Introducing BHS KC, MO Chapter Luminary Katrina Huckabay

We recently launched one of our most important pieces of advocacy work yet—our Luminary Program. A Blue Heel Society Luminary is an advocate in the war against diabetes who uses his or her fabulous blue shoes to speak volumes about diabetes awareness.

With the Luminary Program, we turn the advocacy over to you and support you doing it *your* way. We do this by providing a Shoebox full of tools to help Luminaries operate a local Blue Heel Society chapter of their own.




A Luminary is an advocate, a delegate, in the war against Diabetes.  We choose to use apparel, our fabulous Blue Shoes, to speak volumes about Diabetes Awareness.  You can host an event, about anything, and wear blue shoes simply to advocate for those people affected by Diabetes.






Be it a Book Club meeting, Pet adoption day, Church function or a Diabetes-specific event, you can advocate for people who live with or care for someone with diabetes, simply by wearing a blue shoe in “your” fashion.

Regardless of what your passion is, we want to empower community leaders to use the Blue Heel Society as a platform to promote those causes and interests, all the while showing support and raising awareness about diabetes, in arenas formerly thought of as unreachable or unrelated.

We asked Katrina a few questions to introduce herself. Here's what she had to say:

BHS: Connection w/ diabetes?

KH: My daughter Alyse was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes 5 years 10 months ago at the age of 2 1/2

BHS: General geographic location
KH: My family and I live in a Kansas City, MO suburb

BHS: What blue shoe (Heel, sneaker, riding shoe, etc.) suits you & Why?

KH: I am a sneakers kinda gal myself. I run a small in home childcare specializing in diabetes care and my sneakers get me through my day of beating diabetes and taking care of these amazing children.

BHS: What does advocacy mean to you?

KH: Advocacy means EVERYTHING to me!! I tell anyone and everyone about diabetes that will listen and some who don't . When Aly was diagnosed I was 22 years old and knew NOTHING about Type 1 diabetes, now I try as hard as I can to let people know of at least the warning signs. They don't need to fully understand everything we go through because they don't live it but I think everyone should at least know the warning signs.

BHS: What are some of your goals as a BHS Luminary?

KH: Some of my goals as a BHS Luminary is to grow the in person and online support groups that I have started. I also hope to grow Hope for Alys diabetes education booths and find more healthy fairs in/around Kansas City to attend

BHS: Words of wisdom/encouraging statement/general statement about diabetes

KH: I want families to know that while this seems so overwhelming and scary right now there are people here that are living the same path that are here to help, listen, support, and be there for you through the great, the good, the bad, and the ugly. This disease is not always rainbows and glitter and we understand that, we get it, we know. The lights are always on, the doors are never closed, and our cell phones are always on no matter what time of day or night.

Please join us in welcoming Katrina to the BHS Family. If you live in Missouri and would like to get more information, you can Contact Katrina via email.




If you would like to become a BHS Luminary, you can fill out the Application HERE , or via the 'Luminaries' Tab at the top of the page

Katrina can also be found here:
~Blog: http://www.insulinprincess.blogspot.com/
~ Website: www.hopeforaly.weebly.com
~ Member of the Diabetes Advocates
~ Kansas City Chapter Luminary Leader of the Blue Heel Society

NEW OmniPod - Pics & Details

                   

This post originated from Tony Cervati via The Type1Rider Organization:

With the great news earlier this week about the FDA (finally) approving the next generation OmniPod system, my friends at Insulet sent me some photos of the new goods! I am totally stoked, and just couldn't wait to share the images and info!!

It's easy to see that the new pod is smaller.  How much smaller? A lot!!

The new Pod is 34% smaller, 25% lighter and 16% slimmer (but still holds up to 200 units of insulin).
Same tubeless, waterproof system... just lighter and smaller.  Nice!!
The communication distance between the PDM and Pod during regular use has been increased.I cannot wait!!

Another cool feature is that the new Pods have a new feature called a ‘pink slide.’ When the cannula deploys correctly, it pushes a piece of pink plastic to be visible through a new, second window on the top of the pod’s surface.  Users can now use this together with the regular viewing window for added confirmation to investigate correct insertion when applying a pod.

There are some really awesome and useful changes to the PDM as well!
First, the PDM status screen now always shows details about your current insulin on board (IOB). Correction and meal boluses are used to calculate your IOB when the suggested bolus calculator is on. This is a great addition to the status screen.

The new Pods will not work with an old PDM and vice versa.  Customers will receive a complete new System, including a new PDM. Insulet will be honoring existing warranties for current OmniPod users and simply switch out your System for a new one. Customers who are under a current warranty will not have to go through a new insurance benefits investigation.

The folks at Insulet will be contacting customers and giving them plenty of notice when it’s time for them to transition to the new system.  It should be a VERY EASY process.

For more information, and any new updates, check out http://www.myomnipod.com/newomnipod!!

I cannot wait!!

Introducing BHS Oregon Chapter Luminary Alison Silveira

"A luminary is an object giving off light, or a personality that is well known or enlightening to mankind."

We recently launched one of our most important pieces of advocacy work yet—our Luminary Program. A Blue Heel Society Luminary is an advocate in the war against diabetes who uses his or her fabulous blue shoes to speak volumes about diabetes awareness.

With the Luminary Program, we turn the advocacy over to you and support you doing it *your* way. We do this by providing a Shoebox full of tools to help Luminaries operate a local Blue Heel Society chapter of their own.

A Luminary is an advocate, a delegate, in the war against Diabetes. We choose to use apparel, our fabulous Blue Shoes, to speak volumes about Diabetes Awareness. You can host an event, about anything, and wear blue shoes simply to advocate for those people affected by Diabetes.

Be it a Book Club meeting, Pet adoption day, Church function or a Diabetes-specific event, you can advocate for people who live with or care for someone with diabetes, simply by wearing a blue shoe in “your” fashion.

Regardless of what your passion is, we want to empower community leaders to use the Blue Heel Society as a platform to promote those causes and interests, all the while showing support and raising awareness about diabetes, in arenas formerly thought of as unreachable or unrelated.

We asked Alison a few questions to introduce herself. Here's what she had to say:

BHS: Connection with diabetes?

AS: Mother of a 7 year old with Type 1 (T1) diabetes, and my Aunt lost her battle w/T1 when I was a toddler.

BHS: General geographic location?

AS: Southern  Oregon

BHS: What blue shoe (Heel, sneaker, riding shoe, etc.) suits you & Why? 

AS: Flats because I'm tall and uncoordinated, and I need to chase my youngest as she runs when she sees shiny things.

BHS: What does advocacy mean to you? 

AS: Raising awareness and providing support in my local community.

BHS: What are some of your goals as a BHS Luminary? 

AS: Meet other parents/people locally living with T1.

BHS: Words of wisdom/encouraging statement/general statement about diabetes

AS: Take it day to day and don't let anything slow you down.  

Please join us in welcoming Alison to the BHS Family. If you live in Oregon and would like to get more information, you can Contact Alison via email.

If you would like to become a BHS Luminary, you can fill out the Application HERE , or via the 'Luminaries' Tab at the top of the page.

30 days in a whirlwind!! #NHBPM

Today is THE day...THE last day of National Diabetes Awareness Month and the last day of our 30 day blog challenge. Phew...I so love doing these challenges.

 For one, it forces me to sit down and write. It makes  me take the time to do it because it's so easy to just do it another day. But I didn't do it all. I had help this month with contributions from Thomas Moore. I love his take on things. It's nice to know that maybe, as caregivers, we are going through the same things OR going through different things and yet are there for each other and can learn from one another. And isn't that what we do in the DOC?

The second reason...topic ideas. Some days I struggle with how I want to approach the given topic, other days, I can't stop writing.

The third reason...I'm competitive...I HAVE to have all 30 days posted...no get outta jail (er, blog) free cards here. MUST POST!!

So this month has flown by. Between all the diabetes events, blogging, caring for diabetic kids, working, taking care of everything...it's just been crazy!! So the topic today is to recap the month and I will recap with a single word...WHIRLWIND!!!

I hope you have enjoyed reading our posts as much as I (and Thomas) have in writing our posts for you. And YOU are why we do what we do at Blue Heel Society. So thank you for reading, interacting, and joining our efforts to educate and advocate for ALL types of diabetes with one Blue Heel (or shoe) at a time.

Have I changed? ... #NHBPM Day 29

The National Health Blog Post Month is almost done!! I can't believe it!!

Today we are asked to share:

"How being a patient/caregiver has changed you."

Hmmm...I've always been a speak my mind type of gal. If I feel strongly enough about "x" then I will stand firm on my belief. It doesn't take much for me to get fired up about something...just ask my hubby! The difference is...my kids. Momma Bear comes out in FULL force and will kill if needed...well, kill is a strong word but you get what I mean. Since I have been vocal and advocating for diabetes for Nora since 2004 it's been an easy transition when needing to be vocal and advocate for our son, Jackson, and his bleeding condition. This has set me up to now be vocal and advocate for Evelyn. Although, with Evelyn, it's a little different, being that she is 18. I think, if nothing else, she has seen me in that role and has been doing that for herself for a while in everything she does.

I will tell you that being vocal and advocating for your kids helps in ALL aspects of their health condition. It helps with talking with Doctor's, Nurse's, the dreaded Insurance, school, sports...just about everywhere. I know when someone is feeding me a line of BS and will call them out on it instead of listening to them and actually doing it. I have told Nurse's what is expected when they stick my son for his infusion...and I've told more than one Nurse that I allow then two tries to gain access to his vein and if they don't succeed then I may have to punch them. Ghastly! However, if it's your son getting stuck for IV access, you might say the exact same thing...maybe nicer. BUT those Nurse's know I mean business!!

It has changed me by speaking out about, educating, raising awareness and giving people a glimpse into our lives. And by people I mean you, your neighbor, the stranger down the street, the person in another country and yes, even talking to lawmakers. Pretty much I'll talk to anyone and if they learn something BONUS!!

I guess it's changed me by turning my getting fired up into getting fired up for a PURPOSE....MY KIDS!