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

Join The Strip Safely Tweet-In, August 21st at 8pm EST

Strip Safely is headed by my friend and DOC legend, Bennet Dunlap. In my opinion, when Bennet says something is important for me to pay attention to... it's important. I hope you can send some tweets tonight! - Best, Scott

Taken from www.stripsafely.com

On Wednesday, August 21st beginning at 8pm Eastern, we are staging a StripSafely Tweet-In, asking Congress to send aides to the upcoming Diabetes Technology Meeting on September 9th. 

Please join us and add your voice. 

We’ve made it easy. Simply go to the Let’s Tweet page of Stripsafely.com, find your state and click the link listed next to your senators and congressmen. We’ve already created the message – you just need to tweet it out. (Don’t forget the leadership at the top of the page – we can all tweet to them!)

Then, please, get creative and send additional positive messages to help the diabetes community build friends in Congress. Include the hash tag #StripSafely. Feel free to use this link to our letter in your tweets.

Diabetes isn’t partisan about whose life it impacts. We shouldn’t be partisan in seeking support for our health.

I'll be at the DSMA Social Media Meet-up Tonight in Philly... Will I See You?

Tonight at 8 PM - Cherise Shockley is bringing DSMA to The Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, 1201 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 - Salon D (5th Floor) for a live session of the #DSMA Twitter chat. 

If you are attending the meet-up tonight and you happen see me... please say hello, I'd love to meet you!

Here's a link to the FaceBook event page for tonight's meet-up.

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Your Favorites: April 2013

Your Favorite Arden's Day Content from April 2013 was...

On the blog

On Sale Now: My first book, 'Life is Short, Laundry Is Eternal'

DexCom G4 Platinum: Second Look

Pooh. Gilly. Bear.

OmniPod Rash?

Many other posts received similar attention to this month's top four - thank you for reading!

facebook

This picture received the most 'likes' during April on the Arden's Day FaceBook page

This post was seen on more timelines then any other...

"Thank you to every member of the DOC for supporting my book... I know that there are far more then just the names you see here. #HeartWarming

Life Is Short, Laundry Is Eternal arrives in stores today."

twitter

The tweet that you retweeted the most was something that started out as a way to amuse myself but a lot of you got behind it - which I really love and appreciate!

C’mon @Oprah just look… You’ll love it.  Can I get some RTs from readers! http://t.co/QE9CCZKoOB

It was accompanied by this image

I've only been doing these end of month favorite post for three months, however...

Arden's Day has experienced growth in both page clicks and unique users every month for the last eight consecutive months! I'm touched, humbled, and happy that you are enjoying the site.

I've said this before but it bears repeating, thank you for the incredible support that you have shown both by reading my blog and buying my book. I genuinely don't know how to properly say thank you... 

On to May!

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!