was a lot of fun to revisit my memories of that meet-up, which was among my first few and forever holds a very special place in my heart!  And any time you and George are ready for that cross-country Denny’s tour, just let me and Pete know!!  We are so in!

Please be sure to stop by The Diabetes Collective for some more great posts by some very talented bloggers!  And be sure to visit DiabetesMonitor.com as well!

Great Glucose Tablet Debate!!

One of the things I love most about Twitter is that I often find myself in a totally silly and very entertaining conversation that leaves me giggling long after I’ve shut down the computer.  One of these silly conversations happened a week or so ago and, believe it or not,  it was all about glucose tablets.  It started innocently enough, with a tweet from Brian pondering which flavor glucose tabs he should order:


And a bunch of us started voicing our opinions on our favorite glucose tablet flavors, and on flavors we wish existed.  Before we knew it, Bennet had a brilliant brainstorm:


And then it got really silly really fun!!  We settled on the categories of Best Flavor, Worst Flavor and Strangest Flavor.  Nominations began flying in from Alecia, Briley, Bennet, Kelly, Brian and me.  (I also tagged @GlucoLift and barraged poor Christopher with our flavor inspirations!!)

But hey, we want to make sure the whole DOC can voice their opinions on glucose tablet flavors.  So Bennet came up with The Great Glucose Tab Survey of 2012!!  He put together a clever and funny little survey that we hope everyone will take a few seconds to answer.  It contains all of the brilliant, silly and downright gross suggestions, along with spaces for your own tab flavor creations.  Are you game??  Click below and make your vote count!!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Z53F675

Life with a Diabetic Alert Dog - Part 2

Today I’m happy to share the second guest post from my friend Hilary, who blogs at Rainie and Me.  Yesterday she gave us some insights on how Rainie helps alert her to lows - sometimes well before her meter can even pick it up!  Today she shares more about her work with Early Alert Canines and how DADs can  help keep children with diabetes safe.


One of the reasons I’m excited about working with Early Alert Canines (EAC) is we train and place DADs with families with young diabetic children. We call those dogs “Skilled Companions”. I wish every family with a diabetic child could have a DAD. Looking back on my own childhood, I wish I had had a blood sugar alert dog. The dog would have been able to express what I, as an infant and child, could not. The dog could have affirmed to my parents that my blood sugar was dropping, and that I was not cranky from teething pains, growth spurts, adolescence, etc. And even though kids might get angry with their parents, a gentle nuzzle from a dog is usually returned in kind.

As a nurse, and a person born with diabetes, I can only imagine what a dog could do for a parent’s peace of mind. The dog would be another set of eyes and ears (and nose) to monitor the young child’s (or children’s) BS levels and alert the child’s parent when appropriate. The DAD can help shoulder some of the parent’s responsibilities, while, hopefully, allying some of their fears. One mother who just graduated from EAC with her son and their dog tearfully exclaimed, “Thank you! I don’t feel so alone!” Here is another story that shows why I’m passionate about DADs being placed in families with diabetic children: I know of a dog that has been placed in a home with three diabetic children under age 6. The dog sleeps in the hallway between the children’s bedrooms, and alerts the mom when one of the kid’s blood sugar begins dropping rapidly, bringing her to the appropriate child.



I apologize for getting on my soapbox! I wish I could tell you all the ways Rainie has changed my life and my relationship to my own diabetes. She is my friend and constant companion, as well as being my perpetual blood sugar alert system. She has truly saved my life at night and during one particular walk on the beach. There are so many stories to tell – and Rainie and I have only been together for a little over two years.

I’d like to make myself available to anyone who has questions about life with a diabetic alert dog! Please feel free to read my blog or contact me at RainieAndMe.wordpress.com or email me at: HilarythePotter@gmail.com.

And, for those individuals interested in reading a blog about having a diabetic alert dog while in college, please read my friend Amelia’s blog http://www.doggoestocollege.com.

And one last story: Not long after Halloween, I was walking my dog when a little boy named Jason came running with his cape flying behind him as he swung his light-saber from side to side. He was yelling, “Hey! Is that a Ewok?” I laughed and introduced him to my golden retriever named Rainie. He wanted to know why she had a red jacket on. As I explained to Jason and his mom that Rainie is a diabetic alert dog and that she notifies me when my blood sugar is dropping rapidly, his mom began to cry — Jason had just been released from the hospital after being found unconscious due to low blood sugar. As we were talking, Jason looked up at me, with his arms around Rainie’s neck, and said, “If I had a dog like Rainie, she would keep me safe – just like my light-saber.”

Thank you so much, Hilary, for giving us your insights on life with a DAD!  Please be sure to visit Hilary at Rainie And Me to hear more about life with Rainie and to see the beautiful pottery Hilary created for a recent Early Alert Canines fundraiser.  You can also check out more about EAC on their Facebook page.

Life with a Diabetic Alert Dog - Part 1

Each year during Diabetes Blog Week, I have the pleasure of “meeting” and getting to know diabetes bloggers who I hadn’t connected with yet.  This year, one of the new friends I made was Hilary of Rainie and Me.  We’ve conversed by email and over the phone, and I am fascinated by her stories of life with a Diabetes Alert Dog and her work with Early Alert Canines.  When I asked if she’d like to write a guest post, she graciously agreed!

Rainie is my diabetic alert dog, and even though I’ve experienced lots of changes and advancements in diabetic technology since I was diagnosed 55 years ago, nothing has changed my life as much as Rainie has. I hope to explain about diabetic alert dogs (DADs), and tell you some stories about how she has impacted my life. Please note: when I refer to Rainie’s training, or the training of a DAD, I am talking only about the training Rainie has received. I help to train the dogs at Early Alert Canines (EAC), and am supported by EAC’s head trainer, Carol Edwards, in order to keep Rainie certified with ADI (Assistance Dogs International).

First, let me answer this question: What is a Diabetic Alert Dog (also known as a Hypoglycemic Alert Dog)?

A diabetic alert dog (DAD) has been trained to recognize the biochemical scent that a diabetic's body produces as the blood glucose begins to drop. Upon smelling the scent, the dog will then alert its partner, thus avoiding acutely dangerous hypoglycemia and long-term diabetes complications. Some DADs are trained to smell and alert on the scent of rapidly rising blood sugar also.



Rainie and I have been a team for over two years now. When we were placed together, she was a semi-rowdy, 20 month-old, golden retriever/yellow Lab puppy. She was raised as a seeing-eye puppy, but was ‘career-changed’ and trained as a DAD because she is very afraid of motorcycles. Now, she is my best friend, non-judgmental companion and perpetual blood sugar alert system. Because she is a service dog, she can come with me anyplace the general public is allowed. And her presence and constant monitoring allows me to experience a greater peace of mind. I’m more confident because she will alert me before I get into trouble.

I like to consider her alerts a warning, as if she’s telling me, “Pay attention to your blood sugar NOW! You’re changing fast.” Her alerts begin as gentle nudges that will get stronger if I ignore her – even to the point of getting my husband, daughter, or a friend if I’m not paying attention. Rainie has been trained to be ‘on duty’ no matter where we are or what we’re dong. She has alerted me in places like the movies, on hikes, while I’m in the shower, in restaurants, at the farmers’ market, on airplanes, working in the garden, at the doctor’s office, while I’m swimming at the gym, etc. She will wake me up at night (which is important), and once got my husband from another room when I was sick with a high fever, and was too asleep to notice her nudges, which proceeded to her lying on top of me. She alerts me when I’m driving, and has blocked me from getting into the driver’s seat when she’s felt my blood sugar is too low – and she was right each time!

There are many wonderful things about having a DAD. First of all, her alerting indicates my BS is dropping at this instance. In fact sometimes the dogs alert before the meters can measure a change. They can even smell that your blood sugar is going to drop soon! (And this is much more accurate that the 20 minute delay of a continuous glucose monitor.) The first time Rainie alerted me early, I was at work. I did my BS and it was 180 after breakfast – that number was expected, so I did my BS again 10 minutes later (as I’m supposed to do), and it was about 182. But she kept alerting me! I repeated a test again 10 minutes later, and the reading was 179. Yet Rainie kept alerting. Finally, I tested myself a fourth time, and my BS had dropped 100 points! I was amazed, and ate some glucose. Another pleasure about DADs is that their alerting is consistent and non-judgmental. I don’t tend to get annoyed at Rainie like I would if my husband told me, “Hilary, don’t you think you should check your blood sugar?” I know she’s alerting out of duty and love. And by alerting when my BS (blood sugar) begins to drop quickly, I can often avoid going too high afterword (often called ‘re-bounding). My liver no longer has the need to push glucose out into my blood stream because my blood sugar levels haven’t gone so low that the liver is signaled to correct the hypoglycemia. Having a dog is also a wonderful way to meet people, get exercise, and I find I’m not so self-conscious about having diabetes. People will ask me, “What does she do?” or “What does she ‘early alert on?” and I’ll tell them that she is a diabetic alert dog and smells my low blood sugar. I can then talk about diabetes and DADs without having the focus on me. But I think the best ‘gift’ I get from having Rainie, my diabetic alert dog, is a fuller sense of peace-of-mind. I no longer have to fear that my blood sugar will drop and that I’ll be unaware of it. I can exercise, drive, and do almost anything while not worrying that I’m falling into danger. Because of having diabetes so long, I can no longer feel when I’m going low, and having Rainie’s attention and monitoring makes me feel safer in the world, and during sleep. My family doesn’t worry as much about me either. My husband isn’t afraid to go on long trips because he knows that Rainie will help to keep me aware and safe. And, even with all her life-saving responsibilities, Rainie knows just when to put her head in my lap when life with diabetes has gotten me down.

Thank you, Hilary, for giving us some first hand insights on Diabetes Alert Dogs, and more specifically, wonderful Rainie.  Come back tomorrow for more about Hilary’s work with Early Alert Canines and how DAD’s are so helpful to people with diabetes.

The Post I Don’t Know How to Write . . . .

I’m exhausted.  I have a sore throat.  My blood sugars have been skyrocketing and crashing and no matter what I do I can’t get my CGM to show me a flat(ish) line.  But I can do nothing but smile, because I spent the last five days at Friends for Life.  With people who really are my friends for life.

The plan for today was to write a post that makes you feel like you were there.  That conveys how odd it feels to look down at a simple green bracelet on your wrist and feel pride and belonging.  (That green bracelet is given to all attendees that have Type 1 Diabetes.  Our family and loved ones wear orange bracelets.)  I need to write a post that gives you a taste of the comfort of discussing diabetes burnout with a room full of people who get it and two wonderful session leaders trained to help you cope with it.  I have a million stories, a million thoughts, a million experiences and I shed a million tears, both happy and sad.  I don’t know how to write about all of this in a way that will do it justice.  It is just beyond my scope.

So instead, I will tell you my first story from this year’s Friends for Life, and hope I can do the conference a small sliver of justice. 

Shortly after checking in, Pete and I were off to find registration and our friends who had already arrived.  As we stood waiting for the elevator a family joined us.  The mom and younger sister had on orange bracelets, and the older sister had on a green bracelet.  So I asked them where we needed to go to pick up our bracelets and registration packet.  I was starting to feel a bit of that fuzzy headedness as the mom explained that we needed to go to the first floor and then walk to the end of the long, long hallway.  I immediately muttered something like “better test” as I pulled out my meter.  And then, somewhat to my surprise, the bonding began.

The sister with the green bracelet excitedly exclaimed “You have diabetes too?  That is SO COOL!!!!”   Although I can’t be sure, her reaction and the tone of her voice makes me think I was the first fellow diabetic she had ever met.  I couldn’t help but smile, even as a 41 flashed across my meter.  In the jumble of the next few excited (but low-brained for me) minutes, we shared our stories.  Mom told me her daughter was diagnosed less than a year ago, and I told them I was diagnosed over 32 years ago.  Mom and I quietly murmured about expectancies for PWDs back then, and she asked pointedly “How are you?”  I was so proud to be able to tell her that I am healthy and complication free, and to see both relief for her daughter and gladness for me flash across her face.  As we got on the elevator I turned to Pete to tell him my blood sugar was 41, and the family all said “What??? 41????”  My friend with the green bracelet said “How are you smiling right now?” and tried to insist I take the small chocolate milk she was holding.  I can’t tell you how honored I was that she would give me her chocolate milk, and I thanked her but told her I’d be fine as I had plenty of Starbursts (which I was shoving into my mouth at that moment).

The elevator arrived at our floor and we all began walking down the long, long hall.  My new green bracelet friend asked if I wanted to sit down, and when I said I was okay to walk she put her arm around me and walked beside me.  (I swear, I was so touched I almost cried.)  Her sister seemed to delight in telling me how crabby my new friend gets when she is low - something I completely understand.  We all laughed about being crabby because of a low and being crabby just because we all sometimes get crabby!  We came upon a “Hydration / Low Station” and my green bracelet friend suggested I have some water.  She poured a cup and I poured a cup, and then was surprised as she handed  her cup to me and explained that she had poured it for me and she wanted me to drink it.  Then she reached into the bowl of glucose tab packets and said “Here, take these too”.  I told her the sign said to please only take them if I needed them, and I had already treated my low with Starbursts, and she wisely responded “Your blood sugar was 41, that means you need them so please take them”.  So I thanked her again and did.


By then it was time for Pete and I to head to registration and for them to head to the pool.  The mom and Pete snapped pictures, complete with my two cups of water and emergency packet of orange Dex4s.  I have never in my life felt such kindness and compassion from a complete stranger, let alone one that looked to be less than 10 years old.  The minute I heard the excitement in her voice upon realizing I had diabetes too, I knew without a doubt in my mind she was going to have an amazing experience at Friends for Life.  And I know she is going to have an amazing life.  I wish I had run into them again before the conference ended, but unfortunately our paths didn’t cross after that first night.  But I will always be thankful for the chance to meet this family.  And I will always remember how one small girl with a green bracelet drove the entire point of Friends for Life 2012 home to me during my very first moments there.

Wordless Wednesday . . .

YAY!!!!!!!!!

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/

My Diabetes Playlist . . .

Theme song. Imagine your health focus or blog is getting its own theme song. What would the lyrics be? What type of music would it be played to?

I was pretty sure I was going to skip this topic today, because I just can’t come up with a theme song for my blog.  But I decided to just take the topic in a different direction.  Instead of a theme song, I want to share two of my favorite diabetes songs by two very special people.

The first is the song that my friend George, the Ninjabetic, wrote in 2008 for World Diabetes Day.  Every time iTunes shuffles to Not By Choice when I’m in the car, it makes me smile and cry at the same time.  I’m so proud of George for writing this wonderful anthem.

For the second song on my d-playlist, George teamed up with the fantastic Cherise to parody a Beyoncé song.  Pete and I have been known to randomly break out into a chorus of All the Diabetics when we are at home.  (Okay, and sometimes in public too.)

What songs are on your Diabetes Playlist?

Why write about diabetes?

I write about my health because… Reflect on why you write about your health for 15-20 minutes without stopping.

I’m feeling quite under the weather today (thank you Pete, for sharing the bad cold you caught while I was away last week).  And this topic is not an easy one for me to try to explain.  Basically, I write about diabetes because I feel driven to - and here is a rambly 15 minutes to try to explain why . . .

Back when I first found the DOC, I was a knit-blogger.  The second I found people out there living with diabetes, just like me, and BLOGGING about it too, I knew I wanted to be a part of it all.  I wanted to leave comments and connect, but I thought linking my knitting blog in the comments would be weird.  So to avoid having people think “Who is this crazy knitting girl who leaves comments on diabetes blogs?”, I decided to start Bitter-Sweet.  Of course, now that I know the DOC, I know people would have been happy to connect, no matter what my blog was - or even if I had no blog at all.  But in the long run, I'm grateful for the motivation to start blogging about diabetes.

Once I started sharing my diabetes life, I found I had a lot to say.  I started to meet other diabetes bloggers in person, and I started to build some very important friendships.




I started out looking to connect with people who understood how living with diabetes felt.  I never imagined the connections would turn into such strong friendships - the kind where you can spend well over two hours on the phone with someone and still have a ton left to say.  This is still the main reason I blog, this is the root of my passion.   However, writing about diabetes has evolved to more than that for me.  I want to help, I want to advocate for the changes we need, I want to make a difference.  I am just one little voice, but I’ve seen our community band our “little voices” together to send loud, clear messages.  It’s exciting to advocate for something I believe deeply in, and it is a path I never imagined my blog would lead me to.

Miracles . . . .

A very good friend of mine and her family are in need of a miracle and have asked for prayers - especially today.  Please add them to your prayers and keep them in your thoughts.  Thank you.

What it’s really about . . . .

It’s not about post hits, blog stats and number of comments received.  It’s not about “in crowds” and cliques.  It’s not about complimentary products for review and conference invites and blog awards.  Yes, it’s nice when opportunities come along, but that’s not what it’s really about.  It’s not what drives me to blog and advocate and share.

I think what it’s really about is opening the mail and finding this . . .


with a card that reads “I kept the other one as a souvenir of the week that changed my life . . . “

The minute I saw this little pom-pom pen, I knew exactly where I had seen it before.  During Diabetes Blog Week, Kathy (Minnesota Nice) over at Purple Haze stepped outside of the box and posted a vlog about her journey with diabetes.  (Sorry that the video is no longer available - it was really inspiring.)  The video ended in a cheer - with two silver pom poms - for D-Blog Week.  I was so touched that I cried when I watched that video.  And I cried even more when I opened the box and saw the pom-pom pen and read the card.  This $1 Pom-Pom Pen is worth more to me than a treasure chest full of jewels - and knowing Kathy has its mate makes it even more special and makes me feel even more connected to my friend.

This is what it’s really about.  This is why I blog and advocate and share.  This is why, even if only one person ever read my posts, I’d still be here blogging.  Because if I can help just that one person feel less alone, feel like someone out there gets it, feels their struggle lighten just a bit . . . . then I’ve accomplished everything I’ve hoped to.  Thank you, Kathy, for such a thoughtful gift.  And thank you, to everyone whose blogs and comments changed my life too.

The DOC - D Blessings Week

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Today I am very thankful and very blessed.  I am lucky to have a very wonderful husband,  and family and friends who support me, love me, and are proud of me.

The biggest blessing diabetes has brought me, of course, is you!!!!  The DOC, the friends I always needed, even when I didn’t know it.  The only people who really get what the whole diabetes thing is like.  You help me and support me and inspire me.  You have filled a huge void in my life!


Happy Thanksgiving to you!!!!!

Scrapbooking Diabetes . . .

Today is the 6th 7th Annual Diabetes Blog Day, an event Gina Capone created to help bloggers to unite and spread diabetes awareness!  This year Gina put a unique spin on DBlog Day, and asked us to create a scrapbook page.  As usual, I waited until the last minute to get going on my page, but once I sat down I was surprised at how quickly it came together!!

Click to enlarge!!

Questions??  Yes, the big Diabetes Awareness circle is made out of yarn.  Yes, the little blue circles are  “Q”s from my Quick-set box.  Yes, there are two martini glasses on my page.  Yes, you also see a cat, yarn stickers, a shoe that looks like a ballroom dance shoe to me, and some sparkly unicorns.  Yes, I did have all of the materials for this page in my office/craft room. 

What would your diabetes scrapbook page include??

Diabetes in the Background

Saturday was one of those once-in-a-lifetime, amazing kind of days.  Saturday was the New York City stop of #Simonpalooza.  What is Simonpalooza?  It’s what happens when a handsome guy with Type 1 diabetes works many long hours to save up for an epic trip from Australia to the US, with stops in L.A., Kansas City and NYC.

So there we were.  Over a dozen people with diabetes (and a couple without) gathered at a chic bowling alley in New York City.  (I know, “bowling alley” and “chic” don’t usually get used together - but this place had quite an atmosphere.)  And do you know what?  We didn’t talk about diabetes!!  We were just a bunch of good friends (some of whom were just meeting for the first time) hanging out and bowling.  We laughed.  We goofed around.  We ate the  most amazing cupcakes!!



Diabetes? It flew under the radar that day.  Sure, the was some D-Talk as I took the train from Connecticut with Kerri and Briley.  And at the bowling alley, people chugged water to combat highs or passed around the glucose tabs to treat lows.  But the day was all about the epic meet-up we were attending, and not really about diabetes at all.  It was simply about spending some precious time with some very good friends.



I love that we educate and advocate and focus so much on diabetes.  But do you know what I love even more?  I love that on Saturday, diabetes spent the day in the background.  Because sometimes, that’s just the way it should be.

(Thanks to Kerri for loaning pictures to the girl who always forgets her camera!!  Otherwise this poor post would be picture-free.)

Mail Call . . . .

You know you’ve got friends in the DOC when you open your mail and find . . . .


. . . . glittery unicorns!!!!  So fun!

Do you ever wish you’ll open your mail and find something fun?  Email your address to me and you just might!!