Monthly Archives: May 2014

#DBlogWeek Out-of-Order Day 6: Saturday Snapshots.

May 19, 2014 – 9:31 am

DBlogWeek

For the 5th year in a row, diabetes writers from all over the world have been participating in a solid week’s worth of informative, educational, and inspirational blog posts. To find out everything you need to know about Diabetes Blog Week, click on the banner above. A big Thank You to Karen Graffeo for making this happen every year!

With everything going on in my time on Maryland’s Eastern Shore Saturday, I didn’t get a chance to post my Saturday Snapshots. But here it is on Monday instead. I’m a little out of order, but I hope you like the photos from Saturday’s Chesapeake Bay Tour de Cure anyway.

Saturday’s topic was:
Today it’s time to share some pictures for Saturday Snapshots. Back for another year, let’s show everyone what life with diabetes looks like! With a nod to the Diabetes 365 Photo Pool, let’s grab our cameras again and share some more d-related pictures. Post as many or as few as you’d like. Feel free to blog your thoughts on or explanations of your pictures, or leave out the written words and let the pictures speak for themselves.

Full disclosure: I had planned to do the 62 mile Metric Century ride on Saturday, but after checking out the cue sheets (the route descriptions) for all the rides, I decided to bike the 31 mile event instead. Why the change? I didn’t really like the 62 mile route, to be honest. And I really liked the 31. Also, Maureen was with me at a ride for the first time in a while, and I thought it would be nice to spend more time with her and less time on my bike. Now, without further ado, my Saturday ride. And thank you to everyone who graciously donated this year!

The support of all the Red Riders (riders with diabetes) was amazing and special. It never gets old.

The support of all the Red Riders (riders with diabetes) was amazing and special. It never gets old.

At the registration table, before I got my Red Rider jersey. The woman in yellow behind me came all the way from Seattle for this ride.

At the registration table, before I got my Red Rider jersey. The woman in yellow behind me came all the way from Seattle for this ride. Whoever you are, Thank You.

Putting the front wheel on my bike before the ride. This is notable only if you want to see what my truck looks like, or you really wanted to see a 52 year old in bike shorts.

Putting the front wheel on my bike before the ride. This is notable only if you want to see what my truck looks like, or you really wanted to see a 52 year old in bike shorts.

At the start. Finally got that Red Rider jersey on. There were way more riders than last year. Yay!

At the start. Finally got that Red Rider jersey on. There were way more riders than last year. Yay!

These next two are great looks at beautiful Maryland farmland.

These next two are great looks at beautiful Maryland farmland along my ride route.

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Riders getting on the Oxford to Bellevue ferry. This was the location of our rest stop Saturday.

Riders getting on the Oxford to Bellevue ferry. This was the location of our rest stop Saturday. I’ve got a lot of shots on the ferry, so I’ll just let those roll now.

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I've given away a lot of medals in the last six months... it's been a while since I've been given one.

I’ve given away a lot of medals in the last six months… it’s been a while since I’ve been given one.

I've met Leigh Ann DePope via the Wednesday night DSMA Twitter chats. This was the first time I'd met her in person! She volunteered all day Saturday. Thank you!

I’ve met Leigh Ann DePope via the Wednesday night DSMA Twitter chats. This was the first time I’d met her in person! She volunteered all day Saturday. Thank you!

Finally… As I was packing things up, a woman and two little girls came up to me and asked if I was a Red Rider. I said yes, and they explained that they made these, and were giving them away to all the Red Riders. I was instantly touched by their show of support. When I saw what it was, I immediately thought of one person. This is for you Alecia:
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By StephenS | Posted in Diabetes Blog Week | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (11)

#DBlogWeek Day 7: Favorite Things!

May 18, 2014 – 5:59 pm

DBlogWeek

For the 5th year in a row, diabetes writers from all over the world have been participating in a solid week’s worth of informative, educational, and inspirational blog posts. To find out everything you need to know about Diabetes Blog Week, click on the banner above. A big Thank You to Karen Graffeo for making this happen every year!

With everything going on in my time on Maryland’s Eastern Shore yesterday, I didn’t get a chance to post my Saturday Snapshots. But I’ll get to that tomorrow. I’m a little out of order, but here on Day 7 of Diabetes Blog Week, I need to share this with you.

Today’s topic:
As we wrap up another Diabetes Blog Week, let’s share a few of our favorite things. This can be anything from a #DBlogWeek post you loved, a fantastic new-to-you blog you found, a picture someone included in a post that spoke to you, or comment that made you smile. Anything you liked is worth sharing!

I read so many fantastic blog posts this week, and I wish I could remember all of them. But I can’t. Instead, I’ll give you two things I noticed this week. They are from a blog I’ve really liked from the beginning, and a blog I recently found that I also really like.

Practically everyone knows Allison Nimlos at The Blood Sugar Whisperer. I’ve been reading her latest blog since day one. She’s really great at telling her story, and she’s unafraid to take on difficult subjects. Like when she talked about changing career choices this week during the What Brings Me Down post on Day 3 of Diabetes Blog Week (Once More, With Feeling):

“Diabetes burnout and mental health issues is something that is talked about fairly often in the diabetes community, but things seem to stop short of actually finding answers. The DOC is certainly a wonderful place to come for emotional support, but having worked with a therapist myself, there is really something to be said for working one-on-one with someone who can help dig and explore with you. Of course, finding a therapist who understands and has experience with chronic health problems are in short supply, just like diabetes educators are in short supply. Hopefully I can do at least one, if not both!”
 
 
I recently discovered Erin Michelle’s blog at Life Beyond Glucose. She’s like a lot of the rest of us. Working hard to make it work with diabetes, doesn’t have everything figured out yet, but good at sharing the day to day experiences of her life in a way that I’m sure causes many to say “She’s just like me!”. This week she shared a nice message on Day 4’s Mantras and More post. Straight to the point, and it made a lot of sense:

“So I guess my way of coping is to try all avenues until I finally accept the inevitable. Once I accept, I’m lucky in that I can forget about it and move onto the next challenge. No magic words here. Just the realisation that nothing lasts forever.”

I hope everyone else enjoyed their #DBlogWeek 2014! For me, it continues for one more day tomorrow. Karen, I’m thrilled that you spearhead this effort every year. Thank you.
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Diabetes Blog Week | Tagged , , , , | Comments (2)

#DBlogWeek Day 5: Tell me a story.

May 16, 2014 – 12:41 pm

DBlogWeek

For the 5th year in a row, diabetes writers from all over the world will be participating in a solid week’s worth of informative, educational, and inspirational blog posts. To find out everything you need to know about Diabetes Blog Week, click on the banner above. A big Thank You to Karen Graffeo for making this happen every year!

Today’s topic– I’d like to go off the board Alex, and take the Tell Me a Story wildcard:

Write a short story personifying a diabetes tool you use on a daily basis. A meter, syringe, pump, pill, etc. Give it a personality and a name and let it speak through you. What would it be happy about, upset about, mad about? (Thank you Heather of Unexpected Blues for this topic.)

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I feel so unloved.

Stephen has this… this… I don’t know, a phobia about external devices on his person. And he’s blaming me and my kind for it.

I mean, I’m great. I’m only the smartest, most accurate, longest-lasting continuous glucose monitor in the world. What’s not to like? Nothing wrong here.

But he always flirts with me, then just when we get comfortable together, he leaves me behind.

I’m the latest victim. Brought in to be used as part of a clinical trial. I did my work diligently, with no complaints, and when my seven days were up… he unceremoniously ripped my heart out.

Oh, he’ll be back. Who wouldn’t want a second helping of this? But when the trial is over, do you think he’ll still want me? Noooooo. He’ll go running back to his little meter and ignore me completely. He’s always like that. Just interested in what he can get out of me now, and when the need is met, I become a memory. Why do I keep going back for more?

And you know what? When the time comes that he needs me again, I’ll say I won’t go back. But you know I will. I can’t resist. I’m so weak. Besides, when he needs me… really needs me… I feel closer to him than at any other time. It’s like were attached, like I’m right there in his gut.

Who could resist that?
 
 
Don’t miss all of the great topics and posts this week, all found here.
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Diabetes Blog Week | Tagged , , , , | Comments (6)

#DBlogWeek Day 4: Mantras and more.

May 15, 2014 – 10:26 am

DBlogWeek

For the 5th year in a row, diabetes writers from all over the world will be participating in a solid week’s worth of informative, educational, and inspirational blog posts. To find out everything you need to know about Diabetes Blog Week, click on the banner above. A big Thank You to Karen Graffeo for making this happen every year!

Today’s topic:

Yesterday we opened up about how diabetes can bring us down. Today let’s share what gets us through a hard day. Or more specifically, a hard diabetes day. Is there something positive you tell yourself? Are there mantras that you fall back on to get you through? Is there something specific you do when your mood needs a boost? Maybe we’ve done that and we can help others do it too? (Thanks to Meri of Our Diabetic Life for suggesting this topic.)

Full disclosure: I’m not a Mantra Man. I like to keep a few key phrases in my head now and then, but it seems like every time I try to live my life according to a mantra, it winds up being an epic fail. What could be the reasons for this? Discuss among yourselves…

However, there are a few phrases going on in my head right now, and remembering them does help me focus on what’s important to me. So maybe instead of living my life by them, or falling back on them, or something else, these phrases are good tools to help me focus, or refocus, when I feel like something is out of control diabetes-wise.
 
 
The first: Never Give Up. Never Give Up. Never Give Up.
It is so haaaaard to deal with the everyday-ness of living with diabetes. As a result, it is so easy to just chuck the responsibility, even for a short while. Which sometimes (in my case) can become a big while. Then, when I look at myself in the mirror and I don’t like what I see, or my A1c comes back with a different number than I expect, it can really get me down. Add in the threat of diabetes-influenced complications, and you can really feel like you’re going down in a big swirling mess and you’ll never be the same again.

Maybe that’s true. Maybe you won’t be the same again. Maybe you’ll be better. But even if you’re not the thin, strong, put-together person you once thought you were, you can still be the best you can possibly be right now. That all begins when you look in the mirror and say:
Never Give Up. Never Give Up. Never Give Up.
 
 
The second: Show Me How Big Your Brave Is.
This phrase, from the song “Brave” by Sara Bareilles, is for everyone who thinks they’re not an advocate, or thinks they are too shy, or worst of all, thinks they can’t make a difference. I thought all of those things too at one time. And I’m under no delusions… I know I can’t make the biggest of differences on the biggest stage in the world. Who cares? I know I can do something. And I’m interested in finding out what that something is. A year and a half, two years ago, that meant donating money to great causes. Today it means something else.

You know what? I’m still asking, and I’m still finding out How Big My Brave Is. I’m really surprised (and scared) at how big it is sometimes, compared to my normally mild-mannered self. So I’m saying to you: You are capable of great accomplishments that may affect one or thousands. What are you waiting for?
Show Me How Big Your Brave Is.
 
 
Finally: I support you… no exceptions.
In the past year, I’ve had to deal with a lot of different feelings about a lot of different people in our community, over a wide range of topics. Most of the time it’s all good, and I cherish that. Sometimes… well, it’s always hard to disagree on a subject with someone you admire and respect. Likewise, it’s tough when someone feels hurt and doesn’t want to put themselves out there like they used to. It’s even more difficult to watch someone stop caring, about themselves or others. Most of the time, I won’t get the result I’m hoping for from those moments. If I ever do, it’s generally not going to be on my timeline anyway.

The one thing I know I can do in each of those situations is offer support. The one thing that the other person can always use in each of those situations is support. Full, unequivocal, no-holds-barred support that says I don’t care what bothers you, I’m in your corner anyway. You have the freedom to piss me off over a blog post or newspaper article, or to hibernate until you feel like popping into my life again.

You deal with the same things I do every day, but we are not all wired the same. I don’t live inside your skin, but I know your burden. With support comes empowerment. No matter what happens, whatever I’m feeling slowly fades away each time I say:
I support you… no exceptions.
 
 
What about you? What are your mantras/fallbacks/key phrases? Find out some more by looking up #DBlogWeek’s Day 4 posts.
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Diabetes Blog Week | Tagged , , , | Comments (2)

#DBlogWeek Day 3: What brings me down. Today.

May 14, 2014 – 3:18 pm

DBlogWeek

For the 5th year in a row, diabetes writers from all over the world will be participating in a solid week’s worth of informative, educational, and inspirational blog posts. To find out everything you need to know about Diabetes Blog Week, click on the banner above. A big Thank You to Karen Graffeo for making this happen every year!

Today’s topic:

May is Mental Health Month so now seems like a great time to explore the emotional side of living with, or caring for someone with, diabetes. What things can make dealing with diabetes an emotional issue for you and / or your loved one, and how do you cope? (Thanks go out to Scott of Strangely Diabetic for coordinating this topic.)

Hmmm…. What brings me down? That’s a tough one. Mostly because I’ve been feeling pretty good lately. The bitterness and depression I was feeling a few years ago has faded to the background for the time being. So you may think this is a stupid way to look at this subject. But…

To put it mildly, I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for people who are working their way through difficult times. When people hurt, I hurt too.

This is that empathy thing I talk about a lot. I really feel like People With Diabetes (and People Who Care For People With Diabetes—Type Awesomes) have an extra store of empathy that others do not. We’ve been there… we know what it’s like… we don’t wish what we’ve been through on anyone else.

So it’s hard for me (especially hard for me) to sit idly by while someone else is dealing with something that really gets them down. Especially if I think I may be able to help. Let me give an example:

A little while back I was tweeting back and forth with someone that I only know online. This person was not exactly feeling the DOC love. For them, the community had become too fractured, it was nothing like what it was when they found it, and, if I recall correctly, trust was a big issue for this person. And they weren’t finding much of it then.

What could I do? The answer is, not much. And still… a lot.

Not being an expert, the only thing I really knew to do was to write an e-mail. I just wanted to let them know how much I trusted them, how much they meant to me, and how much I supported them… no exceptions. It was a short note, but I hope I got my point across.

Did it work? Well, I don’t know. I haven’t heard from this person since.

But I know that since then, I’ve felt a great deal of concern for this person’s wellbeing. I want them to know they have a supporter in their life, and I want them to engage with their friends again. Really, more than anything, I just want them to feel better. But not knowing what’s happening bums me out, even though how this person feels is absolutely none of my business really.

I don’t expect everyone to feel like everything is fantastic all the time. But while I’m going through a point in my life where things are pretty good, I want to bring as many people as possible into my space while I can, because I know how I feel today won’t last forever. And I know how important it is to celebrate the good times while they’re still good.

So what brings me down isn’t nearly as important as what brings others down these days. But I’ll say it again: When people hurt, I hurt too. If you’ve got something that’s really getting you down, I’ll try to help you if I can. Know that on your most difficult days, I support you… no exceptions.
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Diabetes Blog Week | Tagged , , , , | Comments (5)