Category Archives: Support

Instant pick-me-ups. Twice.

December 13, 2013 – 8:48 am

I’m going to be honest… I had a bad day yesterday. Well, not the whole day. But part of it really sucked. I don’t want to go into why, because there’s a very selfish reason for it and it’s not worth talking about.

But I was feeling bad, and I checked on this site for the first time in almost 24 hours, and I saw the nicest comment… the kind that really makes you feel good no matter what else is happening in your life. I mean, my attitude changed almost immediately.

Later, I talked to my older sister on the phone. Did I mention that I’m one of six children? We’re just like the Bradys– three boys, three girls, without the craziness and rehab and made-for-TV movies. I’m number 3 in the line. Anyway, my siblings and I don’t talk all the time, but that’s not because we don’t like each other. We’re all just too busy, or we forget to call, etc.

So my sister wanted to get my e-mail to send me some information I was looking for. I gave her my regular home e-mail address, but I told her that if she ever lost it, she could always reach me at the blog e-mail address. Then she said this:

“Yeah, the blog. Love the blog. And I think what you’re doing with the d-athletes and the medals is great”.

She also mentioned that she has a friend at work with diabetes, and she told this person about the blog, and they both read it now. No one has ever relayed a story like that to me before. It was another instant pick-me-up that I really needed.

As a result, I’ve almost forgotten about my disappointment from yesterday. Almost. Instead, I’ve remembered how important it is to tell my story, and help where I can, and make it all about support and encouragement and what we can do, and not about me and how crummy my day was. I hope you can remember that too during the holidays, and I hope you can remind me if I don’t remember.

Enjoy your weekend. And trust me… your voice, your participation is important. Someone needs to hear what you have to say. And even though I’m terrified of creating some stupid cycle of dependency, I have to admit that sometimes, I need to hear what you have to say too.
 
 
 

By StephenS | Tagged , | Comments (1)

Happy December.

December 4, 2013 – 7:42 am

Wow, I can’t believe it… it’s been almost a week since I published anything. Don’t read anything into that other than the fact that work has been occupying nearly all of my time, and I just haven’t had any extra moments to write.

But while I have a moment, let me just ask you to remember what’s really great about the holiday season that’s just begun.

What’s really fantastic about this time of year is the giving. And the giving takes all forms. From blog giveaways here and here, to giving and preserving life by donating to Insulin for Life, which has a big push right now to raise funds to aid typhoon victims in the Philippines.

There’s also a DiaTribe petition (go there—read & sign NOW), to urge the ridiculous people in Oregon’s Health Evidence Review Commission (this is a thing?) to stop the idea of restricting test strips for Type 2s to one, or even zero, per week to the patients enrolled in the Medicaid-funded Oregon Health Plan. Go there. Read it. Sign it. Now.

And strangely enough (or it makes perfect sense, depending on your point of view), right about now is also when a lot of people feel a little more down. Feeling a little less celebratory, and a little more like hunkering down through the holidays. For those people, I hope the rest of us can bring ourselves to reach out this December. Not to say, “Hey, you should be part of this great thing happening!”, as much as to say, “Hey, I feel for you, and I was there once, and I support you, no matter what… No Conditions”.

It is not a reach at all to say that sometimes, the best giving is when we give of ourselves. I know that from experience, and I know that from experience on both sides of that table. Empathy means a whole lot in our world. And giving empathy feels really great too.

Hope you’re enjoying your week… I’ll try to catch up to you with more very soon.
 
 
 

By StephenS | Also posted in Advocacy | Tagged , , | Comments (2)

Happy Thanksgiving 2013.

November 27, 2013 – 9:50 am

TY

It’s a tradition in our family that every year at this time (the Thanksgiving holiday here in the States), we pause and mention something meaningful in our lives that we are thankful for. We go around the table, and everyone, young or old, optimistic or pessimistic, offers a Thank You for something significant.

Today I offer a giant Thank You to the Diabetes Online Community.

If you knew me, really knew me, you’d know I’m a very jaded individual. I never expect things to be as good as advertised, because they never are. My experience tells me that.

I know the DOC is growing larger by the day, and that’s good. The more voices we can add to the discussion about living with this chronic condition, the better. I do not expect those voices to always sound the same, or be focused on the same thing. I realize that even in the pursuit of positive things we can all agree on, sometimes personalities will clash and feelings will get hurt. Since the community is growing larger, it seems more likely that we’ll encounter an opposite viewpoint from time to time, or even an outright troll now and then. After all, one percent of 100 is 1. One percent of 10,000 is 100.

But I also know what my life was like before I discovered this thing, whatever it is. I know how I felt. I know how alone I felt. Like the saying goes, loneliness is everything it’s cracked up to be. What’s weird from my viewpoint is: I’m usually okay with doing things on my own; but doing them with understanding and support and encouragement from others in the same boat? It’s a lot easier, and it’s worth more to me than I’m capable of describing right now.

I could list hundreds of individuals and organizations that have made such a difference for me over the last two plus years. I would, if I had another couple of weeks to list them all. The list is that long. On the other hand, I think I could list maybe… maybe… two who I am less than enthusiastic about. But even those two are important to me, because in the end, they want what I want too. And in nearly every critical comment, I see at least one small thing I need to examine with a fresh eye, consider with a different viewpoint.

So on this Thanksgiving 2013, to the Diabetes Online Community, let me say:

Thank You—Gracias—Merci—Arigato—Danke—Toda—Mahalo


The world, in fact, is big enough for all of us. Thank you, DOC, for making it big enough for me.
 
 
 

By StephenS | Also posted in Social Media | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)

People with Diabetes need a seat at the table– Sign this petition NOW.

September 2, 2013 – 9:54 am

Your help is needed right now– this minute. Take five seconds to go to Change.org and sign a petition urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to hold a patient meeting on Diabetes.
 
 
The backstory, from DiaTribe, who is sponsoring the petition:

“The Food and Drug Administration has begun to hold a series of patient meetings to gain a better understanding of specific diseases. Over the next five years, the agency plans to conduct at least 20 such meetings on conditions ranging from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to Narcolepsy to Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

But not diabetes.

That is unacceptable.

Four “slots” remain open, and we want the FDA to add diabetes to its meeting docket for 2013.”
 
 
It is well known that 26 million Americans are living with diabetes. Nearly 80 million more in my country are at risk of developing diabetes. Despite years, even decades, of advances in care, therapy, drugs, and technology, more people are affected by this disease than ever before.

Not only that… Consider the fact that the federal government was on the hook for over 60 percent of the cost of diabetes last year. In case you’re wondering, the government’s tab amounted to nearly 152 billion dollars. By my definition, that amounts to an epidemic and a fiscal crisis. At the very least, it is proof positive that People With Diabetes need and deserve more attention. Over 3,000 people so far agree with me. Will you be next?

Be one of 5,000 or more to sign the petition. Help People With Diabetes send a clear message to the FDA.

We matter.

We will not be ignored.

Go now, and sign the petition:
http://www.change.org/petitions/us-food-and-drug-administration-sponsor-a-patient-meeting-on-diabetes?q=petition
 
 
 

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Find Mari Ruddy.

June 12, 2013 – 4:53 pm

Can’t believe I just wrote that. Mari Ruddy, athlete and T1D, one of the driving forces behind Red Riders at the ADA’s Tour de Cure events, is missing.

From the website FindMariRuddy.com:

Mari was last seen at her apartment in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood of Saint Paul, MN around 1 p.m. on 6/11/13. Mari has type-1 diabetes and wears an insulin pump. Her phone and other belongings were found in her home. She left in her car, a dark green late 90′s early 00′s modle Honda Civic with a bike rack on top and a red Namaste bumper sticker.

Mari’s family fear that she may try to harm herself and appreciate any help locals can provide in search efforts. She may have gone to a place with spiritual significance, beauty or seclusion. Please contact Mollee at 952-406-0081 to volunteer. You can also join the search effort by connecting with this Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/172257126284014/?notif_t=group_r2j

If you have any information please contact local police first, then email us at info@findmariruddy.com.
 
 
Sending good thoughts and prayers to the upper Midwest tonight…
 
 
 

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