Today is #dblogcheck day!

Check out some diabetes blogs today!  Maybe find some you haven't read.  Revisit those you haven't read in a while.  Of course check out your favorite diabetes blogs!

Follow the hashtag #dblogcheck on Twitter and check out where this idea started at: A Consequence of Hypoglycemia “I Think We Need A Check In Day“  Thanks, Chris!!!

I have to finish the final project for my grad summer class today, but I'll try to sneak in a few comments here and there.  This is exciting!  Chris put it nicely as he said, "#dblogcheck is not about pageviews, it's about building a stronger community through interaction."

Depression and Diabetes

It is said that people with diabetes (PWD) run a high risk of depression.  Even with good control, diabetes is a tough thing to deal with on a daily basis.  Let's be blunt here: Diabetes sucks!  Really, it does.  Even with a great medical team, awesome friends, and an amazing family for support, it's understandable why many PWD deal with depression on some level.  Would I consider myself clinically depressed?  No.  Do I have some days that are harder to deal with than others?  You betcha!  No one would know it though.  I'm overall an upbeat person.  However there are days that are harder than others.  I get angry.  There are times I may overdo the carb control and exercise and other days where I just want to eat a whole package of chocolate chip cookies.

Mental illness and depression are looked at negatively in our society.  Almost as if it's the person's fault.  It is no one's fault!  Below are two videos.  The first one I was introduced to today.  It's a speech given by a 19 yr old young man, wise beyond his years.  The second video is a a song that means a lot to me.  It gives me hope.  It gives me something to hold on to.  Even if you're not a believer, everyone needs something that gives them hope.  My faith in God and belief in the Savior give me that hope.  Enjoy!

Werther's Sugar Free Caramels (product review)

This spring I was contacted by a representative for Werther's candies, asking if I would be willing to try out their sugar free candies. They were hoping to get opinions from some of my friends, too.

I like candy!  These were sugar free.  Sure, why not!

I received a cool box with the four different sugar free flavors:  Classic Caramel, Cinnamon Caramel, Caramel Apple, and Caramel Coffee.  I also received a nice looking candy jar.  It was small, plastic, with their logo on the side, but cute with the lid.  The candies were kind of sparkly inside when the light hit it just right.

Everything was looked over and admired.  Then it was time to try some candies.  Of course my kids helped me sample.  Every flavor was tried at least once.

Classic Caramel - smooth and simple

Cinnamon Caramel - like a red hot with the smooth taste of caramel to calm it down

Caramel Apple - reminds me of those green apple suckers with caramel on top that I used to get

Caramel Coffee - We're not coffee drinkers here, but this one was a hit with me and my 11 year old.  Not overpowering.

I shared all of the flavors with coworkers the next day.  Everyone seemed to love them.  These caramels don't have a sugar free taste, but they also don't have an overwhelming sweet taste either.  Smooth is a good adjective for the Wether's sugar free caramels.

Now the negative.  Since they are sugar free, they need to get their sweetness from somewhere. Isomalt.  Sugar alcohol.  Now the body doesn't see this in the same way of regular sugar, so (for me) it didn't cause a blood sugar spike after three pieces of candy in a row.  However it's good that I stopped at those three pieces.  You see, for some, sugar alcohols can have some nasty intestinal side effects.  I don't know how else to say it but straight out.  For some, diarrhea and other tummy upsets can occur.  Luck for me, all I got was a tummy ache.

Yes, we continued to sample and share these yummy candies, passing out coupons, too. But we made sure to let people know about the sugar alcohols and not to eat too many at once.  Moderation, my friend!

Mr. Hope admiring the Werther's sugar free candies

Disclaimer:  I was contacted by a representative of Werther's through my blog.  The candy and candy dish were sent to me free of charge in hopes that I would share on this blog my honest opinion.  All of the opinions are my own.

The Type 2 Experience

I've posted several times that I sometimes feel alone in my diabetes journey.  My family is awesomely amazing in their support, but sometimes you need someone who has walked in your shoes.  Someone who has been there.  Someone who really understands.

The DOC (diabetes online community) has always been very important to me through this journey.  We've laughed together.  Cried together.  We've supported each other.  There was only one thing.  Most of the DOC consists of people with Type 1.

Please understand that I have nothing against Type 1s.  They're awesome!  Amazing!  It was a Type 1 who was the inspiration for me to start blogging.  However there are times when you want to talk to someone whose struggles are closer to yours.

Sometimes you need the support of someone who is your type.

Then last month I was contacted by Bea Domínguez with the idea of a Type 2 collaborative blog. A group of us started discussing the possibility. The idea took off and The Type 2 Experience was born! There are currently seven of us contributing: Bea Domínguez, Lizmari Collazo, Kate Cornell, Mike Durbin, Rachel Foster, Bob Pedersen, and yours truly.  We each bring out own experiences and perspectives.  Please stop by for a visit.  Click on the authors page to read a little more about the people writing at TT2E.  Links to our personal blogs are there as well.

Welcome to our (diabetic) home!

Here We Go Again

Next week is full of transitions.  It's the last week of school for my younger four.  Also the last days of substitute teaching for the school year.  Monday starts the summer session at the university.  I'll be taking seven hours - two classes.  One classes is research methods.  Three semester hours in four weeks!  The other class is on middle school education.  The last class I need for my middle school endorsement.  Four semester hours in eight weeks.

Add in my work schedule at the Y plus tutoring and spending time with my five kids and husband.  There you have a busy summer schedule!  I'm a little nervous but also very excited!

My hope is also to get into an exercise routine.  My goal is to get my next A1c below 6%.  Going to the Y or just for walks around the neighborhood needs to be part of my daily routine.  We have a dog who needs to lose some weight, so I think she'll be joining me on some of those walks (she's a little wider than this picture).  She had a herniated disc in Spring 2012, so it's important that she keep her weight down.

I often feel like I've failed, but I try to recommit to my goals (like exercise, watching my carbs, blogging, etc.) even if it feels like the 100th time.  I refuse to give up! What are some goals that you have?  Do you also sometimes feel you're needing to recommit to the same goals over and over?

When Life Gets Busy

I feel bad that I didn't finish off the WEGO Health HAWMC.  I got 22 days in a row before life got busy, and I had to put my blog off to the side.  Right now I have three papers and a quiz in the works.  I do plan to finish the posts for the blog challenge from April, but they'll have to wait.

One skill I've had to work on as a mom of five is to prioritize my time.  Right now, school needs to be my writing priority.  Thank you for understanding!

Image source: here

Day to Day (#HAWMC)

Please please please... PRETTY PLEASE...
I still need more guesses for my Misinformation post. Click here to read it and guess!

Today's WEGO prompt: Write about something ordinary that's inspiring to you, something simple, perhaps overlooked, that fuels your activism.

Honestly, this prompt is so easy for me, which is what makes it easily overlooked.  The "ordinary" thing that is "overlooked" that "fuels [my] activism" would be - my family!  More specifically, my children.

My children are my inspiration.  I know that, due to genetics, their chances of developing diabetes is high.  I am not just being an advocate for me and the other PWD (people with diabetes) that I know, but I also feel driven to advocate and educate on behalf of my children.  If I can make a difference now, I hope that I have made a positive impact on their future.

If trends continue as they are, when my children become adults 1 in 3 people will have diabetes.  How much higher are their chances with diabetes on both sides of the family?  I won't play the guilt game with myself. I'm going to concentrate on what I can do.  Advocate and educate.

This fall, I will be attending an ADA Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes.  This is another way I can honor my children, by raising money to help advocate and educate.  Help support those with diabetes.  Help search for a cure!

Please consider making a donation to the walk here.