Life Is Short: Amazon

Industrial Steel Saw

An email arrived in my inbox, it was from a guy I worked with at the job I had 13 years ago, back before I became a stay-at-home dad. He was writing to tell me that he pre-ordered my book and wished me success with my writing. His note was wonderful and it opened my eyes to an aspect of the process that I didn't give much thought to, people were going to buy my book and read it. Obviously, that is the hope, but I just imagined that my mom would buy a copy, maybe my brothers. It was difficult to consider any success beyond that.

It felt strange when I read his email. My friend went online, clicked on a few buttons and just like that, bought a book that I wrote. Everything about that thought freaked me out. I felt very responsible all of the sudden because he spent his money on something that I created. I was overwhelmed by his words, they warmed my heart.

Since that day others have ordered, I get really nice tweets, FaceBook messages and other notes from a lot of you saying how excited you are for the book to arrive. The book even charted in the US and Canada as a pre-order a number of times! It's a great feeling that I wish I could share with each of you. You know what? Maybe I can try...

I didn't exactly grow up in a hot bed of creativity. Back then I didn't feel comfortable sharing my desire to write with most of the people in my life. Only ever speaking of my dream with my friend Mike. Today as I sit here writing to you, I find myself wondering what my parents would have said if I announced that I wanted to be a writer. I think that idea would have been so far outside of the norm that they wouldn't have known what to say. When I was sixteen I began working in my Uncle's sheet metal shop, I was okay at performing the work but each day reminded me that I wasn't where I belonged. The teenage me didn't hold out much hope that he would find any success outside of that factory. I wasn't hopeless but it was very difficult to be hopeful.

A lot has happened since then...

I began writing on this blog almost six years ago and that act saved me when I was lost. Then my salvation unexpectedly become my passion. I finally found a place where I "belonged" and I was writing. If you would have asked me two years ago, I would have told you that all of this couldn't get better - but then it did.

So when you reach out to tell me that you can't wait for my book, it feels like a dream coming true - each time. I'm instantly reminded that I was once a a young man cutting steel who would drift away in his head and envision himself sitting at a keyboard, but he could never imagine a path to getting there.

You guys have saved me twice so far, once from the isolation of type I parenting and again from the disappointment of a dream not realized. I can only hope that I've helped you somehow, because I owe you all a serious debt. Thank you.

#DOCLove

I'll have Two Eggs Poached, Toast and a Scoop of Maturity

How do habits start? Sometimes it's difficult to remember how you got where you are and with each passing day it becomes harder to imagine a life that is different. That sentiment can be applied to so many aspects of of our days, but today it will help me tell a story about breakfast.

Arden was two when she was diagnosed, that was a long time ago. Those beginning years were well before I knew about the glycemic index, before I understood that all carbs weren't created equally. Today I know better but that knowledge still wasn't helping me to break Arden's cereal habit. That girl enjoys a Fruit Loop.

It's strange to some degree because Arden isn't a junk eater, doesn't like candy and other sweets. She's the kid that goes trick-or-treating to dress up and run around, not for the candy. Yet every morning she has one cup of Fruit Loops with fat free milk - and her BG's take a hit because of that choice. It's a choice that I sanctioned many years ago, and one that I regret now but all of the talking in the world wasn't getting Arden any closer to eating something different. At some point I gave up on trying to get her to change and set out to try and defeat her spikes as best as I could. I did that with a combination of pre-bolusing, temp basals and shear will. I learned how to defend against spikes and create boluses that didn't cause a low, all because of my battle with Toucan Sam. I guess that I should be grateful for that lesson, and I am. None of that however could make me feel any less like a drug dealer when I handed Arden her cereal in the morning.

But then something wonderful happened...

Arden got tired of the spikes. She began to pay attention to her health in a way that I found astonishing, I did not expect her to make this leap so soon and it all started at her Endo appointment. Arden's A1c experienced a significant decrease about six months ago. Her NP made such a great celebration of her achievement and gave Arden a huge hug as she told her how happy she was for her. As much as I believe that her encouragement got the ball rolling for us... it wasn't until Arden's next Endo appointment that she decided to take her fate into her own hands. Three month later Arden's A1c decreased again by .01, an accomplishment for sure, but it apparently didn't hold a candle to the previous decrease, at least in Arden's mind. 

As we were driving home Arden asked me how she could get her A1c to go even lower, I could see that she was feeling competitive with that number and also beginning to think about her health in a different, perhaps more mature way. I didn't want to make too big of a deal about our conversation and so I offered a few small suggestions. We spoke about being a bit more patient before eating an unscheduled snack to give a bolus more time to work, (we pre-bolus meals but small unexpected snacks not so much). I suggested that we could exchange a grain for another vegetable at dinner and then I slipped in that making different breakfast choices would definitely help. The conversation turned to her CGM graph and I explained about how the prolonged spikes from the cereal raised her A1c. It all may sound like too much as I explain it here, but this was an easy and quick conversation in our car, nothing heavy.

One week later Arden approached me about finding new options for breakfast and she hasn't had a bowl of Fruit Loops since. She is growing up, understanding more, and I am proud to be able to say that I can see her wanting good things for herself.

I don't remember thinking even once about my health when I was eight.

Life Is Short: Book Signing Information

Educators Workshop/Book Signing for, 'Life Is Short, Laundry Is Eternal'

April 18, 2013 - 4:30 to 6:30 - Barnes & Noble - 425 Marketplace Boulevard Hamilton, NJ 08691

This is an educators only event. Chapter reading, discussion on school related topics/504 plans, Q&A session and book signing. Teachers who attend will receive two continuing education credits (NJ) as well as 20% off of all their purchases. RSVP - Get Directions

Book Signing for, 'Life Is Short, Laundry Is Eternal'

April 18, 2013 - 6:30 to 7:30 (or until every book is signed) - Barnes & Noble - 425 Marketplace Boulevard Hamilton, NJ 08691

My very first public book signing! RSVP - Get Directions

More locations are in the works... this page will be updated when we have confirmation.

The Diabetic Problem

Arden's Cover Page

It seems that this is the day. Arden asked us last week if she could post something that she wrote at school on Arden's Day. After some serious consideration, we said yes. The following is Arden's 3rd grade writing project. Her assignment was to write a piece of Realistic Fiction, a story that could feasible happen. Be sure to read Arden's Author's Note (Her words, she actually said, "I want to write an author's note after my story) that follows the story.

'The Diabetic Problem' by Arden Benner

Ever since Emme's doctor told her she had diabetes she changed. Now she always had to test her blood sugar. She has to give herself insulin and when someone asked what she was doing, she always had to tell them. She was getting TIRED of it! The worst part of all, some kids even made fun of her! She did not want to test her blood sugar anymore or give insulin to herself. But what would she do about her diabetes... What would she do?

She went to school the one day and decided to sit at the "cool" table. She did not test her blood sugar or give herself insulin. In the middle of lunch she passed out on the cafeteria floor! One of the girls that always picked on her, Mackenzie, went for help. Emme went right to the hospital. She woke up the next morning and her whole family was there. She saw something in the corner of her eye. She looked to her right and saw the girl that helped her when she passed out.

Emme looked straight at her and said, "Thank you". The girl looked right back at her and replied, "you're welcome", then the girl gave Emme a hug. Emme asked, "why did you help me, you hardly know me?"

"I may not know you but I've been through this before, my dad has diabetes" replied the girl. "Just last week my dad had a scary incident like you did in the cafeteria".

"Really", replied Emme. The girl hugged her again.

The next morning Emme woke up surrounded by her family. She had a great idea and said, "Maybe we should all go into school including Mackenzie and... TELL THEM WHAT DIABETES IS"

Everyone thought that was a great idea and so they all went to school that day.

Now they know what it means. They asked so many questions. How did you get diabetes? Is there a certain reason that you have it? Why do you have it when no one else in your family does?

"All I know is diabetes choose me... I didn't choose diabetes", Emme responded.

From that day on her classmates were a lot nicer to her.

Author's Note: Hi this is Arden. I am going to tell you a little more about my story. This story was kind of based on my life, but I have never been treated this way. I want to thank my dad for making this blog and for telling the kids in my school about diabetes so that I don't get treated poorly like the girl in my story. You should not read this story and think that it was just cute and kind. I think this story is more about how nice my family is and how well they treat and help me. I want to thank my dad Scott, my mom Kelly and even my brother Cole for taking such good care of me. Thank you. - Arden Benner

Emme and Mackenzie

Update on Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 9:29PM by Scott Benner

Thank you to everyone in the DOC for all of the great support today. Blue Jays Pitcher Brandon Marrow even 'pitched' in!

Life For A Child

The diabetes online community provides support for those who are a part of it. We cheer each other up and on, lend advice, create friendships and so much more. We are people helping people live better with diabetes. I speak about the power of the DOC all of the time, it's staggering to witness it's reach and impact. It's helped me more times than I can count and I bet it's helped you too. 

A few thoughtful folks in the DOC got together recently and began to wonder who else our community could help. How far can our love reach, can it extend beyond my twitter feed, past our FaceBook pages? Can the power of the DOC touch a child in a country that is an ocean away? I think it can. I'd bet on us any day of the week. So please take a moment, read on and find out where and how your love will be used to save a child with diabetes. 

What is the International Diabetes Federation's Life of a Child Program (from the IDF website)

Donations to the IDF Life for a Child Programme are carefully directed to key areas of diabetes care and management so that established paediatric diabetes centres and associations can provide the best possible care, given local circumstances, to all children and youth with diabetes in developing countries.  

Just $1 a day provides a child with:

• regular insulin
• quality blood glucose monitoring equipment (meter, strips, lancets)
• essential clinical care
• up-to-date diabetes education materials
• specialised diabetes training for medical staff 

“The scope of what needs to be done is vast.  Diabetes management is complex. While the first step is getting access to insulin, it needs to be followed up with education on managing diabetes, extending sustained care and also improving the quality of care. This takes both time and ongoing resources, so donations such as yours are crucial to the success and longevity of the Life for a Child Programme. Thank you for your contribution.”

Dr Graham Ogle, LFAC General Manager.

Please consider making a one dollar donation to the IDF's Life For A Child program right now by clicking on this link and join the DOC in their Valentine's Day effort to Spare a Rose and Save a Child. Give the one you love eleven roses this year and then send the money you save to a child that desperately needs insulin. 

Please share this page with the DOC and beyond. Then write about Life For A Child on your blog, FaceBook wall or twitter feed. Click here for more information on how you can help. Let's take this DOC thing out for a spin and really find out what it can do!