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

Dear DOC: Love & Happy Whatever ~

"The wings", 1958 / Salvador Dali; 1904-1989- Internet

Dear DOC - 

Whatever the holiday season means to you, no matter what you celebrate and or don’t,  

I want you to know that each and every one of you means the world to me - I appreciate and I am incredibly grateful to you have in my world and on my side. 

You are my gifts - the kind that keeps on giving. 

You inspire; make me smile, teach me lessons every damn day, make me laugh from my belly, and lift me up whenever I stumble and fall. 

You make me a better person - diabetes or not.

Please remember that you count, that you make a difference  - that you have made a difference in my life - and others. 

You are more than the sum of your numbers - more than your last a1c.

You are more than you realize and you matter to many. 

Celebrate yourself and all your victories - large and small.  

Each and every one of you - across the board and no matter the diabetes type, are truly magnificent.

Simply put: YOU ROCK and rock my world in the best of ways.

Love and happy whatever, 

K2  

International Women's Day: Dear Diabetes Shero Squad

Dear Diabetes Shero Squad - 

YOU LADIES ROCK. 

All the women impacted with diabetes - those living with diabetes - no matter the type - and those loving a person or persons with diabetes. 

Ladies of the DOC and my diabetes tribe in real life - I’m talking to you! 

Medical professionals and researchers who are fighting for the cure and to make peoples lives with diabetes easier - THIS MEANS YOU. 

Too many women for me to mention individually - you are all my sheroes and I love you something fierce! 

You cheer me on and give me strength - Lifting me up, supporting and carrying me when I need it most. 

You continually inspire; constantly amaze, effortlessly educate, and always make me laugh. 

You all make me feel like I can do anything!

Each of you gives me the courage to fight and the tenacity to continue when I feel like giving up. 

You are magic personified and are Super Heroes in all dimensions  - diabetes and otherwise. 

 Every single one of you is a magnificent gift that continues to give - and I am so damn grateful!

And I love you all.

Kelly K~ 

Dear Jason Chaffetz, If My t1 Diabetes Cost As Much As A New iPhone...

Dear Jason: 

Hi, my name's Kelly Kunik and I'm writing to let you know that unlike you, my constituents don’t pay for my health care, my iPhone, my cell phone bill, including data plan, or Apple Store purchases, I do. 

My constituents don’t pay for my type 1 diabetes either - I do 

Actually, I don't have any constituents, but if I did, I'd remember that I work for my constituents - and not just those in my state, but all those in my country and no matter which side of the political fence they sit.

I'd remember that they voted me in and that those same constituents can vote me out. 

Your insensitive asinine remark about Americans choosing between the latest iPhones and investing in their own healthcare really pissed me off. 

HOW DARE YOU. 

I'm invested in my own health care -I don't have a choice not to be! Every American is - who the hell are you to say that they aren't?!

Jas, you have no clue about health care costs because you don't have any. 

I would love it, if you wrote and sponsored a bill stating that every member of Congress and Senate go on the same plan as ACA or the Republican Replacement plan - which one would you rather have? 

If that clause was factored into the Republican Replacement Healthcare plan, you can be sure it would be much better than what's currently in that unmerciful plan. 

Dude, I dream of the day when my yearly diabetes costs equalled the cost of new iPhone - I kid you not @jasoninthehouse, THAT WOULD BE HEAVEN ON EARTH.

Hell, I’d settle for my monthly diabetes costs equaled the cost of my current ATT data plan, which equals $106 per month for unlimited data. Sweet data plan or sure, but I was grandfathered into it  - YAY ME. 

Honestly Jason, If my t1 diabetes cost as much as a new iPhone, I wouldn’t be up at night worrying about the cost of diabetes. Costs like (but not limited to,)  insulin; test strips, insulin pumps, Doctors bills, monthly premiums and miscellaneous RXs.

If my diabetes cost me as much as a new iPhone, my bank account would have a lot more zeroes in it. 

If my diabetes cost as much as a new iPhone, my anxiety levels would be even keeled and my stress levels would be down - thus my blood sugars would be better with less effort and less insulin. 

Stress costs a boatloads. Staying healthy is stressful and paying for health insurance is even more stressful - you don't know that because you don't actually pay for your health insurance, but TRUST ME, IT'S FUCKING STRESSFUL. 

As of late and thanks to what’s going on re: the Republicans trying to replace ACA (and other things like the EPA, Dept of Education, ETC,) I’m stressing, BIG TIME. 

But back to your iPhone fiasco, statement.

If my diabetes cost as much as a new iPhone, I wouldn’t have to fight with CareCentrix every three months to get the proper amount of test strips. 

If my yearly pump supplies cost as much as a new iPhone - I’d be whistling fucking Dixie.

If my 2015 deductible equaled the cost of a new iPhone, I would have met it long before I did. 

If my diabetes cost as much as a new iPhone I’d have peace of mind and a busted pancreas, instead of anxiety and a busted pancreas. 

For the record, @jasoninthehouse,  I finally bought a new 6+ iPhone in December of 2014 - just as my second hand, 5.5 year old iPhone 3 was starting to die. 

Yeah Jason, I wish my type 1 diabetes only cost $749 a year, plus, $39.96 for an iPhone case and $106  dollars a month for voice and data. 

BUT IT DOESN'T. The cost for my healthcare is a hell of lot more and I've been paying through the nose!

Except, this year I signed up for ACA and holy health care Jason, the difference is HUUUGGGEEE. 

I'll tell you all about it in my next post, where I talk about my pre ACA, post ACA insurance cost breakdown. 

Until then, #saveACA, start paying for your own healthcare and iPhone, and get off your high horse! 

Yours, 

Kelly Kunik

Person with t1 Diabetes &  Diabetes Advocate 

Dear Kitty: Thank-You, We Love You, And the Diabetes Online Community Will Miss You~

Rest in peace, Kitty~

Kitty Castellini was not only an amazing Diabetes Advocate, diabadass and a true original  - she was funny, smart and tougher than most and Kitty was "good people."  

She broke down barriers in her careers with the Laborors' Union of North America and Diabetes Living Today. 
 Kitty was the longest survivor of a pancreas only transplant - 13 years (since 2004,) and vowed to use her second chance to help people living with diabetes. 
She founded Diabetes Living Today and hosted a radio show of the same name, on 92.1 WVLT. 
 Kitty was honored by Congress for her work and commitment to diabetes, and was an early member of the Diabetes Online Community. 

An an amazing lady and one of our own, who was loved by many, including me. 

Her legacy is a strong one - she is part of our DOC history and we must continue to remember, honor,  learn and continue to be inspired  by her. 

Thank-you, Kitty. 

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Dear Kitty - 
I want to thank you for fighting the good fight when it came to diabetes and living with diabetes. 
I want to thank you for your friendship, honesty, humor and tenacity. 
When you were given a second chance with your new pancreas, you decided to use your voice to help others living with diabetes and that’s exactly what you did, by creating a live radio show called Diabetes Living Today, devoted to helping people with diabetes live thier best lives. 
You became a voice for diabetes on-air and off and I know that all of us are grateful to you.

Kitty, you were known for always telling it like it was to everyone, no matter who they were or what they did. 
If you didn’t agree with someone, be it pharma, research or an individual, you’d make them know and you’d make them think.
You sit there in a conference and take it all in - scribbling notes and figuring out your next move - and then you'd stand up to speak and you'd set the room on fire.
You also had the ability to act as peacemaker when needed.
If you saw a disagreement between people who needed to work together, you would quietly take them aside individually and tell them to work together - and they would. 
Your zest for living proved to everyone who met you in person or on-line, that a person could indeed deal with monumental health challenges with grace, style, a strong will, and a wicked sense of humor. 
You were not only funny and kind - you were one smart cookie. 
Before your life in broadcasting, you were a freaking Explosives Expert! 
You had your Federal license in chemicals and explosives and you were considered an expert in Fine and Finished Grade, New Bridge Construction.
When you would tell people your background, you’d laugh out loud when they’d react in awe and say: Yep, I really am one tough bitch!

Kitty, thank-you for being my friend.
I remember the first time we talked on the phone after I read about you in a newspaper back in 2007. I’d just started diabetesaliciousness and I thought you were awesome. 
A mutual friend gave me your number and I called you right up.  
We ended up talked for over two hours. You shared with me the loss of your older sister to diabetes, and we discovered we had a lot in common. 
That was the first of many marathon phone conversations that always made me laugh. 
You bragged about your magnificent daughter and husband and proudly stated that you were a freak re: all things Disney related.

The very first Roche Conference in 2008
Kitty is in the front row, second from the right.

I remember sitting with your in the airport on our way to Orlando for the 2010 Roche Summit and laughing out loud as you pulled out a WaWa boloney, american cheese with mustard sandwich, on white bread and I thought you were crazy in the best way possible. 

I remember landing at the Orlando Airport and you telling our driver to “hold on and wait,” because you had to stop at the Disney Airport store and pickup a rare and hard to get, official Disney Dooney & Burke Disney handbag. 
You’d called the shop the day before to see if they had it, paid for it over the the phone and they were holding it for you. Our flight had been delayed by a few hours and all I wanted to do was get to the hotel - but you told me to relax and enjoy the moment. 
And that’s what I did. And I belly laughed out loud when you walked out with your perfect soap opera hair and fab new handbag in hand. 

I remember driving to Vineland,NJ to be a guest on your radio show and going to the The Outback Stake House with you for an early dinner - and I remember laughing at you because you went to town on your meal!  

Who could forget that day in Indianapolis that you, me and a bunch of other Diabetes went on a quest for a particular cupcake shop. A quest that was supposed to only be a few blocks away, but ended up being like two miles away - and it was 90+ degrees out, no breeze and crazy humidity. 
Our group found the cupcake shop and we ate them with gusto - in the air-conditioned shop and called for cabs to take us back to the hotel.

Before the quest for cupcakes in Indiana.
Kitty center, white shirt, second row from the bottom. 

I was always inspired and blown away by your resilience and kindness to others, including me - even when you were dealing with your own tremendous health issues. 
I remember after my mother died, you would call and check to see how I was doing and comforted me when I needed it most. 

During the many of the conferences we attended, you would have to go back to your room right after dinner and rest because that’s what your body required.
But first thing in the morning - you were a firecracker of diabetes advocacy and passion, advocating for others with a vengeance! 

Every time we talked on the phone it would be at least an hour conversation - and often much longer because you were a communicator. 

And as much as I thank you - I need to apologize to you as well. 

I should have called you more this year. We facebooked, emailed, and texted, but I should have called more than I did, and I apologize for that. 
One of the last times we spoke, you told me you were really sick and would call back because you were on your way to the hospital. 
That didn’t happen because you were not only “really sick,” you were incredibly ill. 
When you finally did come home, you were to weak to talk - and soon you were back in the hospital. 
I remember another time calling and and you telling me: I can’t talk, I’m too sick. 
And that would be when you began what was to be your final, long battle - your transplanted pancreas was failing and it was excruciating - you were truly fighting for your life. 

On Sunday evening, June 19th, you went to heaven, and the world has less spark because of your absence, 

And as much as I will miss you, I know that you are at peace and will continue to watch over your daughter Lauren and husband Gary, from above. 
I know you’re up there in the stars, spending time with your son and your sister. 
You’re with the people you love, dancing and eating a never ending bowl of Reese’s Butter Cups - your favorite, my mom’s favorite, and mine. 
And I’m keeping my fingers crossed that you, my mom, and my sister will get together and finally get a chance to meet up. 

Thank you Kitty - Thank you for everything. 
I’m going to miss you and I’m going to try and do right by your memory. 
Not only as an integral part of our history in the Diabetes Online Community, but as a friend.
And when I feel tired, I will remind myself how strong your will was, even when your body was not.
Lastly, I LOVE you, Kitty - and I hope with all my heart that you will find peace, laughter, and freedom amongst the stars - because now you are one of them. 
Xoxo, 
Kelly Kunik
#welovekitty #DOC4Kitty

Kitty’s obituary can be found HERE. 
And much like Kitty, it’s pretty damn impressive and contains links to two charities,
JDRF and the Cumberland Country S.P.C.A , who are accepting donations in memory of Kitty.  
Also, the following hashtags have been generated in honor of Kitty: #DOC4Kitty and #welovekitty  - use them with love and across all social media platforms. 

Dear Lady At The Christmas Party

Today's blog post is actually posted over at IwishPeopleKnewThatDiabetes, and I hope you'll click HERE and give it a read -and if you feel like leaving a comment there - great!

What's the post about? It's about the diabetes police and being judged in a place that’s supposed to be filled with holiday cheer - and that’s effed up.

94 Years Ago Today, Insulin Was Discovered - Thanks Doctor Banting & Charles Best!

94 years ago today, insulin was discovered by Dr. Frederick Banting & his assistant Charles Best and a few months later joined by Professor J.J.R. McCloud & J.B. Collip -  and millions lived because of their discovery. 
Insulin is not a cure and yes,94 years is way to long between breakthroughs in diabetes - and that needs to change -as does the cost of insulin. 
Sidebar: Same goes for 90 years.
But, I am eternally grateful to Dr's Banting & Best - and I always will be because they saved our lives. 
This post was originally published on January 19, 2010 - And since today is the 94th anniversary of the discovery of insulin, I felt compelled to repost and publish again. 
I hope you can relate~
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Dear Doctors Banting & Best

Dear Doctors Banting & Best.

I just wanted to take a moment to Thank-You for giving me the gift of LIVING. 

Because of you and your efforts, I've lived past the age of 8. 

Instead of being yet another sad memory for parents who lost their child or loved one to an illness that offered no hope, I became a girl who not only lived, but grew up to be a woman who is becoming. 

Because of your diligence and hard work, I had many firsts.

My first kiss

My first love

My first heartbreak 

Too many firsts to list without leaving so much out.

Because of the gift of your discovery, I was able to live and learn and continue to do so everyday. 

I became an Auntie multiple times and learned to love others more than myself.

I attended and graduated college.

I traveled to Europe and saw the wonders of Venice and Paris.

Because of you I was able to discover that I loved books, writing, performing, helping others manage their life with diabetes, and every shade of the color green.

I’ve gone swimming with manatees and climbed the Mexican pyramids on the longest day of the year.

I've worked at jobs I've loved, and I've worked in jobs I haven't. 

I was able to see my niece perform on Broadway and cried tears of joy and pride. 

And I was incredibly grateful and proud. 

If you never discovered insulin, I never would have met her, let alone watched her shine on “The Great White Way.”

I've been granted the gift of 12 wonderful nephews and nieces and have been know the joy of seeing each of them grow and become the wonderful & individual pieces of art that they are.

If you hadn’t had your own burning passion to save those of us with diabetes,

I never would have been able to discover my own passions.

I never would have lived, let alone blogged. 

I never would have discovered my life's passion of helping others with Diabetes.

Because of your discovery, I was able to learn what I don’t like - which is also a great gift. 

Reaching adulthood has taught me that I’m no fan of FOX News or MTV’s The Jersey Shore. 

And that I prefer wine over beer, V-Necks over Crew Necks, and my GPS over a map any day of the week!

Because insulin was discovered, my father was able to have children, and my siblings and I were not only conceived, but saved by your discovery - THANK YOU.

Thank you for not allowing my parents to lose three children and a grandson.

Thank you for giving my oldest sister the gift of motherhood 3 times over. 

Thank you for allowing my nephew to graduate Berkley with honors and become a Professor of Literature.

Thank you for allowing both my Aunts and one of my first cousins to become mothers. 

Thank you for giving every single one of my friends with diabetes the gift of living life and every single person with diabetes the opportunity to do so!

Thank you for my gifts of strength, tenacity,humor and empathy. 

I strongly believe those traits were greatly enhanced by being a person who lives her life every single day with diabetes.

Sometimes I think in the bustle of life and looking for the cure, we forget that it wasn’t until 1922 that children and adults no longer died when being diagnosed with diabetes. 

Up until then, diabetes was a death sentence.

Today diabetes a life sentence- and by “life sentence” I mean the ability to live life to the fullest EVERY SINGLE DAY. 

I will admit, there are times in my life when I haven’t taken advantage of the act of living fully. 

But now, I relish every moment big and small. 

Little moments have just as much meaning as big ones – because I am here to experience them.

Do I want a cure in my lifetime? ABSOLUTELY!

I don’t want anyone else to be diagnosed with my disease. I don’t want another person to suffer mentally or physically because diabetes has entered their lives.

I am ready to say GOODBYE to Diabetes for good!

BUT I am also so incredibly grateful for the gift of living that was given to me because of you both.

I love you without ever having had the privilege of meeting you. 

I think of you both everyday- and I say a prayer of thanks.

I want to live my best life not just for me and those I love, but for you. 

Your the reason I'm alive. 

To not live a great life would be a disservice to me AND you!

I will continue“becoming" and, not just for myself, but because really, who am not to? 

I am the girl who lived and is now a woman who IS....and is BECOMING.

And I owe the fact that I am living to you both!

THANK YOU.

Kelly K

This letter was of course inspired by Drs' Banting & Best.  

But this letter was also inspired by a truly wonderful blog post written by Natural Born Cyborg that you MUST READ. Click HERE and check it out!

Dear CrossFit: My Diabetes Homies & I Would Like You To Know....

NO, NO, NO. 

Dear CrossFit: My Diabetes Homies & I Would Like You To Know.... 

Making fun of people with diabetes isn’t funny. It’s offensive, disturbing and it perpetuates diabetes myths instead of perpetuating and teaching diabetes realities. 
And because of tweets/jokes/rubbish like yours, diabetes becomes an unending diabetes blame-game,a target and punchline, that keeps people living with diabetes and regardless of the type, in the Diabetes Closet. 
Your offensive tweet  also directly impacts funding for diabetes research. 
Diabetes shaming is a thing and a horrific thing at that. Diabetes shaming like your unfunny tweet makes fun of a very real group of diseases (t1 diabetes, LADA type 1.5, and T2 diabetes,) that are never ending and have the potential to kill. 

And just to be crystal clear, I didn’t develop my type 1 diabetes as a skinny 8 year old because I drank too much soda. 
And my friend Jen didn’t develop her t2 diabetes because of soda. She doesn’t drink soda, weighs 20 pounds less than I do and has always worked out. 
But Jen’s mother and grandmother have and had type 2 diabetes - so there you go.
Genetics came into play - as it usually does with type 2. 
And lets just say for shits and giggles that some people living with t2 struggle with their weight - as a company that promotes fitness and a healthy lifestyle, do you really think it’s OK to make fun of others via social media (or any other platform,) struggling with their weight???
Do you think it’s OK to publicly mock people struggling with their health via social media? 
NEWSFLASH: IT ISN’T.

Diabetes shaming in tweets like yours are exactly why people have difficulty managing/accepting and living with their diabetes. 

Diabetes, regardless of the type, is never ending, physically and emotionally demanding - not to mention financially draining. 
People with diabetes work so hard and we never get a break or a day off from living with diabetes - personally, I haven’t had a day off from diabetes in 13,687.5 days. 
As a Type1, I do not have the ability to make insulin because my own body attacked the part of my pancreas (the Islet of Langerhans,) that produces insulin, way back when I was skinny eight year old. I was in the hospital for 3 weeks and put on a 3000 calorie a day diet because I looked like a concentration camp victim - my body was literally starving itself. 

FTR: People need insulin to to live - and will die without. I could run marathons everyday and I would still require insulin to live. 

Do you know anyone that’s died because of diabetes? 
Unfortunately I do and I can assure it’s painful, scary, and you will never get over the loss or the pain. 

My older sister Debbie, who died of diabetes complications as a 32 year old type 1 in 1991, didn’t lose her life to diabetes complications because she drank to much soda. 
Debbie lost her life to diabetes for a multitude of reasons - all directly related to diabetes. 
Unfortunately, Debbie was diagnosed in the mid 60’s, a time when there was no such thing as fast acting insulins or diabetes technologies. The treatment for t1 diabetes back then was archaic the life expectancy of someone with t1 in the 1960s was grim.
 Not to mention that no one ever considered the mental side of living with diabetes, nor was  talked about, let alone treated.  Her little body was ravaged from years of living with t1 and watching her die was a tragedy. 
My parents never got over her death - and truthfully, neither have I. 

Are you aware that people with Type 1 can die from something called “Dead-IN-Bed,” syndrome? They die from a low blood sugar in their sleep. Nothing funny about that. 

Crossfit - You will never get a single dime from me. 
But hopefully Coca-Cola will take the extra millions and millions of dollars they have the potential to win in a lawsuit re: your egregious use of their logo/copyright infringement, and use said money to provide funding for diabetes research for the cure, Peer to Peer Diabetes Support, Artificial Pancreas research, grass roots diabetes efforts and the likes there of.  

Kelly Kunik
t1 PWD (Person with Diabetes) for almost 38 years. 

Special shoutout to Moira McCarthy for showing up in my Facebook feed the minute I logged on this morning and alerting the DOC! 

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