DBlogWeek Day 7 - Spread The Love

Todays Prompt: As another Diabetes Blog Week draws to a close, let’s reflect on some of the great bloggers we’ve found this week. Give some love to three blog posts you’ve read and loved during Diabetes Blog Week, and tell us why they’re worth reading. Or share three blogs you’ve found this week that are new to you. (Thanks to Pearlsa of A Girl's Reflections for inspiring this topic.)

It's the end of D-Blog week already! Thank you again to Karen at Bitter Sweet for giving the DOC all over the world to connect and share their amazing experiences and stories.

Until clicking on each link list I didn't realise how many great posts there were, and how impossible it would be to read them all before today! (I will be trying over the next few days and weeks to read all of them)

So I've picked out three blogs, both old and new to me, that always give me great posts to read :)



I've been a fan of Dave's blog for a while now, following his #teampump journey and now his great DBlog posts (the poem in particular was great =D). He has a brilliant sense of humour and is always incredibly supportive to other members of the DOC over the Twitterverse.

 



I found Daisy's blog a few months ago via Twitter/Facebook and have been an avid reader ever since. I love reading about her 16+ year journey with Diabetes and her posts are both incredibly funny and emotive. People like Daisy are the reason I love the DOC so much, I only wish their was a D-blogger meet so I could meet her properly!

 

Vicki's blog is a new addition to my reading list, I discovered her blog just a few days before DBlog Week started! I've enjoyed all of her posts this week and if you'd like to find out about travelling abroad for longer periods of time with Diabetes then you should definitely check her blog out :)

 

DBlogWeek Day 6 - Diabetes Art

Todays Prompt: This year Diabetes Art moves up from the Wildcard choices as we all channel our creativity with art in the broadest sense. Do some “traditional” art like drawing, painting, collage or any other craft you enjoy. Or look to the literary arts and perhaps write a d-poem or share and discuss a favorite quote. Groove to some musical arts by sharing a song that inspires you diabetes-wise, reworking some song lyrics with a d-twist, or even writing your own song. Don’t forget dramatic arts too, perhaps you can create a diabetes reality show or play. These are just a starting point today – there are no right or wrong ways to get creative!

Here are a few pics from my D-journey so far, including some of my very homemade art! :)

DBlogWeek Day 5 - Wildcard!

Today I decided to choose one of the Wildcard topics, simply because I looked at the title and chose almost immediately!

Wildcard prompt: What is the ideal diabetes service animal? Think beyond the obvious and be creative in explaining why your choice is a good one. For example, maybe a seal would make a good service animal - it flaps its flippers and barks every time you get a good blood sugar reading! (Thanks to Tristan of Based on a True Story for this topic suggestion.)

Panther Winnie doesn't like any sort of cat
T-Rex Arms too short
Raven Might poop on me
Monkey Cute but mischievous!
Dragon Too much fire
DIREWOLF

If you don't watch Game of Thrones then a Direwolf is basically a very large and intelligent species of wolf. In the series they are incredibly protective over their owners (killing anyone who tries to harm them) and are always by their side.

They would be an ideal Diabetes Service Animal because..

• The Food Police wouldn't dare approach you!
• They would be able to smell out highs/lows as other DSA's do
• They would be able to carry you if you started feeling a little fuzzy
• They could bark if you forgot to inject straight after you'd eaten
• THEY ARE AWESOME AND I WANT ONE :)

DBlogWeek Day 4 - Accomplishments

Todays Prompt: We don’t always realize it, but each one of us had come a long way since diabetes first came into our life. It doesn’t matter if it’s been 5 weeks, 5 years or 50 years, you’ve done something outstanding diabetes-wise. So today let’s share the greatest accomplishment you've made in terms of dealing with your (or your loved one’s) diabetes. No accomplishment is too big or too small - think about self-acceptance, something you’ve mastered (pump / exercise / diet / etc.), making a tough care decision (finding a new endo or support group / choosing to use or not use a technology / etc.). (Thanks to Hillary of Rainie and Me for this topic suggestion.)

I've sat for a little while trying to think of an accomplishment that's stuck out during my time with D. Times where I've had no hitter days, or I had an amazing night out with perfect BGs before and after, or times where I didn't freaked out when I normally would have.

Then I thought that everyday is one more accomplishment living with Diabetes. Everyday contains its little battles and successes.

Constantly calculating my carbs
Trying to figure out if my BG is heading up or down
What am I having for dinner/lunch?
Unexpected exercise.. do I eat or not?
Will one glucotab do the trick or send me too high?
Unexpected high BG.. am I ill? Do I need to up my Lantus? Do I need to wash my hands and try again? Is my insulin still working or do I need a new pen?
Delay in eating.. will I hypo?
Cold weather.. probably more hypo's
Hot weather.. most people hypo more often, my BGs shoot up
Why the same meals and same insulin amounts give you completely different results

Dealing with all of that on top of everyday stuff is a TOTAL PAIN IN THE ARSE, but we all go on day after day with a good sense of humour and a smile on our faces :)

Go go Diabetiiicssss!
*Power Rangers style*

DBlogWeek Day 3 - Memories

Todays Prompt: Today we’re going to share our most memorable diabetes day. You can take this anywhere.... your or your loved one's diagnosis, a bad low, a bad high, a big success, any day that you’d like to share. (Thanks to Jasmine of Silver-Lined for this topic suggestion.)

When I read the prompt for today's post, only one date stuck in my mind and that's August 25th 2009 when I got diagnosed.

Leading up to my DX I lost around 2/3 stone from the beginning of June to that date. I didn't really notice as I was trying to slim down pre-holiday and was going a little Wii Fit crazy.. so I was pleased to be shifting the excess pounds. Even when colleagues at my old job pointed out how thin I'd gotten and how my trousers were hanging off me (to the point where I had them almost falling down when I crossed a road in a hurry) I just smiled like a total numptey and enjoyed the compliments!

My holiday was a bit of a blur, I can only remember drinking a hell of a lot of Apple & Blackcurrant squash (I went through 8 litre bottles of the stuff you add to water..) and feeling really rubbish on the last day. Nothing I drank quenched my thirst. That last day at the Magic Kingdom was awful, I felt sick, headachey and fuzzy headed. I just wanted to lie down. I can also remember being at the airport, getting to the gate entrance and nearly falling asleep because I felt so ill. My head just felt like it contained spaghetti junction.

This trip rather than the previous one I actually got a bit choked up seeing that spot at the airport. Thinking of how much my life changed a few weeks after being there. How I had no clue how poorly I was and getting closer to DKA. Getting a little misty eyed just thinking about it even now so moving on..

I continued to drink excessively once I got back to the UK and still nothing quenched my thirst. This is when my mum realised that something else was going on. A trip to the nurse soon followed and I was admitted to hospital with a BG of over 20 and ++++ keytones.

Calling my manager to tell her I was going to hospital was a little awkward as she was enjoying herself at a beer festival and I was sobbing my heart out.. my main concern was taking my own pjs so I wouldn't have to wear a hospital gown that had my arse on show.

A lot has changed in the past 3 and a bit years, I'm hoping that the next few are happier :)


 

DBlogWeek Day 2 - We, The Undersigned

Todays prompt: Recently various petitions have been circulating the Diabetes Online Community, so today let’s pretend to write our own. Tell us who you would write the petition to – a person, an organization, even an object (animate or inanimate) - get creative!! What are you trying to change and what have you experienced that makes you want this change? (Thanks to Briley of inDpendence for this topic suggestion.)
We, the undersigned People with Diabetes (PWDs) and caregivers and loved ones of PWDs (Type 3s) do herby petition to increase the availability of pumps and CGMs in the UK:

Today the first ever insulin pump audit for the UK was published and surprise surprise we are 'lagging behind' the rest of Europe. Only 7% of Type One Diabetics currently use insulin pumps in our country.

Seven.

I realise that both pumps and CGMs are incredibly expensive both initially and also to maintain, but don't we deserve to have access to them like the rest of the world? Right now the thought of a pump is still a little scary to me, however if MDI doesn't doing the trick for me in the future I'd like to be able to go to my Dr without being dismissed. I read many blogs of people who use pumps and CGMs, who admittedly have their struggles but find in the long run their control is far better, leading to better BG/HbA1c results and less chance of complications.

Granted that any improvement on pump use figures is a good one, but when technology is rapidly evolving it just feels like we could get left further and further behind.

If a patient meets the necessary NICE criteria then they should be given every available option, whether it costs a penny or a thousand pounds.

DBlogWeek Day 1 - Share and Share Alike

The prompt for Day One:
Often our health care team only sees us for about 15 minutes several times a year, and they might not have a sense of what our lives are really like. Today, let’s pretend our medical team is reading our blogs. What do you wish they could see about your and/or your loved one's daily life with diabetes? On the other hand, what do you hope they don't see? 



I count myself very lucky with the healthcare professionals I have looking after me throughout the year. The GP at my surgery is also a Type One, so he's always very encouraging even if my HbA1c isn't ideal at the moment. He starts off by asking about my BG results but always asks how I am and how I'm coping with D. He 'gets it' and its a lovely feeling when you can just share a look instead of trying to explain things.

Having a T1 GP has spoilt me a little when it comes to my hospital consultations. Don't get me wrong, my consultant is lovely and approachable, I'd just love him to know how much time D actually takes in a day. The constant not knowing if your meter is ACTUALLY accurate, how it feels waking up in the middle of the night with a shit scary low. How gutting it is when you do everything you're supposed to do but the BG result still comes out high or low and you've got a million reasons as to why it's happened.

The things I wouldn't want him to see would have to be how much times I swear and sling my meter on the floor if I'm frustrated with a result.. Or when I say sod it and scoff /drink something I shouldn't even though I know I'll pay for it later.

Actually I think I would like him to see all of that :) I'm only human. You've gotta vent and spoil yourself sometimes!

We could say Fuck Diabetes together =D