Category Archives: DSMA Blog Carnival

November DSMA Blog Carnival. A Review.

November 30, 2012 – 8:53 am

Just getting this in under the wire… This month’s DSMA Blog Carnival talked about Diabetes Awareness Month and World Diabetes Day, and asked the question:

What is the one thing (advocacy, grassroots) you will do different this year? How will you accomplish your task?

I saw this question after I had written the post below on November 2nd, so I’m going to show it again here and give my responses in red. Here we go…

Well, T1D Day has passed, and unfortunately, I can’t say that I have a lot to show for it. Sometimes these milestone days pass before I can make any kind of serious impact.

The good news is that it’s just the beginning of Diabetes Awareness Month. That means there are a lot of things I can still do to increase awareness and help champion our cause. So what am I doing? How do you advocate for something you feel strongly about?

First, I hate the phrase “lead by example”. Only because whenever that’s used, it seems like someone is saying that leading by example is enough. Well, it is for some. Just not me, not right now. So I want to start to lead by example. That means managing the BGs well, staying as healthy as I can, and not judging others based on their success or failure of the same. This has been an uncharacteristically difficult month in terms of keeping the BG within range. Feels like a fail, but I’ve kept after it and I’m doing better now, so it’s not a total fail.

I’m also trying to keep people informed, as much as I can. There are several D-Awareness Month initiatives out there, and I’ll be letting readers of this forum know about them as much as I can. I’ve posted and tweeted about the Big Blue Test and World Diabetes Day and other things, so I can check that off of the list.

On top of that? I got my Blue Circle merchandise from the IDF/World Diabetes Day merchandise page, and I’ll be handing out blue circle pins and bracelets to practically everyone I know this month. Almost all so far are completely unaware of Diabetes Awareness Month, World Diabetes Day, or the Blue Circle. So they get a quick info session on top of the swag. I’ve already had one person ask me about the blue circle pin I’m wearing, and that’s a good thing too. This has actually worked out pretty well. People have actually asked me about both the blue bracelet and the Blue Circle pin, and I’ve been able to take my message to people that I otherwise would not have talked to about diabetes at all. Win.

Stealing an idea from someone else in the DSMA Twitter chat this past week, I’ve started to inconspicuously place D-related reading material around the workplace. This kind of thing is generally frowned upon where I work, so I have to be careful with this strategy to avoid running afowl of the people in charge. This whole idea sounds like it has an element of danger to it, which must be why I find it so appealing. Thanks to Bea at Cranky Pancreas for this idea. Don’t know if it’s helped, but people who have no connection at all with this disease are being reminded that diabetes is a real thing and it exists. Win.

Finally, you might have noticed that I’ve updated this site, at least for November. I kinda like the blue, even though red is my favorite color. I also added the photo, showing my blue circle pin and bracelet, which I’m going to try to wear all month long. I’ve worn the pin almost every day, and the bracelet has been on my wrist the entire month. And as much as I like the color red, I’m probably going to keep the blue banner at the top for a while.

Wow, when I look back and read all of that, I realize it’s probably not that much in the way of increasing awareness. But it’s a heck of a lot more than I was doing last year, which was nothing. November has just begun, and I’m still looking for more impact. Small steps have helped me do more this year, and I feel more connected with my fellow People With Diabetes than ever before. Hope your Diabetes Awareness Month has been great.

Is there anything special that you’re doing this month? If so, feel free to let me know. I’d love for everyone to hear about it.

This post is my November entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival. If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2012/november-dsma-blog-carnival-2
 
 
 

By StephenS | Tagged , , , | Comments (4)

October DSMA Blog Carnival. What can diabetes educators/HCP learn from the DOC?

October 19, 2012 – 10:21 am

This month’s DSMA Blog Carnival topic asks the question:

What can diabetes educators/HCP learn from the DOC?

To begin with, they could learn that our lives are more than “How are your sugars today?” and “Have you been exercising?” and “Have you been doing okay with your diet?”. We lead real lives just like everyone else, and the DOC is a prime example of a group of people telling their real-life stories, with diabetes along for the ride.

Reading those stories can give healthcare professionals a reminder of what it’s like to live with a chronic illness every minute of every day. Let’s face it: diabetes educators, endocrinologists, nurses, phlebotomists, and office staff see so many people throughout each day and each career that it becomes easy to tune out everything that isn’t an A1c, or blood pressure, eye/foot exam, or any other clinical element. Getting a look at someone’s life via a blog or podcast can help them reintroduce the human element into their patient’s numbers.

Also, from this patient’s experience, I know that healthcare professionals can find out about the latest medical gadgetry from PWDs online. About six months ago, I asked my endo about a couple of new things that had recently hit the market. She hadn’t heard of them yet (this is totally understandable—she has many patients, not all of whom have diabetes), so I explained to her what I had read via a couple of DOC sites. A week later, she sent me an e-mail telling me she had read up on what I’d asked about and spoken with a couple of the local sales reps about the products. She also wanted to share my blog with other patients and with another HCP she works with. This wouldn’t have happened without the information being out there, and without my endo and I engaging in both online and offline dialogue.

The DOC isn’t there to get me prescriptions the doctor won’t prescribe, or to turn me on to voodoo cures (air quotes optional). But I do count on the DOC for:

Validation. I will always remember the first time I read about another PWD’s hypo experience, and the feeling I got when I realized I’m not alone on this D planet. Changed my life.

Empowerment. Stories from people just like us helps us decide that yes… we can take on that nasty low and come back strong from it. Yes… we can figure out that meal bolus, factoring in insulin on board + BG + carb count + exercise. Yes… we can have a job, a family, a life. Yes… we can do this.

Support. Just the glasses story from this past July is all I need to mention here. If you haven’t looked at this, click and find out. Enough said.

Guidance. We all have those moments when we’re not sure about the next step. Getting real-time feedback via Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc. from those in the know (#makessenseifyouhavediabetes) is incredibly valuable, especially during non-office hours.

Most of all, I want my healthcare professionals to know (read: understand) that the DOC is part of my overall care team. The Diabetes Online Community is not a replacement for my healthcare professionals. But the DOC is just as important.

This post is my October entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival. If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2012/october-dsma-blog-carnival-2/
 
 
 

By StephenS | Tagged , , , , | Comments (6)

September DSMA Blog Carnival. A lot of D-Baggage.

September 14, 2012 – 1:55 pm

“Hello, my name is Stephen, and when I travel, I’m a Diabetes Gear Hoarder”.

I’m off for the Tour de Talbot, Saturday, September 15 in Easton, Maryland. Proceeds from the ride benefit the Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy and JDRF. I hope to finish the Metric Century ride, which is 65 miles.

I’ll only be gone for 24 hours, but look at all of the stuff I have to take with me:

Here’s what’s in that photo:
– My pump

– My Meter

– A very neat, very old thing that I carry my insulin in when I travel (I posted about it here)

– A re-purposed infusion set box, containing:
2 infusion sets
2 reservoirs
2 IV Prep wipes
1 Novolog pen
1 Lantus pen
3 Pen needles (no, I don’t know why I packed only three)

Of course, that’s not all. In the meter case is lancets and strips. And in my pocket are four of my favorite candies to fight off lows. Also, I’m taking along an entire bag of them in case I need more.

I know that almost all of this is for that “just in case” scenario, but we know that things will happen (and all too often, they do).

So we prepare… we plan… we pack… and we overcome any issues that arise.

“I’m Stephen, and when I travel, I’m a Diabetes Gear Hoarder”.

This post is my September entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival. If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2012/september-dsma-blog-carnival-2/

By StephenS | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

August DSMA Blog Carnival. My pancreas bombs the interview.

August 23, 2012 – 7:40 am

This month’s DSMA Blog Carnival topic is funny, but simple to answer:

Your pancreas is in a job interview and totally bombed the question about ______.

This was from the weekly DSMA chat (Wednesdays at 9:00 EDT in the USA) a few weeks back. Back then, I said that my pancreas would bomb the question about working nights and weekends. Or ever.

But really, what question wouldn’t my pancreas bomb if it were asked?

What are your strengths?
– Well, I’m really good at not providing enough insulin for a human to live on. I know how to take up space for no useful purpose. Yeah, I’m very strong in that area.

What are your weaknesses?
– See question number one.

Do you work well with others?
– As long as they don’t need me to do anything, yes! I don’t actually work, really, so if working at not working is what my teammates need, I’m on it.

Tell me about a time when you overcame a challenge.
– Well, it was very challenging those first 28 years of Stephen’s life. I was working all the time! He actually expected me to keep making insulin forever. Geez….

Tell me about a time when you weren’t up to the challenge.
– Well, for me, the challenge has been to keep from having to do too much. So for the last 21 years, I have been up to the challenge. Or not. Depending on how you look at it.

What kind of schedule works best for you?
– Hey, really, don’t try to back me into a corner, man. I’m on my own time. My schedule, and how and when everything works, is a complete mystery. I like it that way.

Okay, Mr. Pancreas… don’t call us, we’ll call you. Better luck on the next interview.

This post is my August entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival. If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2012/august-dsma-blog-carnival-2/
 
 
 

By StephenS | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

July DSMA Blog Carnival. The DOC.

July 23, 2012 – 8:02 pm

Cherise at Diabetes Social Media Advocacy was kind enough to let me guest post for the July DSMA Blog Carnival. This, and a lot of other super posts are out there at the link at the bottom of this post. Cherise, sorry I couldn’t get the timing right. But thanks for the kind words and the opportunity to participate!

July’s DSMA Blog Carnival touches on a question from the June 13th DSMA Twitter Chat, talking about the Diabetes Online Community, and asking us to fill in the blanks:

The diabetes community has taught me how to _______ and _______.

I remember saying then that the Diabetes Community has taught me how to tell my story and that the future counts more than the past.

This photo is a small, but good, example of the kind of impact that the DOC has made on me.

I’m going to tell you a secret: I’m a pretty smart guy, but sometimes, I miss the most obvious things. For years… for decades, in fact, I kept my glucose meter at home. With few exceptions, it stayed in the kitchen all the time. I couldn’t take that thing out in public, could I? Actually, it just didn’t occur to me to check my BGs in the truck, at work, on a day trip somewhere. I never saw anyone else doing it, so I didn’t either. Stupid, right?

I have to admit: I just didn’t think about doing something that comes so naturally to almost all of you reading this.

Enter the DOC. Now I’m reading about glucose checks on the beach, in school, at work, at the mall, in a restaurant, in a restaurant at the mall… you get the idea. I was like: What? You can do that? Get outta here! My eyes were opened.

So in the past year (almost) since I’ve discovered this cozy community along the Information Superhighway, here are some of the places I’ve conducted my own personal blood glucose screenings:

– My truck (pictured)
– On the subway (not the restaurant)
– At the grocery store
– On the bus to New York
– On the bus from New York
– On the beach at Ocean City
– At the gym
– On my 100 mile bike ride (no, I can’t check while riding– yet)
– At the airport
– At the Washington Monument (in Baltimore– look it up)
– At the Washington Monument (actually in Washington, DC)
– In a restaurant (not at the mall)

Hey, I realize this sounds silly. But honestly, there are so many meaningful things I’ve learned from D-Veterans and D-Rookies, D-Wives and D-Husbands, D-Moms and D-Dads. Product reviews, tips and tricks, even relationship advice (don’t tell the Spouse). I often think about people who were like me, living this life alone, lacking information and support, with no sense of how full their lives can be.

Mostly, I’ve learned how to tell my story. Okay, I’m learning to tell my story. Honestly and without pulling punches, without shame. And thanks to the Diabetes Online Community, I feel like there’s a lot more story to tell. The best is yet to come. Rock on, DOC. Keep the information coming.

This post is my July entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival. If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2012/july-dsma-blog-carnival-2/
 
 
 

By StephenS | Tagged , , | Comments (2)