The Blue Heel Society

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

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas R. Moore) — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:31:00 +0000

Diabetes: What Do Emotions Have to do With It?

Life 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.

Diabetes Art

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Loving) — Sun, 19 May 2013 02:11:00 +0000

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!

Freaky Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Loving) — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:06:00 +0000

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.

Accomplishing Diabetes Big and Small

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Loving) — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:33:00 +0000

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.

Memorable Day

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Loving) — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:05:00 +0000

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.

We the Undersigned and I'm NOT your honey!

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Loving) — Wed, 15 May 2013 02:39:00 +0000

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?

Dear Endo:

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Loving) — Tue, 14 May 2013 02:38:00 +0000

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?

Happy Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (The Blue Heel Society) — Sun, 12 May 2013 16:58:00 +0000

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!

Where are your blue shoes??

noreply@blogger.com (Diane) — Thu, 09 May 2013 23:21:00 +0000

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.

Type1Rider.org Press Release

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas R. Moore) — Wed, 08 May 2013 17:08:00 +0000

Visit Amazon.com

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

Normal is Just a Setting on the Dryer

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Loving) — Mon, 06 May 2013 20:35:00 +0000

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.

What's a 'Diabetes Expert' Anyway?

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas R. Moore) — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:59:00 +0000

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:

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.
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!
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.

Day 30 of 30!!! RECAP!!! We did it!! #HAWMC

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Loving) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:27:00 +0000

Wow!! I (we) did it! (Sorry...I'm double posting for Blue Heel Society AND Captain Jackson's Hemophilia Adventure) I always enjoy participating in WEGO Health's: Health Activist Writer's Monthly Challenge. The prompts get me to think outside of what I might normally post...which is good and sometimes funny! This month I started out blogging in Florida with our FIRST family vacation since having Jackson, our hemophiliac son, who is five years old and our second T1D diagnosis. Talk about independence!! It felt great knowing we could infuse our son ourselves and take care of our girls. Packing for three kids with chronic illnesses is so nerve wracking! But I got it all packed! Then I nearly ended the month in Texas while attending a Hemophilia convention. So in 30 days I've managed to blog in 3 different states...pretty good for a family who hasn't gone anywhere in years! I hope you have enjoyed following our blog posts everyday and THANK YOU to those who did!! I am humbled by your support. I will tell you this now...I'm taking a break from blogging...just a little one (for those of you that know me; you know it will only be a day or two!!)

To sum up my #HAWMC experience in one word:

supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Day 29 of the WEGO #HAWMC: "Congratulations"

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas R. Moore) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:09:00 +0000

For todays topic, we are asked to "Share three things you love about yourself, things you’re great at, or just want to share. We all know Health Activists are awesome."

Today is the next to last day of #HAWMC, and my final post for the Challenge. I cannot tell you how much these blogfests mean to me, and I want to thank all of YOU for reading and sharing during this Month. I certainly could not have done it without my partner in crime, Jen Loving. You want awesome, Jen is the definition of such. Not only did Jen contribute to the BHS blog about her TWO Type 1 Daughters, but on her other blog where she relays her journey of a Mom to her Hemophiliac Son.

I tried...I really did, however, I cannot in good conscience talk about what I love about me (although I do), nor can I acknowledge things I am great at (although there are). Do I feel Health Activists are awesome, I certainly do!

Here's a little caveat, and let me contradict myself briefly.

I am pretty good at remembering that as a Health Activist, where would I be without our Bluetiful Friends/Fans/Followers? If it wasn't for our wonderful little Society, I, as an Activist, wouldn't have anyone much to Advocate FOR. If it wasn't for YOUR AWESOMENESS, who would we have to wear our Blueness for?

Yes, all Health Activists are awesome, but the reason I advocate is for ALL OF YOU. For without you, I would not be, and YOU are certainly the awesomeness I am here for. So the "Congratulations" MUST go to all of you...

Day 28: #HAWMC: Must Follow!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Loving) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 14:17:00 +0000

Today I'm going to share the top 5 MUST follow facebook pages, websites and/or blogs for diabetes.

1. Of course, ALL the major diabetes organizations. JDRF, ADA, DRI...these are the go to's for anyone newly diagnosed to the veteran diabetics who maybe need a little help somewhere. Great resources to get you connected locally to your chapter, find mentors, ask questions and hear about research.

2. Diabetic Barbie/Amy Ermel...I know I've sung her praises before but she's a great lady who lives in Canada and just wants to see her daughter's dream of making a Diabetic Barbie a reality. If you haven't liked her page yet you can find it here. I'm blessed to call her my friend.

3. The TheAngryType2Diabetic is a great resource for Type 2 diabetes. I love Lizmari and have learned so much from her. She is a great advocate for Type 2 and posts some great research and findings on her page and/or blog. She is my go-to person when ever I have questions about Type 2 or when someone contacts me with a new Type 2 diagnosis.

4. My friend, Meri Schuhmacher, who blogs over at Our Diabetic Life. She is a fellow D Mom who has 3 out of 4 kids with Type 1 Diabetes. After my second daughter was diagnosed I messaged Meri and just thanked her for being such an inspiration to me. It was because of Meri that I knew our family would be okay with our second diagnosis of T1D.

5. I have saved the best for last....my dear, dear friend and co-"worker", Thomas Moore. If you aren't friends with him, seriously, go do it NOW!! Thomas is one of the greatest researchers I know. My notifications ding several times throughout the day with his status updates or links he has shared. He puts in so much effort in his quest to educate about diabetes. I learn so much and I thank him for his tireless work!

Day 27: Titles #HAWMC

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Loving) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 14:16:00 +0000

Today's post is to come up with 5 working titles for names of books if I were to write one about our life, our community, our health condition. Here we go...

1. ~~Buns~~ Fingertips of Steel

2. The Babblings of a Sleep Deprived D Mom

3. It's fun to chat with the D-O-C (to the tune of YMCA...I know..it's a song and sorry it's stuck in your head now!)

4. Ahhh...I See the Diabetes Screw Up Fairy Has Visited Us Again

5. DIABETES...an EXACT Science (bawhahahahaha!!)

Day 26: Free Pain Pass #HAWMC

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Loving) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:52:00 +0000

If you could use a pain free pass when would you...

There are a couple of times I would want a pain free pass for my girls and their diabetes care.

1. The yearly blood draw. They HATE that and I hate it for them. My poor Nora will have tears streaming down her face during the Endo visit right up until they draw the blood.

2. Ketones and High blood sugar. I don't know if this actually causes them pain...I know they feel like crap. It wears them out. And they can do nothing...well, they feel like doing nothing until blood sugars are in range. Even then they aren't themselves. I hate those days when diabetes "wins". My girls are so upbeat and active and those days, thankfully are few, are days that just suck.

These are the days I wish for a pain free pass.

Day 25 of #HAWMC: Learning

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas R. Moore) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:08:00 +0000

Today we are asked to "Share something you learned from another Health Activist (that everyone should know!)."

One of the most important things I have learned on my journey as an Activist very early on, was that I really didn't know a darn thing about diabetes. More importantly, I learned that understanding how important focusing on the DIABETIC is, not just the disease.

Once I started doing so, I also found out that I learned the need to UN-LEARN everything I thought I knew about people, in order for me to be the best Caregiver possible for my favorite Diabetic.

Probably the most important thing I learned about being a CareGIVER to my Wife, is that I am usually more of a CareTAKER, as i am probably more high maintenance than she is!!!!

The most difficult thing I have learned is that while we await a CURE, is that in essence we are doing mini-cure's all day long, as we work towards the best control possible. I learned that even with nearly 300 medications on the market, we are not much closer than when I started my journey.

This all brought me to realize that patience is the BEST things I have re-learned...

Wordless Wednesday Day 24 #HAWMC

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Loving) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:59:00 +0000

Today's challenge was to create a Pinterest Board for your health condition and pin three items.

You can check out our Diabetes Board HERE.

Enjoy!

Day 23 of #HAWMC: "Technology"

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas R. Moore) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:51:00 +0000

Today we are asked to "Write about how your life would change if there was no social media."

Seems odd using Social Media to explain how my life would change without it, but here goes.

I would not have had an outlet to help keep my favorite Diabetic alive.
I would have never found the Diabetes Online Community (DOC).
I would have not had the opportunity to try and help others.
I would have not had the opportunity to help a young Man in Indonesia save his life, and go on to prosper.

There are a hundred more reasons my life would change, I only chose to highlight a few...

Day 22: of WEGO Health's #HAMWC: "Day to Day"

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas R. Moore) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:11:00 +0000

Today we are asked to "Write about something ordinary that’s inspiring to you, something simple, perhaps overlooked, that fuels your activism."

I again observed my favorite Diabetic in her role as a Caregiver to her Father, and me, just waking up. First thing she did BEFORE anything, as she does everyday, is ask me if I want coffee, then right away turning her attention to her nearly 79 year old Father until his wake up needs are met. This morning ritual comes before everyone and anything...ALWAYS.

Something ordinary...to most.
Something inspiring...every single minute of every single day.
Simple...not by any definition.
Fuels my activism...more than anyone know's.

As a Caregiver, I strive to be just like her. Problem is, I can never be like, or as good as my favorite Diabetic. The circle of life isn't always round...

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Loving) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 13:40:00 +0000

"The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all."-Mulan

True or false? When do you bloom best?

Today, I'm asked the above question. As most of you know I blog for Blue Heel Society for diabetes and my personal blog for Captain Jackson's Hemophilia Adventure. I have been double blogging all month long for the WEGO challenge. Posting separately for both. However, I will be double posting. I hate to do it. It's not a cop out but really it applies to both blogs.

To answer the question; yes, I bloom best during times of difficulties. Maybe too well...that's why I've got two with Type 1 diabetes and one with Hemophilia. I see it almost like a challenge...like a "HEY you!! I'm gonna throw this curve ball at'cha and see what you do with it. Ready, set, GO!" It started in the hospital the day I delivered Jackson. My parents brought the girls to meet their new brother. It was there that the eldest needed her newly placed braces cranked for expansion, the middle one needed an insulin pump site change AND Jackson needed a diaper change. Seemingly all at the same time. It was then the forces were set in motion and I said, "BRING IT!" I must have said it too loud...someone was listening.

My brain is hard wired for stress and difficulties. It's like putting together a new puzzle with no picture. My brain starts assessing the situation or the challenges that are laid in front of me. I organize a plan and execute. It's taken care of within minutes...at least the plan is. I think I drive my hubby crazy as I start barking orders to extinguish the difficulty flame and it's put out before he has time to process there was even a fire. It isn't a dog on him...it's just how I function. I accept the challenge(s) and then make it wish it never messed with me.

Day 20: of WEGO Health's #HAWMC "Burnout"

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas R. Moore) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 14:39:00 +0000

Today we are asked to "Write about burnout. What does it feel like? What are your burnout triggers? What gets you OUT of the pit of despair when nothing is going your way?"

From a standpoint of a Caregiver/Advocate, burnout is one of my biggest nightmares. If and when it happens, I have to get rid of it FAST.

All of us affected and living with diabetes in our life, can attest to the fact it is a 24/7 intruder. We barely have time to actually live our "normal" life, so when it is disrupted with diabetes micro-management during our day, it can tend to throw us a detour.So, does anyone really have time for burnout? I know I don't. Do I experience burnout? Yes, I do, but I have to try real hard to not let it dictate anything I do. One little minute of doing so always turns into more time than I have available for burnout.

If I show any burnout, it right away spreads into wildfires into that "normal" life, and I sometimes just want to take a break...wait, sometimes I just want to shutdown completely, and throw a backpack on and check out. Not like dead, like checking out of a room.

Triggers, well not really. Usually goes right past triggers to explosions...

What get's me out of the funk and past any triggers, are triggers. They remind me to work past them and try to actually 'fix' what causes the triggers. I also remind myself that if I let the triggers/causes actually shut me down, it is a very bad thing. So a tad of burnout, is better than shutting everything down.

But my favorite way to get past the triggers, is music. So enjoy this piece (above) from the Album appropriately titled "Out Of The Blue", and I hope you agree that "It's better to burn out, than to fade away".

Day 19: #HAWMC: Vintage

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Loving) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:09:00 +0000

Today I am to post a vintage picture with a caption and share with you where we were in terms of our health condition.

Today I post two photos for my beautiful girls...as far as being vintage...one picture is almost 8 years old from back in 2005. The other picture is not quite one year old yet.

Nora age 4 dx'd 6-13-05

This was day two in the hospital. Truly scared of this new world of Diabetes.

Evy age 17 dx'd 6-1-12 (just 5 days before her 18th bday)

This was day 1 1/2 in the hospital. Pissed because we knew this world of Diabetes.

Day 18 of #HAWMC: “I take it back…"

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas R. Moore) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:19:00 +0000

Today we are asked to "write about a time that you lashed out at someone close to you because of frustration/fear/anger resulting from your health condition and you wish you could take it back. Forgive yourself and let it go."

This was going to be another opportunity to talk about medication errors and taking the wrong insulin at bedtime. Part of the root cause, in my opinion, was correcting any high BGL's with fast acting (insulin injection to treat any high BGL's) & bolusing (injecting insulin to cover a meal), and also drawing/injecting long acting insulin for bedtime, AFTER eating [dinner]...all at the same time.

Even when I just explained what I think the problem was/is, it sounds THAT much more problematic than I even think! Therein seems to be MY problem...

My problem, because as I am reminded by my favorite Diabetic, every time I try to preach what I think are proper methods to approach mealtime, I am reminded that "it is MY body, not yours".

My problem, because I am reminded that "my A1c has never been higher than 7.1%".

I instead choose to "whisper words of wisdom...Let It Be" and let it go...

UPDATE: I forgot to mention that we have this micro-battle EVERY single mealtime, and I lose every single time!