Diabetes Photo-A-Day - Day 1 - PAST

UPDATE for my posts - despite what it says at the bottom of this page - they are going to be scattered in various areas due to amount of time I have on my hands for Internet.  It all depends on my story behind the picture (I ike to sometimes put explicit details in my picture posts LOL) - so if you follow me in Twitter or Facebook - you will ALWAYS be able to find my contributions!  If I have time I will post in G+  (so many great diabetic groups in the social media - so little time to play!!!  Where's my ball of wool to chase around the room????

I'm in abit of a shock right now.  My endo - who I have been seeing since 1994 after I'd been without a endo for about 5 years was someone I lucked in on due to my basically walking into his office with no referral from my GP - based on word of mouth that he was a "good dude".  I was arguing with the reciptionist at the time - and either I was low or high - but I was I think maybe in tears.  He came out of his office at that time for the next patient - saw me - we spoke - he took me on - no questions asked.  Wow - my brain still functions in the memory category when I have abit of time to reflect.

Anyway, they gave me all my records of blood work a few years ago due to lack of space for old files (there was more - but for some reason - I seem to have kept one manilla envelope of them).  I have NEVER EVER looked at them until today - when I was searching for the topic of the #dmpad from Day 1 ( see  SixUntilMe blog post for the explanation of what pics to post each day).

Back then I was on needles and who knows how often I injected, I can't recall what I was using insulin wise (it's hard to remember everything you've been doing for almost 50 years with diabetes - unless your anal about writing everything down - which I am not - except for blogging <lol>).

I thought my diabetes was really out of control back then - today's subject has caused me to think alot about my years with this disease.  Hmmm - should I start keeping a diary - and just blog about it??? LOL

To see Day 2 post - go to this link - I'll be alternating between the two areas over the month as I post pictures.

National Diabetes Awareness Month (NDAM)

Hmmm, I've been seeing various places within the DOC (diabetes online community) going on about this being some celebration of diabetes month (NDAM). Yuppers, glancing at my calendar on my wall - THIRTY days of advocating in many different forms about my disease I've had for almost 1/2 a century.  Boy oh boy - do WE feel special or what? On further research (gotta love search engines) - I discovered that in the United States - Mr. Obama has declared that it indeed is true. JDRF Canada has as well -along with ADA (American Diabetic Association).  I was even surprised after abit of sleuthing that the CDA (Canadian Diabetes Association) website that they have as well!   I could probably post more - perhaps from other parts of the world - but I'll leave that up to you to let your fingers do the walking across your keyboard (and if you find any good ones - post them here). Everyone has their different approach to how to celebrate.  I have to admit one of my favs has always been the Lee Anne Thill's World Diabetes Day Post Card Exchange (details can be found at the bottom of this blog for 2013). A new one I've come across this year is well known American advocate/blogger Kerri Sparling's of Six Until Me - Diabetes Month Photo-A-Day project.  I always like to take pictures (have mobile - will click) - so you'll either see those pics posted here at The Roller Coaster Ride Diabetes or at Diabetes1.org website.  All depends on how many projects I get involved in (I mean - there is a life outside of diabetes - right?) So - what will you be doing this month to tell the world about diabetes?  I can't wait to see - but remember - awareness and advocacy isn't just a once a year thing.  It's all the time for many of us that advocate / educate. Remember though - if a person's eyes start to glaze over as you yammer on - retreat - some of what you'll have said will enter into their already over-logged brains - and hopefully they'll walk away with abit better understanding of what diabetes is all about!

DKA on the high seas - the pictures that you couldn't view at Diabetes1.org

Bent over cannula

If you're here - it's because you've just read my blog at Diabetes1.org - where my ability to post larger pictures is not possible  (they're working on it - allowing we the users more flexibility/ease of use for posting quickly/efficiently at their website as I test their system out for them like a faithful dog .. cat).

So, with further adieu - here are the more detailed pictures of my infusion set - the Inset II - that went bad!!!
I hope that this never happens again - and sad thing is - if I'd still been on MDI - this wouldnt' have happened - since I would have known I had injected the insulin - unless the insulin was not good.  In this case, due to problem with infusion set - no occlusion alarm - DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) occurred - due to no alarms from my pump - and my slowness at reacting to what to do.

The cannula never entered the skin BUT went into the adhesive bit on the side

Me the next day - feeling like death warmed over ( and it was a warm day - but I was still feeling frozen from the ordeal)

1000 Islands in Canada

The Antidote - August 10th from 5-7 PM - Northampton, MA

Have nothing better to do on a warm summer night?  Do you feel like being an audience member or a participant?  If you're wondering where I'm going with this - check out the BLOG I posted  the other day at Diabetes1.org - Ms. Heffern is looking for T1D's to fill up a dinner table (5 course meal - I'll be there - what more can you ask for?).

I've attended this event before - back in July 2011 - it was a blast - helping to educate the audience members about what Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is all about - no acting required - it's just sitting back - at a great meal (being served to you - now how often do you get this at home?) - and chatting away to others at the table.

Hope to see you there - it'll be well worth the 5 hour drive from Montreal to see you all.  I'm making a weekend trip of it due to the distance - mini-break for myself and my DH - who will also be at the head table - so you can grill him with questions as to "is she really as wild & crazy as she seems after being on the juice of life for almost 50 years???"

I'm no longer a VIRGIN in a few areas of the insulin pumping world

Okay - yesterday I posted a few pics of myself on Twitter/Facebook - wearing an infusion set on my arm - along with where the pump was kept.  I have NEVER done this before - wearing my infusion set on my arm - but since my posting of the pics - heard from a few gals who do the same - which is good to hear (along with - get longer tubing - since I have always used the 23" tubing - and they suggested longer - except my Animas order form only shows 23" for the Contact Detach - so I may be stuck there with having to use the Inset II set which comes in 23" & 43" tube length).  It's really odd though - that in researching the infusion sets at the American Animas website - that the infusion sets are way cheaper than in Canada - and that they carry a 43" tubing for the Contact Detach (stainless steel needle).  It's like what gives - our dollar is pretty well at par - why do we pay more - is it due to Canadians paying less for insulin or what??? Do Animas users from other countries besides the USA have same issue with paying more for their supplies?

Anyway, before I have to start doing some relaxation breathing lessons on this infusion set issue with Canada - one of the reasons for trying the arm site is seeing an Omnipod user last week at an Insulin Pump meeting in Cornwall - proudly showing off his pod on his arm.  Well, I have a mini-me version on my arm - with the pump itself nestled you know where.  So there!!  Though I'm really keen to see what an Omnipod is all about - especially with it being smaller now - though not sure when Canadians will see the new version due to Health Canada having to put their stamp of approval on it - tap, tap, tap.

Actually having the pump nestled there - when the pump vibrates for an alarm - like it did earlier this AM - made me become yet another "not a virgin" in a new area - aka

ALARM AUTO-OFF NO DELIVERY

You can read more about this - and my semi-excitement over it (little things get me excited as you can see <lol>) and how not jumping to the gun - I realised that the alarm that followed that one - is a good thing with the Animas 2020 pump (not all of my blogging about the Animas pumps is bad like my previous ones).

Sadly, to view this blog - you will have to click on this LINK to be sent to an alternate universe - feel free to comment there if you have a Facebook a/c (otherwise you have to sign up to post at Diabetes1.org - sorry - they're abit behind the social media times I'm afraid to say).

Meanwhile - I leave you with this picture of ' my girls ' (I'm not shy am I - but really I am) - I feel like I'm a character from Star Trek <lol>.

UPDATE on infusion sets available to Canada - the website for Canadians SHOWS the longer tubing length BUT no pricing which is shown at the USA site.  Why I have a list from Animas Canada that does not show all the same info as their website (at least the list shows the price - but more expensive for Canadians is another story) - that is just too trange.  I am only finding out now - that I can actually order the longer tubing lengths.  When I queried Animas Canada before on certain products I was looking into - they didn't offer anything else than what I saw on the Order form I am given each time I order up supplies (dated Dec 1/07).

I've printed up the list for my own reference (along with the date) - and going to inquire into this when I have to order up more infusion sets (I have enough for 2 months due to being on pump holiday) - with the longer tubing in order to wear set on my arm.  Hopefully they can give me a truthful answer as to why pricing is higher in Canada as well.

The story of my Dolly Partons as I fondly like to call them

Due to some teething problems at Diabetes1.org - where I still try to blog and post in forums from time to time - I'm slowly moving some of my "better" blogs (hey - they're all works of art to me <lol>) to Blogger - to ensure that we/I can still read them (a lot of research/work goes into my blogs I type out).  This one - about diabetic mastopathy is often one that is asked about when I talk about my Dolly Partons - aka silicone implant that even today - still feels a bit weird - but I've grow \ to love it.   Please note, there are some good comments at the original blog at this link (hopefully it will work for you, I have good days, bad days at the site).  

Read on - and hopefully my words make sense - if not - don't be shy - ask - or maybe share your own experiences with diabetes mastopathy - you're not alone.  

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

Back in my early 30's I experienced some problems with my left breast - and of course - the first reaction was "breast cancer".   I was immediately seen by a breast surgeon to determine why my breast tissue was sinking in - along with the lumps (like many women - I have very dense breast tissue).  Needle biopsies were useless due to the hardness of the lump - so over the next 5 years - I underwent many slice ‘n dice procedures as more growths appeared - drainage tubing - core biopsies, yadda, yadda, yadda.   I was a medical oddity - making medical journalist documents to the point where I was willing to go to a Miami medical conference and stand naked up on the stage for someone to say - " Ah ha - we know what it is !!! ").

In the end, because I am a gal who likes to be informed about my health - I hit the needle in the haystack - and came across a few articles on a condition known as diabetic mastopathy .  Yes, I the patient figured it out, but the sad thing is, in every article I came across - they said to " leave the lump alone it'll resolve itself after menopause and do not operate as this can lead to more growths! ".  When I told my surgeon what I had discovered - he was very baffled by it all - and I became abit of a celebrity in the medical community due to the way my healthy breast tissue had been eaten away to basically the point of nothing.  I wore silicone prosthesis for many years - which became abit of a party hit - when I'd take it out of my bra - and slam it on someone's forehead - sort of like the neural parasite from the Star Trek episode of Operation Annihilate.

So, advance many years later - about 4 years ago - what has become of the breast at that time is now a  lump - like a piece of wood  - hard - uncomfortable - sometimes painful when my cat would walk across my chest at night time to cuddle.  The recourse at this point in time - due to now a new group of surgeons wanting to slice ‘n dice me - is because of not knowing if this could become cancer over time - and they had nothing to compare me to - was to go ahead with a subcutaneous mastectomy (removal of the breast tissue inside - leave skin intact on outside).  Three days recovery in a hospital (have I ever told you I hate hospitals?) - I was CURED - thump with the bible on my forehead!!!

I'm still getting used to having a "Dolly Parton" again - have abit of scarring problems due to all the surgeries (had to have implant removed and replaced due to wrong size few years ago) - but I'm doing alright.  Because many mastectomy survivors have to keep there arms immobile for awhile - I did develop frozen shoulder -  not annoying enough to cause movement problem - but needs abit of work.  Of course, we diabetics are known for this condition - what isn't with long term diabetes ?  So, I've got a physiotherapist coming by my house for the next little while - showing me the correct techniques to massage the breast due to the scarring and tightening of muscles (very strange - when you have no feelings) - as well as sorting out the frozen shoulder.  The funny thing about the physiotherpapist who works with many breast cancer survivors - has never heard of this condition of the breast - and she knew very little about diabetes - so I educated her about diabetes while she did her magic work on me.  So, one more person out there that now knows that diabetes is a serious disease despite what they see of us on the outside (I told her that diabetics blood sugar when high is like battery acid on an engine - eats away at the good stuff - abit scary to hear - but it's true when you think about it).

So, look out world - I'll soon be back to slinging over the shoulder boulders at you - as I take on the world with my Dolly Partons!!!  Just remember - diabetic or not - always do your monthly self breast examinations - and get a mammogram done at least every 2 years - or as recommended by your medical team that helps with your mission of good health!

Note - This blog was originally posted on August 19th, 2009 at Diabetes1.org - they own my work that I've written over the years for them.

UPDATE - Check out Ann Bartlett's article at Health Central on Living with and Managing Diabetic Mastopathy posted March 09, 2015

My heart breaks for a T1D in a coma for past year

A few days ago – on my Facebook and Twitter pages – I made a statement about a T1D, an RN, being in a coma for almost a year.   I was in an emotional state and close to people who knew her – to really look at both sides of what actually happened.  In reality – we may never know the truth – due to lawsuit that is in progress ....

When I was around 8 and still learning the ropes of diabetes a few years after my diagnosis in the 60's, I remember a friend of mine, Karen Chin.  Her Dad had a car that had cruise control.  In my mind, I envisioned Karen and her family, on a road trip, with her Dad sitting in the driver’s seat, no hands on the wheels and simply letting the car do its thing and they’d get from A to B safe and sound.  Was it due to my watching Star Trek?   The Jetson’s?  My HIGHLY overactive imagination?  In the end, I’m not sure when, maybe when I started to grow up (me? Grow up) – I realised – there was more to “cruise control”.  A child’s imagination can be so funny at times.  Thinking about this yesterday, got me thinking about the devices we use for our diabetes control – aka the insulin pump that has been around since 1963 (a HUGE backpack version).

Early insulin pumps - a cry from what we wear today

In the past, I’ve been contacted by people who have had pump failures and written about at Diabetes1.org and in other diabetic forums on the Internet. I’ve felt privileged over the years to tell their stories – and some people who have read them – get very upset with the fact that the pump manufacturer is being pointed at as the bad guy.  From what I had heard from families – and the testing of the pump by third parties – the finger was seemed to point at the manufacturer – not the user – but in the case of what I heard this week – my mind is reeling in all the what if’s – that it’s been difficult to concentrate on work.

All I can say is – that some of us have come to the conclusion is due to mass production that society now expects – problems WILL occur – a pump will fail - in a perfect world it shouldn't happen – but it does from time to time.  I've never been able to find statistics on how often this occurs – and perhaps someone reading this knows more than I do – but still – where is the line drawn for "X out of 100" pumps – to make the users of pumps be concerned.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

I was at my first local insulin pump meeting since 2007 – in the quaint town of Cornwall, Ontario.  It was a small group, of  6 adults, but it was nice to shoot the breeze with others over some of the topics that were brought up for discussion by the ring leader John Caldwell.   Someone mentioned about a T1D woman in a coma – and sent to a rehab centre in Hamilton, Ontario.  They were wondering how she was doing and hoping she was alright. 

I didn’t think anything of it – until the next day – having breakfast at the club house (we’ve been working on our sailboat getting her ready for the season so stay there for overnighters).  As I was talking to one of the club members, doing my calculations on George Michael for my morning pig out.  I mentioned about this woman who was in a coma.  He immediately started to tell me about Amanda* who had been on an insulin pump for many years, that his wife who is an RN, had worked with her, and are close friends with her and her family.   She was diagnosed in her early 20’s.  Last June, it appears that a neighbour came by to drop off a package that contained an insulin pump that had been delivered at their house due to no response at Amanda’s house.   They then discovered later in the day, that the reason for no response to the delivery was she had slipped into a coma.

It was revealed that a call was placed to the pump manufacture by Amanda herself the day before – and this is the reason for the next day delivery of a new pump.  Perhaps her pump was having problems?   I cannot say for sure – but a new pump had arrived.   The history within Amanda’s pump had been wiped of EIGHT HOURS –with no record of anything during that time frame.   If she had stopped the basal due to having problems with blood sugars – or perhaps she bloused – and gave too much insulin – but there is no record according to what I was told in her pump history.   From one of her other pumping friends, I have heard that she did enjoy a glass of wine or two or … if she had been drinking – could she have gone low – and then passed out – then into a coma.   Whatever occurred during that time, we may never know. 

It’s all a question of theories at this point, since everything is hearsay – so saying that the pump had emptied out the full cartridge of insulin – like it has with some of the other T1D’s I’ve written about in the past – we do not know if this occurred to Amanda. 

Her family had her airlifted at some point after – at their own expense – to a state of the art health care centre in Hamilton, Ontario that deals in rehab and brain injuries.  She stayed there for abit – but with not getting any better – the family once again – air lifted her back home.  In the meantime, while dealing with this, Amanda’s only sibling, a brother died.  I mean, how devastating is that?

So, a year later, she is still in a comatose state, her eyes are open, but according to her close friends she is not there and they say she wouldn’t want to be living this way – that she would rather be dead.   That she was once a vibrant woman, full of zest for life floors me as a diabetic.   Her family has now decided to honour her wishes of DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) – as a RN herself – she probably knew how difficult this can be for family members – but watching someone who is not all there – is something I know for myself I would not want to be living that way.

As her friends said to me, seeing her in this state, and knowing her well enough that she would tell them to pull the plug, is heart breaking for them to witness (they see her a few times a week).  They’d even go to prison they were saying, if they could perform this duty.  On top of all of this, Amanda’s only other sibling was killed earlier in the year, so imagine what her parents are going through – this is what breaks my heart the most.

The other thing that has been going through my head with writing this difficult blog – that will leave many of you asking similar questions - perhaps having a closed loop system might be the answer - though I still worry that with more bells and whistles that there is more that can hiccup in the devices we wear.  If Amanda  was unable to respond to her CGMS - if she wore one that is  -  informing her pump that she was going low or high – would the pump have the ability to take over at that point – without her telling it what to do as she was unconscious –  and either shut down or give her more insulin?

Will what really happened ever be revealed about what occurred with her insulin pump, like with the other cases or it was Amanda herself at fault?  Who knows?  The one thing that I did learn is if something like this happens to any of us, with our insulin pumps perhaps going wonky, *** DO NOT GIVE IT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO TEST OR HAND BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER ***.  Get it tested by a third party that is impartial.  Whether this has been done with Amanda’s pump – I’m not sure – but due to the legal actions taking place right now – I’m thinking it has been.

*Name changed to protect privacy

How Creative Can You Be When You Have 4 Paws?

Click  Diabetes Art - Saturday 5/18 to read more great blogs on this subject!
This year Diabetes Art moves up from the Wildcard choices as we all channel our creativity with art in the broadest sense. Do some “traditional” art like drawing, painting, collage or any other craft you enjoy. Or look to the literary arts and perhaps write a d-poem or share and discuss a favorite quote. Groove to some musical arts by sharing a song that inspires you diabetes-wise, reworking some song lyrics with a d-twist, or even writing your own song. Don’t forget dramatic arts too, perhaps you can create a diabetes reality show or play. These are just a starting point today – there are no right or wrong ways to get creative!

I've always taken part every year in the Diabetes Art Day that Lee Ann Thill who blogs at The Butter Compartment is the brains behind  - and we are her pupils I feel sometimes - as we learn to express ourselves in this yearly event.   Except I was on a 3-week holiday when it was held in February - so I missed out on it this year - boo! hoo!.    It's almost like being a kid again when I've taken part in that event it's great to see some of the other great creations that are done.  It's like SOOOO amazing!!!  

When I'm not taking part in events like that - one of my favourite ways of expressing myself - is to create clothing with material that you wouldn't otherwise see in the big box store.  I'd hoped last week - in order to take a picture of it completed - I was all set to make this simple dress (my fav thing to wear tends to be lose - complete with pockets to stuff an insulin pump into - complete with little hole in the side seam for the tubing). The material I have is a beautiful blue with splatterings of purple/turquoise (the picture below just doesn't do it justice).  Except,  it's a type of material that I've never worked with - very light and silky.  So, putting in pockets maybe out - so much thinking is having to go into this project  - along with deciding if the inside of the fabric will look better on the outside than on the inside of the dress (now you see what high fashion designers go thru' when they're presented with their material choices - decisions - decisions).  

Oh the artist in me sometimes makes me scream - as I want PURRFECTION.  For some of you who don't create your own clothing - you're probably saying ... ahhhh just go to a store and buy it ready made! Well, for me, a fasionista in her mind - I like to have some things that just can't be found made enmass!

On top of my being slow to not get started is if the weather EVER gets warmer (officially here in Canada - this is Victoria Day Weekend or Stompin' Tom Weekend and the beginning of planting and warmer weather). So far, we've had some cool days - even with snow flurries in May!!  I mean, come on, I want to get out of my winter woolies NOW!!!

Winter Woolies - how to look in style in Canada

So, all I can show you - is the material - tilt your head to the right - since for some reason - Blogger has changed my Android phone picture side ways.  Stretch the neck muscles - work it, work it, work it!

Now off to start deciding on what pattern to use .... 

Welcome to my wild imagination for a diabetic service animal!

I really disliked  like the  topic for today’s Diabetes Blog Week topic – which is called Freaky Friday.  It’s supposed to be like the movie – but instead of switching bodies – you have another chronic disease instead of diabetes.  Personally, to blog about having another disease really left a bad taste in my mouth (hey – having halitosis is nothing to laugh about).  In away – I sort of wrote the same thing in my blog on Thursday’s Diabetes Blog Week subject of “accomplishments”.  So, sorry Jane of Jane K. Dickinson, RN, PhD, CDE and Bob of T Minus Two  - your topic SUCKS – but we’re all entitled to our own opinion right?

So, here’s my take for the Diabetes Wild Kingdom Wildcard topic which is - what is the ideal diabetes service animal? Think beyond the obvious and be creative in explaining why your choice is a good one. For example, maybe a seal would make a good service animal - it flaps its flippers and barks every time you get a good blood sugar reading! (Thanks to Tristan of Based on a True Story for this topic suggestion.)

Originally I had thought choosing the shark would be a good idea.  Did you know that they can detect the tiniest blood drip from more than a mile away?  This is due to their brain being two-thirds dedicated to smell, even uninjured fish that aren’t bleeding, get the shark’s attention.  Now, imagine having a shark as your hypo/hyper awareness service animal.  Cool eh?   So here I am, showing up at party with Rocko – in a tank beside me on wheels . He’s wearing some punk rock style collar around his neck (he loves AC/DC)  - he would be a cool shark that’s for sure.  Imagine the reaction of my mates – my telling them he’s my BFF for detecting my highs and  lows in my blood glucose.   They eye me with a weird look in their eyes – but it’s okay –I'm used to that – since I've always been ahead of my time.   Wait, he’s eyeing the plate of sushi with raw tuna (drool) – he’s smiling (yes - sharks can smile) – as he sees one of my friends licking their lips/fingers  – ohhh! OHHHH! …. I’d been warned about this by the trainer - he's jumped out of the  ….

I then quickly changed my mind on that – since then he would be probably leap out of the tank – gobble up all the fish appetizers – and maybe more – and embarrassing me to all hell.  Plus the other thought of maybe he might go the way wild animals can go sometimes.   In the beginning they are pets –bit then they attack their owners due to some little glitch in their noggin’.  I’m having vivid thoughts of Rocko forgetting what he’s supposed to do – sense my blood sugar –  bite off my hand and more of me – as I sleep at night with my hand accidently falling into his tank beside my bed. 

I know, I know, what causes me to have such a vivid imagination?  I have no idea – too much Ovaltine as a child?

So, my next thought as I did my research on animals that have great sniffing ability was to go with something simple.  A rat – nice and portable – fits easily in your hand/shirt pocket.  Giggle – I think he’s escaped – I feel something squirming around my waistline.  

Okay - back to the selling point of having a rat.  Did you know that like dogs, they can be trained to use their best sense of smell in stereo with each nostril working independently?

Now, I know some people freak out at the mere sight or even mention of a rat.  My Mum is a good example there – she hated my gerbils as a youngster and I’m lucky to have been allowed to have them.  Especially when they escaped their cage from time to time (I had to let them be free once in a while Mum).  Rats are actually very clean little things, despite many peoples concept – did you know that?  Also, they can be trained, like dogs,  since they smell with each nostril individually.  So while Ben detects for my blood sugar level going into the low/high zone of no return, he can also detect that piece of cheddar cheese close by with his stereo nostrils … wait … it’s a trap!!!  Oh, oh, there goes Ben (who set up that trap??  Mum, are you reading this???) 

It also doesn’t help that I have a love for cats –so now I can  see it wouldn’t work out.  So maybe I’m going to have to go back to the drawing board on this.  I thought I had it all figured out!

Night, night, sweet dreams Ben

You’ve Come Along Way Baby!

Day Four of the 4th Annual Diabetes Blog Week - We don’t always realize it, but each one of us had come a long way since diabetes first came into our life. It doesn't matter if it’s been 5 weeks, 5 years or 50 years, you've done something outstanding diabetes-wise. So today let’s share the greatest accomplishment you've made in terms of dealing with your (or your loved one’s) diabetes. No accomplishment is too big or too small - think about self-acceptance, something you've mastered (pump / exercise / diet / etc.), making a tough care decision (finding a new endo or support group / choosing to use or not use a technology / etc.). (Thanks to Hilary of Rainie and Me for this topic suggestion.)

I've had diabetes since the early 60’s.  For some people I met, when they hear that date, they say … “Oh my God you poor thing!”.  It’s like, what do they mean?  I’m alive and kicking with all the advancements that are available to those of us who can afford it – otherwise I probably would have kicked the bucket many years ago – as my endo back in the 70’s had forewarned me … “You won’t live past 40”.  Of course, that was after I’d been in a coma for a few days, due to my stupidity as a teenager of not taking my diabetes seriously – going into DKA.  Live and learn, and luckily, I lived thru’ it and never had issues with DKA since - ever (I detest hospitals with a passion).

The one thing I have found.   Having diabetes  has made me better able to understand/more compassionate of other people who are going thru’ health problems of their own.  In my opinion what they are suffering from is sometimes far worse than my diabetes.  Mine looks simple compared to what they are going thru’ – but then maybe it’s due to having had diabetes so long, accepting challenges of the roller coaster ride we’re all on. 

For example, I have a friend who has been battling MS for the past 10 years.  Like myself, their disease has no cure.  Sadly Canada ranks as one of the top places for this disease, which I only discovered when doing my usual research that I do for all my blogs I compose.  They  had to quit work last year – are now on disability which helps abit since they’re still putting kids thru’ university.  it's tough but they are trying to cope with life as best as they can.  Sound like a familiar tune that we diabetics go thru'? 

So, when they feel down, I get what they are going thru’ – and we actually try to laugh over how annoying our health issues are – and get cracking on with things as best as we can (e.g. like taking my Porsche out for a spin on the back roads .... FAST – while they can still are able to drive).  Like myself, they are determined to not let their disease get the better of them, and are hanging on with the hope that like many of us diabetics – a cure will be found.

NB: To read other blogs on today's topic - Click on -  Accomplishments Big and Small -Thursday 5/16  - you'll be amazed at what is being churned out today!

Memories in the fast lane of a diabetics life

Today we’re going to share our most memorable diabetes day. You can take this anywhere.... your or your loved one's diagnosis, a bad low, a bad high, a big success, any day that you’d like to share. (Thanks to Jasmine of Silver-Lined for this topic suggestion.).  To view more blogs on this topic - you can go to -  Memories - Wednesday 5/15 

~~~~~~~~~~~

Once again, this is a really difficult hard to write about - and being stumped is taking me away from the time to read everyone's blogs so far (why isn't there a 26 hour day???).  Having had diabetes so long, my memories I guess have become faded, especially when it comes to diabetes diagnosis, bad low, bad high, successes, etc.  Maybe if I’d been diagnosed later in life – my memories might be more intact – but perhaps other T1D’s diagnosed from birth or like myself – just starting school – how many of us can really remember how to compare our life with diabetes against “normal” (this maybe something I quote a lot during this week of the Diabetes Blog Week).  I’m having a serious thought right now that maybe I’m not cut out to blog about diabetes – because all I want to write about is fast cars, clipping my claws, and enjoying a glass of wine <lol>

A memorable diabetes day?  Hmmm, this topic is really stumping me, since I've lived with diabetes since I was a young child that I can't really distinguish a diabetes memory from a "normal" nondiabetic memory - to me this is life - not distinguished by my disease.  Perhaps I shuffle the bad memories into a dark segment of my sponge brain?  I try to keep that as teeny tiny a space for crap like that as possible I guess.  My grey matter has more uses for storage than that I'm afraid to say.  So, instead I'll bore you to death on my technique of nabbing someone who you want to spend the rest of your life with - thru' the ups and downs of trying to cope with life.  Chose wisely my friends ...

I think one of my most memorable days is the day my husband accepted my marriage proposal and not really knowing what he was getting into with a whack job diabetic gal like myself (hey – hypos make us such exciting folks to be around right?).   Yes, I, a woman, proposed to my fiancé - not the other way around.  I'd been forewarned by a former boyfriend, that it would not go well, but I stuck to my guns and proceeded to plan ahead for the happy occasion. 

The fact that he accepted my tossing the engagement ring box at his head (I was terrible at baseball with aiming) at the Pioneer gas station is proof in the pudding.  I was attempting to understand why my brother – who knew what I was doing that wintry sleet filled night in December – would loan me his 1986 Mazda RX7 with the gas tank at EMPTY.  It was running on fumes by the time I got to my soon-to-be-betrothed in downtown Ottawa – late – and I had never filled up the gas tank before on my brothers car (oops – maybe that’s why he left it on Empty for the times I snuck it out for a spin?).   I was a jumble of nerves with what I was about to do, and his Dad, who had no idea what was going to happen when I arrived,  and being the camera clicking fiend he was, wanted to take pictures of us in our finery.  I wanted to get going – and propose – before arriving at the Christmas party that my company was having - I was on a mission!

I’d obtained a beautiful diamond signet ring from a 2^nd hand shop for my betrothed - only the best for my main squeeze.  I had practised on my knees to some of the engineers at work (I think I had bruised knees and holes in my tights from this). Saying -  “will you marry me?”.  Sadly – one friend – Amitabh said “yes” – but all he really meant was “I want the ring” with lust in his eyes like Gollum.  A few of my mates from work were also doing the same thing – asking their beloved ones in the hand of marriage that same night – before heading to the party.  Birks was making a good profit that night for engagement rings!  Our plan was to all meet up – and show off the hands of our fiancé/fiancée.  Pressure or what?  

Well, the good thing, he accepted, the others accepted, without hesitation.  I think he was abit surprised, not by being knocked up by a box up the side of the head, but knowing how I was sort of anti-marriage - that I'd actually pop the question.  Meeting up with all  my mates at the party later – each girl and one guy (mine) held up their left hands - gleefully excited – we partied like it was 1999 and still are!

LIFE IS GOOD!

Petition to ban the wearing of mullets in Montréal

Recently various petitions have been circulating the Diabetes Online Community (DOC), so today let’s pretend to write our own. 'We, The Undersigned' - tell us who you would write the petition to – a person, an organization, even an object (animate or inanimate) - get creative!! What are you trying to change and what have you experienced that makes you want this change? (Thanks to Briley of inDpendence for this topic suggestion.)

WE, the citizens of the city of Montréal petition the city to ban the mullet hairstyle onto our Metro system.  It has been discovered that people wearing a mullet cause increased giddiness and confusion amongst Metro users – who sometimes have dropped off the platform onto the tracks with disastrous results.  As well as creating havoc on the stairs as people try to get a good view of the mullet wearing person – it is highly unsafe. It has also been noted at the Port of Montréal – many flocks of seagulls gather around these people – causing havoc for cyclists and innocent bystanders walking by.

The history of the mullet goes back over 4,500 years, to the time of the Great Sphinx (more information on other mullet conspirator’s can be found at the following website link to broaden your knowledge of the seriousness of this hairstyle - http://www.plagueofthemullet.com/history-of-the-mullet.htm ).

We propose that the city of Montréal enforce this rule immediately – with the possible enticement of a $20 amount of money to help fund the cost of a good haircut.  Any assistance in helping set up this program will be readily available from the undersigned below if need be.

Click for the We, The Undersigned - Tuesday 5/14 Link List - hopefully their petitions will be less serious then mine  <lol>