I accidentally took a week off from blogging, but there are reasons. And they involve dinosaurs. Bullet list, because that’s the only way to organize what’s swirling in my brain? Yeah, let’s do that. Last week started strong – a good visit to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center on Tuesday to confirm a strong and healthy growing boy. More on the…
I wish I had known, years ago, that blaming diabetes for my lack of travel experiences was a stupid excuse. Sure, I didn’t backpack around Europe after college for a dozen different reasons, with the need to work a structured job immediately after school was done so that I could have medical insurance to cover all my diabetes shit, but…
These Boots Were Made For Talking.
Diabetes Advocacy, Psychosocial Support, Real Life Diabetes, TravelingAt the airport two weeks ago, I was coming home from Washington and my flight to Rhode Island was delayed. The wait in the cramped US Airways terminal was long and oddly warm for October, giving people a certain irritated twitch. I was still dressed from my meeting, with a dress and tights and boots and not enough real estate…
The plane from Cincinnati to Washington, DC was a petite one, leaving little room for carry-on luggage and even less for calm. After ferreting out my medication bag from my suitcase, I checked it at the gate and ended up second-to-last to board the plane. “Smells like … something, doesn’t it?” The gentleman behind me asked casually. I wasn’t sure…
Yesterday, my bag was packed with all kinds of good intentions. My CGM sensor was only three day old, on a bright and shiny Toughpad to prevent adhesive rash! The Dexcom receiver was fully charged! My CGM in the Cloud rig was all charged up and ready to send my data into the cloud so that I would have a…
Most of the time, I make sure I know two phrases whenever I’m traveling abroad – “I have type 1 diabetes,” and “Where is the bathroom?” – because … because. Diabetes might require more planning ahead when it comes to travel, but it can be done, and Sarah from Coffee & Insulin is proving that with every stamp in her…
Wednesday morning, leaving Logan Airport in Boston, en route to Montreal: TSA agent: “Excuse me. What is that?” Me: “An insulin pump.” Their mouth: “Okay.” Wipe it down, test my hands, pass the screening, no issues, carry on with my carry-on. My mouth: “Thanks!” Their mouth: “Safe travels!” Thursday morning, leaving Montreal and headed back to Boston: Security agent: “Bonjour. …
Today’s guest post from Laura Billetdeaux, who landed at LAX last week during the time frame of the incident at the airport. As the parent of a son with type 1 diabetes, the day’s events had her playing through many “what ifs.” This is her account of her experiences: Last Friday, my flight from Detroit to LAX began its final…
Walking down the hill towards the restaurant, I felt the low start to kick in. The symptoms started their awkward osmosis, triggered once I felt the buzzing of the Dexcom but eventually flooding my body with that tingling confusion, knees that buckled just a little with every step, and eyes that wouldn’t focus but darted around in my head like…
Weird Together.
Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes Community, Diabetes Online Community, Psychosocial Support, Real Life Diabetes, Traveling“I travel a bit and go to conferences and events where there are people who have diabetes, too. It can be kind of isolating, diabetes, so knowing other people who have it makes it easier to manage on all levels. Does that make sense?” “Yeah. It’s like, ‘Hey, we’re weird together.’ And when you’re weird together, you get closer.” That…
For the past five years or so, Chris and I have been going up to Bar Harbor, Maine to spend a few days walking around in the woods. (Let me clarify. “Walking around in the woods” means going on hikes, spending hours on end outside, and then retiring to the comfort of a bed & breakfast because I do not…
Looking Back: PWD in the Wild.
Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes Community, Diabetes Online Community, Real Life DiabetesAs the ladies of Team Sparling prepare for our trip to Orlando for the Friends for Life conference, I’m looking back at a moment from last November, when my friend Renza and I were spotted as “PWD in the wild.” * * * We were sitting at the coffee shop having a really nice Melbourne cappuccino (they make the best…