#SpareARose 2020 & A DOC Valentine

https://lfacinternational.org/sparearose/

The following #SpareARose Valentine's Day poem was originally published here on the blog in 2013 (I've updated & republished the poem because it makes me smile,) the first year of #SpareARose. 

Seven years later - I'm proud that our amazing DOC continues to help spare roses and save thousands of children living with diabetes - providing them with our life-saving elixir of life, insulin. 

Insulin they wouldn't have access to otherwise. 

Follow the steps and click on the link above, and learn how for the cost of one rose this Valentine's Day, you can #SpareARose and can provide one month's worth of life-saving insulin to a child who desperately needs it!! 
######

Dear DOC - I LOVE YOU!

fyi: The cute little redhead in the pic is my niece Tess, circa the mid-1990s!

Dearest DOC- 

You make me smile, you make laugh - you understand my occasional need for time-In-Range charts and graphs. 

You tell me "I will" and "I can," whenever I have doubts - 

You answer my diabetes questions - even the ones about Brussels sprouts.

You see the best in me - even when I can't.

 You listen with understanding whenever I go off on one of my "G*ddamn Diabetes Police/diabetes and the media's stupidity, rants.

You have been there for me on my darkest of days.

You've waited patiently on the twitter with me during a high/low blood sugar haze. 

And hopefully - I've been there for you in some small way - 

Even if it's just making you smile on a particularly craptastical day. 

Together we move mountains - Alone we trudge up hills. 

Together we help others living with diabetes, both online and off...

And unfortunately, the only thing I can think of that rhymes with "off" in terms of the next line...is Hasselhoff. 

NOPE.
And now you can never, ever unsee this.  

So I'm done with prose - I've mostly run out of rhyme. 

I love you all so very much and thanks for your time. 

One last thing before I go - please darling DOC don't forget to #sparearose - As in Spare a rose, save a child living with diabetes in a faraway place, 

where insulin isn't readily available and many hearts break. 

Damn straight 5 bucks goes a hell of a long way, to save a child with diabetes this Saint Valentine's Day~ 
Xoxoxoxo k2~

Spare A Rose, Save A Child

I've been MIA in the DOC since mid January. I'm back. 

#####

Click HERE to spare a rose, save a child. 

It's Valentine's Day and I have no doubt many are still scrambling for gifts. 

Instead of buying 12 roses, (or cookies 😉,) for someone you love, Spare a Rose, Save a Child, buy 11 roses (or cookies, or whatever,) and donate the cost of one rose ($5) to help deliver life-sustaining insulin and supplies to children who are in desperate need of insulin 

in under-developed countries. 

Over 140k has been raised since #sparearose began in 2013 - hopefully this year that number will be over $180,000. 

And if you don't have a Valentine, no worries - donate in honor of someone you've never met, but who will be thankful for your gift and impact your heart and soul in the process~

If you're able to #SpareARose and donate, please do. 

http://lfacinternational.org/sparearose/

#SpareARose - Save A Child

It's Valentine's Day - a day when people break bank to show their love.

Here's the thing, you don't have to break bank in order to show your love - or save a child with t1 diabetes. 

For $5, the cost of one rose - you can provide one month of lifesaving insulin, blood glucose tools, and life enhancing diabetes education to a t1 child in a developing country.

Many children living with t1 in developing countries don't have access to all of the above. 

YOU CAN CHANGE THAT.

To learn about Spare A Rose, lifeforachildusa.org and to #sparearose and make a donation, click HERE. 

 No child should living with diabetes should die because they don't have access to life saving insulin, diabetes supplies, and diabetes education. 

Be the the change you wish to see. 

#SpareARose, save a child. 

Spare A Rose, Save A Child

$5 dollars is all it takes~

I love “Spare A Rose.” 

I love that for the cost of 1 rose, ($5) you can provide one month (as in one bottle of life saving insulin) and save the life of a child with diabetes who is in desperate need of insulin. 

I know what it’s like to worry about not having enough money to pay of insulin or diabetes supplies - I’m lucky, I have insurance and a network of diabetes friends who are always there for me. 

But not everyone is so lucky. So instead of buying your loved one a dozen roses this Valentines Day, buy them 11 roses and donate $5 to SpareARose, via IDF's Life For A Child program. 

Your $5 donation allows Life For A Child to provide one month of insulin for a child who needs it.

And now your donation will have double the impact, because The Helmsley Charitable Trust has graciously agreed to match all new donations .

Your $5 donation becomes a ten dollars donation, and one insulin bottle automatically becomes two.

 Your $10 donation is instantly matched and becomes $20, and two bottles of insulin becomes becomes four, and so on. 

Your donation is tax deductible and you will be provided with card to print out to give to someone special. 

And if you're looking for a Valentine’s Day gift for your child’s teacher, best friend, or fellow book club members, Spare A Rose is the way to go! 

Click HERE to #SpareARose, save a child~

Slate.Com : With Diabetes, "Even" Little Words Matter

This post started out as a post about the disgusting Mylan epi-pen price increase and how it mirrors the insulin prices increases, but then it turned into an article about Slate.com’s diabetes headline from yesterday, because the word "even" in the article title rubs me the wrong way.

I’m still working on the epi-pen article - and neither post is an Insulin verses Epi-pen article. Nope - both diseases are life threatening, both medications save lives and both price increases are appalling and I'm enraged at the eli pen price increase. 
WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER.
Today’s post is about words - specifically the word “EVEN.” 
And how even little words can negate a price increase and add to diabetes stigma. 
#######
Yesterday, Slate.com ran an article with the headline: Good Lord, Even The Price of Insulin Is Skyrocketing.

Yep Slate, this is nothing new. 
The price of insulin has been skyrocketing for years -I now pay more for insulin than I did back in 1997 and more than my parents did when I was diagnosed way back in 1977. 
 Insulin is also a life saving drug, but nobody except those living with diabetes seems to care about the continual price increases. 

The Diabetes Online Community has been writing about about the high cost of diabetes for years - including the ridiculousness that is the ever increasing cost of insulins. 
Check out HERE, HERE, and HERE for a small sample of DOC voices on the subject.
Recently, the DOC has rallied behind #diabetesaccessmatters, because you bet your sweet ass it does.

Thank you, thank-you, thank-you  for featuring the insulin price increases in your publication. 
But,and of course there's a but. 

BUT what's with using the word "even" in your title? 
Using the word “even” in your title re: skyrocketing insulin prices detracts from the impact that those stratospheric price increases have on every single person living with diabetes who struggle to pay those skyrocketing prices in order to stay alive. 
Sidebar: You might say semantics, but not just my POV, btw. 

The word “even” lessens the struggle that millions of people living with diabetes are going through daily in order to pay for the insulin they/we require order to live. 

Diabetes is not cheap - and today it's more expensive than ever.

Wuestion: Would you have used the word “even,” to describe price increases for diseases such as crohn’s, life threatening allergies, or cancers? 
Nope, I don’t believe you would, so why is OK to use that word and in that context when describing the price increase of drugs for a group of diseases (type 1 diabetes, type 1.5, type 2 diabetes,) that millions and millions of people live with?

Not OK and here’s why. 

1. By using the word “even,” you’re subconsciously adding to diabetes shaming and adding to the stigma associated with diabetes. 

Being diagnosed with diabetes is often perceived as a character flaw, so maybe for some people reading your article, it might be considered OK for those of us who need insulin to stay alive, to pay a little more. 
It’s not OK.
Diabetes is not a character flaw - diabetes is hard fucking work and I haven’t had a vacation from my t1 diabetes in well over 3 decades. 
I’ve lived with diabetes longer than I haven't and diabetes accompanied me from third grade until I graduated from college and every day since. 
Diabetes was with me as I watched my favorite sister get married, went with me on my first date, stumble along side me through my first sexual experience and every one since. 
Diabetes has been my traveling companion to a dozen countries and at least 15 states. 

 Diabetes has made the move with me to different states; stood by me as I buried both my parents, discovered the Diabetes Online Community, and sat in the third row with me when my niece made her Broadway debut.
Type 1 Diabetes took the life of my older sister Debbie and broke my parents heart in the process. 
Diabetes has made me feel guilty and diabetes has me saying I'm sorry, even when I am anything but. 
Diabetes been the longest relationship I’ve ever had - braking up with diabetes is not an option at this time because there is no cure for my type 1 diabetes. 

Don’t even get me started on Diabetes Burnout!

Speaking of cure, the use of the word “even,” makes my disease seem less cure worthy and in actually, has the potential to lessen funds raised to find the D cure. 

But back to diabetes day to day - and the shear cost of living with diabetes. 
I know people with diabetes (type 1, t1.5, and type 2,) who can’t afford the cost of their insulin, or other medications, test strips, and diabetes durable medical equipment (insulin pumps, CGMs,) and play Russian roulette with their health every month because they’ve either run out of their meds/supplies before their prescriptions are due to be filled.
Or worse, they don’t have insurance and go without out because they’ve run out of money.  
Unfortunately, diabetes is not the same disease every day - some days you require more insulin, some days you require less. Sometimes you need to check your blood sugars 10 times a day, other times 7 will suffice. 
But if you live with diabetes, you're lucky if your insurance will pay for 5 test strips a day. And if you have diabetes and are on medicare - you only get 3 test strips covered per day. 
Did I mention that test strips are the litmus tests that people with diabetes use (as well as CGMS - but that a whole other insurance ball of wax for another post,) use to monitor their blood sugars and measure out their insulin. 
Insulin can kill if you admisister too much or too little - so YES, checking blood sugar is CRUCIAL AND EXPENSIVE.
Speaking of insurance - people with diabetes  (PEOPLE WITH ANY ILLNESS,) spend more time arguing with their insurance company over denials, mistakes, and fighting for lifesaving medications and procedures. 

So Slate, when you use the word “even” in your title, you aren’t doing PWD (people with diabetes,) a favor- because the majority of the public already think it’s our fault we have diabetes.  
Nobody, no matter the diabetes type, deserves to be treated any less than with respect because of their diabetes status. 

If you want more info regarding what it’s really like to live with diabetes, ask the thousands of people in the Diabetes Online Community who will be willing to share what it’s really like to live with diabetes - step by step, deductible by deductible, crazy ass high co-pay by co-pay. 

Lastly Slate, you’re a HUGE publication and online presence - and a great one.
I read your site daily and I learn and laugh from your posts. 
 Your words, even small ones have power, so please use them wisely. 

Of Eye Exam Stress & Spreading The Word About Spare A Rose~

I dragged my feet getting to my eye appointment this morning - and that’s nothing new. 
I am perpetually late for my eye exams because of the stress that those exams cause me.
Since the whole one in a million thing that forever changed the way I see the world, I get incredibly stressed out when it comes eye exams. 
And FTR, I HATE BEING LATE for anything because ironically, beings late stresses me out.
The practice I go to is large, has offices in three states, and the staff at my office understands the stress I feel (and every other patient they see,) and are always incredibly kind. 
 I drove faster than I should have and I was still 20 minutes late - and they still welcomed me with smiles. 
My eye pressure was great, digital scans looked good, and my Doctor was all sorts of happy and positive. 
At the end of the appointment when he asked me if I had anything I wanted to discuss. 
I mentioned that it was #SpareARose time again and that Valentines Day was next week, and that for the cost of one red rose, (actually, it's cheaper than a red rose -at least where I live,)  they could save a life of a child with diabetes in need of insulin.

Sidebar: For the past two years, the Spare A Rose Campaign always falls during one of my eye exams. 

Dr Eye: Break it down for me again, Kelly - I know we participated last year.  
I reminded them that if they went to SpareARose.Org, they would find that the cost of one red rose ($5,) would provide a bottle of insulin (a 1 month supply,) for a child in need.
So even if my Doctor bought his wife 11 roses - he could provide the 12th in the form of insulin - and printout a Certificate(s) of Awesome ~
 Dr Eye: And if I donated $10? 
Me: That would provide 2 bottles of insulin, and $15 dollars would provide 3 bottles of insulin, etc.

The Doctor was enthusiastic about Spare A Rose and told me he was in.

His Physician’s Assistant chimed in and said something along the lines of: This is really a great cause  - I’m writing the website down and will go over it with the staff - I’ll also email the link out to my address book. 
Me: Thanks - that would be great - a little goes along way and $5 really does save a life. 
And as the PA walked me out, she told me that I could count on her to participate and help spread the word and closed with, “it’s such a terrific cause, how could I not?”

I thanked her again - for everything  - and vowed that I would be on time for my next appointment. 
She laughed and told me not to stress.

And as I sit here at my computer, still anime eyed and looking like I’m hopped up on the goofballs, I am thankful for all sorts of things, and feel happy and blessed to be able to pay it forward via #SpareARose. 

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: #Snap #SpareARose

I started my 30 day, Asante Snap insulin pump trial towards the end of 
last week - And so far, so good.
I'll keep you "posted," (see what I did there,) and write about my experience in more detail after I complete my 30 day trial - And maybe even during.
You can sign up for your free 30 day Snap trial any time you'd like and via their website: http://www.snappump.com  
AND if you click HERE and sign up before the month of February ends, Asante Solutions will make a donation to SpareARose.org  
Kerri has the results to date for the 2015 #SpareARose campaign, HERE 
and it's beautiful & inspiring. 

Sidebar: Yes, I'm wearing crazy fuzzy PJ's in the above picture & make no apologies.  They are warm; cute, toasty and it was 7 degrees on Saturday morning. 

*Full disclosure: I sit on Asante Solutions Patient Advisory Board, but all thoughts on the Asante Snap (and everything else on my blog, twitter, Facebook and Instagram) are mine and mine alone. 

Valentines Day: #SpareARose, Save A Child & Live In Your Gratitude ~

Tomorrow is Valentines Day - And if you’re single, the barrage of Valentine’s Day commercials can make you feel all sorts of emotions - none of them good. 

There are moments as a singleton that Valentines Day can make you feel so sad for what you don't have, that it makes it incredibly  difficult to focus on and appreciate all the amazing things you do have.  

Here's the thing: I have a lot. 

I have wonderful friends and family and an amazing and supportive community called the DOC (the Diabetes Online Community,) who inspire me daily to become a stronger, better version of myself on a daily basis.

I have a roof over my head and a car that gets me where I need go.   

And I have access to insulin, otherwise known as the lifesaving elixir of life - That's freaking huge. 

Not every one is so lucky. 

This year I may not have a significant other, but like last year and the year before, I will be sending valentines to children with type 1 diabetes in developing countries in the form of insulin and via SpareARose.org. 

$5 (the cost of one rose) provides a bottle of insulin ( a one month supply,) for a child in a developing country through  http://www.idf.org/lifeforachild/the-programme

$10 = 2 bottles of insulin and $60 dollars provides a year supply of insulin for a child who may not otherwise have it

By helping others through #SpareARose, I help myself because it reminds me it's not all about me. There are bigger problems in this world then not having someone to buy me roses on February 14th - much bigger. 

I don't know my valentines by name, but I will think of them with love, concern and compassion everyday.  

I will think of them every time I looked at my insulin pump and I will think of them when I look at the insulin in my refrigerator. 

And I will do my best to help my amazing t1 valentines stay alive and stay healthy so that they can grow up and become amazing adults. 

#Sparearose, save a child, help others and live in your gratitude - It doesn't get much better than that. 

Vlog: #SpareARose = Amazing.

SpareARose.org

5$ = the cost of 1 red rose. 

5$ provides 1 bottle of insulin  for a child with t1 diabetes in a developing country. 

This Valentine's Day, #Sparearose, save a child.  

Single On Valentine's Day? Tell Jared To Take A Hike! Be Grateful & #SpareARose, Instead.

I've had my share of romantic Valentine's Days in the past, but not this year.

And I'm OK with that - Except when I turn the television on. 

And then Jared the jeweler and his squawking minions make me feel craptastic. 

Honestly, and forgive me for being so blunt, but Jared's commercials make me say #SCREWJARED (Actually, I use another word instead of screw, but I'm trying to keep classy) out loud every time one of those commercials appear on the screen. And I've heard other singletons say the same thing. 

Those commercials have the ability to make people feel terrible - And much like the holiday those commercials are pitching, they can make you focus on the love you think you don't have - instead of the love that's all around you - And within you. 

But this February 14th isn't about Jared or his wares. This Valentine's Day is about focusing on what I do have - And more importantly, what others don't.  

I'm so incredibly grateful for my wonderful friends and family members who love me and whom I Iove fiercely. I'm blessed to have a strong support system, both in my life and my life with diabetes.

And I'm lucky to have a roof over my head and life saving insulin that's readily available in my fridge.

No V-Day pity party, here. I am loved and I'm incredibly lucky - And single or not, so are you. 

Guys, there are so many people with diabetes in this world who are loved and cherished - But who aren't as lucky or as blessed as we are. They don't have access to the one thing that can save their lives, INSULIN.

And because of that, their lives are shortened - And because their lives are shortened, countless hearts are broken forever.

For the cost one rose ($5)  Spare A Rose, Save A Child will provide 1 month of life saving insulin for a child with diabetes, via the International Diabetes Federation's Life For A Child, program.

Insulin bottles don't sparkle like Jared's jewels, but insulin is a true gift none the less.  

Jared can take a hike, because I do have a Valentine - And so do you. 

And I'm more than happy to #sparearose or two ~ 

USDEURGBPJPYCADAUD

Spare 1 Rose = $5 = 1 month of Life for a Child2 Roses = $10 = 2 months of Life for a Child3 Roses = $15 = 3 months of Life for a Child6 Roses = $30 = 6 months of Life for a Child1 Dozen Roses = $60 = A year of Life for a Child2 Dozen Roses = $120 = Two years of Life for a Child

Spare A Rose Save A Child

Remember when I wrote about the electricity in the room at the 2014 Medtronic Diabetes Advocacy Forum when Spare A Rose Save A Child was brought up? 

How every one in the room went crazy and wanted to help? 

Well now here's your chance! 

###

Insulin.
It's the elixir that keeps those of us living with Type 1 Diabetes, Type 1.5 and some with type 2 Diabetes alive.

Without insulin, we would cease to be.   
 Bottom line: We are blessed to have insulin so readily available to us. 
But unfortunately, that's not the case globally. 

For a large number of children around the world living with type 1 diabetes, the lack of insulin access is the most common cause of death. 

And in many of those areas, most children with diabetes can expect to live less than a year past their diagnosis date – if they’re even diagnosed at all. 

And that's unacceptable. 
Here's the thing: YOU can help - And It's easy!

How? 

Spare A Rose, Save a Child 

Buy one less rose this Valentine’s Day and share the value of that flower with a child with diabetes in the developing world. 
The person you love still receives flowers & you both provide desperately needed help to a child with diabetes. 

This Valentines Day & for the cost of 1 rose ($5) you can help The International Diabetes Federation's Life For A Child program provide 1 months worth of insulin and education to a child living with diabetes. 
You can even print out out a Certificate of Awesome instead of a card and share it with your flowers to let you're Honey know that your both Sparing A Rose To Save A Child - talk about love!
Tonight's #DSMA chat @ 9p.m., EST topic is #SpareARose.
We'll be chatting about taking advocacy efforts off line and how you can help spread the word and the love locally and globally re: #Sparearose  - And save some lives in the process. 
With #Sparearose, one person not only has the opportunity to change the life of someone else - They have the opportunity to save a life. 
And that's pretty damn amazing! 
Clink on the link below and give the gift of life this Valentine's Day.
Spare A Rose Save A Child~ 

USDEURGBPJPYCADAUD

Spare 1 Rose = $5 = 1 month of Life for a Child2 Roses = $10 = 2 months of Life for a Child3 Roses = $15 = 3 months of Life for a Child6 Roses = $30 = 6 months of Life for a Child1 Dozen Roses = $60 = A year of Life for a Child2 Dozen Roses = $120 = Two years of Life for a Child

#sparearose: A Valentine To The Diabetes On-line Community

DOC - I LOVE YOU!
fyi: The cute little redhead in the pic is my niece Tess, circa mid 1990's!

Dearest DOC- 
You make me smile, you make laugh - you understand my occasional need of blood sugar pie charts and  graphs. 

You tell me I will, whenever I have doubts - 
You answer my diabetes questions - even the ones about brussell sprouts.

You see the best in me - even when I can't.
 And you listen understandingly whenever I go off on one of my diabetes police/media stupidity rants.

Each of you has been there for me on my darkest of days...
You've waited patiently online and on the twitter with me during a high or low blood sugar haze. 

And hopefully I've been there for you in some small way - 
Even if it's just making you smile on a particularly craptastic day. 

Together as a group we move mountains - Alone we just trudge up hills.
Together we help others living with diabetes, both online and off....
Sidebar: The only thing I can think of that rhymes with "off" for the next line is the name of that guy from "Bay Watch,"

The ever so creepy 
Mr. David Hasselhoff

So I'm done with prose - I've pretty much run out of rhyme. 
I love you all - and thanks for your time. 

But before I go - Please don't forget to #sparearose - As in Spare a rose, save a child.
A few bucks goes along way for a Life Of A Child living with diabetes in a far away place,
where insulin isn't readily available and many hearts break. 

Help The IDF - because just a little goes along way....
And save a child with diabetes life - on this Saint Valentine's Day~
Xoxoxo
k2