Diabetes Hero~D-Blog Week

Today's Prompt: Let’s end our week on a high note and blog about our “Diabetes Hero”.  It can be anyone you’d like to recognize or admire, someone you know personally or not, someone with diabetes or maybe a Type 3.  It might be a fabulous endo or CDE.  It could be a d-celebrity or role-model.  It could be another DOC member.  It’s up to you – who is your Diabetes Hero??

Who is my diabetes hero, you may ask?  Well after this weekend it is hard to narrow it down to one person.  I just spent the most amazing weekend at the Diabetes Sisters Weekend for Women Conference in Raleigh.  I met some amazing women with diabetes and they are all Diabetes Heroes to me!  

I met women who had lived with diabetes for 5months-50 years.  Women with all types of diabetes.  Women with children and families and careers. Beautiful women who shared their stories and experiences with me and many others.  These women, living with diabetes all together in one place celebrating life.  I walked away from that conference this afternoon with new, dear friends and precious memories.  I walked away thinking that nothing could stop me from living life to it's fullest.  My diabetes heroes are all on their way back to their homes, their families, and their lives today but they will forever hold a place in my heart as one of my DiabetesSisters. 

To learn more about the Weekend for Women Conference, you can go to the DiabetesSisters website at

http://www.diabetessisters.org/index.php

You should know....D-Blog Week

Today's Prompt: “What is one thing you would tell someone that doesn’t have diabetes about living with diabetes?”

There are several things I feel like people should know about living with diabetes.  But, when it really comes down to it, the one thing I want people to know is...living with diabetes is harder than you can ever imagine.  Managing this disease takes time and strength.  Some days I don't have the time or strength.  Diabetes doesn't go away, I can't push it aside and forget about it.  It is emotionally draining.  It is always there in my thoughts, no matter what I am doing.  I think about it when I exercise, eat, sleep, and even when I am relaxing.  Sometimes it keeps me from doing things I love.  It creates anxiety when I plan trips, outings, meals, and holidays.  When I am invited to a party or a get-together, concert, show, game, etc....my first thought is what is there going to be for me to eat, should I bring my own food, what is my blood sugar doing?  What if there is not anything I can eat....what if my blood sugar drops low, what if it goes high?  Diabetes creates a constant chatter in my thoughts, one that I can never turn off.   

Multitasking is now my forte.  Math is my best friend (even though I am not all that good at it!).  Every minute of every day diabetes is in my thoughts.  It has to be, I wish I could take it all away but I can't.  That said, the truth is that eating, drinking, and sleeping diabetes means I am living with diabetes and being alive and staying alive makes me happy.

Fantasy Diabetes Device~D-Blog Week

Today's Prompt: 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?

To be honest, I am not really sure what my Fantasy Diabetes Device would be and I kind of had a hard time thinking of anything other than a cure that would make my life any easier.  I kind of feel like no matter what devices are developed they will just be better or more accurate versions of what is already out there.  Sure that would be awesome to have a better blood glucose meter, a better, smaller pump, better insulin and CGM's, but I guess I just feel like no matter how awesome the device, it is still not the same as an actual functioning pancreas.  Since my pancreas is not functioning anymore when it comes to producing insulin I feel like any device that would make my life better or easier would be great, but I figure it be much better to keep this from happening in the first place?

So, short of a cure, I guess my fantasy diabetes device would be some sort of protective device for those poor little insulin producing cells that get attacked by the immune system.  Like a wall or a moat around those cells, protecting them from attack and allowing them to continue to do their job.  I figure with this fantasy device, insulin producing cells could be saved and there would be no need for any other devices in the future.  A device that could stop diabetes in it's tracks and possibly reverse it.

Of course, this fantasy device would do no good for someone like me who already has Type 1, but wouldn't it be great to save any more people from the struggle of living with diabetes? 

Always Room For Improvement~D-Blog Week

Today's Prompt: Yesterday we gave ourselves and our loved ones a big pat on the back for one thing we are great at.  Today let’s look at the flip-side.  We probably all have one thing we could try to do better.  Why not make today the day we start working on it.  No judgments, no scolding, just sharing one small thing we can improve so the DOC can cheer us on!

There are a lot of things in my life that I could try to do better and many of these are not related to my diabetes.  So when I read today's prompt and thought of all the things I wanted to improve on, I had a hard time blocking out the "non-diabetes" chatter and focusing on what I could do to improve my diabetes management.  

When I was first diagnosed, my Hubby could tell when my blood sugar was high because I was mean.  I would get so upset when I saw a high number on my meter.  And don't even think of coming near me if that high number appeared after a long workout.  I would take out my frustrations on him and anyone else who was around me.  A simple task such as helping me bring in the groceries became a blown up argument about how he NEVER helped me do anything.  Poor fellow, I am surprised he made it through those first few years (well, not really surprised because he is pretty amazing, but surprised that he was so tolerant).  Once things calmed down after the initial diagnosis, he learned to steer clear of me when my blood sugars were high and I began to learn to control my frustrations.  It wasn't anyone's fault (except sometimes mine for being careless) and I had to learn that over the last few years.

These days I don't get quite as upset when my blood sugar gets high after exercise or after I eat something that I expect will skyrocket my numbers.  But, I often find that I still get quite frustrated and upset when my blood sugar gets out of range for no foreseeable reason.  For example, the last few days I have been hovering in the upper 100's lower 200's and no amount of exercise, bolusing, etc seems to be changing that and it makes me mad and puts me in a foul mood.  

So, that is one thing I need to improve.  I need to give myself a break when my numbers are out of range.  Remind myself that all I can do is treat the high numbers, work on figuring out the cause and move on and not let it bring me down or get me upset, and I think I will start today!

One Great Thing~D-Blog Week

Today's Prompt: Living with diabetes (or caring for someone who lives with it) sure does take a lot of work, and it’s easy to be hard on ourselves if we aren’t “perfect”.  But today it’s time to give ourselves some much deserved credit.  Tell us about just one diabetes thing you (or your loved one) does spectacularly!  Fasting blood sugar checks, oral meds sorted and ready, something always on hand to treat a low, or anything that you do for diabetes.  Nothing is too big or too small to celebrate doing well! 

This is a difficult prompt because, well, having diabetes is tough and unpredictable and it's really hard to be awesome at managing something that is always throwing wrenches at you.  That said, I am pretty much a rule follower when it comes to taking care of my diabetes.  I always have supplies on hand, I check my blood sugar often, I eat right and exercise and I never skip a trip to the doctor.  I work really hard to maintain my diabetes but I guess I just don't feel like I am doing anything grand.  To me it just feels like doing what I have to do to be healthy.  

But, despite all the things I do to manage my diabetes, there are always times that I get knocked down.  Sometimes I feel like there are days where my diabetes is running me over with a truck and reversing it several times just to make sure I am really down for the count.  But I find that even on those days I can muster the strength to peel myself off the ground and find something good to focus on.  I always try to look at the other things in my life that are worth being healthy for and that helps me get through the tough days.  So I guess that is the one thing I do spectacularly when it comes to my diabetes.  When diabetes gets me down, I never let it keep me there. 

Find a Friend D-Blog Week

This week I am participating in the 3rd annual Diabetes Blog Week.  So all week you wont hear me complain about weeding the garden or what varmint keeps eating our beans.  This week is all about the 'betes.  Thanks to Karen over at Bitter~Sweet for organizing the cool "event"!  

Today's prompt is "Find A Friend", Think about the d-blogs you read that you think we may not know about and introduce us to one that you love!!    The cool thing about organizing a diabetes blog week is that so many folks who have diabetes blogs come together in one virtual place to share their life with diabetes.  In one swoop you could read over 100 blogs about diabetes.  The other cool thing about this event is that we get a chance to "meet' our fellow D-bloggers, which brings us to today's prompt.  

It is my pleasure to introduce to you Holly from *Arnold and Me*.  I have been reading Holly's blog for over a year now and I love it.  I am sure many of you are already aware of Holly and "Arnold" her insulin pump.  But I tend to be a little behind the times on catching up on blogs so it is all new to me!  Holly is currently pregnant with her first baby and following her journey has been quite exciting.  She is an inspiration and shows strength and determination in managing her diabetes.

One of my other favorite bloggers is Sysy over at The Girls Guide to Diabetes.  Sysy is an amazing person, managing her Type 1 diabetes while raising two beautiful children.  Her blog provides practical and inspirational advice for women living with diabetes.  She has become a close friend and confidant and I look to her for support when I am feeling down and defeated. 

I also love Jacquie's blog Typical Type 1.  Jacquie is so funny and really proves that a sense of humor can be great medicine.  I love reading her stories about living with diabetes.  I know I will always smile when I read her posts. 

I hope you all have found a new friend today!  I look forward to checking out all of the other links here and find a new friend too!

Mini-Vacations and Fish Tales

This past weekend Hubby and I went to Cape Hatteras for a few days.  We stayed in a quaint little hotel which sat directly on the beach.  It was a much needed mini-vacation for both of us.  This will be the last chance we get to go away for the summer since vacation season (i.e. summer) brings for us loads of work in the garden and the kitchen.  So we like to take advantage of the cooler temps and better fishing and take our vacations in Spring and Fall. 

We spent some time on the beach while Hubby surf fished and I relaxed and read my book.  We also kayaked some on the sound side of the island.  Hubby did some night fishing on the beach and caught a huge Red Drum.  The biggest fish he has ever caught and one of record breaking stature.  Unfortunately for him, he did not take my advice to bring the camera along on his fishing jaunt and he didn't even have his phone.  I mean, these days, who doesn't have their phone?  Plus, being that it was pitch black on the beach and around 11:30pm there were no witnesses (I was snug in bed!).  Anyway, so he now has a tale of fishing legend that might as well be a tall tale since he has no documentation.  And, although I am not a fishing guru or a fellow fisherman, or the guy running the local tackle shop, I believe his story and well, shouldn't that be enough?  

Anyway, here are some pictures of our trip.  It was quite a success as the weather was nice, the food was good, there were fishing adventures to be had and no one got sunburned!  

The view from our room

 Climbing Hatteras Lighthouse

 

View from Hatteras Lighthouse

 Climbing down Hatteras Lighthouse

 My view most of the weekend (Book: In the Company of Cheerful Ladies by Alexander McCall Smith part of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series)