Those Strips Get EVERYWHERE - And I'm A TOTAL BLORK

Work started late today thanks to the threat of Snowmagedden, and speaking of snow- I'm "snowwwwwover it!" Worn out pun? YES. Is it true? ABSOLUTELY.

Anyway, I was on my way out the door when I spied the following on my stoop and snapped it with my iPhone, and than ran back inside to upload and post.

Actual Aeriel footage/evidence that Kelly K does indeed test~

I guess that act makes me a "Blork," A.K.A, Blogger Dork, which I'm more than OK with!

Back to the pic, I have no doubt it's one of mine - those darn test strips get EVERYWHERE!

HAPPY FRIDAY

Diabetes- The Little Things

I have a love hate relationship with the little things that life with diabetes brings my way.

Sometimes I find pure joy and happiness in the simple moments of happiness that the little moments with diabetes bring.

I love when I reach Blood Sugar Nirvana after a challenging meal. I particularly enjoy reaching “Blood Sugar Nirvana after dining on cupcakes, ice cream, or the occasional brownie. Don't even get me started bread~

Same goes for achieving Infusion Set Nirvana.

I love receiving comments and emails from others who live the “D Life” for many reasons.

We are all part of the same “club” and we “get” one another’s diabetes idiosyncrasies, and we learn from one another. And at those moments of D Bonding, I KNOW that I’m not alone.

I love moments of D bonding that are totally unexpected. When these moments involve cupcakes, I like them even better!

I relish the time that I’m D Disconnect Mode from my pump. Those times include but are not limited to, the pool, the bath, the shower, a massage at the spa (which happens far less often than I’d like or need,) and a good roll in the hay! Sometimes the latter also involves wearing my pump, but that’s a different post entirely!

I love finding extra diabetes supplies in unexpected places, like in my glove compartment or in a long unused suitcase or handbag. Recently I found four infusion sets in the bottom drawer of my bathroom vanity, which is normally reserve for washcloths. I had absolutely no ideal how they ended up there, but finding them was the cherry on the cake of my nonetheless.

And then there are those infuriating diabetes moments that make me more nuts than usual.

Moments like unexplained high or low blood sugars that happen for no reason except because diabetes can allow them to. My frustration factor becomes higher right along with my numbers and I have to make myself mentally detach from the anger and frustration, which isn’t easy to do.

The middle of the night lows that make waking up for work in the morning more difficult than usual because of over treating, but you over treated because you were blowing a 40bg at 2 am.

Then there are the times when my pump becomes a magnet for doorknobs. Comically, my pumps attraction to doorknobs is VERY FUNNY to watch - as a spectator. But it hurts like hell when your an active participant in said doorknob/insulin pump attraction. It can also become downright expensive.

Then there are the moments (both large and small) that diabetes makes me feel tremendous self doubt.

Did I bolus correctly?

What if my blood sugar doesn’t get back to normal?

Why am I running into more members of the Diabetes Police today than I have the whole month? And why the hell am I letting them get to me?

Personally or professionally speaking, will this person have more of an issue with me being a PWD (person with diabetes) than I do?

And it’s at those maddening diabetes moments, that I make myself remember the little diabetes moments that bring me happiness – and the maddening moments become less so.

Because remembering those little moments of happiness really does make all the difference in the world~

FYI - The following is NOT a gremlin!

6:08 PM: Tried posting the following all day from my iPhone (starting at 8:30 am) while I was on the road for work, but the damn ShoZu app decided to act all types of bitchy! Just walked in and was finally able to fix the problem. ENJOY!

I'm on the road today for work- but wanted to post something that would make you smile.

May I present Princess Louella La Rue D'La Mer. She belongs to very good friends who wish to remain anonymous and keep the spotlight on Louella.

Alas, Louella is not mine - but damn if that doggie doesn't crack me up whenever I see her!

Every single time I'm graced with her presance, I smile & laugh from my belly!

Louella is snuggly soft and loves to cuddle. She weighs all of 1.5 lbs, is 8 years old and is missing most of her teeth.

Princess Lou instantly causes smiles to appear & sky high blood sugars to lower - as if by magic.

She's not at all yappy, is very often mistaken for a Gremlin, and she actually squawks like a chicken when she needs to go outside to do her business.

Speaking of business - her poos are the size of jellybeans~

Hope you find her as awesome as I do!

Pirate Girls Kick Butt!!

So a few weeks ago, I received an email from my friend and fellow PWD Dave Nevins requesting my address. if you don't know Dave, he's quite the adventurer and extreme sports dude. He's had Type 1 for over 30 years and Dave refuses to let the D stop him from doing ANYTHING! He's all about NO LIMITS when it comes to life with D and sports. You can read more about him HERE.

Anyhow, Dave and I email one another, read each others blogs and are Facebook friends.

So when he emailed me requesting my address because he wanted to send me something he came across because it reminded him of me, I was intregued. So me being me (and him being him,) I gave him my address~

Cut to a few weeks later when I received this in the mail.

How awesome is this?!

We all know my affinity for being a Pirate Chicklet since the whole 1 in a million episode~

There was also a note that made made my week!

Which was written on the back of this

Which made me want to visit Alaska very much!

And this is why I love being part of the Diabetes On-line Community. We all share, discuss, advocate and learn abut life with diabetes, and become great friends who makes us laugh and smile in the process!

Speaking of Ladies who kick butt:

Kerri over at SUM will be hosting a webinar for WEGO HEALTH tomorrow about Chronic Illnesses and relationships. Want to participate? Here's the link!

http://community.wegohealth.com/events/chronic-illness-and

Many a Dblogger knows Ellen Ullman as a Tigress mom of a T1 who fights every single day to find the cure for diabetes.

On March 17th Ellen will be presenting "How Meters are Used at Home and How Consumers Choose Meters" at the FDA/CDRH meeting on Blood Glucose Meters: http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/NewsEv

ents/WorkshopsConferences/ucm187406.htm ).

Ellen created a brief survey to gather data from people across the U.S. and she's trying to reach as many people as possible who have diabetes (all types,) caretakers of persons with diabetes, that use blood glucose meters.

want to help Ellen represent us on Capital Hill? Take 8 minutes to complete the following survey and forward it to your friends, relatives, mailman, and anyone whose life has been touched by Diabetes! SURVEY SAYS!!!! :http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/bloodglucosemeters

Head Games & CGM Wishes

This morning when I was driving to work, I suddenly wondered if I had left my blood sugar meter and test strips on the kitchen counter next to the coffee maker.

Ever since the whole 1 and a million episode, I MUST keep my eyes on the road at all times,so checking in my bag was out of the question.

I couldn't turn around and drive back home, because I wouldn't get to work on time.
I could stop at the CVS near work, but then I'd have to buy not only a meter and new strips and that made me even more unhappy because I have at least 3 meters at home and a drawer full of test-strip vials!

I started playing the game of "What -If" combined with the game of "How was I Going To?" for a combined game of "WTF Kelly?"

What if I left my testing supplies on the counter next to the coffee maker?

How was I going to test throughout the morning?

WTF Kelly? How could you be so stupid as to leave your supplies on the counter?

And then I started thinking about a CGM, and how if I had one- I wouldn't be freaking out quite as much because I'd have some indicator as to what my body was doing sans meter.

I'd tried Dexcom's 3 years ago for a 10 day trial and I really liked it, but at the time, my insurance wouldn't cover it.

I'm still having nightmare insurance issues - and now with the economy the way it is, my money is tight and right now, a CGM is a wish - not a reality.

I started to get mad and angry at myself for being so stupid. I started cursing my eye for forcing me to always look at what I was doing at that very moment instead of being able to glance in my bag for just a second.

But then I calmed myself and continued on with the games.

What if I did forget my meter and strips? I'd stop at CVS, bight the bullet and spend the money. And then I'd keep that meter in my work bag at ALL times.

That answered the "How was I going to test throughout the morning? " question and I was calm.

When I arrived at work, I parked my car looked in my bag, opened my red "tester/test strip/lipstick case and saw both my tester & test strips, as well as my many lipsticks and glosses all nestled in nicely.

Which of course brought me back to the "W.T.F Kelly? question.

And my answer to that? : THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY!

If Diabetes Was An Olympic Sport......

Hanging out inside the Olympic Rings @ The Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs in the summer of 2007

If Diabetes was an Olympic Sport, there would be a test strip trail that would stretch on for miles.

If Diabetes was an Olympic sport, the 500 meter dash would involve dodging both the Diabetes Police and doorknobs (for those with insulin pumps) for sure!

If Diabetes was an Olympic sport, changing one’s infusion set in under 30 seconds flat would advance you to the medal round.

If Diabetes was an Olympic Sport the practice for the big race would never end.

If Diabetes was an Olympic sport, targets for those competing in the Biathlon Marksman portion would be judged on said athletes skills in achieving their personal blood sugar targets, not a target on a shooting range. And athletes also would be judged on shooting insulin through their clothes in the blink of an eye. Accuracy, speed, and agility would all be judged equally.

If Diabetes was an Olympic sport, the uniforms would have all sorts of pockets for extra diabetes supplies and foods to help with those pesky lows.

If Diabetes was an Olympic sport, insulin/ carb calculation would be judged on both technical and artistic portions.

If Diabetes was an Olympic sport, those participating in the Half Pipe would be given extra points for not having their infusion sets rip out.

If Diabetes was an Olympic sport, the down hill would involve low blood sugar speeds and no one would have any interest in competing.

If Diabetes was an Olympic Sport, the pairs teams would involve a t1 or t2 combo for sure.

If Diabetes was an Olympic sport, competitors would be judged on “ENDURING” as well as “ENDURANCE.”

If Diabetes was an Olympic sport, every single one of us with Diabetes (and our type 3’s) would win the gold and have a place on the podium, because we absolutely deserve it!

A Blogging MileStone

This morning at 7:13 am, Diabetesaliciousness had its 50,000th hit in Two Years of keeping track stats. The person who made that hit was from Ashville, NC!

I know it’s just a number, and others have bigger numbers, and a lot of you could give a crap about stats- because what's really important is the people that you write for, and what inspires you to blog. I agree.

I hesitated to even write this post because I didn't want to sound like a schmuck.

I hope I don't.

But to me it’s more than a number- it represents embracing my passion, my inspiration, finding my voice, and becoming both the teacher and the student in life with diabetes.

I promise not to get all "Grasshopper you have much to learn," just bare with me guys.

In November of 07 I started my blog. I had (and still have) no idea of what I’m doing. But I'm starting to get the hang of things.

More importantly, I know that the Diabetes On-Line Community has changed my life in every positive way possible.

I’ve always had a voice when it came to my diabetes- I’ve never been shy about D, I’ve always tried to help others.

But now I have a wonderful community to speak my voice in and use my voice for.

Living life with diabetes, and teaching others about life with diabetes has become my passion and focus. Some of my none D friends have even called it my obsession.

Diabetesaliciousness, much like my life, is a work in progress.

Back in the Diabetes Dark Ages, there was no such thing as a “Patient Voice” let alone a Patient Blog. People lost hope because they had no one who understood what they were going though (both mentally and physically,) regarding life with diabetes.

Today- that's not the case and I'm so happy and grateful for that!

Thank you for reading, thank-you for being there for all the good and the bad times in my life, and thank you for teaching me something new about life with diabetes and life in general, every single day!

Type 1 People With Diabetes - We Do Exist!

It may be a little late in the season for the Santa/ m&m commercial,

but every single time I meet

someone who has no idea about type1 diabetes (or diabetes in general) finds

out that I'm a PWD (person with diabetes,) they always act

shocked,

and this commercial ALWAYS comes to

mind.

Is it "ironical" that an m&m commercial should make me think of

this?

Maybe,but fitting none the less.

We the people with type 1 diabetes, DO EXIST.

No need to faint or act surprised that we are what we are & look the way we do.

We aren't as elusive as people make us out to be,

we're not the freaking Chupacabra for goodness sake!

And unfortunately, like our type 2 brothers and sisters, our numbers

are growing every single day.

So acknowledge us John Q. Public; Marketing execs, Newscasters and the likes there of,

because until there's a cure, we aren't going any where.

It's not only time that you recognized us,

it's time you got to know us - all of the many faces that

make up the diabetes family.

Not just the ones the media always presents,pushes,& continually

gets wrong.

Diabetesalicious Lite Goings On

Mondays are busy and crazy and filled with playing catch-up from the weekend!

This Monday (even though it's Presidents Day) is no different.
Today's post is "Diabetesalicious lite," but interesting none the less!

Our friend Bernard Farrell over at the Diabetes Technology Blog has a video up on You Tube reviewing the features of the Dexcom 7. plus CGM. It's slightly over 10 minutes long, but it covers everything. Check it out, HERE.

Riva Greenburg over at has another open letter to Oprah and Gayle King over at the Huffington Post. Check it out, HERE.

I recently sat down with the ladies over at The Journal of Nurses Jocularity to discuss how humor plays a part in managing diabetes. The folks over at The Journal of Nurses Jocularity are big believers in the positive power that laughter to plays in health - and are quite funny themselves. Checkout our conversation HERE.

Chris is still raising money for people in developing countries who don't have clean water. Click HERE to help make it happen.

And finally, the folks over at the Syfi are doing what needs to be done and doing it in Cheesy filled way! After such fantastical movies like "FrankenFish" and my all time favorite SyFi Movie, Mega Shark Vs. Giant Octopus. (The later was a movie that I tweeted about like a mad woman when I stumbled upon it after channel surfing one evening. The movie stars Miss Deborah Gibson as a marine biologist and Lorenzo Lamas as a government gun for hire with the worst southern accent ever!

The Cheesefactor is enough to clog ones arteries) But I digress.

The creators of these screen classics are now in production talks to produce "Sharktopus"
and I can't wait for this cinematic gem to air. It should make Mega Shark Vs Giant Octopus like duel between cheezified guppies!

Read all about the great "Sharktopus" HERE.

A Drop In The Bucket-

THOUGHTS TO PONDER: How many times a day do we turn on the faucet for a variety of differnt reasons and actually think about how the water got there, or how clean said water actually is?

We fill a pot with water to cook something in, we wash vegetables to put in said pot, we run our toothbrushes under cold H2O and wash our hands under warm water to clean off dirt, germs, and the likes there of. We fill a glass up with water whenever we need to quench our thirst.

Back in the days before disposable needles, my father and sisters had to boil water and sterilize their needles they used for insulin. How Diabetes Dark ages is that!

If your like me, you take for granted the fact that each of us has clean water whenever we need it. Clean water is literally at our finger tips- whenever we want it. We take it for granted and carelessly let the tap run because we've never NOT had clean water.

NEWSFLASH: People in developing countries aren't so lucky!

My friend Chis, a Type 3/man about town decided to do something about that.
Chris gave up his birthday gifts and Christmas gifts and decided to give a gift in the form of a water, to people in a faraway village he's never even met.

Chris's goal is to raise 5,000 dollars for a water well and spotlight Charitywater.org

Chris even has a Facebook page devoted to his efforts. Click HERE to read it.

So far, Chris is hitting the water ball out of the park (I know, that really doesn't make any sense, but you catch my drift,) and has raised $4,343. Chris has 22 days left to raise the remaining $657 dollars.

So my friends, if you have a dollar to spare this Valentine's/Presidents Day weekend, or would just like to learn more about Chris's effort, click HERE and read all about it.

After reading about his efforts, you'll definitely think about how your water made it into that glass the next time you pour yourself some H2O.

The Lessons I Learned From Snowmageddon 2010

Snowmageddon 2010 taught me many valuable lessons that I'm compelled to pass on to you dear Diabetesalicious reader~

Please feel free to share the lessons you learned this blustery blizzard as well~

***********************

You can never have too much bread, eggs,cheese, and vanilla flavored Silk Soy Milk in the house. Same goes for red wine.

It’s not the best idea to by a giant bag of UTZ Potato Chips on Sale at the Rite Aid just because they’re having a sale on them – 2giant bags for $4, or 1 giant bag for $2.

Forget the fact that potato chips and me broke up long ago. I bought a bag and opened them up the second I got in the car!

When your snowed in you eat, like a lot more than you should, for several reasons.

1. It's snowing
2. Your constantly shoveling snow – like every couple of hours -so your freaking hungry
3. It’s cold and your freaking craving carbs.

Ironically the whole shoveling snow phenomenon allows you to dip into that giant bag of UTZ Potato chips many times without causing massive increases in blood sugars. I guess that whole exercise helps to lower your blood sugar thing really does work!

During Snowmageddon 2010 local weather folks/newscasters were popping their corks at every turn because this was their chance to take over the airwaves ALL DAY, for hours, and hours, and hours.

Ironical I know, but local weather folk in Philly actually cause more traffic headaches because they parked their big humungous news vans in the middle of the road and would constantly run out into traffic to interview people stuck in their cars or the one idiot who decided it was just a super terrific idea to wear surf shorts in a snowstorm.

Never lock your car doors during a blizzard, unless your absolutely, 100% positive you have a can of Lock De-Icer.

Snowmageddon had me so concerned about losing power that I actually tweeted about what to do with the $1000 bucks of unopened insulin in my fridge if the power did indeed go out. The term CHILL OUT took on a whole new meaning~

Hot chocolate is very tasty in the cold snowy weather and is not super high in carbs. Especially the Starbucks canister of Mocha Powder I bought the day after Christmas for 50% off. Only 8 grams of carbs per Tablespoon and 0.5 grams of fat, and tastes fantastic!

SO YUMMY. And did I mention it was 50% off?

When one is in Florida during the first part of the Snowmageddon and was FORCED to change one’s flight to return a day later (late Sunday night) than originally planned (late Saturday night,) even though she knew that another storm was arriving on Tuesday night, said person should have just stayed in Florida until Thursday or Friday and skipped Snowmageddon 2010 all together!

Where I should have stayed put during Snowmageddon 2010

Flying The Friendly Skies? If You Have An Insulin Pump - Not So Much

So flying the friendly skies is about as "diabetes friendly" as a never ending bowl of pasta sprinkled with rice and topped off with potatoes and washed down with 2 gallons of lager.

Last Wednesday (the day of my trip to Florida) I woke up at 4 am showered, grabbed my carry on luggage, and yes, miracle of miracles, I managed to do the carry-on bag for a 4 day trip, including clothing options and mucho diabetes supplies.

My friend and I were driven to the airport in the snow by her boyfriend and arrived at said airport at 5:15 with boarding passes in hand and Jimmy Buffet songs in our heads.

We stood in the security line and at the checkpoint showed our boarding passes and licenses, no problem-easy peasy!

We took off our shoes, loaded our carry-ons, jackets, and knapsacks on the x-ray conveyor belt and walked through the walk through security. My friend Cathy went through no problem.

I walked through and the alarms went off. Stupid me forgot NOT to wear a belt that morning and the buckle sent the alarm a buzzing. I showed the male security guard my belt – which happened to have my insulin pump clipped to it.

Once he saw that, he told me to stand behind the glass patrician until a female security guard could come over and pat me down.

In my head I thought: FOR AN INSULIN PUMP - YOU'VE GOT TO BE SHITTING ME?!

In all my years of traveling while wearing my insulin pump, every single security guard had recognized it and waved me through. It's NEVER caused a problem in the past. But new travel restrictions have come into play since Christmas and insulin pump friendly they are not!

So there I stood- sleep and caffeine deprived, worried about my iphone and wallet (which were in my knapsack, which at that point was causing a huge pile up on the x-ray conveyor belt. I stood there for a good 5 minutes feeling like a criminal, until a female security chick (FSC) finally came over.

She put the zapper wand thing all over my person- back and front, up and down – and people were starting to watch.

FSC: Touch your insulin pump

Me: No problem – and I touched it.

FSC: NO- not that part of the pump – the part with the insulin in it.

Me: You mean the insulin reservoir?

FSC: YES.

ME: OK.

FSC: Hands in front of you.

Me: Huh?

FSC: Hands in front of you – I need to swab them.

And in my head I was thinking: SWAB THIS BIOTCH

At this point I was thoroughly annoyed on oh so many levels.

Still, I did what she said and watched she swabbed my hands.

FSC: Follow me.

And I followed.

We walked over to the x-ray conveyor belt and then behind it to some computer test thing.

FSC: Whose stuff is blocking the conveyor belt?

ME: That’s my stuff – I’ll move it.

FSC: DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING YET.

ME: (Inner monologue) REALLY??? Did she really need to speak to me like a criminal? Now I'm ready to go medieval. Seriously, I get that the security is on level ORANGE, but this is freaking ridiculous- it’s an insulin pump and I'm a human being! You want to swab my pump, FINE, but don't be a bitch about it!

FSC: OK- your fine, you can retrieve your stuff.

ME: Thanks, but I could have told you that.

My friend Cathy helped me grab my bag and knapsack, and I jammed my feet in my sneaks and we ran to our terminal. My plane was about to board in 10 minutes and I still needed to do 2 things:

A. Pee

B. Buy water –

Two MUSTS before I step foot on a plane.

I felt like a criminal- a thirsty criminal who had to pee really bad, but a criminal nonetheless. All because I had a faulty pancreas and a penchant for accessories.

CUT TO FORT MAYERS AIRPORT SUNDAY NIGHT – 2 hours before my return flight home.

I tucked my insulin pump in my back pocket (but I'd forgotten about my belt buckle- which I hadn't yet realized) and walked through security- and again- the alarms went off.

I showed the security guard my belt – and he almost let me go- until he caught a glimpse of the tubing.

Security Dude: Oh… you have an insulin pump. I need you to stand behind the glass please – and wait for a woman security guard to pat you down - just one second.

So I went behind the glass, but this time - it was a TOTALLY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.

Female Security Guard: I’m so sorry- this is so unfair- I don’t think we need to be pulling over folks with insulin pumps. Next time, hide it.

Me: I did hide it, but totally forgot about my belt.

Female Security Guard: Don’t wear one next time. And keep your pump in your pocket. Look, I have to do this, it’s my job – but I don’t like it and I don't think it's fair. When you get home- call your congressman/woman and complain about it- because this is just wrong.

Me: Thanks, I will. And thanks for being so nice – I really appreciate it.

She continued to talk, all the while patting me down, front and back, and swabbed my hands. It was over in two minutes- and I didn’t walk away feeling like a criminal.

I didn’t walk away feeling targeted or guilty for having a faulty pancreas or a fondness for accessories either.

I walked away thinking what a kind woman she was.

ATTITUDE really is EVERYTHING & It's ALL in the DELIVERY folks~

On Vacation I Was Reminded That Being Imperfect Is TRULY SPECTACULAR & BEAUTIFUL

Individual shells- all imperfect- all gorgeous!

The minute I found this shell, I screamed with joy because I couldn't believe how lucky I was to find it!

It is beautifully imperfect and it has a SPECTACULARLY BEAUTIFUL HEART~

NATURE'S IMPERFECTIONS ARE BEAUTIFUL.

NATURES IMPERFECTIONS ARE UNIQUE AND STAND OUT IN A CROWD

Remember that:

Every single one of us is IMPERFECT

Every single one of us is SPECTACULAR

And EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US IS BEAUTIFUL!

And being different is what makes us so~

Dear Oprah & Dr. Oz- The Diabetes Show- Major FAIL

Dear Oprah & Dr. Oz:

It's me again. I already wrote you on Monday asking (and hoping from the bottom of my imperfect pancreas) that you'd explain and represent a TRUE picture 0f diabetes. And not only my diabetes (type 1) but every branch of the diabetes family, including type 2, gestational, and type 1.5.

Unfortunately, you did not.

So here I sit, in the Sanibel Island public library (on my vacation) writing about a your missed opportunities (on a public computer with a 20 minute limit) and perpetuation of diabetes myths and stereotypes,instead of hiking, going to the beach, taking a bike ride, and having a healthy and stress free vacation.

I'm disappointed - ON EVERY LEVEL.

As a type 1 PWD (person with diabetes,) for 30 + years; Diabetes Blogger & Advocate,

I expected so much more from you both.

Dr Oz, your a Cardiologist - a Dr. of the heart, and for the life of me I don't understand why didn't you have an Endocrinologist & CDE (Certified Diabetes Educator) on your show?
Those medical professionals are experts at diabetes - and could have explained all aspects of the disease ( and it's many branches) much better than you.

Dr. Oz, you stated that Type 1 diabetics were born with the disease- and that is not the case.
I was diagnosed at the age of 8.

You stated that as type 1's we don't make "enough insulin."

NEWSFLASH: There's a lot more to that statement- your only mentioning a small part of the story. The area of the pancreas that makes insulin (the inslet of langerhans) is attacked by the body's own cells and in most cases, is completely destroyed.

According to the http://diabeteslivingtoday.com/ Type 1 involves the almost complete destruction of the beta cells over time. Eventually no insulin, or such a small amount (and C-peptide) is produced, leading to a complete dependence on exogenous (external) insulin source."

You also state that type one is genetic (which I believe is the case in my family,) but that fact is certainly not the case for all type 1 diabetics. As a matter of fact, the majority of type 1's I've come in contact with are the only one's in their family diagnosed with the disease.

At the beginning of the show, you showed a type 1 worse case scenario. While I empathize and feel for her on every level, why only show the worst case scenario? Why not also show a type 1 who is living a great life, has their diabetes in check- and is an example of what living life with diabetes can be like?
Dr. Oz, you also stated that the majority of type 2's result because of life style issues. Also incorrect. Later on you briefly mention that genetics plays a part.

You also say it can be reversed with lifestyle changes such as; eating healthy, weight loss, and exercise. While these things certainly help ALL diabetics live a healthier life - it does not cure it.
Once a diabetic- always a diabetic.

You continually used the word sugar instead of carbs. If you were hip to the diabetes community' (including both patient and medical professionals,) you'd know it was all about carbs -which has been the general practice for the last 15 or so years!

Way to go Dr. OZ. Outstanding example of perpetuating the myth that people with diabetes (any type) cause their own disease.

If I had a nickle for every single time someone said: "IF you just gave up sugar you'd be off the dreaded insulin in a month," or "Your a type 1- but you look so healthy," I'd have more money than Oprah.

Every single day, those of us with diabetes must constantly fight the public stereotypes (we cause it ourselves, we can't have sugar, we shouldn't look or be healthy , we can't have kids, etc) about our disease, it's causes , and what it really means.

Your show did very little to help the diabetes community. Now our battle to educate the public and make them aware about people with diabetes, and procure funding for research for the cure has been severely damaged.

My computer time is up- the Sanibel librarian is kicking me off!

I'm sad, frustrated, with a half finished blog post and a librarian glaring at me for tying up the computer..

I expected so much more from you both regarding DIABETES -as did the diabetes commnunity as a whole!

Today Oprah & Dr. Oz Discuss Diabetes-WillThey Miss The Opportunity?

Today is Oprah's show on diabetes & even though I have my fingers (and toes) crossed that Oprah & Dr. Oz will "get it right," I'm not holding my breath.

The info that's made it's way to my in box contains rumblings that the show will primarily focus on type2& worst case scenarios. Scare tactics regarding diabetes-HELLO-What about coping kills & positivity?
On FaceBook, Dr. Oz stated:
"I should clarify this is type 2 diabetes, which accounts for 90% of diabetes cases. Type¹diabetes is also a huge problem, but it's rarer & not related to weight."
As a member of the more than 1million Type ¹club, we exist- and unfortunately, our numbers are growing.
Oprah & Dr. Oz are missing a tremendous opportunity to inform & educate the world about type 1. Missing the opp to broaden the diabetes spectrum across the globe.
I'm on vaction (I'm actually blogging from my iphone,) I'm not sure if I'll be in front of the TV, but I will be DVRing it. And I will be discussing it online & off.

Testing, testing 1-2-3

So I took the plunge and purchased a blogging app for the iPhone. But does it work????

An Open Letter To Oprah & Dr Oz - Please Get Your Show About Diabetes RIGHT

Dear Oprah and Dr Oz:

Rumor has it that on Thursday February 4^th, you’re doing a show titled "America’s Silent Killer," and it’s completely dedicated to Diabetes.

And as a person with Type 1 Diabetes for over 30 years; a diabetes blogger and Diabetes Advocate, who comes from a family with a long history of Type 1 Diabetes, I appreciate that fact.

I"M REALLY HOPING YOU’LL GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT,

AND YOUR SHOW WILL REPRESENT ALL PEOPLE WITH DIABETES.

If you and Dr. Oz want to save lives and educate the public, differentiate between Type 1 –which is an autoimmune disease. And Type 2- a metabolic disease, and give equal time to both.

I’m hoping that you and Dr. Oz will go so far as to have an Endocrinologist on to discuss Diabetes in all it’s many shapes and forms.

I’m hoping that you’ll explain to the American public that both Type 1 and Type 2 are reaching epidemic proportions.

I'm hoping that Types 1.5 and gestational diabetes will be discussed as well.

I’m hoping that you tell the American public the realities of diabetes, instead of perpetuating the diabetes myths and stereotypes.

I’m praying that you will tell the American people that as type 1’s, no matter how much we exercise and eat healthy, we will always have to take insulin- no matter what!

As a person with Type 1 Diabetes, I could run a marathon daily, and I'd still have to take insulin every single day - because my life depends on insulin to survive and exist.

WHY? because PWDS (people with diabetes) bodies don’t make insulin due to that the area of our body that actually produced insulin (The Islets of Langerhans) was attacked and destroyed by our very own cells.

As a person with type 1, I have to tell you I’ve felt like type 1 is the Jan Brady of the diabetes family. The media always seems to talk about the more popular type 2 (Actually wrote a post re: titled, Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!) and those of us with Type 1 continually have to explain the differences, because the media never does.

Newscasters never seem to get the diabetes facts straight.

I’m not sure if it's shoddy research, time constraints, reporters not actually being aware of the different types of diabetes. Maybe they just don’t care about type 1 diabetics because they receive more advertising dollars from products/drugs geared towards type 2’s.

I think it’s most likely a combination. Whatever the reason(s), this needs to change!

Lives depend on people knowing ALL the diabetes facts/types!

I’m hoping that the Oprah Show Producers have done their research and hit the diabetes nail on the head so to speak.

I'm hoping....

Don’t disappoint your viewers with Type 1 Diabetes – Represent all people with Diabetes – not just one particular facet of the diabetes population!

Yours for a cure!

Kelly Kunik

Type 1 PWD