Monthly Archives: July 2014

Every picture tells a story.

July 21, 2014 – 9:37 am

 
 
#showmeyourpump
 
 
The Great Spousal Unit was away on Saturday, so I basically did what I usually do when she’s away on a Saturday: I got up early, had a couple of strong cups of coffee with breakfast, visited my favorite farm truck, came home, cleaned the house within an inch of its life, started the laundry, had lunch, Oh… she came home for about an hour and a half… and yes, absence DOES make the heart grow fonder… where was I… yes… I finished up, watered the plants and the gardens, picked up the dry cleaning, stopped in to say hello to my friends at my favorite local place (you know what I mean if you know what the number #147 means), and then I went home to make dinner.

The point is, the unsaid point of all this up to then, for me anyway, was this: I had seen so much bad news on the television this past week that I was happy to disconnect, turn it all off, and just concentrate on me and my happiness for a while. Simply put: The bad news from Ukraine, Gaza, and the anti-immigration factions in America (I think they’ve forgotten that they have descended from immigrants themselves) had me feeling so sad that I didn’t want to hear anything from anyone for a while.

Then I prepared dinner (and it was good– a recipe is in the near future here) and sat down to eat it. I pulled out my iPad, dialed up the Pandora (B.B. King channel), and proceeded to chow down. Some of my stress had gone away, but by no means had all of it dissipated.

Since the iPad was nearby, I started to check out my Twitter feed.

That’s when it happened.

I started to read post after post with the hashtag #showmeyourpump. Of course, this all started with Miss Idaho, who bravely (and why the hell NOT?) wears her insulin pump for the world to see, started to get some non-D world props on NPR and other outlets. I saw photos of people heading out for a run, people on the beach, having dinner, and living perfectly normal lives that just happen to include an external pancreas.
 
 
My reaction started with “Oh, that’s cool”, to “I love that… wouldn’t it be cool if that started trending?”, to something like this:

showmeyourpump

Once again, without even knowing it, the Diabetes Community pulled me up from a very sad, very unhappy place to a place where I was happy and optimistic, even proud that I wear my pancreas outside of my gut. And even though this has been trending for a few days now, even though I’m late to the party again, I can only say:
 
 
Thank you.

You will never know the extent to which you lifted my spirits.

I will support you through thick and thin, forever.
 
 
Thank you.
 
 

On my way to work this morning

On my way to work this morning


#shomeyourpump
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Additional Inspiration | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (1)

Like these links: Discover, Share, and Donate.

July 18, 2014 – 10:03 am

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve done one of these posts, so let’s check back in and see what’s happening in the Diabetes Community:
 
 
First of all… If you haven’t looked in on the series of Type 1/Type 2 Conversations (or, depending on your perspective, Type 2/Type 1 Conversations) between Laddie Lindahl and Kate Cornell, you’re missing out. There are a lot of things that all People With Diabetes have in common, and we can certainly learn a LOT from each other. So why don’t we? This is a great place to start:

Talking About Weight

Diabetes in the Great Outdoors
 
 
You might have noticed that the International Diabetes Foundation has a new app available that will let you put the universal Blue Circle (I can say it’s universal now, yes?) right on your photo. Sarah Kaye at Sugabetic has a great write-up on it here.
 
 
There is currently some awesome fundraising for JDRF going on, and even though this may seem like overkill, I want to share everything I know about right now. Here are places for you to help support each of your favorite riders, walkers, climbers, and businesses, all raising money for Type 1 research:
 
 
First of all… Did you know that Walgreens is JDRF’s largest corporate partner? Part of the reason for that is the fundraising they’re doing during their annual pin pad campaign this month. Now through the end of the month, shoppers are encouraged to make a donation to JDRF. And they’ll also donate $1 for every registration to their Balance Rewards for healthy choices program through the end of the month. So tell everyone you know, Type One or not. Walgreens has more details here.
 
 
You’ve probably already read about Haley Maurice and her brother (Diabetes Mine wrote about them), who took off down the John Muir trail on July 16th, on a three week hike with an eventual goal to climb the tallest peak in the continental U.S., Mt. Whitney. All to raise money for JDRF. Haley is a 15 year old Type 1 with, you guessed it, an inspiring story to tell. You can read about it all and donate too by starting at summitdiabetes.com.
 
 
Alecia’s Stem Cells are at it again. Alecia writes over at Surface Fine, and she leads a huge walk team in the New York City JDRF walk every year. This year will be no different. She’s always looking for more walkers, and donations never hurt either. Support Alecia’s Stem Cells right here.
 
 
And how about those bikers? I am both jealous of and humbled by people who can train hard enough to cover 100 miles in a day and raise the $2,000 or more that it takes to participate in the JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes. I think they deserve all the support they can get. Click on the links for more, and support these super riders:

Moira McCarthy Stanford is riding in the Death Valley and LaCrosse rides

Victoria Cumbow is riding in the Lake Tahoe and Nashville rides

Jeff Mather is riding in the Lake Tahoe ride
 
 
Okay, that’s a fairly exhaustive list for a Friday. But there’s always room for more! Have you read something recently that moves you? Inspires you? Makes you laugh out loud? Please leave a link to it below. Have a great weekend!
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Like these links | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (4)

Why choose January?

July 16, 2014 – 9:20 am

You know… People always want to start a big diet or dinner-table-lifestyle-change on January 1st. Or the second, if you want to give yourself an extra day. But I think that in America, this may the best time of year to change eating habits. Know why?

DSC01632

That’s right… This is the time of year when the freshest, most flavorful, most good-for-you offerings are available. How can I not eat well?

This is prime bing cherry, blackberry, and zucchini season, to begin with. And even though my “local” corn isn’t really local for another month, I know that my local farm truck is getting it from a lot closer than where it was coming from two months ago. Tomatoes grown in hothouses are ripe and full of nutrients (and huge this year). The ones grown outside will be ready very soon. Even my cherry tomatoes are ripening now, as are my jalopenos and poblanos. My green beans are going crazy, and I’ve even dug a few potatoes out of the ground. Cantaloupes and watermelons become a fixture at breakfast tables for a couple of months. So I’ve already changed my diet a lot since June, without really trying hard. If I can keep it up, I’ll be thankful for what I started later in the year instead of in January. I know my BG is already thankful.

DSC01046

I’m definitely ready to dial down the carbs, pump up the nutrition, and even explore some alternative ingredients (ramps, anyone?). Now is the time. For me, it’s much easier to start eating right when it’s easier to eat right.

Summer only lasts so long. I’m going to enjoy it while I can. Find a local farm, farmer’s market, or farm truck in your area. If you do, I’ll assure you of two things: It will be hard to leave empty handed; and you’re going to like the taste of summer this year.
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Out Of the Box | Tagged , , | Comments (4)

How’s the training going?

July 14, 2014 – 9:31 am

I was so thrilled to read that Scott Johnson completed a half marathon recently. I don’t think I could ever handle a half marathon, so I have a special level of admiration for Scott’s achievement.

As he writes in his post on the subject, the half marathon goal came about during a conversation between Scott, Cherise Shockley, and myself on DSMA Live last November. In that conversation, each of us listed a few athletic goals for 2014. I think Scott may have completed all of his by now.

What did I promise to do this year?
 
 
As I recall, I set three athletic goals:

1. Complete an ADA Tour de Cure ride

2. Complete a 5K run (3.2 miles)

3. Compete in a sprint triathlon (sprint triathlons are typically about 1/4 to 1/2 mile swim, about 15 miles on the bike, and then a 5K run)
 
 
So… what kind of progress am I making on these goals?

I completed the Chesapeake Bay Tour de Cure in May, so there’s that. And I completed my local neighborhood 5K run yesterday. Just like last year, the Live-In Niece and I ran it together. In case you’re wondering, a half marathon is more than four times the distance of a 5K. Anyway, I am now about two thirds of the way there.

Now the triathlon… that’s the really tough nut to crack. I had planned (and trained) to do a sprint tri on Father’s Day, but my recent participation in a clinical trial scuttled that idea. The study dates fell right at the time I needed to train the hardest.

So now I’m desperately searching for a simple, relatively flat, local triathlon to compete in before year’s end. If I don’t find an event, I may have to do a “triathlon of one”, where I do my best in each event all on my own on a predetermined date. It’s not the same as actually participating in competition, but I think it would suffice in the absence of a viable alternative.

As I work my way toward whatever triathlon I can do, I’ll keep you up to date. In the meantime…

Are you working toward an important athletic goal? Have you met that milestone already? Is someone you know living with diabetes and turning in a heroic athletic effort?

If so, I urge you to write for your Champion Athlete With Diabetes medal. To find out how to get yours, click here or click on the photo of the medals on the upper left corner of this page.

Your special effort should be recognized and rewarded. Just like with me and Rachel yesterday, I want you to see the finish line, and cross over. I know you can do it!

DSC01648

Be safe, and train hard.
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Athletes With Diabetes | Tagged , , , , | Comments (2)

Here they are: June 2014 Best of the ‘Betes Blogs!

July 11, 2014 – 9:16 am

I’m thrilled and honored to be bringing you the June Best ‘Betes Blogs. Due to Sara’s travel itinerary and my hyping MasterLab this week, it’s taken a while to go through all of the amazing writing around the DOC last month. Sorry about that.

Now, without further ado, let me reach into my specially-constructed stainless steel vault and reveal this month’s best:
 
 
Best Use of Humor:
“You know what it means to have “bloused” before a meal, and you’ve likely done it yourself.”
 
 
Best Vlog:
“If you develop diabetes-related complications, it’s not a mark of failure.”
 
 
Best Use of Photography
I’m going to expand this category to include Best Infographic:
Has sent the Diabetes Australia Language Position Statement to approximately 345,000 journalists and health professionals
 
 
Best Advocacy
“…as far as I’m concerned, the diabetes online community made an excellent first impression.”
 
 
Best Reference to a D-Celebrity
““Me too!!!” I said with more enthusiasm than I’ve ever had in verifying that I have a broken pancreas.”
 
 
Best Story of a D-Meetup
“Here’s to cross-cultural d-adventures!”
 
 
Best non-D Related Post
“Once, when I was young I was sitting on the couch with my mom, leaning very close to her, when I suddenly burst out laughing. She was perplexed. Nothing funny had happened. When she asked, it turned out that I had been close enough that I had seen her blink. It was the first time in my life I’d seen someone blink, and the fluttering eyelid seemed hilarious to me.”
 
 
Best Post by a Type 1 (Soooo many great T1D posts this month!)
“Have been awake for almost 22 hours straight. Exhausted. It all comes crashing down. 35 years and I am scared out of my mind of diabetes.”
 
 
Best Post by a Type 2
“Maybe someday we can laugh at the idea that there used to be a thing called diabetes. Then we can lighten up.”
 
 
Best Post by a Type Awesome
The Five Stages to an unplanned set change
 
 
Best Story of a D-Mistake
“The bottle that only an hour earlier I was cursing, was now my salvation.”
 
 
Best Motivational Post
“that’s why people with diabetes are work work workin’ to contribute to the diabetes online community.”
 
 
Best Diabetes Art
“I Have always found that the most incredible things happen right in our own back yard.”
 
 
Best Comment
“Suesflash!” (from Kelly at Diabetesaliciousness)
 
 
Here is the text to use to get your button:

Replace all [ ] with > <:
[div align=”center”][a href=”http://www.bestofthebetesblogs.com&#8221; target=”_blank”][img src=”http://momentsofwonderful.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/bbblogo-final-e1309479808835.png”%5D%5B/a%5D%5B/div%5D

It will look like this:

 
 
While I’m at it, let me also pass along congratulations to 2 special bloggers who were nominated and had memorable headlines of their own this month:
Joanne
Meredith
 
 
Thank you to all those who nominated posts this month and congratulations to those who were nominated!

Katy

Alexis

Kelly

Laddie

Heather

Molly

Scully

Dayle

Mike

Briley

Sara
 
 
There were so many fantastic blog posts to read this month. Hosting was a lot more difficult than I could have imagined. Remember: If you read something that moves you, leave a comment supporting the writer. And don’t forget to nominate it for Best of the ‘Betes Blogs!

You can nominate a post in three ways:

1. Send an e-mail to bestbetesblogs[at]gmail[dot]com. Be sure to include a link to the post you’re nominating.

2. Via Twitter, send a Direct Message to @bestbetesblogs. Be sure to include a link to the post you’re nominating.

3. Go old school and complete the online form located here. Be sure to include a link to the post you’re nominating.
 
 
Sara, I hope I got everything right this time.

Thanks for reading… enjoy your weekend!
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Best of the 'Betes | Tagged , , , | Comments (8)
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