Tag Archives: Karen Graffeo

#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.)

DSC01530

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 | Also 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 | Also 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 | Also tagged , , , | Comments (5)

#DBlogWeek is back! What fires you up?

May 12, 2014 – 10:31 am

DBlogWeek

Yay! Diabetes Blog Week is back!

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:

Let’s kick off Diabetes Blog Week by talking about the diabetes causes and issues that really get us fired up. Are you passionate about 504 plans and school safety? Do diabetes misconceptions irk you? Do you fight for CGM coverage for Medicare patients, SDP funding, or test strip accuracy? Do you work hard at creating diabetes connections and bringing support? Whether or not you “formally” advocate for any cause, share the issues that are important to you. (Thanks go out to Kim of Texting my Pancreas for inspiring this topic.)

Changing the world, eh? No pressure there.

I don’t know if what I’m passionate about right now is changing the world. But I do know of two things that I hope will be of use to others in the future.

You can find out the first by clicking on the button with the medals in the upper right portion of this page. Since November, we’ve sent out 11 medals to Athletes With Diabetes who do their best to fight through the scary things that come with taking along your diabetes to gym classes, bike rides, or half marathons. Our eleven winners (that’s right… we’re up to 11!) have all set an example of courage and determination that others will always look up to. So I didn’t really do much there except shine a light on something great that was already happening.

But I get such a huge kick out of shining that light, and introducing everyone to amazing people that maybe they haven’t met before. And a few that they probably have. In any case, it’s exciting to give someone a medal like that. I remember finishing my first triathlon three years ago, and the feeling I got when I crossed the finish line and received my medal. I wanted brave D-Athletes to feel the same thing.

The second thing I’m really fired up about right now is happening… right now.

Last week, I started participation in another clinical trial. This will make three in the past year, and it’s something I take very seriously. This study will be my first artificial pancreas trial. I’ll talk about it more as the study progresses. But I want to help you understand why participating in clinical trials is so very important.

All of us want to see new ideas tried out. New therapies, new drugs, new understandings of how our bodies-with-failed-pancreases work. Often, the only way we’re going to get those ideas tried out is during clinical trials. And clinical trials need volunteers. So here I am.

Participating in a clinical trial isn’t necessarily easy. The ones I’ve taken part in aren’t hard, either. What they do require is a lot of attention to detail. If you’re supposed to do something at a certain time in a certain way during the trial, you have to do that. Otherwise, you risk not meeting the parameters of what is being studied. Researchers might not get the proper data they need to move forward with their idea.

But trust me: The feeling of participating in a clinical trial is awesome. To know I’ve helped move the needle, even a little bit, for people living with diabetes is something that will stay with me forever. I’ll bet you’d feel the same way.

To look for clinical trials involving diabetes, you can always go to clinicaltrials.gov and put Diabetes in the search box. If you’re in the UK, go to the UKCTG—the UK Clinical Trials Gateway. Also, JDRF sponsors its Clinical Trial Connection, that helps connect potential participants with diabetes clinical trials.

And don’t miss day two of #DBlogWeek coming up tomorrow!
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Diabetes Blog Week | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (8)