Diabetes Blog Week 2013

Diabetes blog week is the reason that I didn't give up on blogging a few years ago when I began to feel like my voice was necessary in the community.... so I love it!

You can (and should) find out more about Karen Graffeo's wonderful creation at this link. I'll be doing my best to keep up with the topics next week... Here is the list of topics from Karen's blog:

Share and Don’t Share - Monday 5/13

Often our health care team only sees us for about 15 minutes several times a year, and they might not have a sense of what our lives are really like. Today, let’s pretend our medical team is reading our blogs. What do you wish they could see about your and/or your loved one's daily life with diabetes? On the other hand, what do you hope they don't see?

We, The Undersigned - Tuesday 5/14

Recently various petitions have been circulating the Diabetes Online Community, so today let’s pretend to write our own. Tell us who you would write the petition to – a person, an organization, even an object (animate or inanimate) - get creative!! What are you trying to change and what have you experienced that makes you want this change?

Memories - Wednesday 5/15

Today we’re going to share our most memorable diabetes day. You can take this anywhere.... your or your loved one's diagnosis, a bad low, a bad high, a big success, any day that you’d like to share.

Accomplishments Big and Small -Thursday 5/16

We don’t always realize it, but each one of us had come a long way since diabetes first came into our life. It doesn’t matter if it’s been 5 weeks, 5 years or 50 years, you’ve done something outstanding diabetes-wise. So today let’s share the greatest accomplishment you've made in terms of dealing with your (or your loved one’s) diabetes. No accomplishment is too big or too small - think about self-acceptance, something you’ve mastered (pump / exercise / diet / etc.), making a tough care decision (finding a new endo or support group / choosing to use or not use a technology / etc.).

Freaky Friday - Friday 5/17

Just like in the movie, today we’re doing a swap. If you could switch chronic diseases, which one would you choose to deal with instead of diabetes? And while we’re considering other chronic conditions, do you think your participation in the DOC has affected how you treat friends and acquaintances with other medical conditions? 

Diabetes Art - Saturday 5/18

This year Diabetes Art moves up from the Wildcard choices as we all channel our creativity with art in the broadest sense. Do some “traditional” art like drawing, painting, collage or any other craft you enjoy. Or look to the literary arts and perhaps write a d-poem or share and discuss a favorite quote. Groove to some musical arts by sharing a song that inspires you diabetes-wise, reworking some song lyrics with a d-twist, or even writing your own song. Don’t forget dramatic arts too, perhaps you can create a diabetes reality show or play. These are just a starting point today – there are no right or wrong ways to get creative!

Spread the Love - Sunday 5/19

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.

Dream Diabetes Device Wildcard

Back by popular demand, let's revisit this prompt from last year! Tell us what your fantasy diabetes device would be? Think of your dream blood glucose checker, delivery system for insulin or other meds, magic carb counter, etc etc etc. The sky is the limit – what would you love to see?

Diabetes Wild Kingdom Wildcard

What is the ideal diabetes service animal? Think beyond the obvious and be creative in explaining why your choice is a good one. For example, maybe a seal would make a good service animal - it flaps its flippers and barks every time you get a good blood sugar reading!

Tears of Insulin

images courtesy of Lilly Diabetes

Recently, I attended the 2013 Lilly Diabetes Blogger Summit in Indianapolis, Indiana. One part of the visit allowed us to witness insulin being manufactured and I'm here to tell you that the experience brought me to tears.

Maybe it was the overwhelming feeling that Arden couldn't live without the concoction or perhaps it was when I realized how many dedicated people it takes to make the insulin that Arden needs so desperately. I'm still not completely sure why the sight of insulin production was so moving to me. All I can tell you is that as those little glass vials were zooming past me and as I watched the mechanical arm fill them, I cried. There I was in a viewing room with my fellow D-Bloggers, all of us clad in hairnets, masks and gowns, when tears suddenly began to roll down my cheeks.

Arden doesn't even use Lilly's insulin and still the thought of this place existing was too powerful for me to ignore. So many people that I love, and so many of you that I call friends depend on places like this. I never really thought about it before, never considered the scope and effort that went into the production of insulin. It was amazing and overwhelming to behold. "Arden wouldn't be here today without out companies like Lilly", I thought as I watched the vials fly by... Then I looked around the room and saw so many friends and fellow D-bloggers who all could make similar statements about loved ones and themselves.

I found the hours that we spent on the production floor to be altering, they filled me with gratitude and humility. Diabetes did it again, just when I thought that my perspective on life was as clear as it could possibly get, diabetes brought things into even tighter focus.

This visit was as close to spiritual for me as anything that I've ever experienced. I went to the place that makes the very substance that my daughter needs to stay alive. What an amazing day, what an honor!

Lilly Diabetes invited and paid for me to attend the 2013 summit. Airfare, lodging, food and transportation was all covered by Lilly. I did buy a jammin' lemon pound cake slice for myself at the airport. They never asked me to write about my experience or in any way tried to sway my opinions.

Pictures from 2013 Lilly Diabetes Blogger Summit

I have so much coming up for you over the next two weeks, let's see.

I'll be telling you about my trip to Indiana to visit Lilly Diabetes where we:

Saw how insulin was manufactured

Met Kris Freeman

Recorded a group DSMA PodCast

Learned about the man who drives Lilly's direction

and more...

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My book, 'Life Is Short, Laundry Is Eternal' won a gold Mom's Choice Award - more about that later.

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While Iron Man was kicking super villain butt, I kicked the ass of a crazy combination of nachos, popcorn and candy. I'll be writing about the unorthodox way that I beat that BG back to where it came from.

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For today, let's get started with some pictures from the Lilly Diabetes 2013 Blogger summit

Lilly Diabetes invited and paid for me to attend the 2013 summit. Airfare, lodging, food and transportation was all covered by Lilly. I did buy a jammin' lemon pound cake slice for myself at the airport. They never asked me to write about my experience or in any way tried to sway my opinions. 

Where the Internet Meets my Driveway

I was writing at my desk when Cole came into the house from outside. It was an unusually balmy December day and he was taking advantage of the warm air.

"Dad, there is a lady in the driveway that wants to talk to you"

Cole didn't recognize the woman and either did I as I walked toward her. She extended her hand and within a few words I began to understand why she was here. She fumbled a bit with her words, seeming uncomfortable that she had just shown up at my house without notice.

"I have a friend... she told me about this guy on your street... he has a daughter with type I, are you him?"

Then she gestured to her car, "my daughter was just diagnosed and I live around the corner from here".

We talked for a half of an hour about varying diabetes questions, I tried my best to give her some information, the stuff that I wish I had knowledge of during our first month. We exchanged numbers and promised to let the girls meet soon. I was so proud of her for reaching out in the way that she did, I found myself wishing that I had that courage when Arden was first diagnosed.

I told her about all of you and asked her what she knew of social media. It was interesting to hear her first month concerns in person, I could imagine myself asking the same questions so many years ago. I expressed to her daughter that even though this "all sucks" now it will get much better far sooner then she can imagine.

This random moment helped to reinforce why I write about diabetes CareGiving. I could see myself in this mother's face. I knew everything that she was feeling, I understood all of her fears. We are the same person now, our only difference is that I have the comfort of time and experience and the perspective that comes with those gifts. I hope that something I said or the relaxed feeling about type I that I tried to convey, helped to relieve her fear and anxiety.

The DOC in real life was just as amazing as it is online!

Unfathomable loss

I am sorry to say that fellow diabetes CareGiver blogger and DOC member, Meri Schuhmacher lost her husband Ryan on September 2nd to cancer. Meri and Ryan have four boys, three of whom have type I diabetes.

I never met Ryan, Meri or their children but the pain that they feel is as real to me as if they were part of my own family. I believe that connection is a direct result of the power that the diabetes online community creates in our lives.

Meri has a wonderful blog called 'Our Diabetic Life' and spoke today about the loss of her husband. I think that everyone would benefit from reading what she has shared. I urge you to reflect on the fact that her words of anguish have been permanently added to the collective that is our community. The gift of the DOC is not just the people in it or the connections that we make. It is also a repository for our struggles, pain and triumph that will assuage others tomorrow and beyond. 

Hug your loved ones a little tighter tonight and then support Meri and her family in any way that you can. There is no better way to give back to the DOC then to support one of it's own in their greatest time of need.

When you are finished reading her words please leave Meri a message of support. And if you are able, I hope that you will add a few dollars the the fund that friends of the family have created to help with the costs associated with this tragedy. http://www.giveforward.com/schuhmacherfamilymiracle2. May you all be well...

With a heavy heart,

Scott