I'm Off To #FFLOrlando18

I'm heading back to Orlando this morning to attend the Children With Diabetes, Friends For Life Conference, at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. 
And #FFLOrlando18 on the Social Media - and I can't wait! 
This is my 6th year attending (which blows my mind,) and it's a week of being surrounded by people who "get diabetes in all dimensions." 
It's a week of sessions about living with diabetes and support. A week where green and orange bracelets rule, carb counts on all the group meals are the norm, not the exception, and official low blood sugar stations are around every turn. 
It's a lot of laughter, a few tears, and an enormous amount of hugging with friends you haven't seen in 365 days, friends you ate breakfast with, or friends you just met!
It's meeting new friends at every turn because if you wear a green or orange bracelet - you are immediately part of the gang. 
I received/responded, to the following text from one of my DMama friends last week, who wanted to make sure I had enough juice boxes and water in my room because she knows me (and she knows my preference for Elmo Fruit Punch Juice boxes;) she gets me, and she knows and gets diabetes. 
I think it perfectly sums up how the friends you make at the Children With Diabetes, Friends For Life conference - really do become friends for life! 

Finally, My Experience at #CWDFFL2017 - It Was AWESOME

First my apologies for not posting sooner. 5 days after I returned from CWDFFL, I came down with a nasty viral infection (that I’d probably been fighting off since before I went to Orlando,) that left me with a low grade fever and down for the count for a little over 2 weeks.I've never felt so horrible in my life, I never want to feel that way again. 

More about that ridiculousness in another post because late or not, I want to share my Children With Diabetes Friends For Life, experience.

And yeah, I agreee - IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME.

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When People ask me about the Children with Diabetes, Friends For Life Conference - it’s hard to put into words - and it’s not. 

Amazing

It’s truly amazing being around people who “get it,” without ever having to utter the D word. 

The immediate friendship and feelings of “me too," that green and orange bracelets bring not only prove that you are not alone - it’s also makes you feel safe and connected  - even if you’re attending the conference by yourself - TRUST ME. 

HAPPY - so much happy!

Watching First Timers became part of the mix makes my heart happy for several reasons. I was a First Timer once, I know how it feels - I also know how it feels when the First Timer fears wash away and the feelings of happiness and community replace them - it’s freaking magical. 

Having a green bracelet wearing child see your green bracelet and watch as you change out your insulin pump reservoir between sessions, and then come up to you all excited saying: Mommy and I just changed out my reservoir too!

And then you get excited and all of a sudden you’re grabbing snacks from the snack table and have become fast friends - and friends for life. SO COOL.

All of It

Laura Hugs; hanging with my DOC peeps in real life, watching some special children with diabetes (and their equally amazing siblings,)  I’ve loved over the years grow up and continue on with the fabulous - And damn if I don’t swell with pride!

Hanging out with friends who have become family and that you see for one week every year  - so many hugs, so much laughter - and it makes you feel great to be alive!

Meeting new adults and children with diabetes and having them become part of the tribe.
And don't even get me started on the Jalapeno Margaritas!

Caring - so much damn caring. 

The unspoken rule of “no man or woman left behind,” and seeing it put into action time and time again. Like when your friend experiences a low and you and your friends spring into action - one goes and grabs a soda, the other offers glucose tabs, and another stays with with your friend - and a Disney employee name Christal from the Snack Bar, runs up with juice and food because Disney not only knows that  CWD,FFL is in town, but are there to help anyone in a green bracelet experiencing a low/ high blood sugar, or anything in-between. 

Whether it’s having friends (who are parents to a grown up t1 daughter and newly minted mommy,) pick you up juice boxes and bottled water at Publix because they worry about you having middle of the night lows - and the wife waits in her car while her husband walks you back to your room and refuses to let you carry any packages. 

Also, said D mama was very specific as to what brand and flavor of juice boxes required because she knows PWD (people with diabetes,) have their preferences. 

Or your PWD friend from the UK, who brings you Cadbury chocolate from Merry Olde England because she knows how much you dig British sweets! 

Safety

There’s the feeling of safety felt when I experienced a nasty low on my way back from the exhibit hall - and my friend Joanne ( an awesome chick and DMomma,) sat with me while I downed a Mickey Mouse Ice Cream pop. 

Then Jeff Hitchcock stopped over and said - it’s OK, you’re not alone -and again, the feelings of safety and security washed over me. 

AWE 

I kid you not, you're awe inspired every damn day at CWD,FFL. In awe of the children, adults, staff, speakers, performers, faculty and yes, in awe of the sunsets! 

On a personal note, I watched in awe as children with and without diabetes come up to the IwishPeopleKnewThatDiabetes booth and drop truth bombs and words of wisdom - same goes for the adults! 

Personal note, part 2. There’s the gift of my own personal journey -not always diabetes related - personal insights from D friends, when they saw that I was  struggling with things having nothing to do with diabetes - and care enough about me to take me aside and talk. 

You know who you are. Thank-you and IRREPLACEABLE. 

HOME
CWD,FFL feels like home, because it has become just that to all those who attend. 

Bottom Line: Every day at CWD,FFL there are boatloads of wisdom; tears, laughter, (SO MUCH LAUGHTER,) knowledge, understanding and everything else in between - you are surrounded by those feelings for a solid week.

The Children With Diabetes, Friends For Life Conference is wonderful and overwhelming all rolled into one - and I wouldn’t trade that week in Orlando (IN JULY,) for anything! 

If you have a child with diabetes, or an adult with diabetes - give yourself the gift of attending CWD,FFL!

Here's the LINK to all the upcoming CWD conferences so you can do just that!

And you can thank me when we’re hanging out by the pool next July ;)

After Six Days At The Children With Diabetes, Friends For Life Conference - It's Too Quiet.

After a 6 days at the Children With Diabetes, Friends For Life conference (aka, #cwdffl16,) in Orlando - it's too quiet. 
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My Children with Diabetes, Friends For Life, green bracelet - otherwise
known as my talisman of hope~

It's too quiet.
No green and orange bracelets at every turn.
No Laura sailing through the hallways giving hugs or Jeff capturing memories with his camera.
No talking to strangers with green or orange bracelets, Who become friends you hug hello.
When my pump and alarm went off yesterday, nobody said,"is that me or you?"
No one to have dinner with and talk about the day; the night, the daily sessions, pool shenanigans, the parks and everything in-between.
No one walking up to you (or vice versa,) and starting a conversation just because you're wearing a green or orange bracelet.

No one to say: Are you OK? 

When I walked through Orlando airport on Monday, it was too quiet - even though it was jam packed.
No green or orange bracelets to be found - no matter how hard I looked.
Not even a lone test strip on the ground - and that bummed me out.


And I drank my coffee in silence in terminal 30 something - and not one person said hello.
It felt like the loneliest place on earth.... because it was.
And as far as I'm concerned, Orlando International Airport on the day I leave Children with Diabetes, Friends For Life conference, will always be the loneliest place in the world.

I'm home now, but I'm not.

This morning I looked down at my meter and didn't like the number, and nobody was there to say "it's OK."

No sessions that made you feel like you weren't the only one.
No friends running down the halls of the Marriott to hug you because it's been 365 days since the last time you saw them - or two hours.
No chocolate covered strawberries. 

No friends I've known forever, but are meeting for the first time in real life at the hotel lobby bar.
No friends I've just met during the conference - but feel like I've known forever.
No little girls running up and shouting: Mommy, her got a green bracelet like mine!
No carb counts already calculated at every meal.
No yearly Mojitos with friends who are family.

No "me too's." 
No people who "get it."
(SIGH)


It's too quiet.

And I can't wait for #cwdffl7

And The Winner of The American Girl Diabetes Care Kit, Diabetesalicious Giveaway Is.....

And the winner of the Diabetesaliciousness American Girl Diabetes Care Kit, is....

I know I was supposed to announce the winner of the American Girl Diabetes Care Kit on Friday, but like much of the east coast, super storm Jonas messed with my jam in a major way - please accept my apologies~ 
For the record, coastal flooding in the winter is very real and very destructive and I do not wish it on anyone.

Luckily, I survived mostly unscathed, except for a busted water heater. 
With that being said, I'm pleased to announce  the winner of the Diabetesaliciousness American Girl Diabetes Care Kit, Giveaway is..........

Leigh Fickling! 

Leigh, CONGRATS and please shoot me an email (kellykunik(at)gmail(dot)com ,) with your mailing address so I can forward it to the folks at American Girl. 
And for those who didn't win, I will continue to look for fun giveaways here at Diabetealiciousness and good luck next time!
Lastly, big thanks to American Girl for creating such wonderful Diabetes Care Kit for your dolls and the children who love them - and for being so generous in providing a kit for the Diabetesaliciousness giveaway. 
American Girl 's Diabetes Care Kit is empowering and is an excellent diabetes teaching tool and I'm so grateful and glad that your company created such an amazing and wonderful Diabetes Care Kit! 

Home From #CWDFFL15 and Homesick~

There’s so much to write about my Friends For Life Experience - And as I sit at my computer, I don’t know where to begin. 

And I’m distracted because I keep looking down at my green Children with Diabetes bracelet and I wish I was back in Florida.

The green bracelet is my talisman and touchstone to people and an organization who mean the world to me and I love my FFL family very much.  

And now That I'm back in the "real world", I wish I wasn't. 

My green bracelet is my touchstone & my talisman~

The real world is filled with me playing catch-up with work and life and has me dealing people who don’t “get” diabetes and don’t want to. 

The real world is filled with strangers who don’t look you in the eye because they’re too busy looking down at their phones -and that sucks. 

As we get older, making friends isn’t as easy as it was when we were in fresh out of the gate. At FFL, everyone introduces themselves and everyone talks with one another. 
Adults and children with green bracelets find one another and the “me too” factor kicks in with a vengeance and it’s beautiful. 
Little children see my green bracelet and immediately show me theirs - and vice versa. And then we show one another our pumps and talk about how much fun we’re having. Princesses, Batman & Spiderman tend to enter the conversation, as does “Jake & The Pirates,” and I'm totally cool with that.

 Orange bracelets seek out the green and green bracelets seek out the orange, friendships are formed and lessons are learned between the laughter and the tears. 
Those conversations start anywhere and everywhere. In line for gelato, at the sink in the ladies room, at the pool, the breakfast line - EVERYWHERE - and it’s a beautiful thing.

Both green and orange Bracelets seek out those wearing “First Timers” ribbons on their name badges and pull them into the FFL mix and help them navigate the FFL waters until they go with flow and become part of the FFL ebb and flow. 

And then there are all the hugs and understanding from people who “get it.” 
Oh how I miss those hugs and all the understanding! 
And I miss the learning and the bonding and the frenetic pace that leaves everyone breathless, smiling, and wanting more.  

FFL, makes me feel like I'm the aunt to thousands of amazing green and orange bracelet wearing children and teens and makes me feel like I have a thousand green and orange bracelet wearing brothers and sisters - and parents for that matter. 

And I kid you not, now that I'm home, I'm incredibly homesick for my green and orange bracelet wearing family. 

And now for the not so mushy (at least for the most part,) part of the post. 

This year’s FFL was jammed packed and crazy, wonderful in all dimensions. 

Before FFL officially started, I had (along with so many in the DOC who were attending FFL and some who were there for the lab,) the opportunity to attend the 2015 Master Lab, presented by the Diabetes Hands Foundation, in collaboration with Children With Diabetes.  
The Master Lab was an intense 1.5 day lab on Diabetes Advocacy, Non Profits, the Press, Social Media, getting your story out there and everything in-between, and it was incredibly informative and powerful. 

The MasterLab gave me the courage to ask for help with #IwishPeopleKnewThatDiabetes Booth. 

I’m still wrapping my head around everything I learned and going through my notes with a fine tooth comb.

I was also part of the FFL Staff. My job as a Room Captain was to introduce the session Speakers and help them anyway they needed me to during the sessions and learn a few things ( OK, boatloads of things,) in the process.

Sidebar: For a great FFL tech/other cool stuff breakdown, read THIS post by Mike Hoskins post over at Diabetesmine.

And I had the amazing opportunity to have an “official  #IwishPeopleKnewThatDiabetes Booth in the Friends For Life Exhibit Hall - which seriously ROCKED MY WORLD. 
To be honest, I was nervous about it - but as I mentioned, it ROCKED MY WORLD (in the fantastical sense of the term,) and it was truly an amazing experience! 
The booth was filled with familiar faces from the DOC, who gave their time and energy and helped to make the booth functional, fun and a success!

 I'll be posting about #IwishPeopleKnewThatDiabetes booth experience as soon as I'm finished writing about it.... Stay tuned ;) 

What A Difference A Week Makes: Finding Diabetes Support, Online & Off

What a difference a week makes. Last Thursday I wrote about my Endo appointment, my less than wonderful A1C, how burned out I was feeling from diabetes and how both my Dr. & CDE were amazing. Also, between you and me, I think I was also going through some CWD FFL withdrawal. 
Anway, last week my CDE Cheryl, invited me to an Insulin Pump Support meeting she was having. At one time I attended those meetings on a regular basis, but due to budget issues there hasn't been an Insulin Pump Support Meeting in years - until this past Tuesday. Here's how it went~
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My drive to Philly was shorter than expected and as I inched towards the Walt Whitman Bridge, I started to feel really good about things. 
My excitement finally bubbled to the surface in the parking garage elevator, as soon as I stepped in and realized that the woman next to me was wearing an insulin pump. 
And I knew exactly where she was going. 
Me: Are you on your way to Cheryl’s meeting?
Her: Yes, yes I am!!
And simultaneously we both grabbed our pumps, giggled and started talking. 
Together we walked towards our shared destination and we talked about our endos, how great the practice was and how amazing Cheryl the CDE was. 
And when we walked in the building, past the security guard and towards the room where the meeting was held, we saw Cheryl. 
And at that moment I was so grateful to Cheryl for being such an amazing type 3, for always being there for her patients and for getting the group up and running again after such a long hiatus... and for asking me to attend. 

And I’m not going to lie - I was really grateful that Cheryl procured food from Panara Bread, which included a variety of tasty sandwiches and cookies with the carb counts written out. 
FTR: A Panara big chocolate chip cookie is 58 grams of carbs - And it’s worth the bolus.
But I digress. 

I could write how amazing it was to be in a room with people who “got it" and how everyone said “OMG, that happens to me, too,” whenever anyone mentioned something D related. 
I could wax poetic about how people shared their feelings of being alone sometimes - even if they knew they weren’t. I understand that feeling very well -  I know you do, too. And I mentioned the Diabetes Online Community multiple times to the group - who wasn’t even aware that the DOC existed until: 

1. Cheryl told them about my blog as we were going through the group introductions
2. I told them about the DOC and give them twitter search terms like #dsma, dsma twitter chats, #doc #diabetes, Blog Rolls, Facebook groups and communities and how there is indeed a D Tribe out there online in the room we were sitting in, not to mention The Diabetes Unconference that's happening next year.

And they were really excited to hear that the DOC existed.

But this post is supposed to be about the awesome Insulin Pump Support Group meeting.  

I’ll admit to being blown away by the fact that some of the group members had been living with diabetes for decades, and by decades I mean 60 years, 53 years, 50 years and 40 years  - They inspired me and I wanted to hug them and hold them tight. 
There were were people who were recently diagnosed as adults with t1 - or who’d who came to their t1 status by way of a pancreatectomy. All of them were doing what they needed to, even though change can be difficult - Especially when your pancreas is the one that decides to make the change, and after it's been working just find for you &well into your adult life. They reminded me about life throwing us curve balls just when we think everything is peachy. They inspired me and I wanted to hug them and hold them tight. 
And there were also people like me there. People who weren’t 50 years in, but who’d lived with diabetes longer than they hadn’t. And they inspired me and I wanted to hug them and hold them tight. 
In each of them I saw bits of myself. As I was, as I used to be... And as I hoped to become. I was grateful to each and everyone of them - just like I'm grateful for each and everyone of you. 
Whenever I think of the Diabetes Online Community or finding other's in our D Tribe in real life, expected and or by kismet, I ALWAYS think of the following quote by C.S. Lewis that I found on TwistedSifter. 

Yep, sums up the DOC perfectly!
Photo with quote courtesy of TwisterSifter

This thing called community - Of being there for one another - It's so important. 
If you're part of the DOC, you get that. 
And I know Cheryl gets that - She's always been so supportive and she asked me to present at  a future meeting on DOC resources. 
If your Endo's office doesn't offer a support group, reach out to them and suggest that they start one - And bug the crap out of them until it becomes a reality. 
And I know I don't need to tell you this, but I will anyway. 
If you know of any PWDs (people with diabetes) off-line who might be feeling alone, reach out to them and tell them about the DOC and then ask them if they'd like to grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine - And then bug the crab out of said PWD or PWDs (and in the nicest way possible,) until it actually happens. 
Peer support for every single person living with diabetes is so incredibly important - And a little red wine, or coffee, or cupcakes between PWDs every now and then doesn't hurt either ;) 

Stop The #Dstigma & Run With The Diabetes Advocacy

There’s been a lot of talk about the stigma associated with diabetes as of late, a.k.a. #dstigma. On June 15th there was a PFDC, Johnson & Johnson twitter chat moderated by #DSMA discussing DStigma at this year's ADA that addressed the subject head on. 
Diatribe put together a great Storyify re: the #dstigma panel discussion they participated/presented on last week at FFL & why we need to discuss it.
I was helping in another FFL session so I missed this & I'm so grateful that Diatribe storified the session!
And #dstigma was brought up multiple times in regards to #DiabetesAdvocacy last week during Diabetes Hands Foundation's #MasterLab at #CWDFFL14.
Speaking of #Masterlab - Diatribe breaks down the #Masterlab via Storify, HERE.  
And Kim has a great #Masterlab debrief today over at Textingmypancreas.com and so does Sue over @ Diabetes Ramblings ~
And the following is my 2 cents on the subject~
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I Googled the word “stigma, and this was the first thing that came up: 

Sound familiar?

Add a “d” or the word diabetes in front of the word 'stigma' to the definitions above & you’ve got #Dstigma. 

Look, none of us should feel shame because we have diabetes - but we do. 

All of us living with diabetes and regardless of the type, shouldn't feel disgraced because we bear the scarlet letter, D. But we do. 

None of us should feel that we’ve dishonored ourselves or our families - but we do. 

No PWD should feel Ignominy & opprobrium (OK, I’ll admit that I had to look both of those words up), but we do. Ignominy means public shame or disgrace & opprobrium means  harsh criticism or centure. Sound familiar? It should because I know that we’ve all felt shame, discraced or centured  - A.K.A.: Why are you checking your blood sugar in public?!” 
All you need to do take a look at how diabetes is presented in the media 90% of the time and you’ll feel shame and disgrace - Not to mention anger. 

And none of us should feel like we've we’ve failed because our pancreases and metabolisms have - But we absolutely do.
 And none of us should feel humiliated by our diabetes and what our diabetes requires us to do - but there are moments when we've all felt that.

How many times have we said “I’m sorry” to the people we love because our diabetes is behaving badly - even when we do everything right? 
And how crappy does always feeling like we have to apologize for our diabetes feel? 

The diabetes guilt and the #Dstigma it causes is an anchor around all of our necks, one that many of us have become so accustomed to wearing that we actually forget it’s there - But it drags us down none the less.  

And even if you’re not familiar with mythology, each of us can relate to Atlas, the man who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders for eternity, because we continually carry the weight of diabetes on our shoulders for what seems like an eternity. 
We perpetually find ourselves playing the role of  defense with diabetes and #dstigma - And it wears us down and beats us up on a daily basis - If we let it. 
There’s dstigma within our own community - the us verses them when it comes to type 1 verses type 2 and acknowledging that LADA 1.5’s exist. 

Here’s the thing: Every single person living with diabetes  or loving and or caring for a person with diabetes is part of the same Diabetes Family Tree, no matter the type. 
Regardless of the type, we are all part of the same D Tree - Just difference branches. 
And if we’re going advocate for diabetes and elevate #dstigma  successfully, then we must stop with the #dstigma within our own community. 

We need to unify and act as one community. 

We must work together and use our powers collectively as Diabetes Advocates to create real change on all levels re: the public, private and governments perceptions of diabetes and what living with diabetes entails.  

WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER.

Lastly, if you want to stop #dstigma, educate others and advocate for real change,  

then embrace the KISS of Diabetes Advocacy , a'la Christel!
ALSO: #RockOn

Free Write: Friends For Life 2014

So much happened during this year's Children with Diabetes Friends For Life 2014 Conference, aka FFL, that I could write a book - Seriously, 6 days and damn near 24X7 of learning, laughter, self realization and understanding about life and life with diabetes  - And  for the past couple days I've been plagued with the question: Where the hell do I start? 

Starting at the very beginning is of course a very fine place to start - But then the post would have gone off in a Maria Von Trapp twist& that's not the direction I was aiming for - And Lord knows how much I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE me some  "Sound Of Music!" 
Instead I, decided to start by setting my kitchen timer. I set if for 20 minute and did a FFL free write - And here’s what I came up with. 

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Ironicial: It’ s funny how life works. Every single time I attend FFL I come home with no voice and spend the next week sounding like a frog - Which is indeed ironical because every single time I attend a Children with Diabetes Friends For Life  - I find my voice I'm inspired by thousands of others. 

There’s so much that hits me like a ton of bricks before, during and after I attend FFL that it’s hard to articulate - literally and figuratively  and that there’s a magic that is given from the wearing of the green and orange bracelets that is indescribable unless you're actually wearing one. It’s a feeling of home, of being and continually becoming - Feelings I love, need and require. 

Feelings and emotions of being better understood and being able to better understand what life and life with diabetes is and how to deal with it. And not just in my life because it’s not just about me, but in every single person who deals with diabetes. 

I was reminded how diabetes affects me even when I’m not thinking about it - And that others feel the same way.

That I’m not crazy or alone for feeling overwhelmed with my diabetes life sometimes  - That  it’s OK. 

That I'm strong even when I falter- So are you. And the people we love are strong, even when they falter -- And no one is perfect.

FFL is amazing, exhausting and exhilarating all rolled into one and for the third year in a row I’ve come home sans my physical voice while having reignited my diabetes voice.

Some sessions had me crying from the realizations of my life... and my life with diabetes.  And some things were shared in those sessions that I’ve never shared with anyone.
What bubbled up to the surface was freeing and it shed light on some stuff, but it rocked me. 
But I could share freely because I was in a place of trust, love, safe and understanding was huge. So to those of you in the room - Thank you and I love you  - let's ALL get back on that elevator! ;) 

The Master Lab: An advocacy boot camp that left me feeling that I must do more in reinforced the fact that regardless of the diabetes type, we are all part of the same diabetes family tree - just different branches. 

A single branch breaks more easily and is helpless in a storm, but surrounded by other branches it bends and  is able to change and move with the flow and regardless of the elements - Damn right I’m for that! 

There were many moments during FFL that had me laughing until I was literally crying and just thinking of those moments brings a smile to my face and brings me to better whenever I think of them. 

Moments where I was mothered and I can’t even begin to pontificate on how much I need and miss that - And how appreciative I am for all my Dmamas and D friends who are and for those who aren’t mothers (and who are chock full of maternal) and who mothered me none the less - more on that later. 

And as a woman sans children FFL always gives me the opportunity to mother and mentor and that makes my heart so damn happy. 

Beautiful moments of FINALLY meeting people I consider friends but have never met in real life - EFFING AMAZING. 

Moments where I met new friends and was like: How come we are just meeting now?? 

There’s something incredible and damn special about spending 6 days with people, be it in sessions, at the Starbucks, at dinner, the pool or in the lobby that spoke the language of diabetes in all dialects but with not need for translation. 

It was and will always be a homecoming - A place to hang my hat, to love and be loved and place to continue becoming - And I am grateful - And stronger because of the people that make up FFL. 

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And then the timer went BUZZZZZZ and I had to stop writing.
More FFL posts to follow :) 

CHECK IT OUT: Jerry The Bear Has His Own Indiegogo Campaign!

I've been a fan of Jerry the Bear for quite sometime. For those of you who don't know Jerry, he totally rocks. Jerry's an interactive BWD (bear with diabetes) who does everything children and adults do with t1 diabetes. He tests his blood sugars, takes insulin from pens, counts carbs. Jerry's teaches children about diabetes through play and by always being there  - And that's amazing in all dimensions as far as I'm concerned! 
Jerry and I have become friends and last year I had the opportunity to interview him for Diabetesaliciousness! 
Today's the kickoff for Jerry's Indiegogo campaign to raise funds to get all the 12,000 plus children diagnosed with type 1 every year their own Jerry the bear. 

The link for the campaign is: igg.me/at/jerrythebear

There's even a referral program for families to sign up to be among the first to get a bear. YES, I'M TALKING TO YOU! 

All you need to do is:

1. Create an Indiegogo account.

2. Use the share buttons below the video to share your referral link with your social network!

3. If 10 people contribute to the campaign using your referral link, you will be among the first to receive Jerry the Bear.

Friends are important in life - So are friends with diabetes - And a friend with diabetes who's with you 24X7 is priceless!

Here's a video so you can watch Jerry's awesomeness in motion!

         

#AwkwardDPromPic

I just walked in the door from Friends For Life & 
there's a million emotions, memories and faces swimming through my head and 

a suitcase filled with dirty clothes at my feet - I kid you not.

I need to sit down, gather my thoughts & marinate on the awesomeness in all 
dimensions that I've experienced this past week so that I can actually articulate my thoughts.  

And yes, I need to do laundry.   
But at this moment my blood sugar is 90, it's almost 4pm and I haven't eaten lunch yet.

I need to eat. 

So while I'm doing all of the above, here's a picture of Mike Lawson & yours truly from the conference that was taken @ Tandem Diabetes Casino Night For adult PWDs last Wednesday night. 

Mike & I decided to go all #awkwardDprompic with our photo because that's how we roll!
Also: This photo makes me smile.  'I love to smile - Smiling's my favorite!'
And so is CWD!!!

#awkwardDPromPic
This picture makes me laugh out loud & from my belly every time
I see it!

On My Way To Diabetes Land - Children With Diabetes Friends For Life 2014!!

 

I wrote this post on my iPad 37,000 feet in the air, on 4 hours sleep & uploaded it in the Mears Shuttle on my way to the hotel-  Technology's awesome! 

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I'm sitting on a plane in flight and on my way to the ChildrenWithDiabetes.com , Friends For Life conference in Orlando - And if all goes according to plan I will arrive in Diabetes Land in 3ish hours. 

Diabetes Land, a land wear green and orange bracelets reign supreme & I will be surrounded by friends who are family. 

A land where  people "get" diabetes in all dimensions,  hugs are given firefly and often, shoulders are are available to lean on and emotional batteries are recharged on an hourly basis for 6 days straight. 

I need this week on so many levels. I need this week as a person living with diabetes, as a Diabetes Advocate ( and hopefully an even better one after I attend  http://diabeteshandsfoundation.org/masterlab-for-diabetes-advocates/) as a Diabetes Mentor & as a person with diabetes in need of mentoring - 

Sidebar: Would that make me a mentoree? 

I need the laughter, the love, the learning, the letting go and the feeling of empowerment that Children With Diabetes  #ffl14 will give me.

And I can't wait! 

Also: Be sure to follow the #ffl14 & #masterlab hashtags on the twitter !! 

Diabetesalicious Lite July 2013 Edition: With Shout-Outs To: The Heat Wave, #cwdffl13, Check-In Day, Striping Safely, A Beautiful Tribute & A Tween Compliment~

Diabetesalicious Lite July Edition: Brought to you by a crazy ass heat wave, #cwdffl13, Check-In day, Striping Safely, a beautiful tribute & being considered technically savvy by a tween in the know!

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So this whole week of catching up with life (and during a craZy ass heat wave) has been a challenge to say the least and I'm ready for it to be over. 

There's a 50% chance that my insulin has gone skunky in my pump reservoir - I'll know better when I check my lunchtime glucose numbers.

To learn how to keep your insulin from getting skunky, click HERE, HERE, & HERE.

Life post Children With Diabetes Friends For Life 2013 isn't nearly so so fun and all encompassing - I live by myself and I really miss being surrounded by my #cwdffl13 peeps. I miss the hustle and the bustle of that being with family creates and I'm definitely going through withdraw. . 

But enough about me. YOU need to Check-in this Monday, July 21st - As in "checking in" with the blogs you're reading that day - I'm talking to you DOC lurkers and the not so lurkers in the DOC. 

It doesn't require much. Just leave a comment, or a +1, or a facebook "thumbs-up - or whatever Social Media format works best for you, on the posts you read that day. 

And don't forget to follow the hashtag: #dblogcheck.    

You can read more about Check-In Day, HERE. 

Do you "strip safely?" Inquiring minds want to know. No, I'm not getting all types of personal here or trying to make you laugh, this is all about keeping us safe. Right now, test strips can be anywhere from 10 to 20% off the mark when it comes to accuracy in blood sugar readings - And that's not good enough! 

It's time we let our elected government officials know that glucose meter inaccuracy is not acceptable and that the rules have to change! 

And the change starts with all of us - As in everyone of living with diabetes. So, how can you be part of the change? 

It's easy, just go to http://www.stripsafely.com/ to learn more! And thanks to them, I'll be writing a letter to my elected officials and posting it on the blog in the next week! Having trouble getting started? No worries. Strip Safely has a handy page to help you get your letter written  - Click HERE and start writing!

Meri at OurDiabeticLife.com was asked to give the Friends for Life Keynote Speech about the late an wonderful Dr. Richard Rubin and it was incredible.

I had the honor of hearing Meri speak live and was driven to tears. Mer spoke beautifully and from the heart and was amazing. She wrote a post on her experience yesterday and it's a MUST READ.

Also have tissues handy, because you're going to need them! Click HERE and be prepared to read something beautiful in all dimensions. 

Lastly, my 11 year old tween second cousin Gracie and I spent the Fourth of July together and we had a great time! And to top it off, Gracie told me and I quote: You're both media and technically savvy because you have a blog AND an Instagram account !

And that just made me feel so cool beyond belief because Gracie is an uber cool fashionista/ designer/singer/actress and digital native! 

Children With Diabetes Friends For Life Scribblings

I returned home from #CWDFFL13 (otherwise known as Children With Diabetes Friend For Life Conference,) early this morning and was so amped up and over tired that I actually couldn't you know, sleep! 
So I started scribbling a couple pages of notes on how I was feeling - Until I hit the exhaustion wall and finally went to bed.
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Page 1 of CWDDFFL early morning scribbles re:2013 Children With Diabetes Friends For Life Conference.

Cut to this morning: Right now my mind is racing like crazy (but in a great way,) thanks to 7 amazing (and dare I say "magical") days at the 2013 Children With Diabetes Friends or Life conference that I attended in Orlando this past week.
I need some time to gather my thoughts and wrap my head around what's happened since last Monday - And also play catch-up with work and life - Not to mention laundry. 
SO until my "real" CWDFFL posts, here's a few of last nights scribbles.
When I went over them this morning I changed a few things/added a few things~
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CWDFFL Spells LOVE. #fact

Children With Diabetes was amazing,wonderful, overwhelming & life changing!

Emotions are enhanced at CWDFFL -- Actually your emotions are dialed up to 11 and amplified like crazy!
You laugh harder, cry more tears and your heart opens up wider than you ever thought possible.

#CWDFFL13 was a whole lotta diabetes love in all dimensions!

CWDFFL charges both your Diabetes batteries & your life batteries - It's like a two for one special and I'm all for that!

Hugs - as in giving and receiving are not only appreciated - they are very much needed.
Because even the strongest & the bravest of the green and orange bracelet wearing crew need hugs and a shoulder(s) to lean on every now and then - Not to mention a hand to hold and same said shoulder(s) to cry on when you get completely overwhelmed. ;)

Strangers become family and friends for life.

Parents, siblings and partners have Diabetes Burnout too.

Diabetes Heroes come in all sizes.

You learn so many diabetes and life lessons at CWDFFL - And those lessons are taught by both green and orange bracelet wearing children and adults. And regardless of your age - you are never to old or young to learn and or teach those amazing lessons~

"We are family.... I got all #CWDFFL  family and me!"

Giving, Getting & Being Grateful: People With Diabetes & Their Family Members Slammed By Sandy Need Our Help!

Originally, today's post was going to be all about giveaways - Until I read and became part of a facebook conversation last night. So after reaching out to a few the people involved, I've changed the gist of this post ... for the most part ;) 

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People affected by Hurricane Sandy hold a special place in my heart for obvious reasons - As do people with diabetes - And for obvious reasons - Which is why I'm posting about several members of the Diabetes On-line community who were, or whose family members were hit hard by Sandy.

Basically, the majority of this post is re: a tale of two Staceys - Stacey Hodes Nagel & Stacey Divone - And it's all about giving and a little bit about getting some good karma going.

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FIRST UP: Stacey Hodes Nagel

Stacey Hodes Nagel is a mom to a t1 son named Jessie, and is active diabetes warrior and a familiar face to both the DOC and http://childrenwithdiabetes.com/

I first met Stacey Hodes Nagel on-line and she always made me laugh!

 I met her in IRL (in real life) at The CWD Focus on Technology Conference outside of Philadelphia last February - She ran up to me and gave me a huge hug - and she ROCKS!

Stacey's a Rockaway girl and that area  were devastated by Sandy. 

But even after being displaced for weeks, and currently only having electricity for 75% of her house, Stacey & her tenacious self is working tirelessly to help other families & individuals living with diabetes who are in dire need of diabetes supplies post Sandy!

According to Stacey: It's still so horrible here... And the volunteers are dwindling.. And the city/state /fema /red cross have been non existent for over a week... There are still people without heat, hot water... We only have electric in 75% of our house.... I feel like we are the forgotten land here.

People with diabetes need infusion sets, pump reservoirs and test strips  freestyle lite, one touch, accu-Chek .., pen needles too.

Stacey the day after Sandy with members of the National Guard

Pump batteries (both double and triple AAA) as well as flashlight batteries & meter batteries.

The people I've been collecting pump supplies for use animas, medtronic and three are using tSlim & and I just gave someone 90% Jessie's Cozmo stuff. Anything people can donate would be greatly appreciated!"

DOC Diabetes Supply Hoarders, this is where you comes in! Put all those good hoarded D supplies to good use!

If you have supplies that you could donate,email me at: kellykunik@gmail.com & I will forward you Stacey's mailing address!

Also, I know that Stacey put out a call for space heaters and really warm sleeping bags last week on facebook, so if you have, or know someone who does have those items, email me & I'll give you Stacey's address!


SECOND BUT JUST AS IMPORTANT: Stacey Divone & her Type 3 twin sister, Laurie.

Everyone in the DOC knows and loves Stacey Divone of http://portablepancreasgirl.com/ fame. 
Stacey D's a good friend to everyone in the DOC and is a positive cheerleader for all of us!  

Most of you know that Stacey has an identical twin named Laurie Nunziato.  

Laurie has literally been Stacey D's other half since before they were born and has been an awesome type 3 for  Stacey's  since the day Stacey was diagnosed!  We can't forget about the type 3s who love us! 

But did you also know that Laurie and her family lost almost everything they own due to Sandy flooding?? Below is a picture of Laurie's house post Sandy  - They lost almost everything!

The Nunziato house after Sandy

Stacey D has set up a fundraising page for her sister, brother-in-law and her awesome niece and nephew - And again, this is where the DOC comes in!

No amount is too small as far as donations go and a little goes a hell of a long way! 

And did I mention that any and all donations are tax deductible?  I didn't? Well, they sure are!

Click on the following link to find out how you can help the Nunziato's!

http://www.giveforward.com/nunziatoshope
Btw, click on Nunziato's link above and take a look at the picture of the house that's practically submerged underwater  - That's the outside of their home!  Then marinate on that image for a second.. 

Lastly, with all the giving - You will get a few things in return:

1. You will feel really good because you're helping others - And by helping others, we help ourselves.

2. And you will feel really grateful because you will be reminded of how good you have it.

3. Lastly, it's just good karma and the universe is bound to send some good things your way! 

Like what you ask?? 

Well, you could achieve spiritual nirvana, which can only help you achieve blood sugar nirvana - So there's that! 

And that karma might even help you win a holiday giveaway or 17! 

There are some really awesome holiday giveaways going on around the DOC  this season - And I like to think the holiday giveaways I've planned for next week are also in the awesome category.

 Yep, I'm having a series of holiday giveaways next week to thank the DOC for being so... (and, yes I'm being redundant,) awesome - So a little good karma floating out in the universe never hurts anyone - At least that's how I see it!  And after the past year,I'll take all the good karma I can get! 
Good Karma doesn't guarantee that you'll win prizes - online or off, but it does guarantee that you will help people who could really use it! And that is a wonderful thing. #truth

Sidebar: If I forgot to add your giveaway, email me &I'll fix it. FYI: I put the finishing touches on this post at work - you know how that goes ;)

So from the bottom of my busted pancreas, thanks in advance for helping PWDs (people with diabetes) and their family members who were slammed by Sandy!!

FYI: I've disabled comments for this particular post so if you'd like to donate diabetes supplies, email me directly at: kellykunik@gmail.com & I'll email you Stacey Hodes Nagel's mailing address. 

And to those that have already emailed me and dm'd me on the twitter & facebook,  THANK YOU!