May 30, 2013

DiabetesCare.net presents the 'MyCare DiabetesTracker App' invitation for Beta Testing



UPDATE - Although the Beta Testing is 'officially' closed now, the GREAT folks at DiabetesCare.net has allowed us a couple more testing slots. More info below:

Part of the Blue Heel Society’s Mission includes locating the very best Tools And Resources to share with our Bluetiful peeps...of course for FREE!

Another critical part of our Mission over the course of our one and one half years around, is to locate and align ourselves with the very best Strategic Partners we can find, while always  (hopefully!) maintaining our integrity, and ensuring these Partners have same minded goals and messages that we do.

We are very happy to introduce to you, the great folks at DiabetesCare.net. They are still accepting requests to be a part of a Beta test of an upcoming app (MyCare DiabetesTracker),  that we are confident will ROCK things quite nicely. Here are just some of the things that the ‘MyCare Diabetes Tracker’ will do:

  • Manage your diabetes anytime on any device

  • Track blood glucose, weight, medication, activity, & more

  • Incredibly intuitive meal building, planning, and analysis

  • Fully featured and FREE to use

Of course we all know this is not the first App that does some of the above, but we are quite confident it will be like no other app available now. DiabetesCare.net is a powerhouse when it comes to offering truly BEST for all of us affected by diabetes, always for FREE!

You will hear us talk often about DiabetesCare.net, as we are just tickled BLUE about our [growing] relationship with them. We truly hope you will be a part of something even bigger to come, and join in this Beta testing with us.

Please send your Name & Email address to us HERE, and stay tuned to the great things DiabetesCare.net has planned for us during & after testing. We are VERY excited :)




May 28, 2013

MySentry...MyReview

My dear, dear friend, Sandi, is a fellow D Momma and her daughter decided to go back to injections for a while. She has the Medtronic pump, CGM and MySentry. For those of you who don't know what the MySentry is...well, it's heaven in a box. Ok...maybe not heaven in a box but it's at least piece of mind in a box. It is a monitor screen that is plugged in to a room (my bedroom) and it is the exact screen that is on my daughters pump. I can tell if she is low, high, in range. How much battery life she has left. How much insulin is in her pump. How many hours until her next blood sugar check and how many days she has left on her CGM sensor. Like I said....heaven! And Sandi is letting us try it out!! I cannot even express my gratitude to her in allowing us to do this.

MySentry---and yep! She is high :( 


The day I brought it home Nora was so excited. She knew this meant the baby monitor was moving on out of her room...she said she felt free! It has to be so liberating for her. I plugged that sucker in and I stalked her CGM. I stalk it all day long (if she's home). I'm even known to say, "hey Nora! Guess what? Your blood sugar is xxx". Yea, I know...total dweeb BUT it's soooo cool!! I can sleep better knowing that I won't sleep through the alarms. I sleep better knowing what her blood sugar is and how she is trending. I love the fact I don't have to nag her about what her blood sugar is, when has she taken it and if she was in range during school. I love that she can be in her room with her friends and I don't have to worry about what her BG is or remember to turn the monitor back up after they fall asleep during their sleep over. It's just freakin' awesome!

I stalk her CGM so much I want to take it a step further. I want it on my iPhone. I want to see what she is every minute of every day. It would be awesome to text her and say "hey, your 215...you should double check and correct if needed". I could look at trends as they are happening not when I download the data. I know the technology is there and they are working on being iPhone compatible. I am not known for my patience but that's what I'm going to have to be...

May 27, 2013

Life WITHOUT diabetes...the caregivers perspective


Our good friend, Ginger Vieira, shares vlog's weekly about different diabetes topics. She's a great source of knowledge when it comes to D as she was dx'd T1D at the age of 13. She's a Diabetes Coach, freelance writer and holds records in powerlifting. She's written books too and she's just an awesome role model. I enjoy watching her vlog's and her Life WITHOUT diabetes really stuck with me. You can view it below:



So it got me thinking...I had lots of time to think as I've been painting our downstairs bathroom (FINALLY)...long story...ANYWAY...

In our family we are coming up on some LIVE-a-versary's. Nora's is 6-13-05 and Evy's is 6-1-12. We are 8 years in with dealing with diabetes. It's hard to remember what life was like before D entered uninvited. If D was suddenly cured...like tomorrow...it would feel weird NOT to do the following:


  • Have my phone attached to me...what if I miss a call from school? 
  • Pack lunch with a carb count
  • Count carbs
  • Look at nutritional labels
  • SWAG...I even find myself doing this for the NON-D kid in the house
  • Worry about playing sports and a low
  • Standardized testing and if Nora is low/high
  • Getting to know not only our Endo but the staff by name and their family!
  • Knowing Children's Hospital's parking garage by heart
  • SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT
  • Worrying if my daughter's will make it through the night while at a sleepover
  • Nagging about taking blood sugars/bolusing/site changes
  • TRAVELING MINUS ONE BAG that is designated as the medical supply bag
  • Knowing the Kroger pharmacy staff
  • Talking to the school Nurse daily...sometimes more
  • Worrying about activity, colds, stress, menstrual cycles, mood swings and how it affects D
  • Walking out the door without saying "you have low supplies?"
  • Carrying a smaller purse that doesn't have glucagon, pump supplies, batteries, alcohol swabs and smarties
  • Having a kitchen cabinet that actually has plates and kitchen products NOT D supplies stocked
  • Sending my kid on a school field trip without signing my life away on a medical information form
  • Worry about my kids emotional and physical well being
  • Worry about the complications 
  • worry...worry...worry
It looks like a worry a lot...I do...but I try not to let it show. I try to stay upbeat, positive and encouraging. I would hate my worry to rub off on my girls and stop them from doing something. (Unless it's something they shouldn't be doing!) I can't imagine life without worry...or if the biggest thing I had to worry about was their overbite. Pffft...overbites ain't nothing compared to D!

I'm sure you can add your own ideas to the list above.  When diabetes is cured I'll be more than happy to feel weird about NOT worrying about these things but I know I will anyway. Until then...

Honoring our Veterans


We are the Home Of The Free Because of of the BRAVE

May 21, 2013

NEW Guest post from Doctor Jen Nash - Diabetes: "What Do Emotions Have to do With It?"


Diabetes: What Do Emotions Have to do With It?

Emotions - StressLife with diabetes can be hard work. Diabetes has been likened to a job — not just any job, but one in which you have to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, with no holiday, no praise, and no pay. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't stay working in a role like that for very long! However, individuals with diabetes don't have the option of walking out or giving up; they have to keep 'working', day in and day out, for the rest of their lives.

None of us can do anything in life that requires effort over a sustained period without getting support and respite — and diabetes is exactly the same. There are wide ranges of emotional factors that can impact the well-being of someone with diabetes — some of which affect people with type 1 or type 2 only, but many of which affect individuals with either type.

Dealing with Diagnosis

The diagnosis of diabetes is a life event that has been likened to the experience of grief. In the same way as it is natural to grieve for a lost loved one, being given a diagnosis of diabetes can trigger a grieving for one's lost health. It is common to live life as if we are invincible, rarely considering our health or mortality. This dramatically changes when you are diagnosed with diabetes: you are suddenly acutely aware your life is not without limits. You now have to rely on regular medication, frequent visits to a medical setting, and a team of doctors and nurses to keep yourself well. By becoming aware of the different stages of grief and recognising the stage of the process that you may be in, you can manage the potential challenges better.

Depression and Low Mood

Psychological research has demonstrated that low mood and depression are very prevalent among people with diabetes; in fact, studies have demonstrated that depression is approximately twice as common in people with diabetes as in people who are in good physical health. Life has its challenges for all of us, with or without diabetes, and experiencing the whole range of high and low moods is part of the human condition. However, coping with a demanding condition like diabetes is an extra stressor to contend with, and it is very common to struggle with low mood at times.

Guilt, Shame and Self-Blame

Feelings of guilt, shame, and self-blame can be experienced by people diagnosed with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. For individuals with type 1 or 2 diabetes there can be the shame of being 'different' by virtue of having this health problem to contend with. For those with type 1, injecting and blood testing in public can be experienced as embarrassing and something they would rather hide than engage in openly. People with type 2 diabetes may experience these emotions because they may have been aware they needed to make changes to their health and lifestyle, and they feel regret they didn't act on this awareness in time to prevent diagnosis.

Fear and Anxiety

Fear and anxiety affect many people with diabetes. They can be divided into two categories: fear about factors in the here and now, and fear of the future. Fear in the here and now may be anxiety over hypoglycaemia, fear of needles, or simply the daily anxiety about the changes that diabetes causes in life. In terms of fear of the future, many people worry about the long-term complications and how they may have an impact in the years to come.

Using Food to Cope with Emotions

For many people, both with and without diabetes, food can offer more than just fuel for the body. From birth, food is intimately linked to feeling safe and secure in the world, and in adulthood food can become a shortcut to dealing with difficult emotions. Many people go their whole lifetime using food in this way to a greater or lesser extent, and often without causing much harm. However, individuals with diabetes need to be more mindful of the role food plays in their lives, and that using food to cope with their emotions can cause problems.

Communicating with Health Professionals

Developing a good working relationship with your healthcare team can go a long way towards making you feeling supported in your journey of managing diabetes. However, it's common for people to avoid going to their health appointments completely, or to feel a range of difficult emotions when they do go. Exploring the various ways you may be relating (or not) to your healthcare team can help you see these relationships in a more helpful light.

Family Relationships

Diabetes doesn't only affect the person with the condition. It has the potential to affect the whole family. Just as the person with diabetes can struggle emotionally, those around them can too. Family members can express their concern and worry in a multitude of different ways. Some loved ones may have a tendency to be over-involved with the management of diabetes, which can feel suffocating to the person with the condition. The opposite can also happen, when family members withdraw and seemingly ignore what is going on, leaving the person with diabetes feeling lonely and isolated.

Sexual Difficulties

Difficulties with sexual response are a very common experience for people with diabetes and can affect men and women in differing ways. For individuals with diabetes this can be a further setback: not only do they need to deal with all the other challenges of managing diabetes, now the part of their identity that could be expressed through their sexual relationship is hindered. It can feel like there isn't any part of life that isn't affected by diabetes.

How Does Psychology Help?

So we can see that there are a variety of challenges that can affect the emotional wellbeing of the person with diabetes. Next time I'll be explaining exactly how therapy can help. Look forward to connecting with you then!

Dr. Jen Nash is a Clinical Psychologist chartered with the British Psychological Society. Dr. Jen helps her clients find solutions with simple and highly-effective psychological strategies to gain freedom from the frustration and stress of living with diabetes. To sign up for her free Diabetes Diary, visit www.PositiveDiabetes.com.

May 18, 2013

Diabetes Art



I LOVE art! I wish I could paint or create everyday. I wish I had a room to do just that. I get lost when I paint. I don't think about anything. Not the growing To-Do list, the carb counting, the finger sticking, the grocery store. I have zero thought. For those of you that know me you are probably laughing because I think a mile a minute and multi-task like no other. However, when I paint I'm transported to a world of quiet. I feel content and peaceful. I normally don't re-post my previous posts but today has been crazy. Our family had a fundraising event for our Hemophiliac son and then a basketball tournament game for my daughter, dinner, down pour (we were eating outside) and a mouth bleed with the Hemo son. It's been a busy day! So I'll re-post a picture I did from Lee Ann Thill's Diabetes Art Day last year and pray you give me some forgiveness and grace for re-posting and I promise myself to paint something soon and post for your enjoyment! Have a great night all!



May 17, 2013

Freaky Friday



Today our challenge is if we could swap diabetes for another chronic illness which would it be AND has being in the DOC (Diabetes Online Community) changed the way you treat others with different medical conditions.

As many of you know, we deal with another chronic illness in our family. Our son, Jackson, was born with Severe Hemophilia A. This means his blood does not clot. He receives his blood clotting medicine through an IV infusion that we administer twice weekly; sometimes more if he has a bleed. Every fall, bump, scratch, skinned knee is a potential need for his medicine. Oh and the best part of hemophilia (insert sarcasm here) is he can have spontaneous bleeds and internal bleeding. That knot on his head from where he hit it on the table as he was hiding from someone can be a potential risk for him. The fall he took when he was 18 months old and fell on a toy car ending with a hip bleed (internal) that resulted in him not walking required extra infusions. While it's not as everyday hands on as diabetes it certainly can be just as life threatening.

So would I switch diabetes for hemophilia? NO.

Would I switch diabetes for another chronic illness? NO.

Each chronic illness has its own set of rules and different life threatening issues.

I'm sure if you asked a  person with MS, Fibromyalgia, Juvenile Arthritis or any other chronic illness they wouldn't say their illness is a walk in the park.  Nor do I think they would say, "Sure! I'll take T1D instead!"

Part 2: Does being in the DOC change the way I treat others with different medical conditions?

Right around the time Nora was diagnosed my friends son was diagnosed with Autism. She showed me that maybe the kid acting out at the grocery store wasn't ill behaved but maybe he was on sensory overload. She showed me that maybe the kid that doesn't respond when spoken too isn't rude but rather focusing on something else to block out all the other distractions. So I tend to look at people differently. I try to not be quick to judge, to listen and to learn. The answer to the question is yes, if having three kids with chronic illness has taught me nothing else but compassion then so be it. Lesson learned.

May 16, 2013

Accomplishing Diabetes Big and Small


Today I will share with you one of my smallest accomplishments that will hopefully have a BIG impact.

Empowering my girls.

In our house, we have the motto, "You CAN do ANYTHING."

We don't let D stop us.

Well we try to not let it stop us. High blood sugars and ketones sometimes win out but not too often. Chasing low blood sugars sometimes come in delaying fun (or sleep for this D Momma) but we keep moving forward. I don't want my kids to feel like victims...I want them to feel like kids; that can do anything; and just happen to have diabetes.

Since Nora was little I've taught her to speak up if she is feeling bad. To get up out of her seat and head to the Nurses office REGARDLESS of telling the teacher or not. To ask for help if she needs it. To stand her ground and educate people who question her about diabetes. I'd like to think that this has rubbed off on Evelyn too as she can be very outspoken if she is passionate about something.

I know I won't be around forever to fight their battles.

I want them to be able to do that for themselves.


May 15, 2013

Memorable Day



Today for the Bitter~Sweet Diabetes Blog Week we are asked to share a memorable diabetes day.

I have several but I'll pick when Nora was diagnosed back in June of 2005; she was 4 years old.

That spring she ended up with walking pneumonia. She didn't sound bad...she was just lying around; not her typical monkey running around self. She was laid up for a couple of days when I took her into the Dr's office when they told me she had walking pneumonia. After about a week or two she seemed to bounce back to her normal self. But then I noticed that her hands would start shaking and she would whine that she was hungry. I didn't think too much of this as I have that exact same issue. It was always in the morning so it made sense that she was hungry. I would feed her breakfast and she would be fine. Then the excessive water drinking started. She would down 20oz bottles of Dasani in 30 seconds flat and ask for more. It was then that it hit me. 1. She would do well in college for beer bong contests or 2. Something is wrong.

So fast forward to the second week of June 2005. I called the Dr's office and asked for an appointment for Nora. I told them all her symptoms and then said I need her tested for Juvenile Diabetes. Here's the thing. I didn't know what Juvenile Diabetes was. Had no clue. The words just came out of my mouth. We have no family history. We had no friends with it. I've never seen it. I didn't know the symptoms. I didn't know squat about diabetes...let alone T1D. Call it divine intervention, a fluke thing...call it I don't know. But as I said those words it was almost an out of body experience. Weird...

That got me an appointment the next day. Urine analysis confirmed sugar in the urine. What did that mean?  Sent us to get a blood draw. Now remember, Nora is 4 years old. She hated to pee in a cup and then she had to give blood. She was NOT a happy camper. I believe in bribery. By the time we stopped off at the mall for said bribery gift and got home a recording was left saying yes, Nora has diabetes and to go down to Children's Hospital where we would be staying for a week.

I remember that day like it was yesterday and Nora will be celebrating her LIVE-a-versary June 13th with 8 years of T1D.



May 14, 2013

We the Undersigned and I'm NOT your honey!



So what's up with all these petitions going around the Internet? 

That's my challenge today...write my own. Who would it be to or about and why.

Today I'm writing my petition to the Food Industry. 

Calorie King is great. Restaurant websites are okay. But for D-sake...if you make it, cook it, plate it, serve it...give us a carb count. I don't ask for much. I just ask for ALL menu items to be listed. And nice waitress at Max & Erma's who runs to get the manager when I asked about how many carbs are in their warm, delicious cookies and then come back with a "we can't find the nutritional info and don't worry about it honey...you'll just have to walk it off"... um...I'm NOT your honey and yes I will worry about it...I NEED to give my daughter insulin so that she can eat those cookies because she is a T1D. Look, I can SWAG with the best of 'em. Sometimes I do pretty well others well...not so well. I know that even with the exact carb count stuff happens blood sugars rise and/or fall. But I really would like to know...at least have a fighting chance for good blood sugars. 

So that's my blog challenge petition. What would yours be?

May 13, 2013

Dear Endo:

Hello all!! Thanks for the little blog rest after participating in the WEGO month long blog last month...whew! It was fun but I needed a break. So thank you for sticking with us!

This week is:





Today we are challenged to come up with what we really could tell our Endo or Diabetes Health Team. This is fitting as I've had both the girls in for their 3 month check ups in the past few days. I'm almost afraid to tell you this...but I LOVE my girls Endo. We didn't have her right at first diagnosis with Nora almost 8 years ago. We've had our share of icky, beat my head against a brick wall CNP's but found their Endo by a fluke and have kept her ever since! 

What I like the most about her is that she actually talks to my kids. She asks them what and how they are doing. She praises them when a job is well done and encourages them when needed. NEVER has she made us feel bad about a non-stellar A1C or harped on us for doing something or not doing something. The girls adore her. I also like that she is aware of how long we've been doing this. So she is courteous with our time. She is aggressive in her treatment but also listens to how I help "manage" the girl's diabetes and takes that into consideration. She is relevant and keeps up to date on new technology. She goes to diabetes camp as one of the Doc's and LOVES it!! She also cares about diabetes globally. She brought the film makers into our city and had a private screening of Life for a Child. She is just awesome...she is how other Endo's should model themselves after! If you ever happen to be in the Cincinnati, Ohio area and need a great Endo at Cincinnati Children's give Dr. Nancy Crimmins a try...I promise you'll love her!! 

HOWEVER, if you don't have the most awesome Endo ever and you DREAD going into yours this is what they should know.

1. Don't harp on the A1C. It's a freaking number...there is enough guilt us D-rents's live with that you don't need to add this on top of it. We consider it our Report Card. Is it not enough we are busting our ass trying to keep the D kid alive? We need encouragement NOT brow beating.

2. Talk to our kids. Ask them how they are doing. Get to know them. I'm not saying go on a family camping trip with them but LEARN something about them. They are kids first. Who just happen to have diabetes. 

3. Encourage, encourage, encourage. In everything.

4. Don't act like you know it all. Yes, you are the one with a MD behind your name but guess what...we do too (not really but we have an honorary MD). We know our kids D better than you do. So give us some credit. 

5. Praise. Even if it's a little victory. Praise it. There are lots of crappy days in dealing with D...we, D-rents try to find the joy in just one little victory. Acknowledge it. 

In closing, I would like you to think about YOUR health care provider. Are they working for you, against you or with you? 

May 12, 2013

Happy Mother's Day





Wishing all you BLUETIFUL D-Mom's a very Happy Mother's Day!!!!


The job you do, and the battles you are forced to wage, on a daily basis do not go unnoticed.

Each of us are inspired by your tremendous efforts, and stand completely in awe of your love, dedication, courage, strength, and determination.

Thank you for EVERYTHING!

May 9, 2013

Where are your blue shoes??

So...in keeping with my *oh so typical, sad, tired, ghetto, style* blog posts...
WHERE are you keeping those shoes??
Are they out and proud?
Are they tucked neatly in a closet and are you looking at them saying.... WHERE IN TARNATION am I ever gonna wear them?
It doesn't matter....they are there. And we know, I know, how hard it is to banner your battles with Diabetes.
The very fact that you have them, know about what they mean to me...to us...means more than you know.
I don't blog often anymore...more for the fact that I am an idiot, and not so much that I don't need to share my weird personal battles with the interwebs.....my point, and I do have one...is this....
I miss you guys, and I want to hear from you.  Share your Diabetes PRIDE...
We need a banner day, lambs.
Or a paid vacation, all together....with someone else picking up the tab....like....*insert your big Pharma here*
Hi from D. Lo.
And for the record, the kiddos BG is 101.

May 8, 2013

Type1Rider.org Press Release



We are very happy to formally announce The Type1Rider Organization Founder/CEO Tony Cervati is one of the featured Chapter contributors in Dr. Bev Adler's NEW Book "My Sweet Life: Successful Men With Diabetes".

 My Sweet Life: Successful Men With Diabetes is a collection of life stories - each chapter written by a highly respected and successful man with diabetes, Beverly S. Adler, PhD, CDE (Editor) has collected 25 amazing men with diabetes who accomplish amazing things every day. Foreword by Steven V. Edelman, MD.

In this ‘invitation only’ collection of Stories, Tony writes about living his life to the fullest while maintaining as much control over diabetes as possible. In Tony’s Chapter titled ‘Just Keep Choppin' , there is a story about when Tony was just diagnosed where Cervati recalls “My mom was very upset, and, before we left the office for the Paul Kimball Hospital, asked the question "What if kids in school bring in cupcakes for their birthdays?". Dr. Calderone answered matter of factly, "Let him eat cake". It didn't dawn on me until decades later just how wise and encouraging those simple words were.” 

Read (And Share!) the entire Press Release HERE

May 6, 2013

Normal is Just a Setting on the Dryer




Last night I tuned into a webinar entitled: Normal is Just a Setting on a Dryer hosted by Barb Wagstaff of Diabetesadvocacy.com. It was a good webinar in that it really made me think...what is normal? I had a friend back in high school who would always say, "Why be lamron?" And it just kinda fit me...I didn't want to be normal.

However, this webinar was more specifically about normal and how it relates to diabetes. Which is a whole different story. Barb showed images of a site rotation map, pump tubing, glucose tabs, school books, CGM's and other acronyms and glucose meters.

Yes, this is our normal times two!

Who would've thought I'd be speaking a different language with my girls that my poor hubby can't even pick up on. Counting numbers, using ratios and factoring stress/activity levels. Getting little sleep because you are fighting a low or doing pump site changes in the middle of the night. Scheduling meetings with school, doctors, diabetes chapters and Congressmen to talk about diabetes.

Yet, THIS is what is normal in the Loving household.

Each of us has a different normal...and that's okay.






May 3, 2013

What's a 'Diabetes Expert' Anyway?


Special Guest post from Doctor Jen Nash

We first introduced you to Dr. Jen Nash in our announcement in March that you can visit HERE

I'm not sure about you, but I don't often feel like an expert of my diabetes. Certainly not when I think I've done everything 'right' and I still have a sky high blood glucose reading, or when I wake up with a hypo for the third night in a row, or when I've (yet again) missed an exercise session.

But what does this word 'expert' mean anyway? Typing 'define expert' into Google offers this definition: "A person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge or skill in a particular area." Now I have to admit that's a little different. I know you do need to have a comprehensive knowledge of the ways you can handle your diabetes to get at least okay results. Just because it doesn't go to plan every time, you cannot deny you have detailed knowledge of how certain things affect your body.

Of course, when something doesn't go to plan, the human response is to get angry or frustrated, or think, "What's the point?" Experts also feel this way. Like the scientist who is frustrated when the experiment doesn't produce the expected results, but still returns to the lab the next day. Building up a tolerance to, and curiosity for, the variables that are less predictable, is a crucial part of being an expert.

The expert gets inquisitive and treats the curiosity like a scientific experiment. Okay, so I've woken up with a hypo (again) but what was different? Opening up that space allows something new to dawn.

Some of the tricks I've learnt over the years are:
  1. Keep a diary of hypos: This doesn't have to be a daily diary of everything I do and eat, but just a short summary/a few bullet points of what happened when it went wrong, or as soon as possible afterwards.
  2. Reward myself when I've managed diabetes well for a certain period of time: Rewards don't have to cost anything. They can be time spent in an enjoyable pastime, a relaxing bath, relishing a favourite hot drink, listening to favourite music — anything that is enjoyable for its own sake. Alternatively, you could design a 'token system' in return for rewards. Award yourself one token for each day you manage your diabetes well and after 5, 10, or 15 tokens (you decide), 'exchange' these tokens for a CD, a new item of clothing, some fresh flowers... again, it's your choice!
  3. Share what I have learned with someone else: Not necessarily my diabetes doctor or nurse either, sometimes a partner or family member can have a fresh way of looking at the situation, which I hadn't noticed (novices teach experts too!).
What are your tricks and tips for managing your diabetes? What has worked for you, even if that doesn't mean it will work for others? I want to encourage you that you are an expert, an expert of you. That does not mean you get it right every time. Notice the definition above does not include the word perfect! In fact, any expert I know had to make many mistakes to acquire their expertise — a lot of getting it wrong, so they could get it a little more right. They became the expert because their peers decided to stop — stop learning, developing, trying, dedicating themselves to their skills. So don't stop and own your expertise. And do share...

Dr. Jen Nash is a Clinical Psychologist chartered with the British Psychological Society. Dr. Jen helps her clients find solutions with simple and highly-effective psychological strategies to gain freedom from the frustration and stress of living with diabetes. To sign up for her free Diabetes Diary, visit www.PositiveDiabetes.com.