Jan 29, 2012

'Behind the Blue Scenes' Week ending 01/29/2012


Welcome to this week's edition of 'Behind the Blue Scenes', where we share with all of you, some of what goes on as The BHS grows.

THIS JUST IN...Dr. Dyer, a.k.a. The EndoGoddess not only graced us with her very first Blog post this week, but also announced the availability of her EndoGoddess App, on Android as well as Itunes. Remember that every week our Fan Of The Week, chosen randomly by computer magic based on participation on our Facebook Page, get's a FREE copy of her App!

Our Bluetiful peeps just keep on amazing us as you show that no matter what may ail us & bring us together, we can still transcend it all & still walk the talk in a fun and uplifting way. As we do this together, you are asking us HOW you can bring the BHS into your community. 

As we put the finishing touches on the BHS "Shoebox" we have also made our Logo available for use in awareness efforts. You can view the details on the 'Our Logo' Page on our Website. Stay tuned for the 'Shoebox' Tab coming soon!

As we look forward to a new Week, we ask you to think of photos in a whole new way...more to follow soon!

Keep on stompin BHS'ers as we continue to take it to the next level!

Jan 26, 2012

Where Will YOU Wear Em'?

Let's backtrack a bit, shall we?

Only a few  months ago The Blue Heel Society  was born. This is  more than an excuse to rock a fab pair of Blue shoes (who  needs an  excuse, right!?), but a mission.

"The mission of The Blue Heel Society is to deliver a clear, united voice via organized assembly within our own affiliation, and also at local and national gatherings, events, conventions, and other venues, helping to dispel myths, offer education and to champion the needs of people affected by diabetes.

We choose to stand up, be seen, and be heard in our Blue Heels."

Each  one of us live a different life, different form of Diabetes, Diabetes management, and views. Its up to us individually to advocate, and make Diabetes known, but to do so as a community.

United.

We are  here.

Now listen.

Whether you're a person with Type 1, 2, LADA, gestational MODY or any other form of Diabetes, the parent of one of the above, caregiver, friend, endo,  CDE, or someone who wants to get involved, your voice counts.

As do your feet.

So we want to know, what are you doing to spread awareness in your community?

Where did you wear your Blue shoes? 

What is on your agenda in your hometown to bust some D myths and look fab while doing it?

We each have our own platform, from the housewife to the stockbrocker to the football player, each our own connections, circles, and therefore an individual avenue to advocate and spread awareness.

If we each take one (BLUE) step forward, the possibilities are endless......

So what will YOU do today?

Jan 23, 2012

High Tech High Heels

For as long as I can remember I have loved fashion for the way it changes how we see ourselves. I'll never forget the thrill I had when I discovered that with a long towel over my back while running around the yard I could be a superhero. Or, when I put on large sunglasses and a trench coat I could be Jackie O.


It is from the same place in my heart that I love the Blue Heel Society. By wearing blue shoes, we can all become diabetes advocates. Recent discrimination about diabetes in the media last week shows me that advocacy foot soldiers have some work to do with our blue shoes in explaining the truth of diabetes. I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you on advocacy and advances in diabetes here in the spirit of blue shoes each month.

One advance that I think all blue-shoe-wearing diabetes advocates should be aware of is nanotechnology. With nanotechnology, insulin injections may soon be a thing of the past. At UCSF, professor of bio-engineering, Tejal Desai, implants millions of pancreatic cells that secrete insulin into tiny capsules that can be implanted into the body in an effort to create an artificial pancreas. When blood sugar flows inside the capsule, it stimulates the cells to produce insulin to control sugar levels. The device has nano pores, pores so small that the body's diabetes antibodies cannot get in to attack the pancreas cells, but large enough that the insulin made by the cells can flow out and into the body. The device is undergoing extensive testing in animals right now and is not yet available for humans. However, I recommend following these developments closely with your doctor to see if you or your loved one might benefit from participating in a trial when trials start.






- Jennifer Shine Dyer MD, MPH
drjenshinedyer@gmail.com
Columbus, Ohio



Jan 22, 2012

'Behind the Blue Scenes' Week ending 01/22/2012


Welcome to this week's edition of 'Behind the Blue Scenes', where we share with all of you, some of what goes on as The BHS grows.

This past week we celebrated the Birthday of Dr. King. As he once said, "Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase." That pretty much sums up our efforts, as we begin to see the staircase more clearly each day. As we see things more clearly internally, it also means the ideas & concepts we *talk* about, have a clearer path defined as we all grow together in way's we could not have dreamed of,  but are certainly humbled by.

We added some features to our Facebook Page that allow you to add a Blue Heel Society Badge to your profile pic. We also enjoyed our Co-Founder Alexis, on DSMA on Blog Talk Radio & DSMA Live, as she *SHINED* brightly as always.

We can also share our excitement of the upcoming SPECIAL Blog post by Dr. Dyer, a.k.a. The EndoGoddess Stay tuned for that! Dr. Dyer has been kind enough to give a FREE copy of her EndoGoddess App, available on Itunes, to the person that get's chosen as our Fan Of The Week

We need your help in the continued effort to spread the word about The BHS into your circle of friends, both online and in your everyday life. You have taken that first step by being an all inclusive part of all we build, and all we do in the future. We need body's to take the Message & Mission of The BHS to the next level...TRUE grassroots activism.

The best part is our task is well defined and we have all taken that "first step" as Dr. King said, and the 377,581 Bluetiful people we have reached on Facebook, coming from  20 different Countries, speaking 10 languages, ALL speak FOR the same purpose.

Diabetes does not discriminate, it speaks every language, it lives everywhere. Let us also remind diabetes that because WE are everywhere...we know where you are...LOOK OUT!

Keep on stompin BHS'ers as we take it to the next level!

Jan 19, 2012

Hippies and BLUE Shoes Enter Through The Side Door

There are many trends that come in like wild fire, and everyone MUST have.  Very quickly, as soon as everyone is sporting the "look" it rapidly vanishes.  To be replaced by another johnny come lately style cue.

Who can forget hairstyles like the Bee-Hive or Mullet:


 

Saddle shoes:


Skinny ties:


Leisure suits:


And the old athletic shorts:



Wouldn't is be nice if diabetes just went out of style....



Jan 15, 2012

Send us a video....of you...yes.....YOU....doing what YOU do....in your FAB blue shoe......for all the world to view. Keep it clean...keep it real....show us how it can feel!! Give us your best catwalk....in those heels!!

Submit your 1 minute or less videos ( we will edit out sound or the what nots) to: 


Who are you?? Fabulous. Let us show the world. Be creative and have fun!! GO!! And while you are at it.......


We are still accepting emails for *The REAL Chefs of the DOC Cookbook"!! We have hundreds of recipes submitted and we want yours too....email your submissions along with your nutritional info and who you are...and your connection to the DOC to:


Rock it Dolls!!

Jan 13, 2012

WHAT? You....you don't like my shoes??

This shoe goes with everything! So....why is everyone looking funny at me?

As it turns out....this may or may not surprise you....it appears this blue heel may clash with your more *earth* friendly counterpart. Scandalous.

So...I wanted to discuss why a trusted blue shoe...sturdy and reliable suddenly comes under attack by a more *new age* style that fits into our new modern lifestyle and pokes fun in the face of traditional fashion.

Diabetes *yet again* has a cure.

*PALM TO FACE*

Be true to you. DO NOT let anyone dissuade you from advocating for not only yourself but for your family....which as we in the DOC know....is vast. If you see a sale that is too good to be true....chances are...lambs....it is.

We are in this fight for the right reason. It is a sin to see the scavengers literally feeding off the hopes and dreams of our loved ones entering into the diabetes world.

We are family....and with that...we can leave our shoes at the door.

Jan 9, 2012

Do You Have These Blue Heels In Size 10? Mens.

Most of the time I get to talk diabetes in a very natural and comfortable setting for me - with my bike, when training or racing.  I am surrounded mostly by guys who also love the sport of cycling, attempting new races, testing new bling titanium and carbon parts, reading maps, dodging wildlife, dealing with weather, and wrestling with my BGs along the way.

The day before World Diabetes Day, with the launch of The Blue Heel Society, that changed.

A bit.

It's definitely not that the BHS community is unkind.  Quite the contrary.  All involved, from the co-founders to all the folks awesome enough to post pics of Blue shoes, are the most thoughtful, encouraging, non-judgmental, and courageous people I've ever encountered.

It was just that instead of being surrounded by Trek Superflys with big knobby tires and 100mm of suspension travel, I find myself immersed with delicate Choos and Loubutins with a 5" heel.

At first it was intimidating to say the least.  I was completely out of my element.  I didn't even know the vocabulary. A Dolly Shoe?  A Peep Toe?

Oy.

Then there is the whole looking for Blue shoes, and trying to capture photos and talk to people about them, while out in public.  A little bit of a social mine field to say the least.

As time progressed, I began to fit in a little bit with this group made up of mostly women from all walks of life.  I learned the buzz words, and opted into conversations about shoes, diabetes, diets, and insulin to carb ratios with them.  Heck, I think I even noted once when Nordstrom had a sale.

If you stop and think about it, the social aspect is really JUST like when you or a loved one first get diagnosed with diabetes.  You are nervous.  Not sure what questions to ask or who has the answers to them.  Haven't learned the diabetes vocabulary.  Not even sure what styles you like - MDI? Glucophage? Pump? Retinopathy? CGM?

After a while you begin to find your footing.  You make close friends in the Diabetes Online Community.  You find organizations like the Blue Heel Society and Type1Rider.

You learn.  You feel safer.  You become more sure of yourself.

And, in the end, your realize that although all who deal with diabetes, in any capacity, are very diverse, we are all very much the same.

So yes.  Blue Heels.  Size 10. Men....

- Tony

Jan 5, 2012

Every Princess Needs Blue Shoes!

We are truly blessed, I must say. So many amazing members of the DOC have been so wonderful as to feature us on their blog!

Today we are over at one of my personal favorites, Hallie and Sweets over at The Princess and The Pump!
If you have never read Hallie's blog....YOU MUST. Seriously, a beautifully written blog, with honesty, love, laughter, and a heck of a lot of kick butt advocating!

Here is a little more about Hallie:
Hallie Addington is the author of the blog The Princess and The Pump (www.theprincessandthepump.com).
The Princess and The Pump chronicles the highs and lows of raising a child with type 1 diabetes.Hallie has been married to her husband, Jason, for 7 years. Their daughter, “Sweetpea”, is five years old. She was diagnosed with type 1 on April 27, 2009 – just a few short weeks after turning three years old.

Since that day, Hallie has been committed to raising awareness and funds to find a cure for diabetes. In addition to being a full time pancreas, she is also a kindergarten teacher and the Government Relations chair for the Southwest Ohio chapter of JDRF.

Thank you Hallie (and Sweets!!) for showing BHS some love, you are both simply Blue-tiful!!

Jan 4, 2012

Wordless Wed.- "She is serious about advocating!"

While normally no words go along with a Wordless Wednesday post...we have to give major props and thank you to Kim of Texting My Pancreas! Thank you for this amazing cartoon!

Jan 3, 2012

Our Shoes just got some MAJOR ‘Shine’!


“Fashion is a social agreement, the result of a consensus of a large group of people.”
-Stella Blum

The Blue Heel Society is VERY pleased to announce that Doctor Jennifer Shine Dyer, MD, MPH, a.k.a ‘The EndoGoddess’, has graciously agreed to honor
The Blue Heel Society by acting as our Medical Consultant, as well as some very exciting contributions still in the works. Please join us in welcoming Doctor Dyer into our Family, and stay tuned for some VERY exciting plans. 

As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said “We are shaped and fashioned by what we love", and what we love most is YOU!  What 'shape' we take is in great part driven by what you ask of us, and part of our passion & mission is to ensure The Blue Heel Society has the very best resources available, to do our very best to help everyone affected by what brings us together, and we truly believe Dr. Dyer will bring a whole new angle to our fashion & is a perfect fit!

About The EndoGoddess:

Jennifer Shine Dyer, MD, MPH, is a stylish pediatric endocrinologist and tech entrepreneur by day, and a Vogue-loving, Jackie O Fashionista by night. Dr. Dyer believes strongly in empowerment through style which oddly enough translates to her day job...patient empowerment in health through information and technology. As a physician, social media enthusiast (@EndoGoddess), app developer, and mobile health entrepreneur she has a patient-centered focus looking to make health outcomes better for people living with diabetes or other chronic diseases.

In partnership with Ohio mobile software startup Duet Health Eproximiti (http://www.duethealth.com/), she has developed the EndoGoddess App (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/endogoddess/id464431379?mt=8) available for download since September 2011 for patients with diabetes who require insulin therapy. based on BJ Fogg's health behavior model with the following features: iTunes reward motivation, a unique social business plan, daily inspiring quotes submitted from the diabetes online community, multi-media informative diabetes content, social media links. 

Dr. Dyer is a board-certified physician in both Pediatrics and Pediatric Endocrinology previously at Nationwide Children's Hospital affiliated with the Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus, Ohio where she recently earned her MPH degree in health behavior studies. She received her medical degree from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 2000 which was then followed by pediatric internship, residency, and then pediatric endocrinology specialty training in 2000-2006 at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas. 
Dr. Dyer is also an experienced nutrition researcher with several original peer-reviewed publications, specifically with regards to the influence of macronutrient food components on metabolism and chronic disease evolution during early fetal development. 
She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and has been selected as one of '2010 and 2011 America's Top Pediatricians' by the Consumers Research Council of America as well as selection by the OrganizedWisdom Medical Review Board as a top expert curator helping people discover the best health information online. Dr. Dyer is a media-trained pediatric endocrinology physician expert on Dr. Oz's interactive online physician network Sharecare, and a frequent health expert on both local and national television media.


Founder, EndoGoddess LLC
Chief Medical Advisor, Duet Health (Eproximiti)

Jan 1, 2012

These must be mislabeled....they don't fit.

Numbers. They are just the bane of existence in Diabetes-ville. One place you are gonna find discussion on numbers is the DOC. More about that in a minute.Let's talk about sizes.

 Those boots Lexi ordered before the holidays were her size. But...they didn't fit. She didn't change shoes sizes. She bought some from the competitor....and they fit like a glove....or a killer knee high boot. Yes.....I have blue boot envy....so what.

The number on the label said 7.5. Wait...or was that an A1c I just read? They all blur together. Numbers. Between committing carbohydrate counts to memory or learning what current dosage of prescription Glucophage is actually creating stability in your blood sugars....and what is the price of gas now? I can't keep count.

There are a flurry of blog posts and social media discussions about numbers lately. Topics ranging from respected bloggers revisiting A1c numbers and conversations about whether they should be off topic.....and a literal firestorm of discussions on several forums and social media sites about "good"and "bad" numbers. What defines a good number or a bad number? A speeding ticket that costs $100.....bad number. Over 1000 "likes" on Facebook for Blue Heel Society? "Good". Unbelievable. Awesomeness. Need we go on?

But ,blood sugars are information right? A1c....just a snapshot of a period in time? What is the big deal?
It's a personal choice as to whether or not you discuss your numbers. Our co-founder has posted his blood glucose levels and his A1c on his social media sites for years. His choice. He was recently asked to talk about a "low" blood sugar. The conversation was interesting. The parties remained civil and committed to a real and frank discussion. In fact....great information was exchanged and several other people who live with diabetes chimed in. It was refreshing to see how differently we really all see this disease.

The blood glucose reading in question? 31. Thoughts? Ya. The collective *gasp* was enough.  Is that a bad number? We'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

At the end of the discussion, they actually THANKED each other.

Why are we so divided about talking about it? And is there no benefit?

What if that discussion fostering growth and promoting friendship between a varied group of people affected by diabetes instead caused harm? What if it encouraged disparaging comments and yielded a fall out of people feeling disheartened  if the numbers they are told are "good" aren't yet on their horizons? How can we support and learn if we are silent? Is the silence about those "target" numbers the answer?

Difficult to navigate this disease. It's hard not to want to sing a "favorable" A1c on the highest mountain. No one is really singing about a 12. Or....should we? Why can't we embrace the spectrum of challenges we are all facing without judgement?

Recently, I had the pleasure of enjoying a dinner out. The dressing on my salad boasted "light"! Great.

The serving actually had 22 grams of fat. I'd hate to see what they called "regular". What works for some, certainly doesn't for others. This was their definition of "good". I am no nutritionist....but that seemed off the mark. Down right "bad".


My knee-jerk reaction was to become indignant and send it back....what self proclaimed health food restaurant serves this nonsense? The gentleman beside me, took two and didn't even look at the label. *sigh. Bigger fish to fry there, eh?

Should we have a disclaimer? My feelings are __________ about your diabetes or should we just stop individualizing it and unite to fight?