Spry's D-Hero Interview: Scott Benner

Nita Cure is on Twitter @NitaCure4T1D, she is also the creator and mod of @thecandoc.

Spry Publishing (my book publisher) is featuring interviews with several different people from the D.O.C. for Diabetes Awareness Month. They recently asked me who my D-Hero is.

There are so many heroes in the diabetes community. Bloggers who share so that others can be comforted, parents who don’t sleep, and people who lead by example. Every person living with type 1 diabetes is a hero. These people do something brave in the name of their health every second of every day.

But if I had to pick just one person…

You can read the rest of my answer on Spry's blog. 

Big Blue Test

Join the movement!

Exercise is good for you. You know that. But did you know that the average Big Blue Tester has seen their blood glucose level drop 20% after 14-20 minutes of exercise?

And if that isn’t enough reason to get active, every time you enter a Big Blue Test you help us get one step closer to our goal of 20,000 entries. If we hit our goal, the program sponsor will donate $100,000 to organizations that provide life-saving supplies and services to people with diabetes in need.

Do the test as often as you can between today and the end of November 14th. 

Big Blue Test

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

I was 'Just Talking' with Chris Snider

The best aspect of the Roche Social Media Summit was meeting other members of the DOC, like Chris Snider. Chris has a fantastic podcast called, 'Just Talking' and he was kind enough to ask me to appear on it along with a bunch of other summit attendees. 

The entire episode is a great listen with familiar DOC names (in order of appearance) like Cherise Shockley (who shares some exciting news about DSMA), Stacey Divone, George Simmons, Scott Johnson, Lee Ann Thill, Wendy Rose, Sara Nicastro, Kim Vlasnik and Kerri Sparling. My bit comes last at 41:00 where I announce the title of my upcoming book, smart mouth a bit about minor league baseball and talk about being the parent of a child with type I diabetes. It's a light conversation until Chris asks me about how I view my role in the DOC, then things "get real".

So if you are interested to hear how I think about type I blogging, want a spoiler about my book title (that isn't happening on this site until tomorrow) or are just interested in hearing my voice... check out 'Just Talking' by clicking on the image at the top of this post or by following this link.

Much of this episode is recorded at a baseball game so there is wind noise, however my interview happens indoors so it is very easy to listen to.

Kids First, Diabetes Second Book

Leighann Calentine's first book, 'Kids First, Diabetes Second' goes on sale this week. You probably know Leighann from her wonderful diabetes CareGiver blog, 'The D-Mom Blog' but if you don't you should take a few moments to get acquainted with her work. 

I've read 'Kids First...' and recommend it to families living with type I. While you're reading keep an eye out for sidebars throughout the book written by DOC members whose names I'm betting that you'll recognize. In fact on page 152 there is a particularly good piece about building a working relationship with your child's school. Bet you can't guess which DOCer wrote that one? 

Leighann's book is available in paperback and on your favortie eBook reader. 

disclaimer: I was provided a copy of 'Kids First...' at no cost by Spry Publishing and wrote a brief review that I allowed them to use. Though Spry will be publishing my forthcoming book in 2013, my opinions about 'Kids' are my own and motivated soley by the pleasure that I got from reading it. I was not compensated for my contribution to the title nor do I have a financial or other stake in it's success.