The Corner Booth

We all know how important our insulin pumps and Continuous Glucose Monitors can be in our D-Lives. So just think of what happens when there's an obstacle preventing one or both of those from functioning properly and as effectely as could be. An obstacle such as: static electricity. Now that's annoying, even more than when a pant leg is all statically stuck and clinging to your leg. That is a story my mom recently shared during the Thanksgiving holiday. Being a Type 1 diabetic herself since 1958, she'd been on injections during most of the decades until the Summer of 2001 a couple months after I'd started on pump treatment. She liked what she saw and made the move to Minimed, too. Through the years, she's transitioned to the Cozmo and Ping and back again and also now has the Dexcom CGM. But what often presents a problem is that pesky static electricity. Anywhere from once to four times a week and multiple times a day, her pump and CGM shut down briefly- just ...

As a kid of the 80s reaching that video game age in the early 90s, the Nintendo was truly an early love and came into my home to provide hours of entertainment. One of the games included with this system was Duck Hunt, which many know by the orange plastic handgun used to hunt down the passing birds that appear on the screen.  Targeting D-Advocacy at the Lame Duck Congress. Well, now I find myself turning to that Duck Hunt action once again as I set my D-Advocacy sights on the Lame Duck Congress. My weapon may not be an orange clicking video game gun or voice-activated scope headgear, but instead a cell phone and letter-writing campaign, as well as my online messages that appear here and other places throughout the Diabetes Community. Nearly two weeks ago, the JDRF issued a call to action for the Diabetes Community that urged us to contact our legislators in the U.S. Congress and ask that they support a very important piece of legislation. That legislation i...

Just a quick moment reflecting on a great Thanksgiving that brought many blessings of every sort. Hope yours was great, as well. I made it out for the early-morning shopping scene on Black Friday, and since we have family in town we're just enjoying that company. And the blood sugars are mostly cooperating, which is another blessing to be thankful for. So, hope all's well for my faithful readers and I'll look forward to re-connecting once the longer holiday weekend comes to an end!

My parents made the drive on Tuesday from the homestate of Michigan to our home in Indy, and they're here with us for Thanksgiving and through the weekend. Despite the likely chance we'll witness the Lions lose to the New England Patriots on Turkey Day and then see our Michigan Wolverines lose to those blasted Buckeyes from Ohio State, it shall be a time of joy. One where we can count our many blessings. So, in honor of this being D-Blessings Week as proposed and delivered by Mike Durbin over at MyDiabeticHeart , I offer this Turkey Day post recognizing just some of the things I am thankful for: Banting & Best + 1921: Need I say more? That moment in medical history gave me and so many others a chance to Live with diabetes, and not just be forced to die quickly and miserably because of diabetes. That is a blessing beyond measure. Suzi: My Loving, Wonderous, Invaluable, Type 3 Spouse: I'm blessed, and that's all there is to it. Family: P...

This post originally appeared here a year ago in November 2009, but the shortened holiday week and never-ending array of deadlines and to-do tasks have combined to steal my time and energy to do anything that requires massive brain power. So, here's a blast from the past that I hope you enjoy - whether it's the first read or not. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  The Riley Dog, now 5 years old.  Our eyes met in an instant, and a disasterous cycle of events was set into motion. The dog leaped from her spot on the green recliner chair where she'd be sitting. I'd just arrived home from work and was ready to go change into more comfortable non-work clothes. She was in pounce mode, her backend sticking up and her eyes fixed on me standing at the top of the stairs. "Riley!" I said happily, greeting my 4-year-old black lab. She responded by sprinting toward me, eager to offer a similiar welc...

First, it’s Thanksgiving week so I’m very much appreciative of the fact that 1.) I have health insurance. 2.) I have “decent” enough coverage that means I can basically get what I need to survive. 3.) I've got a job that allows me to at least try to pay for the supplies and prescriptions needed to survive this Life With Diabetes. But that’s about as far as my gratefulness goes on that point at the moment. Especially when said insurance company and pump supply supplier decide it’s a prudent business decision to fib on what they have and haven’t done and whose fault it is. The details: an issue with Medtronic Minimed over a recent pump supply order that has prompted this post. I ordered new supplies in late October, receiving them without issue at the start of November. I did this for a reason – to get them before the year-end deductible resets so that I’d be able to calculate what remains and what else I might be able to use before that amount returns to $0 and I must start over...

Many of us People With Diabetes have some important items that make our D-Lives manageable. 1. Sugar, in case of Lows. (I prefer Glucose Tablets over anything, but won’t gripe if I must turn to Skittles as a 2nd choice.) 2. Diet Coke, to get through the day. (The no-sugar but caffeinated beverage is a lifeline). But when we’re deprived of these two items, well it can be like…. Well, one hellish day endured recently on my part. Thankfully and quiet honestly by total surprise, I survived and have lived to tell the tale. You see, my ordeal began the night before. Leaving work at the normal leave-work time, I ventured downstairs by elevator from my second-floor office and arrived on the lower level to walk outside and make it the parking garage a block or so away. But something wasn’t right. I just felt “off.” You know what I mean. Quickly, I formed the opinion that it could very well be related to my blood sugar. So, I did a test and sure-enough saw a happy 51 smiling at me f...

You could feel the chill in the air. October was coming to a close and with it the month of Diabetes Awareness would begin. Marking this start of November, the American Diabetes Association and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation joined together to kickoff their advocacy efforts that would be incredibly visible for a month but carry on long past that time. You had a panel of speakers on a stage, medical and scientific and real People With Diabetes talking up this chronic condition and all the basics one might need to know about. Differences between Type 1 and Type 2 and the other varieties. What daily management looks like. Why insulin is life support, why a cure is needed to “Stop Diabetes,” and how people can do their part to push for that. Apparently, I was working this story because I had a reporter's notebook in hand and press credentials tacked on to my belt. A swarm of reporters were nearby, with pens and cameras, writing the stories that would reach the masses....

So, this past Sunday as World Diabetes Day. Many people participated. Much D-Advocacy was advocated. Good times were had. Discussion ensued, courtesy of the JDRF. And many in the global Diabetes Community tweeted, wrote, and photographed monuments and buildings going blue in recognition of this worldwide awareness event. Even Indianapolis. A City of Blue all on its own, without diabetes. You know the Roche crew created a human circle of blueness. Lilly colored its water fountain blue. And you've read about my own efforts to step outside the Diabetes Online Community bubble and bring some of that D-Advocacy to the general non-D aware public. So, it was with great joy that I learned Saturday ( yes, one day PRIOR to WDD ) from the mayor's office that the City of Indianapolis would be coloring blue the Soldiers & Sailors Monument on the traffic circle in downtown Indy. This 284-foot high monument is the tallest Civil War tribute in the country and stands tall in...

The little Blue Circle pin glistened in the sunlight, showing off my pride and support for World Diabetes Day from the above-the-heart spot on my blue dress shirt. With only two days before that Sunday arrived, I was displaying my D-colors and doing my part to advocate in whatever small way was possible during my daily routine. On the way into work that Friday morning, I took a quick right turn off the expressway leading into downtown Indianapolis. My office is located in the heart of the city, but my pitstop was focused on the nearby Eli Lilly Corporate Center to see if they were doing anything to mark the day and month. As soon as I entered the roundabout entrance, my face lit up with a smile. The water fountain outside the corporate center’s front doors was colored blue in honor of World Diabetes Day. Parking nearby and snapping some photos, I ventured inside to the front lobby information desk. Instantly, the lady at the front desk glanced at my shirt and saw ...

Today, the globe unites for World Diabetes Day . No need for any elaborate post title, because it is what it is. This is the fourth annual marking of this day by the International Diabetes Federation, and everyone is encouraged to participate in raising awareness about diabetes across the world. Everyone is excited to participate, even my D-Dog Riley who you can see is doing her part to all who may want to come to the door!  Riley advocates while sporting a WDD bandana crafted by my mom! In case you're wondering: No, the Shadow Cat has no interest in the day. Rather, she's probably planning to just hide under the bed and catch some Zzzzs. But I'm doing my part. As I'd previously written a few weeks ago , this is my D-Message in a Bottle that's being cast out into the virtual waters for all to see. This is my message . But more generally, I'd like to focus on one of the IFD goals for World Diabetes Day, what the organization hopes this day can establ...

Meetups are always an exciting, much-anticipated happening in the Diabetes Community. So when the chance arose for one of those here in the Indianapolis area, my ears perked up and I made plans to participate. This time, the D-Meetup comes on World Diabetes Day - this Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010. Via the JDRF Advocacy folk at the national level, which is hosting the first-ever Type 1 Talk. Dozens of these local meetup events are happening across the country that afternoon, and on top of the meet-and-greets and get-togethers the JDRF will be holding a live online Q&A discussion from 3 to 4 p.m. EST. Some of the topics touch on research, technological advances, advocacy efforts, and the benefits of the Diabetes Online Community. If you're attending an event or not going to one but want to access the broadcast online at 3 p.m. EST, you can find it at http://takeaction.jdrf.org/site/R?i=0MvuvbdYwRFr-5YGaFA2mA . If you are unable to access the online broadcast, you can listen by ...

Today is annual D-Blog Day. The point is to not only unite diabetes bloggers, but to bring us together for the purpose of raising awareness. So, with a Tuesday marking this now-annual online event, I give you this year's topic: Six Things that I think You Should Know About Diabetes. Please, take note. 1. Type 1 isn't Type 2. Yes, there are different types. We T1s are a smaller percentage, not part of what's sometimes referred to as the epidemic-sized "silent killer." This is a chronic autoimmune condition that I didn't bring on myself, and I won't grow out of. There's no cure-all and insulin is only life support. It takes constant care, ninja-like skills to manage each and every day without any vacation. Just because I don't look "sick" doesn't mean that I'm not living with a chronic condition. Yes, there's a reason we in this crazy community call it an "invisible illness." Do you wonder what Type 1 diabetes lo...

Families crowded the room, moving everywhere around me. Even as the polar bears and Barbies and dinosaurs all stole the attention that I was trying to focus on the task at hand. It was afterall, a monumental job. Then, a tug at my shirt-sleeve brought my gaze down in front of me. "I feel Low. I think I need to test," Little Shirt Sleeve Tugging Girl said. Her inquisitive eyes stared up at me, expecting that the adult in front of her - the one who was a Type 1 diabetic just like her - would have an answer, a blood meter, some candy to boost her if needed. But my callouused-fingertips seemed to find only unprepared ineffectiveness to clutch on to. In the blink of an eye, as quick as a heartbeat, my 26 years of experience Living With Diabetes went out the window. None of that mattered. At that moment, all that mattered was this girl in front of me who was relying on me to help her. It broke my heart, and scared the hell out of me. This was th...