Tag Archives: D-bloggers

And Diabetes Blog Week Begins. Today: Message Monday.

May 16, 2016 – 9:08 am

2016DBlogWeekBanner
Welcome to Diabetes Blog Week! Diabetes Blog Week is just like it sounds… diabetes bloggers all blogging on daily topics for an entire week. Or, in this year’s case, for five days. To find out all about Diabetes Blog Week and to sign up,
CLICK HERE.

As always, thank you to Karen Graffeo, creator and curator of Diabetes Blog Week. She’s awesome.

Welcome to Diabetes Blog Week 2016. I’m glad you could join us. We begin this year with: Message Monday.
 
 
Let’s kick off the week by talking about why we are here, in the diabetes blog space. What is the most important diabetes awareness message to you? Why is that message important for you, and what are you trying to accomplish by sharing it on your blog? (Thank you, Heather Gabel, for this topic suggestion)
 
 
When I think of diabetes awareness, I’m actually thinking about making people aware of diabetes. Our condition is easy to not notice when people are not confronted with it. So it’s important for me to make sure people are aware of the fact that yes, it’s likely they know someone living with diabetes. In fact, diabetes is probably much closer to them than they might think.

But it’s more than that. Diabetes awareness also means giving people a window to my life with diabetes. And some insight into what other People With Diabetes go through every day. That’s important, because the more people know, the more they’re going to care about people living with diabetes. I want them to care.

It’s also making people aware of the things that really matter to People With Diabetes. Things like access to the proper care, drugs, devices, and support that will help them live a happy life for many years into the future. And it means making them aware that even if diabetes isn’t a part of their lives, chronic illness, to borrow a quote out of the republican playbook, is under attack in America. The more they know about that, the more they’re going to care too.

Finally, I want them to know that I can be a success with diabetes in my life. It’s not always easy. In fact, it’s never easy. But I can live the same kind of life, dreaming many of the same dreams that people not living with diabetes dream, while actually making some of those dreams come true. I want people to be aware that I’m not an anomoly… I’m just like they are, only I have diabetes as a permanent part of my life.

When I started this blog, I wanted to tell my story. I wanted to leave something behind that relatives and future relatives could read and learn from. And I wanted to have fun doing it.

I don’t know when my message morphed from that to the one described above it. But it happened. And just like everything else in my life, my message has changed over the years. Hopefully, whatever it is, my message will resonate and be helpful long after my blogging days are done.
 

By StephenS | Posted in Diabetes Blog Week | Also tagged , , | Comments (10)

8 Wishes.

October 1, 2014 – 9:28 am

On Monday, I talked a little about the first nine months of the year, and how it has gone for me, and what I hope to accomplish before the new year arrives once again (not counting the Jewish New Year, which just recently began— L’Shanah Tovah to you).

Today I’d just like to give my thoughts on the rest of the Diabetes Community, and my hopes for all of you during October, November, and December:

– I wish for safe deliveries for the expecting D-blogger moms out there who have worked amazingly hard to get where they are, and are bravely telling their stories… I think there are four who are all expecting very soon: Jen, Elizabeth, Jessi, and Kelley.

– I wish for clear answers for people who are searching for them, whether they’re worried about something physical, mental, diabetes- or non-diabetes related, monetary, or spiritual.

– I wish for great weather and fantastic rides throughout the fall to all of my favorite D-blogger bike riders, including but not limited to: Jeff, Victoria, Moira, and now Alecia.

– I wish for continued success in clinical trials while teams fine-tune their artificial/bionic pancreas systems, bringing us closer to the hips (and tummies, and backs, and, you get it) of those who so desperately need it. Like, now.

– Speaking of continued success, I wish for the continued success of efforts like CGM In The Cloud, bringing remote CGM monitoring to the masses for the first time. Thousands of new users, in just a few months.

– For D-students, I wish an awesome school year filled with learning, music, art, and sports. Plus, a friend to share them all with, who will support and encourage them no matter what.

– I wish for people who are unhappy with the Diabetes Online Community to shake off their disappointment and recognize that every Person With Diabetes, and those deeply involved with People With Diabetes, popular or not, are just as deserving as they are. There are no degrees of deserving, and if I don’t get invited to something, it doesn’t mean that the people who are there are to blame. I understand your disappointment… I do. I also recognize that your voice matters. Don’t stop shouting. If you’re still an active member of the DOC, don’t stop shouting. Just not at each other, m’kay? We’ve got plenty of other dragons to slay.

– Most of all, I wish for your happiness through the rest of the year. I wish for lots of special experiences filled with pumpkins, turkey, Christmas trees and dreidels, all filled with laughter and joy and not a hint of diabetes creep.
Most of all, please remember that I support you… no conditions.
 
 
What are your wishes for the rest of the year?
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Additional Inspiration | Also tagged , | Comments (3)
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