I started Six Until Me in May of 2005 because I was tired of Googling "diabetes" and coming up with little more than a list of complications and frightening stories.  Where were all the people who were living with this disease, like I have been since I was a little girl?  Was I the only diabetic out there who felt alone?

Enter blogging.  Back when I first started, I was one of four or five diabetes bloggers.  Now I am a proud member of an enormous diabetes blogging community who prove every day that I'm not alone with this disease. 

But there's more to me than diabetes. 

I am a blogger, freelance writer, and hopeful author.  I am also the Community Leader at dLife.  I have been featured in US News and World Report, contributed columns to dLife, diaTribe, and have guest-blogged all over the damn place.  I love what I do.  It's an honor to be a part of this community.

I keep an extensive collection of photos on my Flickr account, where you'll find my Diabetes365 experience, a bunch of crap about my cats, and random photos from my random life moments.  I love my camera and bring it everywhere I go.  I'm also pretty addicted to Twitter and Facebook, but let's be honest - sometimes that social networking crap gets a little out of hand.

I don't sleep much and when I do, there's sometimes a little gray cat on my head.  When I do sleep, however, I don't wear socks.  They make my feet feel trapped.  I am at the gym at least five days a week, doing cardio circuits and resistance training.  My husband is a fit fella and a challenge to keep up with.  I do my best.

But I've been known to trip over my own feet while standing still.

I am married to a frantically funny, sharp-witted, and brilliant man who is both handsome and caring.  (Pardon my mushing, but I'm all newly-wedded and whatnot, despite it having been over a year since our wedding.)  I'm still getting used to my new last name.  I am looking forward to starting a family - and am currently pregnant with my first child.  I work hard to advocate for insurance coverage for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems in pursuit of a healthy pregnancy.  And I'm hopeful that in May 2010, our baby girl will arrive safely and soundly. 

There are too many cats milling around, including Siah Sausage and Abby the Magic cat, whose abilities to respectively annoy and protect me are unparalleled.  There's also Prussia the Cat, who sleeps in the director's chair.  I pretend not to like them but I find them to be very entertaining.

I am a Red Sox fan and part of me still misses Nomah.  I can't drive stick and it never bothered me until that guy showed up with the Ferrari and asked if I wanted to drive.  I don't accurately retain song lyrics and have been called out about The Night Moose several times.  I started a book club at work and am now addicted to reading other people's dog-eared favorites.

It's been said that I may be over-caffeinated.  I chew a lot of gum, write down pretty much everything I'm thinking, and have trouble keeping my opinions to myself.  I never mean to offend but I always mean what I say. 

Sometimes Larry Bird calls me to talk about his day.

If you have something to say, email me.  You can also contact me by mail at Kerri Sparling, PO Box 22004, Lincoln, RI  02865.  I'd love to hear from you.

Six Until Me can't be bought or sold. There isn't anything posted or endorsed that the author doesn't believe in.  The author believes in every stitch of this blog.  That's the bottom line.

Questions or concerns about this statement?  Please contact Kerri at kerri@sixuntilme.com.

Chris.
Handsome husband who told me what a blog was in the first place and encouraged me to start one about diabetes.  His enthusiasm for exercise is apparently contagious.  He asked me to marry him and I happily said yes.

Batman.
My other best buddy.  She's my concert going, photography loving, brunette voice of reason. 

Darrell and Courtney.
My brother and sister, respectively.  Darrell is my big brother and the father of two adorable kiddos.  Courtney is my kid sister and easily the nicest person I know.

Dad.
My father.  He is to blame for my fiery temper and my love for the written word.

AND NOW THE STUPID ARMY OF CATS

Abby.
Obese cat with enormous paws and a penchant for sleeping on my head.

Siah. 
AKA Siah Sausage, Sweege, Linda 
Small gray lump of furry mess who stands on the toilet while I blow dry my hair in the morning and yells at me.  She's perceived as "adorable" but is in fact "annoying."

Prussia the Cat.
Chris's cat.  I am not responsible for her unfortunate name.  She's the only skinny one of the trio.

SPONSORSHIP NOTE:  DexCom is a sponsor of www.sixuntilme.com and provides DexCom products to Kerri.  All content is that of the author and not reviewed or approved by DexCom.