Lace Up 4 Diabetes Shoe Laces Giveaway

Novo Nordisk's #LaceUp4Diabetes campaign has been a huge success and I don't think that it's a big secret as to why, shoe laces adorn with blue diabetes circles are super %&*@ing amazing!

I was lucky enough to receive laces from Novo last week. My wife Kelly has a pair on her sneakers, Arden has a pair on her purple Vans and I would like it very much if one of you had the last pair.

Entries will be accepted until midnight EST on November 24th. To enter just share this page somewhere on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc) and then leave a comment on this blog post that includes your email address (Your comment is your entry). Good luck!

The fine print: One winner will be chosen at random by Arden using the time honored method of pulling a slip of paper from a paper bag. If the winner doesn't respond to email in a reasonable amount of time, Arden will re-pick. Giveaway is limited to U.S and Canadian residents. 

Follow @ArdensDay

Update on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 at 8:45AM by Scott Benner

and the winner is... 

Snuffleupabolus

The lovely people at Lauren's Hope are giving away two $50 gift certificates to their site along with two autographed copies of my award winning (I know, fancy right!?) parenting memoir, 'Life Is Short, Laundry Is Eternal". Just head over to their blog to read my piece about managing Thanksgiving day BGs, then you can enter to win the contest or do whatever else goes on over there.

Good luck in the giveaway! - Free Stuff Friday with Scott Benner

The Blood Won't Come Out: Day of Diabetes Deeper Look

This post is an indepth look at a 20-30 minute window from our #DayOfDiabetes.

Last night Arden's DexCom transmitter sent a message that it needed to be replaced (That is expected as it is over a year old).

Today, during a moment that I thought would be calm, I called DexCom to order a new one. DexCom told me that I needed to call EdgePark Medical Supply.

I called Edgepark. Long explanation. Was transferred.

Arden texts that her CGM is ready for calibration - I tell her to test and put number in.

Someone picks up at Edgepark. Long explanation. Was transferred again.

Arden texts, "The blood won't come out, I did it like 12 times".

So now I'm talking to Edgepark and texting with Arden because for the first time in over seven years of having type I diabetes. She can't get a blood drop no matter how hard she tries.

Edgepark is explaining my insurance, the guy is nice and making small talk but I need him to shut up because I can sense that Arden is getting upset. 

"Still not working, not going to the nurse" - Arden's Text

I tell her to try different fingers, different sides, to squeeze her arm toward her hand and then her finger toward the tip. Nothing is working.

"221" - "I got it dad but I had to do the middle finger and it hurts" - Arden's Text

I tell her that I'm proud of her by text while confirming our address with the Edgepark CSR and while that is all happening, no shit, Arden's timer for lunch goes off.

Cell phone in my left hand, telephone in my right, credit card on the counter, lump in my throat because Arden is upset yet unwilling to quit and the alarm goes off. I laughed... "At least we don't have to test", I text...

That's a #DayOfDiabetes all packed into 20 minutes.

Day Of Diabetes: World Diabetes Day Edition

Six years ago I began this blog with the intention of sharing every diabetes related moment that happen to us over a twenty-four hour period. I planned to share our day with diabetes with my friends and family but didn't have one idea about what I was going to do after that day ended. I had never read a blog, didn't know another family who lived with type I diabetes and only ever saw two message boards in the Internet. I had no idea what my sharing would introduce me to or what meeting all of you would one day mean to me. So many diabetes related events happened in the first few hours of August 16, 2007, that I had to stop before the day was over - but that was on my first day.

Today, I think I can make it for twenty-four straight hours... One full day of sharing to help bring awareness to the the world of type I diabetes. Every moment of our World Diabetes Day that is touched by type I diabetes, I will share as an update here on Arden's Day and other social media portals that lend themselves to the moment. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr

If you want to follow along or share the posts, I'll be hashtaging them with #DayOfDiabetes - Many other DOC members will be doing something similar today, please support them as much as you can. Here we go!

Update on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 12:45AM by Scott Benner

#DayOfDiabetes - Just 39 minutes in and diabetes is already making noise. 
#NDAM #WorldDiabetesDay

Update on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 1:05AM by Scott Benner

3hrs 30min since snack time insulin. Going to wait up a little longer. Tonight may just go well. #dayofdiabetes

Update on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 1:33AM by Scott Benner

1:33 am. Arden's BG is drifting lower. Temp basal, off for 30 mins. I'll listen to some music and check again in 30 mins. Eyes starting to hurt.

Update on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 2:18AM by Scott Benner

BG is steady at 95. One last temp basal, off to sleep. now. getting up in 4hr 45min. #DayofDiabetes

Update on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 8:13AM by Scott Benner

I overslept. Sometimes staying up until after 2 am can do that to me. Was woken finally by Arden's DexCom. Not only did her BG slowly drift to 196 by 8am but it wanted me to know that the sensor needs to be replaced in four hours. Thing is, we use that sensor to get through the school day. Going to have to reset it and set timers for extra testing.

Update on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 8:43AM by Scott Benner

Arden couldn't take her chewable vitamin this morning because her BG was 200 and they are 6 carbs, would require .45 units of insulin and hinder the bolus that is working for the elevated BG - vitamins. #DayOfDiabetes

Update on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 9:11AM by Scott Benner

Currently trying to decide what caused morning rise.#dayofdiabetes

The popcorn Arden ate before bed resolved almost perfectly. I set a decreased temp basal at 1am that seemed to work (Happy enough with the 150 range). Guessing the AM rise was not due to temp basal at 1am. If I hadn't overslept I could have boluses it just as it began and I think the 8 am number would have been around 140ish.

Update on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 9:14AM by Scott Benner

Timer just sounded. Arden will be testing in class and sending me a number in a moment. #DayOfDiabetes 

Update on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 9:34AM by Scott Benner

Working on high BG from AM & getting ready for snack.#dayofdiabetes

Update on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 10:36AM by Scott Benner

On the phone with DexCom to deal with transmitter battery message. #DayOfDiabetes 10:28am

Update on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 10:44AM by Scott Benner

Arden just texted, CGM is ready to calibrate. She is testing now. #DayofDiabetes

Update on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 11:03AM by Scott Benner

“The blood won’t come out, I did it like 12 times” - Arden’s Text

I’ll have a #Dblog up in 20 mins about the last 1/2 hour. edit: Here it is LINK
#DayofDiabetes 

Update on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 11:51AM by Scott Benner

Arden is at lunch, CGM is back and new DexCom transmitter has been ordered. This looks like a safe time for me to take a shower. #DayofDiabetes

Update on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 1:32PM by Scott Benner

Post Gym CGM check 97. #DayofDiabetes

Update on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 1:46PM by Scott Benner

I just entered Arden’s post gym BGs in the #BigBlueTest #DayOfDiabetes

www.bigbluetest.org

Update on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 2:06PM by Scott Benner

Arden just ate 5 Mike and Ikes to keep a #CGMnow of 97 steady. #DayofDiabetes 

Update on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 2:46PM by Scott Benner

Arden is on her way to the bus port. Just sent her CGM, we made an adjustment/bolus  and she will be home soon. #DayofDiabetes

Update on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 6:46PM by Scott Benner

CGMnow 90 mins after Chinese food, 84. Small snack going in. #DayOfDiabetes 

Update on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 9:52PM by Scott Benner

Arden is in bed, had to bolus again for an elevated BG. I’ll check on her in a little bit. #DayodDiabetes

Only One Thing Better Than a Great Book...

There's only One Thing Better Than a Great Book... A great book that's on sale!

Spry Publishing (My publisher) is offering their catalog of diabetes books, from DOC members that you know and love, at 50% off this week in honor of Diabetes Awareness Month. I know what you're thinking, "50%... that's almost half!".

Books by Moira McCarthy from Despite Diabetes - Leighann Calentine from D-Mom Blog - Gary Scheiner, yes, that Gary Scheiner - Susan Weiner, whose diabetes organizer just landed on shelves and me.

So from now until November 15, these books are available at a tidy discount when you buy them directly from Spry's website, www.sprypubdiabetes.com and use coupon code: Diabetes50

Raising Teens with Diabetes: A Survival Guide for Parents - Moira McCarthy

Kids First, Diabetes Second - Leighann Calentine

Until There Is A Cure - Gary Scheiner

The Complete Diabetes Organizer - Susan Weiner

Life Is Short, Laundry Is Eternal: Confessions of a Stay-At-Home Dad - Scott Benner

Update on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at 8:32AM by Scott Benner

Link to my review of Moira's McCarthy's, Raising Teens with Diabetes.

and

My review of Kids First, Diabetes Second from Leighann Calentine -

I wish that Kids First, Diabetes Second was in print when my daughter Arden was diagnosed with type I diabetes. I spent years figuring out the things that Leighann’s book could have taught me in a weekend. It’s a roadmap for newly diagnosed families and a reference for those that have been living with diabetes for years. If you are the parent of a child with type I, this is the book for you.
— Scott Benner