I hope everyone has a wonderful, safe and blessed Christmas!

P.S. I did get finished with everyone’s scarves and I’m finishing up my grandmother’s lapghan today.

Talk about it because Everyone Knows Someone!

OMG! I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was introduced to the Live Strong website a few months ago when I “got serious” about my health. I can admit that since then I have fallen off the wagon, jumped back on, fell back off, rolled around, dusted myself off and since I”m now back on the wagon (again!) this is perfect.

If you haven’t checked out the LiveStrong website I strongly suggest you do. There is something for everyone. If you need inspiration with a good old fashion dare, information about diseases, weight loss, or maybe you have symptoms and want to find out what they could be LiveStrong is the place to go.

I love that I can input my water intake, food, insulin and blood sugar all in one place for FREE. Then export it all and take it to the doctor with me. This way he can better adjust my insulin since he can see what I’m eating, how much medicine I’m taking and what my blood sugars are. That gets me excited!

Go and take a look and if you can’t use it then don’t lose it. Pass it on!

Talk about it because Everyone Knows Someone!

So far I’ve made 9 and I have 3 more to go plus a lapghan for my granny. They only take about a day to make so I should be done well before Christmas. I’ll post pictures when I’m done.

Talk about it because Everyone Knows Someone!

Then I snap back to reality and realize I need consistency more than I need a great A1c. Consistency helps the doctor and I spot trends which helps me keep my blood sugars under control.

Or at least that’s what I’m telling myself…

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My mother was listening to his show last week and heard him ask why there was only 300 people registered. Great question! It’s free and even if you don’t need it pass this information on:

Kansas City Convention Center (Bartle Exhibit Halls A & B)
WED. DEC. 9TH - Noon-8PM
THU. DEC. 10TH – 10AM-6PM
Patients- Call 1-877-249-5030 for an appointment.
To volunteer, visit: www.freeclinics.us.

Talk about it because Everyone Knows Someone!

While I haven’t met him in person he is someone who I definitely want to meet in the upcoming year. Thanks George for writing an incredible post and for being a great diabetic buddy!

Guest Post

The D Team

I am a huge fan of being a team. More can get done. Each can use their own specific talents in their own specific way to get a task done. Everyone is important and plays a vital role.

 Teamwork is where it’s at.

 I look at the diabetes online community and I see this enormous team. One that supports each other in a way I would have never imagined possible. A way that truly changed my life and ultimately saved it.

 Us diabetics look into the face of diabetes everyday and battle all the ups and downs. There was a time when we felt alone going into that battle but no more. We have support that we can call on if we need help, advice, or even just an empathic ear. We always seem to be there for each other.

 But I want you to think back for a moment. Back before you found this community. Back when you did feel alone in this battle. When asking questions and advice were written down and brought up at doctors visits. Think about how awful that felt.

 Now I want you to imagine the people with diabetes right now who do not know this community and who feel completely alone. Full of sorrow and confusion and the feeling that no one on this planet can understand what they are going through. Think about them because they are out there and they need our support.

 Is this community for everyone? Well I sure don’t see why you wouldn’t want to be apart of this community but I know some people are different and this sort of thing may not be for them but my guess is, there are plenty of diabetics out there wishing they had the support we do. How can we reach out to them?

 Since I was a kid I have always heard that word of mouth is the best form of advertisement. So my challenge to you is to talk about the D-OC. Talk about the blogs you read and hopefully write! Talk about the people you follow on Twitter and how you know diabetics from around the world who are there for you when you need them. Find out who is diabetic that you know who does not know the OC and introduce them to a blog or two or even to a community like Tu Diabetes or Diabetes Daily. Get them dialed in so one less diabetic has to feel that loneliness that comes with diabetes.

 None of us should have to go it alone. We are a team.

 **I want to thank Andrea (Sticky Sweet Momma) for asking me to guest post here. It was a lot of fun and I love all you do for this community and our mission to raise awareness. You are awesome!**

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Brandy Barnes is the Founder and Executive Director of DiabetesSisters. This organization has some really wonderful programs like the Diabetes Buddy Program, Forums and a Free reminder program. Wait did that say free? Yes it did! She will also be hosting the Weekend for Women event in May 2010 with TCOYD.

Thank You Brandy for all that you do in the diabetes community and for being a guest on Sticky Sweet Diabetics.

Guest Post

With Diabetes Awareness Month upon us, I have given a lot of thought to the phrase “National Diabetes Awareness Month” and what it means to those of us living with the disease.  During November, we usually hear lots of alarming facts and statistics about diabetes.  These facts and statistics are meant to bring awareness to a disease that is not well understood by the general public.  Some view the month as a time to clear up myths and misconceptions about diabetes.  Others see the month as an opportunity to encourage those with undiagnosed diabetes to get tested.  But that’s how the general public is involved in National Diabetes Awareness Month.  What role do those of us living with diabetes play in this important month?  

There are lots of ways to get involved in this important month, including volunteering with diabetes organizations, donating to diabetes organizations, educating yourself and others about diabetes, and being physically active during the month of November.  But, by far, the most impactful thing you can do during National Diabetes Awareness Month is to Share YOUR Diabetes Story with others. 

Each one of us has a unique diabetes story and everyone’s story is interesting.  We all gained a lot of wisdom through our experiences.  Sharing your story with others just might prolong or even save someone’s life.  Think about it… The question I am most often asked by those who don’t have diabetes is, “How did you know you had diabetes?”  To me, this means that people are interested learning from my experiences.  Undoubtedly, part of telling your story usually involves talking about the diabetes symptoms you experienced.  Hearing about those symptoms in a story format makes them memorable to those who hear your story.  For example, my story always begins with a memory of me chugging down 64 oz. of soda during a time-out at my high school basketball game, consuming lots of chocolate milkshakes at my mother’s request due to my extreme weight loss, and noticing my blurred vision when I couldn’t read the chalk board during my Biology class. 

Another part of telling your story also involves talking about how your life changed and how you adapted to your new life with diabetes.  This provides your listener with the “true” reality of what living with diabetes looks like and the fact that life goes on after a diabetes diagnosis.  I usually talk about how being hospitalized and emotionally retreating inward for about 24 hours to deal with this life-changing diagnosis.  I also talk about how I had to get accustomed to eating balanced meals and snacks to coincide with my insulin dose, check my blood sugar every few hours to ensure that my blood sugar level stayed within a certain range, and how I had to always carry some emergency foods in case my blood sugar dropped too low to avoid seizures.  Your story is likely similar, yet unique to you! 

Most likely, your story also discusses how others reacted to your diagnosis.  This will give the listener an opportunity to see what appropriate and inappropriate responses to those with diabetes look like.  I usually talk about how my friends responded initially to my diagnosis with supporting words.  I also talk about some of the ill-informed responses I have received, such as “Oh, you have diabetes, that means you have to eat Big Macs all the time, right?” and some the stereotypical responses I have received such as, “You don’t look like you have diabetes.”  You probably have some similar stories and maybe even some that are humorous.

Not only can this kind of open dialogue about our disease serve to educate those who are uneducated about it, but it can also serve as an opportunity to empower those of us who are living with diabetes.  The more you talk about your disease and become comfortable with your story, the more likely it will have an impact on someone else’s life.  So, take the opportunity this November to fine-tune YOUR Diabetes Story.  Take every opportunity to practice sharing your story with others.  It may be uncomfortable at first or it may come naturally.  Either way, you will feel a sense of relief afterward.  You will also feel pride in the fact that you did your part to open the lines of communication about diabetes and that you told your story with confidence. 

If you are a woman with diabetes, I encourage you to share YOUR Diabetes Story with other “Sisters” who are living with diabetes at www.diabetessisters.org.  The DiabetesSisters’ Women’s Forum provides ongoing opportunities for you to talk and share ideas with other women who are living with diabetes.

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June 14, 2004 I was diagnosed with Type 1.5/LADA.  I cried.  The first person that popped in my head was my step father.  I knew I didn’t want to live with diabetes the way he did.  I cried.  I called my Mom.  I let her know what was going on, she said,” I should have known what was wrong with you; you sure was drinking a lot of water and going to the bathroom a lot.”  

I went home that night; I researched as much information as I could.  I saw a lot of sites about finding a cure for diabetes and not much on how to live with it.  I was irritated and upset.  I understand the need to cure diabetes but can you teach me how to live with it without trying to milk my pockets.  Teach me how to LIVE with DIABETES!  Did my step Father have the tools he needed to live with Diabetes?

It is what it is and I have to live with it.  I became a very informed patient/diabetic.  I asked questions, searched the internet and I found several online communities and blogs.  I live with diabetes.  My Husband, Mother, Brother and Doctor’s don’t.   You have to want to before someone will help you. 

My focus wasn’t and has never been completely about finding a cure. If we found a cure how much would it cost for us to actually get it? Insurance companies barely approve the tools we need to make living with Diabetes easier…so, think about this…Yes, I want a cure but I want to focus on Education and Awareness because in the meantime what do we do?

Last month I went to a luncheon “Celebration of Strength”.  I heard a woman say, “I have been living with diabetes for over 50 years. I was promised there would be a cure 5 years after I was diagnosed. 50 years later there isn’t a cure”.  My heart sunk.  Insulin isn’t a cure, pumping isn’t a cure, metformin isn’t a cure and exercising isn’t a cure.  I honestly can’t remember any of my Doctor’s or Endocrinologist mention a cure to me and I am glad they didn’t. 

Can we  “try” to focus on the now, focus on education, and focus on living with diabetes, focus on awareness, and focus on saving lives, limbs and organs.  A cure will come one day just not soon enough.

We can either hide under a shell or Raise our voice.  What will you choose to do? 

 November 14, 2009 is World Diabetes Day.  Diabetes isn’t a black, white, Hispanic, Asian or Indian problem…it’s becoming a WORLD EPEIDEMIC. Diabetes knows no color, location, and size or food preference.  We can hide under a shell, wait for a cure or Raise our voice.  What will you choose to do? 

Please wear blue on 11-14-09!!! It’s not all about “I”, it’s a WORLD effort.

Be Blessed

Cherise

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The websites will help raise awareness of the risks of uncontrolled diabetes, to help give adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes a place to get answers, and learn easy actions to help reduce and prevent complications like heart attack and stroke.

When you visit the website a series of statistics about diabetes appear before you are greeted by a physician. To his right (your left) is the option to learn about your numbers and to his left (your right) are easy actions. There are two easy actions. The first is a banner that reads Who’s your health care provider and the second is a banner that reads Type 1 vs Type 2 what’s the difference Both give you definitions of each.

Across the top of the screen are three choices. The first choice is Simple Answers which is three videos that talk about the ABC’s of diabetes (A1c, Blood Pressure and Cholesterol). The doctor reminds you not to forget your goals card located at the bottom of the screen. When you click on the goals card it will take you to a one page printable sheet of medical information (A1c, Blood Pressure, Ldl/Hdl Cholesterol, and number of times a day to test your glucose). One side is your current information and the other side is your goals. Across the bottom is a space for your next appointment and questions to ask your doctor.

The second choice is Easy Actions (my personal favorite part of the whole website) which is a series of 9 videos (Cholesterol, Parking Lot, Salt, Stress, Activity, Pizza Effect, Supermarket Skills, Restaurant Portions, and Expect the Unexpected). At the end of each video you have the option to share, watch the video again or watch the next video. You also have the option to Try It. The try it option takes you to your easy action page and adds a friendly reminder email that will help you stay on track. You have to sign up for a free account but  it only asks you for your name and email address.

The last choice is My Easy Actions which allows you to manage your account (change your email address or password), see your upcoming actions and your completed actions. I’ve signed up for the Stress and Expect the Unexpected Videos.

What I loved the most about the website is how user-friendly and easy it is. All of the videos were no longer than a minute. The animation was cute without being annoying (Fuss sat in my lap and watched them with me).

What I didn’t like about the website is the information is limited. Hopefully the ADA will add more videos so you can implement more easy action steps.

Overall I rate the website a 9 and highly recommend it for any diabetic no matter the age or type of diabetes. It will also be great for T3′s (friends, family and co workers).

Talk about it because Everyone Knows Someone!

Talk about it because Everyone Knows Someone!