Coronavirus: Hey DOC - How You Doing?

Hey DOC  - 

Sorry for the radio silence on the bloggo. 
Like all of you,  I’ve had a lot on my plate and much to take in with what’s going on re: the Coronavirus pandemic. 

Prepping re: supplies - as in food and filling RXs, trying to rearrange work gigs, working from home is not business as usual because life isn't business as usual.  
Focus is hard to come by as of late - FOR EVERYONE.  

I live by myself - it's been hard dealing with what's been going on alone.  
I know I’m not the only one who is struggling with feelings of isolation and loneliness.

I’m worrying. A lot. 

I worry about me, my family, my friends who are family - including my you dearest DOC. 

Worries galore and in all dimensions: Work, income, diabetes, my country-everyone else around the globe dealing with this pandemic. 

Sleep has been crappy, lack of human interactions from less than 6 to 10 feet a part has been rough - but I’m doing it - And I’m staying home as much as I can! 

Every day the news overwhelms us all more than the previous day. 

Seriously guys, this episode of Black Mirror sucks!

And yes, I’m angry and grieving because it didn't have to get to this point.

But it did. We are here.

Not that I've stated all of the above to you  - I feel better!
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SHARE. 

Now we need to fight - some of us from our homes/home offices, others from the front lines. 

And every single one of us needs to vote in November - make sure you are registered and continue to triple check your status. 

And WE MUST stay connected and practice self-care. 

Our diabetes online community has always been leading the pack when it comes to connecting in the digital world! It’s almost like we invented it - we didn’t, but you know what I mean! 

Keep connecting! 

Tweet, write, Skype, Zoom, text, phone a friend and use all your digital lifelines on a daily basis. Pick up the phone when a loved one rings - you both will feel better!

Connecting allows us to… well, CONNECT. 
Sharing prevents us from holding it all inside. 
Being able to say things out loud to our selves and others lets us know we are being heard and that makes it easier to focus, feel much-needed normalcy 

I’ve started dividing tasks into increments of time (THANKS Team egg timer and iPhone timer,) and rewarding myself when tasks get moved to the “Completed,” pile.

I'm willing to hunker down for as long as possible and as long as I am able to work from home to stop the spread 

And I am so incredibly grateful to the healthcare workers, cashiers, restaurant workers providing takeout for the masses, grocery store and pharmacy workers, cashiers, postal employees, police, fire, and EMTs - every single person running towards the flames because it's their job. I pray for their safety every night. 

I pray for all of us to stay safe. 

When this all over, I'm hugging every single loved one, friend, and coworker tightly - I’m going to drag my friends out in the sun for drinks and good food. 

And I can't wait. 

Until then, stay safe, stay in touch and let’s stay connected! 
#WeAreInThisTogether

Xo, Kelly

12 Years Blogging About Diabetes - Still Learning And Still Grateful Every Damn Day~

Diabetesaliciousness as a 12 year old magical unicorn!
Image via the interwebz~

Diabetesaliciousness turned twelve years old this past Saturday, November 9th - and  

I can’t believe it.

12 years of blogging, 1,534 posts about the good, the bad, and the diabetesaliciousness of it all.

When I started blogging in 2007 I had no idea the there was such a thing as the DOC and I had no idea what I was doing - hence the name.

When I was filling out the URL form for my blog I distinctly remember saying right before I pressed ENTER: “HEY, let me add an 'ness' to the end of diabetesalicious!” 

Silly blogger!

The only thing I knew about blogging was that Perez Hilton’s website was a blog and that creating a blog was easier than creating a website. 

IMO, blog templates were and are similar to Word templates - of course I could do that!  

I was tired of diabetes myths being perpetuated as diabetes realities (Hey Halle B and your actor’s studio interview - I’m looking at you. You are the reason I started blogging - so thanks!) and I wanted and needed a place to voice my opinions. 

The DOC was much smaller back then, consisting of a scattered and small group of ragtag people with diabetes who wanted to be heard and acknowledged - and found a space online were they could do just that.  

Back then corporations and orgs were gingerly dipping their toes into the Social Media pool. 

Because of the DOC, I found my diabetes voice and platform - and I found parts of myself I never knew existed.

Because of the DOC I have a global diabetes tribe who I love, protect/am protected by, and learn from every day. 

There have been times when the Diabetes Online Community has carried me when I struggling. And I am so incredibly thankful. 

Blogging about diabetes has taught and continues to teach me that I CAN in all dimensions. 

What started out as a hobby has blossomed into a passion and a career. 

FTR: If you were to have told me 20 years ago I’d be working in the diabetes space 

I would have said that you were freaking nuts. 

I dealt with my diabetes personally, I didn’t want any parts of it professionally.

Sometimes the thing you try the hardest to run from, is exactly what you are supposed to be doing.

12 years in and the DOC has exploded across social media platforms, people with diabetes are  using their voices to create change - and brands. 

Corps and orgs are not only listening and engaging, they are actively lurking, listening, and participating. 

Like the DOC, my blog had successes and growing pains - and next year it officially becomes a teenager! 

Blogging about my diabetes allowed my to share my diabetes stories and learn from your yours. Thank you for sharing your stories and teaching me with each and every tale.

Blogging about diabetes turned my biggest perceived weakness, my busted pancreas, into my greatest strength and biggest passion - and for that I am incredibly grateful. 

12 years in and I worry about repeating myself content wise - which means dealing and working writers block - reminding myself that not everyone reading has read all of 1,534  posts. 

12 years blogging and I am still learning new things about life and life with diabetes every damn day.

12 years blogging and no matter the type, we are in this together! 

12 years of blogging and I am so damn grateful! 

During The Holidays People With Diabetes Will Be Judged - Lets Not Judge One Another~

You know that "thing" that happens with your Facebook feed where it changes in the instant and you read a post for only a split of a second, but REALLY wanted to read/comment on? 
Yeah, that thing happened to me a couple of days ago. 
I'd just clicked on my Facebook tab and noticed a status ( and for the life of me I don't who posted or if it was in a group,) blaming other PWDs for not taking care themselves and developing ketoacidoses, and referring to those who develop Ketoacidosis as being irresponsible.   
I didn't agree. 
Just as I was about to click on the link and share my thoughts on the subject, FaceBook changed my feed to a all new statuses and no matter how far I scrolled down, I couldn't find the status that made my heart hurt and blood simmer. 

I've been marinating on that status a lot and here's how I would have responded to the status if I hadn't lost the chance. 
#####
First: let's stop blaming one another for not being perfect re: their diabetes management, developing ketoacidoses or complications. Your diabetes may vary and everyone can have a challenging diabetes moment/day/month/year.   

Second: Ketoacidoses can happen happen quickly and unexpectedly and even when you're doing everything right. You could develop ketoacidoses because you're sick/getting sick; you could have miscalculated bolusing for a meal, your infusion site might have stopped working, your insulin could have gone bad or you might have been disconnected from your pump for to long, or 100 other scenarios that have nothing to do with being irresponsible. 
And just maybe irresponsibility did come into play - but who are you to assume and judge what's going on in someone else's head. 
Lets stop pointing fingers and blaming one anther for being anything less than perfect when it comes to diabetes. 
On a personal note: I was hospitalized twice in college with ketoacidoses because of the flu and both experiences were HORRIBLE. 
3 weeks ago I had unexpected pale pink ketones and was only in the low 200s. 
I had no idea as to why or how I'd come to the point of ketones, but there I was, dealing with ketones. 
I felt terrible, and not because of the ketones spilling into my system - I felt terrible because I WAS spilling ketones. I FELT LIKE A FAILURE. 

Shit happens in life, and life with diabetes. 
Diabetes is hard and we are continually being judged by people and the media who don't understand what it's like to live with diabetes, we don't need it from people who do.
Shaming patients with diabetes doesn't work when a healthcare professional is the one doing it and it won't work when we do it to another in our tribe. 
One of the insidious things about diabetes is that it can turn on a dime and just when we think everything is smooth sailing. 
So if you see someone struggling or in need of help, help them navigate the diabetes waters so they can find and be open to receiving that help.
In this season of giving and 'good will towards man', don't forget to include your fellow PWDs, because there but for the grace of diabetes go I, everyone makes mistakes, every one needs help and we are in this together. 

Extend a helping hand and offer up kind words of encouragement when it comes to dealing with diabetes and those struggling with their diabetes. 
After 37 years of living with diabetes, I've learned from experience that at one time or another, there will indeed be a time when you will be the in need of massive doses of both.