Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Portrait Post (#A4Amonth)

Today's Advocating for Another blog carnival prompt: Write a descriptive portrait of your community. Share qualities that make them, them – and include an image! (A photo or creative work of them!)

My community would be the DOC, diabetes online community. Although there are other diabetes groups, the DOC is the one I feel closest to than all the others.

The DOC contains patients, parents, spouses, children, caregivers, physicians, educators, and those that are seeking out information.

Sometimes we debate, maybe even argue. I try to stay out of discussions that involve which type is harder, whether each type should have their own name, or whether or not Type 2s "deserve" their diagnosis.

However when it comes right down to it, the DOC consists of a fun, loving, accepting, caring group of people from all over the world that have one goal - a cure for diabetes!

Monday, August 20, 2012

Nervous Beginning, Wonderful Support

Today is the beginning of my journey into graduate school.  I have received my first two assignments.  Thankfully I'm almost done with the first one already.

Although I know my family is very supportive, sometimes it helps to know there are others cheering me on as well.

Yesterday I was having some quiet time, trying to calm my nervousness. When I looked down, I saw the bracelets on my left wrist.

Red: ADA, White: You Can Do This Project, Silver: Diabetes, Blue: Living Vertical

It's like my left wrist was a DOC bulletin board, reminding me of all the people out there rooting for me. Not just encouraging me in my diabetes management, but life in general. Ever since I decided to apply for graduate school, I have received so much encouragement from people I have never met, brought together by diabetes.

Thank you to my family and my "family" in the DOC! I love you all!!!

Monday, August 13, 2012

Get a clue

 


Do you ever want to give someone the board game "Clue" and tell them, "Get a clue!"?

Yeah, me too.

That is all...

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Vacation from Diabetes?

Recently, my husband and I took a small vacation for our 20th anniversary. The children were well taken care of, in the care of hubby's mom and sister. We had decided we didn't want anything fancy, just time to relax and enjoy each other's company. A state park with private cabins and a cute restaurant was our destination. A perfect place to get away from everything for a few days. 

However there was one thing we couldn't escape. Diabetes.

About an hour after we left home, I realized there was one thing I forgot to bring. More test strips. There were only a couple left with my meter. Did we want to add another two hours to our travel time or keep driving? Since I'm diet and exercise controlled, not needing to worry about insulin doses, we decided to keep driving toward our destination.  If I felt I needed a meter, we'd stop by a local drugstore and pick up their store brand model.

We had a wonderful time. We hiked trails, took naps, ate delicious food, read books outside, and forgot about everything else.  Well, just about everything.  Diabetes, the uninvited guest, was still present.

With my hubby's help, I was able to keep track of how I was doing by how I felt and how I acted.  If I got that sick feeling in my stomach shortly after eating, I knew my glucose levels were high and we'd go for a walk. While in the middle of a trail, I started feeling that my legs weren't moving when I told them to, we stopped for some M&Ms. 

Although diabetes can be a pain at times, I proved to myself once again that it doesn't have to stop me from doing the things I love.  With a little creativity and planning ahead, I was able to enjoy our anniversary get-away without any complications.