The Houston Family will be there . . . will you?

Click for the Diabetes Hero - Sunday 5/20 Link List.
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??


Click for the Diabetes Creativity Wildcard Link List.
 Creativity comes in all shapes and forms, so take this where ever it leads you.  Write a diabetes poem.  Create some D-Art.  Record a vlog.  Write a diabetes song parody.  Scrapbook, collage, sew, knit, crochet . . . . use your favorite creative outlet to create a diabetes project!




It's kind of a combo or 2 for the price of one deal . . . 


Obviously, it goes without saying that Nate is my Diabetes Hero and I've written about that many, many times.  I honestly do not think I could have diabetes ----- I'm a total wimp!  He is so totally amazing and strong and awesome and brave and super adorable!


See ---- total diabetes hero.


For the creativity part I thought I would share this video I made back in 2010 not even a year after Nate's diagnosis.  If I made one today which I should have done for this post but didn't have the time.  It would be to a much more upbeat song --- maybe . . . The Fighter by Gym Class Heroes or something bad ass like that.  

Click for the Saturday Snapshots - Saturday 5/19 Link List.
Back for the third year, let’s show everyone what life with diabetes looks like!  With a nod to the Diabetes 365 project, let’s grab our cameras again and share some more d-related pictures.  Post as many or as few as you’d like.  Feel free to blog your thoughts on or explanations of your pictures, or leave out the written words and let the pictures speak for themselves.





Diabetes has changed me.  I'm not sure if it has made be better or worse but I do know it has made me stronger.

_______________________________________________________________________________


I was going to just post the above picture but while looking for something else I found the below picture that I posted back in 2010 and it seems fitting for this post . . .

Click for the What They Should Know – Friday 5/18  Link List.
Today let’s borrow a topic from a #dsma chat held last September.  The tweet asked “What is one thing you would tell someone that doesn’t have diabetes about living with diabetes?”.  Let’s do a little advocating and post what we wish people knew about diabetes.  Have more than one thing you wish people knew?  Go ahead and tell us everything.


To learn a lot --- I mean a whole lot about living with type 1 click the link list above and read some of the other blogs participating in D Blog Week.  Lots & lots of good information being posted today.

There is a ton I would like to educate the general public on about type 1 but today I am just going to remind those not living with type 1 diabetes . . . that diabetes hurts.

I think people forget because Nate doesn't flinch when I check his sugar that there is still a little needle poking him until he bleeds ---- he may be used to it but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. And we do it 12-15 times a day.  So far today we've actually done it 20 times!!

UGH --- picture proof.  No judging on the WAY CRAZY numbers we've been having lately!




Also, very few people in my real life actually see Nate getting his pod changed.  We change it every 2 - 3 days (sometimes more frequently) and he hates it.  I've posted videos for my readers before of Nate's pod changes.  They are hard to watch.  After 2 years, 2 months and 18 days Nate still cries almost every single time we change his pod.

Diabetes Hurts.

The littles and I decided to make a couple of silly videos about checking Nate's sugar and then tonight was pod change night so we made a video of that as well.

SUGAR CHECK




POPPING BALLOONS




TODAY'S POD CHANGE




DECEMBER 2011 POD CHANGE






AUGUST 2010 POD CHANGE




I want everyone to know a lot of things about living with type 1 diabetes but I think the one thing I want you to remember today is that DIABETES HURTS.  If you think it is just a physical pain you would be mistaken.  That is my son, my baby in those videos.  I do that to him every few days.  Diabetes hurts Nate but it hurts me and the rest of our family too.

Keep Calm and Pod Change On . . .

Click here for the Fantasy Diabetes Device - Thursday 5/17 Link List.
Today let’s tackle an idea inspired by Bennet of Your Diabetes May Vary.  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?




Keep Calm and D-Blog Week On . . . 

Click for the One Thing to Improve - Wednesday 5/16 Link List.
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!




Well-- Well . . .  since I said I totally rock diabetes yesterday I guess today I must confess to a few things that I could improve.  


1) Changing of the Lancet --- Seriously cannot tell you the last time this happened.  I know - I suck!


2) Washing of the Poking Finger --- I'm really bad about just wiping Nate's finger on my shirt and calling it clean.  I know - GROSS!


3) Stressing over the Highs --- Oh yes, highs stress me out far more than lows.  I get seriously stressed out and rage bolus the crap out of them.  I know - Relax


4) Diabetes in the House --- I think the worst thing that I do is put Nate's diabetes on everyone in the house.  I strongly believe that it is a family disease --- we all live with it but I sometimes put too much of it on Emma and Sophie.  The only example I can think of right now is that Emma wants to get her ears pierced which I am ok with -- sort of.  But, the latest trend is to get numbing cream from the doctor (EMLA) before going to get them pierced so they won't feel it.  I say NO WAY!  Nate's fingers get poked 12-15 times a day, he gets his pod changed every 2-3 days and Dexcom every 7-14.  NO STINKIN WAY am I letting my daughters get numbing cream for an elective poking of the ears.  I wonder if I would even care if Nate didn't have diabetes?  I know - I'm a meanie!


I could go on and on but I think we were only supposed to focus on one.  


Keep calm and D-Blog Week On . . . 

Click for the One Great Thing - Tuesday 5/15 Link List.
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 weekend I was chatting with a friend's husband and while eating one my of super delicious chocolate chip cookies he asked me the following question:


Besides making awesome cookies, what other talents do you have?


I had no answer.  I seriously don't really do anything well.  I have no talents! I didn't play sports growing up, or dance or do gymnastics.  I don't paint or draw.  I really have no talents whatsoever.  Sad, I know.  I couldn't think of anything that  I do well.


Then when I was trying to think of a diabetes thing that I do spectacularly for this post and it came to me.  


That's what I do.


Diabetes. 


I do it all well. 


Don't get me wrong ---- I'm far from a perfect pancreas but I think I balance it all so well that most of my friends forget what all I deal with on daily/nightly basis.  


I think they forget that I check Nate's sugar 12-15 times per day, they don't realize that I have to make critical decisions to his well being at every single check, I change his insulin pump every 2-3 days (hell, I think 1/2 of them think the pod just sticks on his arm with the sticky tape ---- FYI --- there's a very large needle that inserts a ---- oh good hell never mind!), I do a lot of math, I am accountable for everything that he puts into his mouth, the list goes on and on.  


What I do -- 


What I do spectacularly is . . . 


that I make it all seem NORMAL and OK and EASY and like it is NO BIG DEAL.  


I'm actually quite pleased that I've gotten to a place after almost 3 years where I can make it all look easy.  


It's not easy.  It is hard.  It is exhausting.  It is frustrating. It is bloody.  It is painful.  It is total and complete suckage at times.  But I am glad that I make it look easier than all of that.  




Here's how it really is for me and for all of moms raising children with diabetes --- 


A beautiful post written by my friend and fellow D Mom, Meri from Our Diabetic Life











Keep calm and D-Blog Week On ---


DO IT!