January DSMA Blog Carnival

This month's question: What is the one thing you are looking forward to in 2012? (diabetes related)

One thing? I'm limited to one thing??? There are so many things I'm looking forward to: advocacy, learning more about research, educating others, raising money, etc.

In 2012, I'm most looking forward to getting more involved with the diabetes online community (DOC). I feel the need to blog more. (Already a poor start for January, but I feel that will change.) I would really like to meet members of the DOC in person. I feel a strong connection with many, but feel that bond would become stronger if I was able to meet these people in real life.

I'm a social person by nature. I need people. I need to be surrounded by people who care. Care about me, my life, my family, and how I am. I've lived in communities where I wasn't even known by my neighbors. Maybe by sight, but no one made an effort to even know my first name or to strike up a conversation. Thankfully our time there was short-lived. We now live in a town where I'm always running into people I know. It's rare to go to the grocery store and not see someone I know. Even if they don't know my name, they recognize me and make a point to say hello. Even many of the cashiers know something about me; enough for some friendly greeting like, "How are the kids?" Our church home is truly a home, filled with "family" that would be at our door if needed with just a moment's notice.

The one aspect that I don't have much face-to-face support is diabetes. Sure, there are plenty of people in my town with diabetes, but I just haven't found a support network here yet. The DOC fills that void. If I post on Twitter that my glucose levels are off or I'm just feeling down about diabetes, I am quickly reminded of the wonderful support the DOC offers. I also feel the need to return the support. I try to stay positive in my postings, encouraging others. But honestly, there are times where I do admit that diabetes sucks. It is a major thorn in my side.  However, I also know that I can beat this thing. The "You Can Do This" project and "Blue Fridays" have been two projects that I got involved in that really helped lift me up.

Looking forward to what 2012 brings!

This post is my January entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival. If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2012/january-dsma-blog-carnival/