Happy DBLOG DAY & It's my Blogaversary!

So today is Dblog day- and it’s also the second anniversary of Diabetesaliciousness -which blows my mind on so many levels. Two years ago I had no idea that the Diabetes on-line community existed. Then Halle made her "wean myself off insulin statement” and I started to Diabetesaliciousness because I didn’t know how else to express my frustration.

I had no idea that my first entry would be on “dblog Day” and I had no idea that such wonderful and kick-ass people existed in the world!

Look, I’ve never been a shrinking violet, (wait, I take that back- the middle school and high school years did number on my self confidence and I didn’t want to talk,let alone be seen) and Diabetes blogging has given my loud alto voice a wider audience and another venue to speak regarding life with the big D.

But more than that, blogging about diabetes has given me friends (That would be you) who get where “I am,” understand where I‘m going, and have been where I’m coming from – And not just “diabetically" speaking ;)

I’ve never been shy about my diabetes or my attitude regarding living with it. I never tried to hide it from friends or classmates because hiding from who I am was never the kind of person I wanted to be.

But to be part of a community that I can turn to 24X7, 365 days a year is an amazing thing.

While I work very hard to OWN my disease and let go of the guilt, there are moments when diabetes leaves me flustered, annoyed, laughing and in tears…sometimes it’s a combination of all of the above.

And then I read about what others are experiencing and I not only recognize myself in their words, but I learn from them as well.

I learn about the obvious stuff, like medical breakthroughs, WDD Events, health care reform, and Diabetes Police frustrations.

And then there’s the not so obvious stuff, like that some people love bacon more than I do, that I’m not the only one with doorknob/pump issues, and that certain things (like cupcakes) cross both national and international lines of bolus worthy foods.

I learn from type 3’s just how difficult their connection to diabetes is.

I learn that type 2’s that their frustrations and hardships are just as difficult as mine.

I learn from the 1.5’s that they do indeed exist and that the road the walk own leads to mine in the end.

I learn from my fellow Type 1’s that my diabetes idiosyncrasies are real.

And I learn from everyone connected with Diabetes that I’m not alone.

I see myself, and the person I hope to be in everyone’s posts.

And every day I think about a person in my life who would have benefited most from the Diabetes on-line community- but who will never get the chance to experience it- and that makes me sad.

And it’s her memory that makes me think of all the PWDs who have yet to reap the benefits of what Diabetes blogs have to offer. And that makes me sad and frustrated. Every single one of us needs to continue to work on spreading the word and empowering people with diabetes.

Every person with Diabetes needs to know that they are not alone, and that there's a place right here on the Internet, where they can find knowledge; compassion, humor, and ownership of one’s diabetes.

And when you mix all those words together,they spell L-O-V-E.

And lets face it, there’s no greater feeling in the world than Love of self (faulty pancreas and all) and love of ones community~

LOVE ROCKS- AND SO DO YOU!