Being diagnosed with diabetes as a child twists time, making me feel like I’m not terribly old but that my diabetes is ancient and withered. Looking back at an online journal that chronicles almost half my life with diabetes paints me as a digital dinosaur, one whose story and community has evolved in response to time, technology, and ability. The…
Dino Days
Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes and Emotions, Diabetes and Family, Diabetes Community, Diabetes Online Community, Psychosocial Support, Real Life Diabetes, RelationshipsThe Diabetic Survivor: Interview with the Artist
Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes Community, Diabetes Online Community, Real Life DiabetesI love when diabetes goes visible. Artistic interpretations of life with diabetes are my favorite, because they have this way of distilling diabetes down to a single image that says so much. I felt that way when I stumbled upon thediabeticsurvivor’s Instagram account, where simple drawings spoke volumes about the emotional baggage of diabetes. I love how his work peels back…
A Look at Body Posi Betes
Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes and Emotions, Diabetes Community, Diabetes Complications, Diabetes Online Community, Psychosocial Support, Real Life DiabetesA few years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Georgie Peters when I was visiting Australia. This woman is a force – a combination of positivity and raw honesty, writing about her lived experience with type 1 diabetes. She’s written here before and today she’s visiting SixUntilMe to talk about her latest social movement of combining body positivity and diabetes….
My favorite thing about Instagram is seeing a constant stream of creativity. Whether it’s men hating shopping or the hipster barbie one, I love scrolling through my feed and seeing people’s stories. When I stumbled upon Danielle’s account a few weeks ago, I was immediately intrigued by her unique and highly stylized expressions of life with diabetes. Today, artist Danielle…
Great Job! Stellar! You’re a Star!
Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes and Emotions, Diabetes Community, Healthcare, Real Life DiabetesMan, all of this. The big mountain that is “the healthcare system?” That thing seems gigantic. But small changes make a big difference. I think about the stickers I used to get on my school papers back in grade school. The happy, bright yellow star grinning its toothless grin at me, delighted by my spelling homework. It seems goofy to…
An Interview with Chronically Healthy
Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes Community, Diabetes Online Community, Diet and Food, Exercise & FitnessI met Emily Davis and Sarah Steinmetz of Chronically Healthy at a JDRF TypeOneNation last November, and their mission to help people with diabetes, and also folks living with other chronic illnesses, find peace and good health despite health challenges. They focus on the intersection between holistic modalities and conventional medicine. I really enjoyed talking with them both and wanted…
A Bad Case: Making Diabetes a Laughing Matter
Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes Online Community, Real Life DiabetesThere’s a new comedy series about diabetes coming to a screen near you, and the project is shepherded by a familiar face: Erin Spineto of Sea Peptide Productions, self-proclaimed “type 1 diabetic, sailor and triathlete.” Erin is tackling diabetes advocacy through a comedic lens, and today she’s answering a few questions about her new project, A Bad Case. Kerri: Last…
Today is my birthday, and I’m hoping if you’re reading this entry, you know that my goal has been to make a difference for people with diabetes. My pancreas tapped out, but a mission tapped in, and I’m trying to do more good. In keeping with that hopeful theme of doing more good, I’d like to ask that you consider…
Today kicks off the 2018 Spare a Rose campaign, and I’m revisiting a post from 2015 because it illustrates why we should, and how easy it can be to, make a difference. * * * “Mom, what is that rose?” she asked as colored at the kitchen table. “It is part of a thing I’m working on that…
Seven Versions of One Low Blood Sugar
Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes and Emotions, Diabetes Community, Diabetes Online Community, Psychosocial Support, Real Life Diabetes, RelationshipsSCENARIO: A blood sugar of 53 mg/dL caused me to wake up at 2 am, drink a juice box, and stay awake until 2.30 am waiting for my blood sugar to rise. DESCRIBING TO MY FRIEND: “Yeah, sometimes diabetes is a thing at night. I had a low last night that woke me up around 2 am, but that’s why…
Last Friday, I received a phone call from Michelle Kirkwood, Senior Director, Strategic Communications and Media Relations at the American Diabetes Association. We had a candid discussion about the email that was sent out last week from the ADA with the subject line “Cause of death: Diabetes“. I shared my concerns with Michelle about the doom and despair approach, and we…
The Gray Area
Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes and Emotions, Mental Health, Psychosocial Support, Real Life Diabetes“Diabetes makes you a hero! You’re pinch-hitting for a busted pancreas, and you’re kicking ass! Nothing can stop you! Climb mountains, run marathons, compete, destroy threats, take no prisoners! The world is your oyster, and even with a busted pancreas, you remain the pearl!” We see that. Or we hear … “Diabetes will eat you alive. Busted pancreas is only…
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Designing for Diabetes: An Interview with Natalie Balmain
Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes Community, Diabetes Online Community, Diabetes Products, Psychosocial Support, Pumping Insulin, Real Life DiabetesNatalie Balmain is a fashion designer from England, and the creative force behind Type 1 Clothing. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 20, and this was ultimately her inspiration behind her debut line, designed to help people manage their multiple daily injections more easily and wear insulin pumps more comfortably. Natalie has raised money for…
You Know What Doesn’t Suck?
Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes and Emotions, Mental Health, Psychosocial Support, Real Life Diabetes, RelationshipsBring me your diabetes happies, your small victories, your moments of joy! What does diabetes bring to your life that doesn’t suck? You know what doesn’t suck? Being tuned into my body. I pay close attention to my physical and mental health because diabetes forces me to, but I consider that a good thing. I see my healthcare team often….
Beep, Beep, Beep!
Blood Sugars, Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes Poetry, Diabetes Tech, Pumping Insulin, Robot LifeOne of my son’s favorite books is Little Blue Truck. We have that mess memorized and can bust it out even without the book pages in hand. And every time my pump beeps, I think of the little black pump on my hips at all times. These two thoughts ended up in my mental blender this morning, thus, Little Black…