Diabetes Tech Difficulties In The Form Of New LapTop Communication Issues~

I'll take some of the blame for being pre-occupied when I originally heard rumblings re: new Macs and cable issues. But my my niece had just died. I had a lot going on. 
Apple if you want to make med tech easier, great! Don't make it more difficult by not ncluding a cable adapter with new laptops. THANKS. 
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Medtech is a key buzzword - everyone seems to be jumping in and that's a good thing... most of the time. Technology, including med tech and digital diabetes are supposed to make our lives easier - except when they don't. And sometimes it's not the diabetes tech's fault.

If you're going to jump in the med tech pond, including the diabetes tech eco-system (I'm looking at and talking to you APPLE,) it would be great if your "upgrades" didn't cause communication issues re: our med and #diabetestech. 

Cut to last Monday's Endo appointment - which was both disappointing and a breakthrough. 
Disappointing because once again my diabetes labs weren't were they needed to be. 
And a breakthrough because I was like: You're right, I need help. I NEED HELP. 

I was tired of doing it all on my own and had put off uploading data and setting up an appointment with my Diabetes Education Specialist since April. 

Part tech related, but let's be honest, most of it was "I don't want too/I don't feel like it," related.

I was sick of struggling and I was burned out. I promised my Endo I'd upload my data and schedule an appoint with my Diabetes education Care Specialist. 

The next morning I went about the business of putting myself first and keeping my  promise.

I emailed my Diabetes Education Care Specialist on Tuesday morning and told her that as soon as I found my Omnipod cable, ( I’d organized my office desk and my Omnipod cable wasn’t where it was supposed to be,) I’d be uploading all my data (including Dexcom) to Glooko in the next few days and let her know that I'd also like to schedule a much needed "diabetes tune-up" with her.

Wednesday was hectic and I didn’t even look.

Early Thursday morning I found the misplaced cable, tossed it in my computer bag along with my Dexcom cable and phone charger and ran out the door. 

I’d upload my devices during lunch. Thursday was going ducky and I was getting lots done, I ate my lunch and was ready to upload. No excuses and no fear of showing my numbers. 

I was doing this!   

Except I couldn't. 

Cut to me staring at my newish mac and ready to cry. The same mac I purchased over the summer because my previous mac was on its last legs and I was afraid if I traveled with it one more time, it would implode. 

The same streamlined mac that would not allow me to upload my omnipod and dex data, (or iPhone and camera card reader for that matter,) unless I had an external adapter, because Apple no longer supported USBC to USBA cables. New Apple devices only support USB to USBC cables. 

And I was not happy. 

Then I started doing the math and I really wasn't happy. 

Almost $2000 for laptop: 

12 inch macbook $1599

AppleCare: $249

Minus $70 education discount)

Tax: $117.79

Total Apple Cost: $1895.79

All of the above purchased at an Apple store 50 miles away. 

Did I mention Apple had closed the local Apple store near me? The one that was a 10 minute drive? 

I'll take some blame. I remember hearing about new cable issues with Apple in January, but my heart had just broken in a million pieces (DAMN IT, LIV) and I forgot about the cable issues.

Then I factored in my diabetes tech - and the unhappy boiled over into furious territory. 

Omnipod: Roughly $800 for ppm, $30 per pod. $30 X’s 10 per month = $300. 

$300 X’s 3 months = $900. 

$900 x’s 4 = $3600 per year - before insurance.

Dexcom G6. One month supply of sensors: $349 (3 boxes per order,) = $1047. 

4 three-month orders per year: $4188 + 4 transmitter per year at $475 each, = $1900. 

Total Dex cost before insurance $6,088 

Back to Apple: It would have been nice if had included an external adapter with multiple cable options in the cost of my new mac so that all my diabetes external parts could be uploaded at first try. Same goes for my iPhone and Canon photo card.

And it would have been greatly appreciated if your Apple Genius (that's his title, not being sarcastic, but it fits,) at the Apple Store had reminded me of the change and informed me I'd need to purchase an adapter. I wouldn't have been happy, but I would have purchased it on the spot. 

According to Apple's website and the Apple Tech I spoke with via the 800 number, the USB-C Multport adaptor I wanted to order ($69) was out of stock and wouldn't be available until November 29th and the single cable adaptor  ($19.95 plus S&H) would take a week to deliver.

Did I mention that I have $50 in Apple Gift cards in my wallet? 

I didn't want purchase online via amazon and had every intention of driving out to BestBuy on Sunday, but thanks to torrential downpours and flooding, that didn't happen. 

Yesterday morning I broke out my almost dead laptop, charged that sucker and rebooted it. Painfully slow in all dimensions because of longstanding software issues that could only be remedied by a complete laptop wipe and software reinstall. 

 It took 10 minutes to boot up and another 20 to reset the date and time, log in to both Glooko and Clarity, sync Glooko with Clarity and upload my devices.

Plus an additional 3 hours to make sure 3 months worth of data had synced up accordingly. 

Diabetes is hard enough, Apple communication tech issues don't help.  

Rant. Over. 

Stuff: Blogging, Exercising, May Is National Mental Health Month, CGMing, GoT

Yep, it's been a while since I've posted. 
My excuses: Things have been slightly crazy, I needed to regroup, one week of not blogging quickly turned into multiple and  accompanied by a wicked case of "what the hell do I write about/didn't I already write about that a million times already?! 
Because after blogging for almost 12 years about life with diabetes - sometimes I'm afraid "I've said and or written about that already." But you know what? Everyone who blogs about diabetes feels that way from time to time - and that's OK. 

After taking a short sabbatical - I'm back writing on the blog about my life and my life with diabetes! 

What's New? 
Lots: I've started exercising and thank God because I'm out of practice and I absolutely think better when I'm moving. 

Work has been active - lots of stuff going on and on the horizon  - I am both glad and thankful. 

It's May, which means it's National Mental Health Month. With that being said, I started seeing a therapist in March - because while I was going through the motions of my life, 
I was missing Olivia terribly at the end of the day and I was sad. 
I'm sharing because talking to someone is helping me deal with the trauma of losing my niece Olivia in January - and it's making me stronger in all areas of my life. 
If you're dealing with any form of stress, anxiety, or trauma - including diabetes burnout or grief - go talk to and with a professional.
Seriously - talk with someone - you are worth it! 

Is That  A CGM On Your Arm... Or Are You Just Happy To See Me? 
The answer is BOTH. 
I LOVE seeing you - you look great! And and yeah... I started wearing a CGM (Dexcom G6) in March because my Dr. and I need to make tweaks - I've committed to wearing it for at least 3 months. 
I was supposed to start in January, but Livy passed and I didn't feel like dealing with the learning curve while heading out west for her funeral. February I was bogged with assignments and starting on the Dex was pushed back into March.  

Initial Observations
Graphs have the potential to make you effing crazy!
I believe that people must be trained  on the anxiety that watching your graph can cause. Knowledge is great  - but so is realizing that when you/your loved one eat... or have a cold... are stressed... or just because it's Tuesday, your graph can and will go up. 

Also and I kid you not, we need to step away from the graph after a correction bolus. 
I knew all of the above before wearing a CGM  - and I was still looking at it way to much in the beginning!

CGM alarms are wicked loud.

Compression Low bgs are a thing - As in your CGM Low alarm goes off and reads 59, and you just ate lunch 40 minutes ago and you feel absolutely fine, do a fingerstick check. 
Because Compression Lows (unknowingly pushing against the sensor or sleeping/leaning on it can cause it to read low (at least according to my multiple friends and my CDE,) are real and they happen. Of course I learned about Compression Lows  after treating for said 59 low that really wasn't. HELLO 200! 

On the flip side - I barely felt a 53 low a few days ago that caused my alarm to go off.... at least until I did. It was real and I knew it! 

I'm more mindful of grazing since slapping on a CGM. That's a good thing. 

It's interesting to see how quickly certain foods impact your blood sugar via a graph.
It's equally as interesting and annoying to see how some foods seem to flat arrow for an hour or two and then spike towards the sky for a good three or four hours.
Ahhhh.... Good times..... good times. 

My graph was elevated the week before my period - I always knew this to be true - seeing it on a graph was trippy. 

Watching Game of Thrones absolutely impacts my blood sugars! 
Or at least I'm blaming GoT... and the Show Runners and Writers of GoT.
During last night's finale my bgs were running low. 
The previous weeks, not so much - especially when that ass of a Night King and his army hit Winterfell - I was topping 306 by the time that episode ended! 

Graph during the battle of Winterfell and dinner was not crazy high in carbs.
Also: Changed out my Omnipod site the next day (as in 1 day early,) b/c it was getting skunky.
So yeah, site starting to crap out might have had something to do with my elevated graph.
Whatever, I blame the Night King!

Graph during GoT finale.
I might have over bolused for my big tuna salad.
But the sucky writing certainly didn't help!
Also: Why'd you all demonize Dani and where the hell is my dragon!! 

Speaking of blood sugars - you ABSOLUTELY need to check your blood sugars via finger-sticks while wearing a CGM. Certainly not as much .... most of the time. 
My previous sensor required 8 calibration checks in one day before it started syncing - and that required massive amounts of self restraint because I wanted to rip out my sensor and start a new one... but I didn't and being things worked out.
My current sensor was within range on the first (and second) calibration. 
Depending on the day, how my numbers are running, physical activity, and how old my Omnipod site is - my amount of finger-sticks per day varies. 

Bottom line: My pancreas is stone cold busted - I need to make sure whatever robot diabetes part I'm wearing is reading correctly and that requires finger-stick checks~  

So that's all for now. HOW THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? 

World Diabetes Day 2017: Thank You, Great Job & You Are Magnificent!

Today is world Diabetes Day - Dr. Banting's Birthday and the day when those of us living the diabetes life wear blue, educate other,s about life with D, tweet, chat, and live our lives with diabetes. 

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Diabetes is hard work, it’s never ending and what we do as people living with diabetes, goes unnoticed and under appreciated by the mass, most of the time. 

So.... 

THANK YOU & GREAT JOB. 

Seriously, THANK YOU for dealing with diabetes 365 days a year with no time off for good behavior. 

THANK YOU for pricking (and dealing with pricks, personified,) and bleeding for your diabetes health when it comes to blood sugar checks, fasting labs, and the likes there of. 

THANK YOU for dealing with insurance company bullshit on a weekly basis, fighting for you (or your loved one's coverage,) and BRAVA for making it look easy. 

YOU ROCK. 

Fantastic job counting carbs - even when you have no freaking clue and wild ass guesses, included!

Phenomenal job dealing with snarky diabetes comments from people who don’t understand. 

Diabetes burnout - you live with it, and it likes to rears its annoying and ugly head from bring us down - and it tries it’s best to keep us down. 

Getting back up can be so damn hard and there are moments when it seems like we can’t.

Thank you and great f^c$ing job for falling down seven times and getting back up eight.

MONDO job advocating, educating for yourself and others living with diabetes and doing the best you are able to do, every damn day. 

Thank you for the tremendous job you do for helping others (including myself,) in the Diabetes Online Community and in real life. 

STANDING OVATION for all your diabetes victories - big and small. 

Thank you for for inspiring others, for showing them that they are more than the number on their glucose meter or A1C. 

Thank you for showing healthcare professionals that every number has a story; word choice matters, and people with diabetes are PEOPLE first.  

YOU ARE MAGNIFICENT - never forget it! 

Batteries Need Charging - Headed out to #CWDFFL2017

So it's been a while since I've posted and I apologize. 
It's been a little crazy on this end and honestly, I've been burned out as of late - like crazy burned out - my preverbal well is dry and my batteries need recharging - and I can cop to it. 
Which is why I'm incredibly grateful to be flying out this morning to attend The 2017 Children With Diabetes, Friends for Life Conference in Orlando, Florida. 
I can't wait to get my green bracelet on, (literally and figuratively,) and spend 5 days with friends who are indeed family. 
Working and attending amazing sessions, running the #IwishPeopleKnewThatDiabetes booth, and spending time with people who "get it!"
Also, did I mention that all the cwdffl meals have carb counts listed?

follow the #cwdffl2017 hashtag and I promise to post from the Orlando! 
If you're attending - I can't wait to give you a hug! 

When Diabetes Burnout Enters My World

I originally wrote this post for findapsychologist.org back in 2014 and it's one of my favorites. Diabetes Burnout happens to the best of us because we live with it 365, 24X7 and it's hard offing work.

I haven’t had a day off from type 1 diabetes in over 14,000 days. Not once in all that time have I received time off from diabetes for good behavior, vacations, family weddings, funerals, etc.  

I’ve accepted that I will never have a day off from my diabetes unless they find a cure, and I do my best to live a great life – and have a great life with diabetes.

But like every single person living with diabetes and regardless of the type, there are moments (sometimes extending into weeks,) where I deal with Diabetes Burnout.

Living with diabetes itself is a never-ending full time job:

The continual blood sugar testing, battling insurance companies to cover the insulin that you require to live. Counting of carbs of absolutely everything you put in your mouth and the anxiety of doctors’ appointments & the lab results that accompany them. Insulin pump tubing getting tangled in doorknobs and ripping out my infusion site, just when I’m ready to go out the door.

The diabetes guilt that creeps up and then into my heart, just when I think I’m passed it. There’s the worry that’s always in the back of my head, and every PWD (person with diabetes,) head regarding both the present and the future.

My diabetes burnout comes in waves and not always necessarily when you’d expect. Sometimes it strikes when I’m packing for a trip and my diabetes supplies take up more room then I think it has a right to. And in those moments I wish I could chuck my Diabetes and my diabetes supplies out the window - BUT I CAN'T. So I acknowledge the frustration and forge ahead with a vengeance.

Other times my diabetes burnout appears right on queue and has lingering effects. Like when it’s 2 a.m. and I have to be up in four hours and & my blood sugar refuses to go down, even after 4 correction boluses and 2 site changes.

The same can absolutely be said about my blood sugar refusing to stay up – even after lowering the temporary basal rate on my insulin pump twice and downing 4 juice boxes in three hours and a fist full of glucose tabs.

In those moments of diabetes exhaustion, anger and fear, tears sting my eyes and I physically and mentally feel like Atlas – And it’s hard to shake off the diabetes muck of it all.

And there are days when I cry for those I’ve loved and lost to diabetes. People like my sister, my father, my two aunts, one of my best friends from Diabetes camp who passed away last year, and DOC family members who lost their battle with D. I think about them every day – And most times the memory of them makes me smile and gives me strength. And there are days when I cry for them and feel their loss so very profoundly.

Sometimes diabetes burnout occurs just because it can. On those days, I do what I have to when it comes to living with my diabetes, but I take extra care not to define myself by the number that flashes on my meter, and use it as my Diabetes GPS system - telling me where my body is and what direction it needs to go . 

And I’m incredibly lucky that I have an amazing diabetes support system when it comes to dealing with diabetes burnout.

I have my Diabetes Pit Crew. 

My amazing Endocrinologist and Certified Diabetes Educator who understand diabetes burnout and who treat it as a very real symptom of diabetes. 

A counselor who I can reach out and schedule some one-on-one time with, when I find that diabetes burnout is creeping into the picture of my life. I have family members and friends who are there for me whenever I need them.

And I have a strong and supportive community of people living with diabetes.

The Diabetes Online Community lifts me up during bouts of diabetes burnout because they not only understand diabetes burnout; they’ve experienced it, they "get it."  The DOC show's me that I am not alone in my life with diabetes and are always there for me when I feel as if I am. And thanks to my multi-faceted/tiered support system, I get glad again - and I am a lucky duck, indeed.

Burned Out & Sparkless As Of Late - #DOCBurnout2015

Diabetes Social Media Burnout blog Day  - Join in and reignite your Diabetes Social Media spark!

Burnout - It’s a very real thing - in life and life with diabetes - Burnout is also real when it comes to Social Media and the Diabetes Online Community. 

We live the diabetes life 24X7, with no time off for vacations or good behavior, and we spend an incredible amount of time online in a community that has literally reinforced that: 
1. We are not alone
2. Our voices (diabetes and otherwise,) matter
3. Connecting with others who "get it," saves our sanity 93% of the time but has the ability to makes us bonkers at least 7% of the time.

Sidebar: My  math skills aren't the greatest and I've pulled those numbers out of my head  and FTR, they have no scientific value.  
As always, YDOBMV (your degree of bonkers may vary,) online and off, d related bonkers and otherwise. ;) 

Diabetes Social Media Burnout has been the reason my blog has been quiet the past couple of weeks - Things were getting crazy with life, but more than that, I needed a diabetes Social Media  timeout - both mentally and physically. 

I needed to take a beat and regroup - more on that tomorrow. 

Speaking of tomorrow, Tuesday September 1 is the designated day that the Diabetes On-line Community will officially celebrate Diabetes Social Media Burnout Blog Day, a.k.a., #DOCburnout2015 on the twitter. 

A day where we can talk about and tackle our diabetes Social Media burnout, discuss ways we can regroup, re-fuel, and refocus our energies. 

A day where those of us who blog; facebook, tweet, periscope, vine, instagram, etc, can share examples and tips on how we handle D Social Media burnout and discuss things that spark the diabetes social media burnout. Included, but not limited to:  online disagreements/ bullying from having a different DOC, POV, diabetes information overload, 
Diabetes burnout combined with Diabetes Social Media burnout and general feelings of malaise. 

To learn learn more about tomorrow, visit: http://www.diabetesdaily.com/blog/2015/08/inviting-you-to-blog-about-diabetes-social-media-burnout/

I’ll be participating and I’m looking forward to reigniting my Diabetes Social Media spark, via learning from my community (YOU,) that has given me so much. 
Also, the very act of writing this blog post is making me feel a bit sparkly, already!

One last thing, to find a list of all Diabetes Social Media Burnout Day blog post links, visit www.diabetesdaily.com tomorrow and look for the article, "Diabetes Social Media Burnout Day," read & find the participating blog links in the comment section~

#IWishPeopleKnewThatDiabetes

Today's post is inspired by Kyle Schwartz, a third grade teacher in Denver Colorado who created a trust building lesson plan for her third grade class called. “I wish my teacher knew.” 
The honesty in the notes the students wrote are going to hit you in the heart.   
Kyle shared some of her students notes on twitter with the hashtag, #Iwishmyteacherknew.  
Soon, thousands joined in the conversation and many teachers feel that Schwartz lesson plan changed the landscape of the classroom, encouraging trust and honesty between the students and teachers. 
According to interviews, Schwartz hopes that #Iwishmyteacherknew will encourage a dialogue that will help teachers connect students and their families with resources they need.
I've given the Kyle's trust building lesson a diabetes spin a'la "I wish people knew that diabetes.....," and with the hashtag -  #Iwishpeopleknewthatdiabetes. 
Hopefully you can relate and share your own wishes~ 
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#IWishpeopleknewThatDiabetes

 I wish people knew that diabetes is lot harder than PWDs (people with diabetes) make it look. 
 I wish people knew that diabetes is NEVER ENDING - and that I haven’t had a day off from type 1 diabetes in 13,690 days  - nor did/do I get time from diabetes for good behavior, national holidays, weddings, funerals or mental health days. 

I wish people knew that diabetes is hard - REALLY HARD - and that there are days when the last thing I feel like dealing with is diabetes - but I don't have a choice, so I do. 

I wish people knew that diabetes can be exhausting. 

I wish people knew that because of diabetes, when I look at the food on my plate I see numbers first, food second.

I wish people knew that diabetes wasn't my fault.

I wish people knew that diabetes IS NOT a character flaw and that all people living with diabetes and regardless of the type, are amazing. 

I wish people knew that diabetes makes me cry sometimes.

I wish people knew that my diabetes has caused me a tremendous amount of guilt since I was 8 years old.

I wish people knew that diabetes causes me to say "I'm sorry," even when I'm not. 

I wish people knew that even when you do everything right with diabetes, your blood sugars can still eff with you. Same goes for diabetes complications.

I wish people knew that people with diabetes usually have a really twisted sense of humor.

I wish people knew that diabetes complications can happen - And that people shouldn't judge someone because of their diabetes complication(s).

I wish people knew that people with diabetes can have, had are having children - And that throughout the ages, PWDs have become parents. My two aunts with type 1 had children in the 1950's, so did my dad. My oldest sister with t1 had 3 children in 1976, 1980 & 1990.  
And that today women with diabetes in the DOC and beyond are having boatloads and boatloads of beautiful children - and those wonderful women with diabetes worked (and are working,) damn hard to deliver those beautiful and healthy children. 

I wish people knew that diabetes is not the reason I don’t have children. 
Life is the reason I don’t have children - it doesn’t mean I didn’t want them, because I did and I do and that it breaks my heart that I don't.
But if diabetes is the reason for someone not having children - You shouldn't judge or ignore them for not having children, diabetes or not - And you should remember that for many, it's a very personal and potentially painful subject. 

I wish people knew that I am more the sum of my parts- including my beautiful, busted pancreas. 

I wish people knew that diabetes gives you boatloads of strength and empathy. 

I wish HealthCare Professionals who still tell their patient(s) with diabetes that they "noncompliant," would stop using that term - it's offensive and defeatist and most likely will not garner the effects the HCP was hoping for hoping for. 
I wish they'd say: I know you struggle with your diabetes - lets make a game plan and work together to get you up to speed.  

And I wish they'd go a step further and let their patients with diabetes know that they are not alone and suggest seeing that they see a Certified Diabetes Educator and a therapist. Encourage them to join online communities & read diabetes blogs so they can find peer support and encouragement. 

I wish people that just because I wear an insulin pump, doesn’t mean I have the bad kind of diabetes - It means I have the kind of diabetes that makes shit gold ingots. 
Kidding! It just means my body doesn’t have the ability to produce insulin.

People with diabetes need insulin to live - and I’ve found that wearing a bionic pancreas clipped to my hip works for me. 

I wish people who worked for my insurance company realized what an infusion site actually was BEFORE they denied me my fourth box of infusion sets. 

 And I wish people who worked at health insurance companies realized that like a person who makes their own insulin, my body requires a different amount of insulin EVERY DAY - And that tile floors can and most almost always bust insulin bottles BEFORE your days before your refill is due.

And I wish my insurance company (and yours) realized that a 30 days worth of pump supplies does not equal 10 infusion sets - because life, in the form of deadspots, doorknobs, SPANX, exercise and million other things get in the way and 10 X 3 most certainly DOES NOT = a 30 day supply.

I wish people knew that the cupcake I’m just about to eat required copious amounts of testing my blood sugar and carb counting - and I will continue to test my blood sugar like a mad woman for hours, afterwards. 
And yes, I can and will eat that cupcake, because I’ve done the work to eat that cupcake. 

I wish people knew that cutting out white foods, drinking miracle water and downing massive doses of cinnamon WILL NOT cure my diabetes. 

I wish people knew that insulin is NOT A CURE for diabetes, but insulin has saved millions of lives and I'm grateful to have access to it every damn day. 

I wish people knew that insulin is lifesaving and that there are so many people around the globe who desperately need insulin, but don't have access to it. 

I wish people knew that after 90 plus years, insulin is still ridiculously expensive  - even if you have insurance. 

I wish people knew that diabetes is indeed a family affair and that parents, siblings, spouses, extended family, and friends who are family, have their own diabetes challenges and struggles. 

I wish people knew that every person with diabetes does try - and that my sister Debbie did try - she just didn’t have the right emotional tools or diabetes technology back in the Diabetes Dark Ages to succeed - And I wish I'd realized that sooner and had been more patient.

I wish people knew that diabetes and blood sugars factors aren't so cut and dry as most think and I wish people knew that there are at least 22 things that contribute to blood sugars. 

I wish people who wrote sitcoms actually wrote funny/truthful diabetes jokes, instead of offensive and stereotypical jokes. 
Diabetes is not punchline and your offensive jokes directly affects funding for the diabetes cure. 

I wish people, including healthcare professions, knew that the diabetes online community exists and is beneficial to every person living with diabetes and their loved ones. 

I wish people knew that diabetes requires emotional support as well as insulin. 
I wish people knew that Diabetes Burnout is REAL. 

I wish people knew that the only thing I can’t do because of my diabetes is make insulin, everything else is GAME ON. 

I could go on, but I want to know about what you wish people knew about diabetes - I'd really love and appreciate your thoughts on the subject - lets get the dialogue going! 


Addendum: On Wednesday, April 22nd, YOU CAN KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING. 

Also, please checkout http://mydiabetessecret.com  - a place to share heartfelt & anonymous D secrets in a safe/supportive environment. 

Diabetesalicious Lite: December Blog Giveaways, FDA Deadline, The Cost of Diabetes, Vibe Approved & Diabetes Burnout

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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 ;)