“All those stereotypes about type 2 diabetes? I used to believe them, and I worked to distance myself from them,” I said. Cue my blush of shame and embarrassment. “I’m sorry I thought those things. And the main reason I don’t feel that way anymore is thanks to the advocacy work of my peers with type 2 diabetes. People who…
Learning from my Peers.
Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes Online Community, Psychosocial Support, Real Life DiabetesGuest Post: Someone Who Understands.
Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes Community, Diabetes Online Community, Psychosocial Support, Real Life Diabetes, RelationshipsPart of what drew me to the idea of creating a diabetes blog was the search for, and the hope of finding, people who understood. Google was a dark abyss of bad news and depressing statistics; what I needed was to connect with others who were living life, with diabetes along for the ride. That same connection still feels necessary,…
The People in the Computer.
Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes and Emotions, Diabetes and Family, Diabetes Community, Diabetes Online Community, Diabetes Videos, Psychosocial Support, Real Life Diabetes, RelationshipsWho are the people in your computer? (In your computer … in your com-puuuuuter …) For me, a whole community of people with diabetes live just a click away. You might also like: Unraveling the UnConference. Guest Post: Someone Who Understands. If I Knew Then: Diabetes Blogging. An In-Depth Look at the Diabetes UnConference.
Different People With a Common Pain
Diabetes and Emotions, Diabetes Community, Diabetes Online CommunityOver the weekend, in the ridiculous downpour, I headed up to Clara Barton Camp to hear Dar Williams sing. Dar is on a summer camp tour, and she ended her stint by singing to a group of girls whose pancreases (pancrei) have gone on hiatus. Dar doesn’t have diabetes. And when I spoke with her after she performed, she told me that she was moved…
Sam Talbot is a talented chef, scoring high ranks as “Fan Favorite” on Top Chef. My mother-in-law thinks he’s handsome (and she’s not alone – ask half of the ladies at FFL!). And he is “one of us,” living with type 1 diabetes since he was twelve years old. Recently, Sam joined the LifeScan crew as one of their celebrity…
Roche Summit 2011: SUM Thoughts
Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes Community, Diabetes Online Community, Psychosocial Support, Real Life Diabetes, RelationshipsWhat should have been a fun business trip ended up being a big ol’ mess. Here’s my attempted recap: On Wednesday, I flew out to San Diego for the Roche Social Media Summit and then the ADA Scientific Sessions Conference. On Thursday, I attended the first day of the Roche Summit. On Friday, my cornea tore again (almost as fiercely…
Hawkey Playah
Blood Sugars, Dexcom, Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes Community, Diabetes Online Community, Psychosocial Support, Pumping Insulin, Real Life DiabetesI clicked the button on my Dexcom receiver and saw a “212 mg/dl” with two arrows pointed straight on up. This was the third effortless high in as many hours, and I was convinced my pump site had crapped out. “I am going to run to the bathroom. I need to switch out my site,” I said to Chris, moving…
Due to some recent traveling, I’ve been falling way behind on my fellow diabetes bloggers. But there have been some posts in the last few days that I think are must-reads. So today, while I finish up my visit in Philadelphia at the ePatient 2009 conference, I wanted to share some of my favorite posts from the diabetes blogosphere: Lee Ann at…
Tomorrow afternoon, I’ll be heading out to Las Vegas for the BlogWorldExpo conference, hanging with my medblogger pals (and meeting Dr. Anonymous after all these years – yay!). I’ve never been to Vegas, so this is a first for me. Hopefully I won’t end up covered in sequins or some such nonsense. A few things to announce before I sign off and relax on the…
They told me I had to go into the hospital for a few weeks. I wasn’t exactly sure what “diabetes” meant, but I knew it must involve vampires, because people were drawing my blood every few hours. “You can pick any friend you’d like to bring with you to the hospital. Any one you want.” My father held my hand as we…
I held hands with Superman. It’s true. He was six years old and missing a front tooth and melted my heart by comparing pumps and trying not to step on any cracks as we walked along the sidewalk towards the Children’s Museum. “Can’t step on the cracks,” I warned, tipping my foot sideways to avoid a fissure. “Got it. I…