Extra! Extra! November is turning BLUE!!

Day 6 WEGO Challenge: New-style post.

NOVEMBER TURNS BLUE!!
by field reporter: Jen Loving

No matter where you live or what you've seen on your fb newsfeed (other than annoying political ads) you may have noticed more blue.

What's it for? What's going on?

Well, BLUE, is the universal color for diabetes awareness. Doesn't matter what TYPE of diabetes...ALL diabetes. This is the month that millions will raise awareness  and advocacy for a growing disease...diabetes. It doesn't discriminate. It likes all ages, races, religions. It doesn't hold back and can be deadly if not taken care of.

The diabetes community will come together on November 14th, also known as WDD or World Diabetes Day. The date is significant because it is the birthday of Dr. Banting. The discoverer of insulin; a drug that is used to keep all Type 1 diabetics alive and used with some Type 2 diabetics as well. Many communities are organizing events to light up significant landmarks blue. For example, Niagara Falls will be lit blue for 15 minute increments starting at 9:45 pm, 10:45 pm and 11:45 pm and it doesn't stop there. According to the International Diabetes Federation web page, 1000 monuments/buildings will be lit blue in 80 different countries!! All in the name of diabetes!

It truly is an amazing evening.

All gathered for diabetes.

All supporting diabetes.

 Not sure if there is an event in your area? Contact your local diabetes chapter to see what will be lit in blue. If you know of an event be sure to share so that others may join you! No matter if you attend a local event or don't have one around you ...be sure to show your support and wear BLUE!!

Saturday Snapshots day 6!

I can't believe this ya'll but I'm gonna be showing you ma drawers!!

Not those...my drawers, which are really cabinets that house Nora's diabetes supplies!

Now, I didn't pretty it up for you and there are other things, like kitchen things on the shelves...imagine that! A cabinet used for its intended purpose!! Shocking! I never thought my cabinets would look like a pharmacy...and this does NOT include my son's medical supplies! That's for a different day...

I LOVE when these cabinets are full of supplies! It's a nice comfort knowing that I have all the supplies I need to take care of my daughter. It may not look beautiful but it's Nora's...all Nora's!!! And this is what diabetes looks like in our house!

One Thing to Improve...day 3

Only one? Are you serious? Uh, I could improve EVERYTHING but then that would negate my post yesterday!! So, I'll say (and I'm sure that my daughter would agree)

my NAGGING!!

And technically I don't consider it nagging because I truly care about her and what her blood sugar is. I mean, it is her LIFE we are talking about here. But I get a lot of "MOM-UH!!" (insert pre-teen attitude here). Here lately I can't tell if it's the hormones or the blood sugar. I have to take a breath and ask her, "Nora, what is your blood sugar?" (insert hyper-psycho mom voice here) and her reply, "It doesn't always have to be about DIABETES!!!" As she stomps out of the room!!

No, it doesn't...

                  but it usually is...

                                            unfortunately.

So I try to be as upbeat as possible and kinda throw in a "hey, can you take your blood sugar for me" before she gets too much attitude and I'm considered nagging!! For the record...if she would listen to me the first time I ask her to take her blood sugar and she told me; I wouldn't have to ask again!! But, try telling that to her!!

I'm still nagging!! 

One Great Thing...day 2

Today I am to share with you ONE GREAT THING, the one great thing, diabetes related that we (Nora and I) do well. We check all the time, we do nothing wrong and Nora's numbers are perfect!
...bahahahaahaa!! You all know that's a lie!! Okay, okay, seriously, THE one thing that we do well is

MENTORING. 

I could talk about diabetes to anybody, anytime of day, anywhere (good thing I blog!!) and I LOVE meeting newly dx'd families. I get excited...yes, it's sick I know, but I want to take them in like a lost puppy and give them ALL of my seven years of knowledge in one conversation. At first it's a lot of listening and just letting them know you get it!

One of the first things I let them know is NOT to beat themselves up over numbers. Everyday the same food could eaten, bolus the exact same way and you'll have two totally different outcomes.

There is a learning curve and we still to this day keep learning! Yep, you read that right...we are STILL learning!!  D will throw MULTIPLE curve balls but
                                  just keep at it!! 

So I check in on them through calls, text, email and send note cards just letting them know I'm thinking about them. If they ever need anything I'm a call away!

Nora is the same with the kids. Every time a classmate is dx'd (unfortunately it's increasing) she tells them what they need to get for their pump, tricks for keeping sites on during the hot days, suggestions on site changes for less pain, snacks for lows and  looks out for them when she sees them in the hall or at the nurses office, makes them feel welcome to this new world.

I've noticed D kids just kinda form this bond. It's unspoken...they just get each other...
        no explanations
                              ...no questions
                                                 ...nothing. They are bonded for life! They don't even talk about diabetes. It's understood. They can just be kids, who just happen to have D.

I'll take these friendships and bonds over perfect numbers any day...(well, most days!) We are too busy living instead of achieving the perfect A1C.

I'm raising kids NOT diabetes! 

That's why we love to mentor...besides, who wants a perfect mentor??!!