Day 14 of the WEGO #HAWMC - "Well that’s just crazy!"

Today we are prompted to write about "the most ridiculous thing you've heard about your health condition? Was there any context? What did you think at the time you heard it – and what do you think of it now?"

There are too many to get into in this topic in greater detail, but let's look at a few.

1. Sugar causes diabetes.
2. Diabetes can be reversed/cured.
3. Diabetics must follow a strict diet.
4. Proper control becomes easier over time.

ALL FALSE...kinda. Let's expound:

1. The effects Sugar intake can cause higher Blood Glucose Levels (BGL).
2. NEVER EVER can diabetes be reversed or cured. The intra-day complications can be controlled somewhat.
3. The proper diabetic diet is the same as those without diabetes.
4. Proper control is never easy. Diabetes has a mind of it's own.

I get very emotional when talking about falsehoods related to diabetes. Seems everywhere we look someone is peddling "Snake Oil" to cure diabetes.

Something many think are false is that "Diabetes causes Depression" & "Depression causes Diabetes". Both are FACT'S.

Now I am depressed and am off to vent...

Day 13: "These are a few of my favorite things" #HAWMC

Just me and the Artificial Pancreas! 

Today I'm going to share my favorite thing and it's not even mine...yet. I had the opportunity to have breakfast with Tom Brobson; the artificial pancreas guy. The artificial pancreas project is funded by JDRF and you can learn about it here. I'm not here to debate organizations, whom to fund and politics. Throw all that out the window. I had breakfast with an artificial pancreas human trial participant. Let that sink in for a minute. To be able to sit across the table from a man who has T1D, participated in a human trial for the artificial pancreas, had tighter control and didn't have to worry about diabetes for 3 days was a dream come true. You can see his video here. My head was spinning with a million questions and inside I was squealing like a little girl. Tom Brobson is like Diabetes Royalty. To hear of his experiences. The excitement in the project. Things that are being worked on. Just truly amazing! And then...to be able to actually hold the artificial pancreas. As one of my friends said, "it was like holding the hope diamond"! Who knew this little smart phone would have such an impact. To see where technology is going and actually hold it and know that my girls could be wearing it!!! No, it's not a cure but I'll take this advancement while they are working on it. 

Closer look of the Artificial Pancreas!! 

Day 12 of the WEGO #HAWMC - "Writers Choice"

We have Wordless Wednesdays.

Welcome to Scrabble Saturday.

Diabetes has had too many little win's in my life this past week. Therefore, the picture above spells it out BEFORE my all out war intensifies.

IT will NOT win...

Day 11...Date Night #HAWMC

Today is dating tips with a chronic illness. Since this doesn't apply to me I'll talk about some of the ideas I have running through my head and how I will touch on this topic when my 13 starts dating...in like 20 years! Just kidding...kinda...no, but really a friend of mine is going through this with her diabetic teen daughter.

The first date!!

What to do...who to tell...do I have lettuce in my teeth or cheese in my braces!?

I can only imagine how nerve racking this must be. First dates are notoriously terrifying when you are 15 or 16 add diabetes into the mix and whoa!! Sure fire explosion...OR is it?

I think the best way I will approach this is WITH my daughter. We will start having conversations now not 15 minutes before *he* comes to pick her up. What does dating look like to a person with diabetes? What does  it look like to parents of diabetic teens? Full disclosure of what diabetes is? Call the other teens  parents? Crash course to potential date that scares him off and ostracizes your daughter from ever dating? Hmm...that might be tempting...no, insurance only covers so much therapy that she would most assuredly need from me being the most awful mother on the planet!

It's easy now. She doesn't date. All the kids in her 7th grade class know she is a type 1 diabetic.But when she goes to high school with new students they won't all know she is. Look, I don't have the exact answer for you. What works for me may not work for your family. I envision Nora and I sitting down and developing a plan of attack. I don't want to embarrass her by telling too much. It's her disease after all. But I DO want her date to know what's up should she need assistance with a low, why she is pricking her finger and what is that *beeper* looking thing on her hip. I figure I'll start talking about it now. Sure, I'll get the eye roll and the MOOOM!! But I'd rather go into this dating era ready and armed as much as I can be.

For those of you that know me you may remember I have an older daughter too with Type 1. Definitely dating age. The plus is she's been dating her boyfriend since their sophomore year of high school and have celebrated their 4 year dating anniversary this past February. I'm lucky. He's a great kid and they were already established by the time Evelyn was diagnosed. Added plus...he's going to school for nursing!! All that aside, Evelyn was old enough to let him know what diabetes is, what she needs to do and what he needs to do in case she needs help with a low.

I'm interested in your thoughts. What has worked for you? What hasn't? I would love to hear some feedback on this one! Let me know!!

Day 10: And the Winner Is... #HAWMC

And the Winner Is...US!

Today's prompt asks us to write an acceptance speech. We are on stage, holding our trophy and we need to thank whom? How did we get to where we are today. Technically, this post is supposed to be first person but I'm no more special than each of you doing what I do day in and day out. So the award goes to US!

I'd like to thank diabetes. Yes, you read that right...diabetes. Without this wretched disease I wouldn't know any of you. There would be no DOC. No Blue Heel Society. No walk teams. No ride teams. No diabetes support groups. So as much as I despise D I'd like to thank it that much more. Because of D I know you. We have the best on-line community EVER. Need supplies? Sent. Need to rant? Go. Need a hug? You'll have more virtual hugs in 1 minute than the amount of discarded test strips you'll find in your house...and that's a LOT!

We all arrived *here* the same way. While each story is unique to us it starts with the same diagnosis...diabetes. And did you notice I said "starts" NOT ends. Because it's not an end. It's a beginning. It's a journey, albeit, a roller coaster of a journey but we are all in this together. We care, support and welcome. As we have all been *there*.

So, the winner is me, its YOU, its US!! And each of us is a winner. Days may be rough, others smooth but we've got this. Count each little detail as a win. You checked blood sugars 5 times today? Win. You prebolused your dinner? Win. You started your day and remembered to restock your Diabetes bag? Win.

I, YOU, WE are winners!