Wordle - Day 30 WEGO Health Blog

I'm participating in the WEGO Health Blog's 'Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge' where bloggers are asked to write about their conditions. The goal is to write from these 30 health related prompts for 30 days in April.

Today is day number thirty. (Thank goodness!!!!!!)
Word Cloud. Make a word cloud or tree with a list of words that come to mind when you think about your blog, health or interested. Use a thesaurus to make the branches of your tree extend further. www.wordle.net

Diabetes Word Cloud


Oh Wordle, you confound me. I typed in all the words that we use for managing Grace's diabetes, and it either lost it twice, or I did it wrong, or well I don't even know. So I typed in the name of this blog URL and this came up. It must have made a Wordle from the titles of my posts this month. 
And it seems fitting, so I left it.

Challenges & Victories - Day 27 WEGO Health Blog

I'm participating in the WEGO Health Blog's 'Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge' where bloggers are asked to write about their conditions. The goal is to write from these 30 health related prompts for 30 days in April.

Today is day number twenty seven.
5 Challenges and 5 Small Victories. Make a list of the 5 most difficult parts of your health focus. Make another top 5 list for the little, good things (small victories) that keep you going.

5 Challenges and 5 Small Victories

5 Challenges

1. Carb guessing

Yep, swagging the heck out of food in a restaurant or a place we stop to eat, or homemade food. We do pretty well, but some of the time, it just feels like one big crapshoot.

2. Blood draw

The annual blood draw sends me into a corner. My gal Grace doesn't like it (who does???) one bit. And neither do I. We just go and do it. And we celebrate with a giant chocolate chip cookie from the hospital cafeteria when we leave. And we totally guess the carbs on it.

3. Keeping Diabetes in perspective

It's diabetes. But she is here and alive and can do everything she wants to do. It's diabetes and we can handle it. We can do this. We can do it well.

4. Remembering our kit

When she goes to a neighbor's house to play now, I make Grace take her diabetes kit with her. I used to keep it at home, as she was just one or two doors away. Now that she has taken over her care when she is on playdates, she takes it with her. And it's a fine line between reminding, and nagging, that she take it. Believe me, a fine line.

5. Staying connected

A challenge? Maybe. I force myself to stay in the loop. To stay connected with other moms who have kids with diabetes who care for their child in the same way, without being overbearing or lighthearted about it all. I try to find sameness. It's like 'water seeks' it's own level.' Like that. Connection makes all the difference to me.

5 Victories (and I refuse to call them 'small')

1. OmniPod pump

It rocks our world and is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Which is 12 grams of carb a slice, mind you. It allows Grace to have freedom, control and go about her life. I cannot say enough good things about it. It has revolutionized her care.

2. Independence

Grace is growing up, and seeking more independence with her care. And I am all for it. I find it thrilling and exciting to see this next chapter in our lives. 

3. This blog

I started this blog after Grace was diagnosed in 2009, as a way of getting my story out into the world, in hopes that it helped me. I found connections and friends through this blog. It is one of the greatest things I have done, for myself (yes, I actually did something for ME!) since her diagnosis. And to find out that it has helped, or encouraged, or connected with others is another blessing in my life.

4. Our family

We are a strong unit here. We ebb and flow. We rise and fall. But we do it together, all the time. And for that, I am lucky. I am privileged to call these three kiddos and hubby mine, and for all the strength we provide each other.

5. DOC

The Diabetes Online Community. You all, and you know who you are, saved my life. I thought I was alone, silly me! And I wasn't, by any means. And my story often matched other people's stories. And I found faith in the DOC, and strength and friends who will be with me my whole lifelong. And I found out that I CAN do this.

My tagline - Day 26 WEGO Health Blog

I'm participating in the WEGO Health Blog's 'Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge' where bloggers are asked to write about their conditions. The goal is to write from these 30 health related prompts for 30 days in April.

Today is day number twenty six.
Health tagline. Give yourself, your blog, your condition, or some aspect of your health a tagline. Make sure it's catchy!

My tagline

Seriously? Make sure it's catchy? You know, cause there is nothing more 'catchy' than having Type 1 diabetes. Nothing says fun like that, I tell ya!


I say it at the top of my blog - 

Mothering a child with Type 1 Diabetes

and I will leave it at that!


And I am sooooo over the 30 posts in 30 days. Over. It.

One little girl - Day 25 WEGO Health Blog

I'm participating in the WEGO Health Blog's 'Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge' where bloggers are asked to write about their conditions. The goal is to write from these 30 health related prompts for 30 days in April.

Today is day number twenty five.
Third person post. Write about a memory you have but describe it, using the third person. Use as many sensory images (sights, sounds, textures, etc) as you can. Don't use /I' or 'me' unless you include dialogue.

One little girl

There once was a little girl who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was six years old. She was confused and upset and didn't know what was happening to her. Neither did her mother. Neither did her family. It was night and it was dark and that night seemed to last forever. The hospital days that followed were full of learning and doing, and realizing it wouldn't ever be the same again.

Lest someone think it all ends badly, the little girl grew, and learned and accepted. And so did the mother. And so did the family. 

The Blue Circle - Day 24 WEGO Health Blog

I'm participating in the WEGO Health Blog's 'Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge' where bloggers are asked to write about their conditions. The goal is to write from these 30 health related prompts for 30 days in April.

Today is day number twenty four.
Health Mascot. Give yourself, your condition, or your health focus, a mascot. Is it s real person? Fictional? Mythical being? Describe them. Bonus points if you provide a visual!

The Blue Circle

This is the symbol for diabetes. I'm wondering how many people still do not know that. And how I wish the blue circle was not proprietary to the International Diabetes Foundation, who controls it's usage. Cause if I controlled the symbol, this circle would be on EVERYTHING! Just like when you walk into a store, and cannot help banging into everything that is pink and has a breast cancer awareness ribbon on it - cup holder, license plates, tshirts, footwear, pens, notepads! I would make the blue circle everywhere..

So, sorry folks, no cheery mascot. We need awareness and the best way to do it is through a symbol.

JDRF/CHOP Conference

I'm participating in the WEGO Health Blog's 'Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge' where bloggers are asked to write about their conditions. The goal is to write from these 30 health related prompts for 30 days in April.

Today is day twenty three.
Health Activiist Choice Day. Write about whatever you like.

JDRF/CHOP Diabetes Conference

Grace and I attended the JDRF/CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) Diabetes conference on Saturday. It was entitled 'Living Well with Diabetes: Now and in the Future' which I really appreciated. There were lots of great speakers and sessions. And lots of families, many newly diagnosed, who came to hear all about diabetes care.


Dr. Aaron Kowalski of the JDRF spoke about the Artificial Pancreas Project (APP). This gives me the most hope, that Grace in her lifetime, will see something that will make her life with diabetes 'easier' for her, but most importantly, safer. The low blood sugar suspend feature interests me the most. Suspending insulin delivery when a CGM is already telling her that she is low, will perhaps save her life. I am all for that. It's exciting to see the technology, the clinical trials and the results. 


Marcus Grimm, a Team Type 1 rider, runner and athlete, spoke about exercise and Type 1 management. Here is a guy who just ran the Boston Marathon with a starting BG of 135 and an ending BG of 85. I will take advice from him any day. He had practical and useful strategies for carb-loading, testing while in a sport, refueling and how to prepare for an athletic event. This kind of stuff interests me, because if Grace learns all this, and I learn it, we can get on with life - dancing, swimming, doing everything she would like to do.


Grace met Robyn Cox, the dolphin trainer at SeaWorld, San Antonio, TX. What an inspiration! She was diagnosed at age 13 with Type 1 and also wears an OmniPod insulin pump, just like Grace. They talked about where they wear their pumps, how often they swim, how they attach it to themselves. It's so interesting to hear what others do. Grace's won't stay on without SkinTac and Robyn doesn't use SkinTac at all. Just proves that every person with diabetes is different. Grace was beyond thrilled to meet her in person and ask her questions and know that she can do anything she would like to do in life, much like Robyn.

Robyn and Grace, at the OmniPod table

We also some great friends at the conference, people who make it all worthwhile and lift my spirits. They let me know I am not alone in all this, and that if they can do it, day after day, I can too. The man of the hour, the incredible Bennet was there. And so was Haley, who spoke on a panel of teens with diabetes, for teens with diabetes. It was closed to parents, which was great. A few years from now, I will be sending Grace in to listen and share. It's exciting, the new chapters of life. Growth and independence.

Grace was in the children's group throughout her day, while I was in the sessions. She had a blast. She played games, did yoga and made art with the fantastic Lee Ann!

Grace in the games session with Bob the games leader!

Yoga class. She was relaaaaaaaaaxed.

Diabetes art with Lee Ann!

The Circle of Diabetes, The Circle of Life

And I love diabetes conferences. Carb counts on foods!

And I love my city, beautiful views from the 33rd floor of the Loews hotel!

And I love activity and exercise and the beauty of seeing this...

Great conference. Great friends. Great connections.

Miracle Cure - Day 20 WEGO Health Blog

I'm participating in the WEGO Health Blog's 'Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge' where bloggers are asked to write about their conditions. The goal is to write from these 30 health related prompts for 30 days in April.

Today ia day twenty.
Miracle Cure. Write a news-style article on a miracle cure. What's the cure? How do you get the cure? Be sure to include disclaimer.

Miracle Cure

My closest-to-a-miracle cure that I can think of, would be the closed loop system that is being tested right now among people with Type 1 diabetes.

And it is waaaay beyond my paygrade to explain it all here. Let Amy Tenderich and her wonderful chock-full-of-the-latest-diabetes-information blog DiabetesMine, explain it via a man who has tested the closed loop system, Tom Brobson.

You can read about his trial and his experience here.

And that, my friends, is a miracle.

Right here and right now, in 2012.

5 Dinner Guests - Day 19 WEGO Health Blog

I'm participating in the WEGO Health Blog's 'Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge' where bloggers are asked to write about their conditions. The goal is to write from these 30 health related prompts for 30 days in April.

Today is day nineteen.
5 Dinner Guests. Who are 5 people you'd love to have dinner with (living or deceased) and why?

5 Dinner Guests

1. My Nana
She was born in 1898. She was married in 1920 in Atlantic City, NJ. She lived through the Great Depression. Raised two little girls. One was my mother. Was married for more than 50 years.  By the time I was born, she was an old woman. By the time I could have gotten to know her, she was gone.


I would love to go back and ask her about her life, her marriage, her children, everything that I didn't get to talk to her about and discuss.


2. My mother-in-law
She passed away in 2010. And we miss her every single day. She loved her grandkids and was a riot on so many levels. I miss her spirit and her just being here with us. I want to catch her up on everything, though I think she already knows.


3. Wendy
My friend Wendy passed away in 2001. Unexpectedly. She was very young. She was one of my closest friends and she passed on her birthday, which was two days after mine. I miss her friendship, her laugh and her humor. 


4. Jesus
True business. I'll bet He has a lot to say. And I have a lot of questions.


5. Bruce
What do you mean, which Bruce? Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuce. As in Springsteen. Cause we need some music with our dinner.

The Book of Better - Day 18 WEGO Health Blog

I'm participating in the WEGO Health Blog's 'Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge' where bloggers are asked to write about their conditions. The goal is to write from these 30 health related prompts for 30 days in April.

This is day number eighteen.
Open a Book. Choose a book and open it to a random page and point to a phrase. Use that phrase to get you writing today. Free write for 15-20 without stopping.

The Book of Better

(originally posted November 16, 2011)

Wanna read something that will motivate you to make your 'diabetic life' BETTER?!
I found it, in The Book of Better: Life with Diabetes Can't Be Perfect, Make it Better by Chuck Eichten

The publisher of the book, Three Rivers Press, sent me a copy to read and preview. I read it in one sitting, the day after getting it. It's that good. And funny. And insightful. Oh and it's straightforward and honest. Chuck makes you laugh, makes you think, makes you think some more and then makes you question how you can do it all better.

Chuck has been diabetic since age 13. He grew up in the Midwest. Works for Nike, first as an apparel designer, then in Nike Brand Design, and now as the Design Director for the Department of Nike Archives (DNA). You can read his biography here. Fascinating career.

The whole premise of the book is that, as Chuck says, we can't be perfect, but we can always, always, always, be BETTER. Better at everything, including diabetes. We can always make better decisions about what to eat. We can always make better decisions about exercise and insulin intake. We can always do better with our A1Cs. We can always do better in accessing and using technology to take care of ourselves and our diabetes. Always. DO. BETTER.

And isn't that a wonderful way to look at all this care? That we can't be perfect and we should stop trying to be. But if we adopt the mantra of doing BETTER, well, that's DO-ABLE. In my mind, it's perfect sense. Stop the perfect Penny. Stop trying to achieve the perfect diabetic care. Do BETTER Penny. Work with what you have and what you can access and do it BETTER than you have done it before. It won't be perfect, but it sure will be BETTER. Physically, emotionally, mentally. Better.

A couple quotes stood out for me while reading:

'The highest gift a patient with diabetes can ever receive is a way to make diabetes itself the road, to find meaning in living with diabetes.' - Dr. Victor Montori, Div. of Endocrinology, Manyo Clinic (foreward)

In his chapter about 'Talk About Diabetes' Chuck has some profound thinking to share. In a most straightforward way...

 'Diabetes is a scary monster. Diabetes is just about everything you've heard.

Thoughtless, inconsiderate, selfish, sloppy. Shows up early, goes home late. Reckless and bullying. Prone to sneak attacks. And unlike many of our other personal scary monsters, diabetes isn't just made up in our head.

Scary monsters, real and imagined, are part of life. They don't go away when we run from them. They don't go away when we give in to them. They don't go away when we ignore them.

Truly, the most effective scary monster deterrent is understanding.

The second-most effective scary monster weapon comes FREE with understanding: COURAGE.'

                                                                                                     - pp. 36-37, The Book of Better

And something that really struck me, in his chapter about 'Future Better:'

So what do kids with diabetes need from the grown-ups?

Kids needs information - Learn everything and then share with your child what they need to KNOW - not what you hope, or wish or guess - but what they NEED TO KNOW about diabetes and moving and eating and insulin.

Kids need positivity - They don't need pity or sadness. Diabetes is not a cause for sadness. Sadness gets your kid with diabetes EXACTLY NOTHING. Kids will feel bad for you, the parent, because you are so sad. And it's not about you. And it's not about sad.

Kids need you to believe - Diabetes is CHALLENGING, not DEVASTATING. 

Kids need you to show them - If we want our kids to believe what we say, WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE SAY.

                                                                                                  pp. 262-263, The Book of Better

And there are tons more. His chapters include: 

'The Bottom 10 Bad Things About Diabetes'

'The Top 3 Good Things About Diabetes. I An Not Kidding.'

'People with Diabetes and the People Who Love Them

'Insulin; A Wish Come True'

'The Best Available is Better'

'Ups and Downs of Highs and Lows'

and that's not even all of them!

I cannot recommend this book enough, whether you are a parent of a Type 1 child or a Type 1 adult. I found it refreshingly honest, cut-to-the-chase about diabetes book, that lifted me up and gave me a feeling that I can DO better with diabetes. That I indeed, cannot be perfect, but I can always DO better by Grace. 

And isn't that something, to hear that? It is for me.

Buy the book. DO BETTER.

Disclosure: Three Rivers Press sent me the book for free. They did not ask me to write a review. All opinions are truly and totally my own. But you really should buy this book. Get it on Amazon for $10.20. That, my friends, is a well spent $10.20 so that you too, can do and feel better. 

It's not my diabetes - Day 17 WEGO Health Blog

I'm participating in the WEGO Health Blog's 'Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge' where bloggers are asked to write about their conditions. The goal is to write from these 30 health related prompts for 30 days in April.

Today is day number seventeen.
Learned the Hard Way. What's a lesson you learned the hard way? Write about it for 15 today.

It's not my diabetes

The hardest lesson I have learned about Grace having diabetes is that it's not MY diabetes, it is hers. As much as I know about it, take action on it, learn about it, study it, talk about it, blog about it, as much as I do any of those things, it's ultimately hers. Which means I do not own it in the way she does. I own the parenting part of managing diabetes, but she owns it, lock, stock and barrel.

The hardest part is realizing this as she grows up. Parenting a six year old with diabetes is different than parenting a nine, soon to be ten year old. And parenting will change when she is a preteen, a teen, a young adult and a gal all on her own. And I will change with it, that I vow. That I will keep up with what is best at each age, and learn, both what TO do, and what NOT to do, from those before me who have gone down this path. The hardest part is remembering its not mine.

The hardest part is realizing its not mine, and letting her be herself with diabetes. However she is - angry, sad, thrilled, despondent - precisely because she has every right to be. I cannot tell her how to feel and I don't try. OK, sometimes I do try, and then I step back and stop myself. Who am I to tell her how to feel? I don't know what it's like to live with it. I don't know what it's like to have the pump alarm, and click on insertion into her body, and be high and be low. I can pretend I go through those things, but does anyone really know what it's like to inhabit a life with diabetes who is not diabetic?

The hardest lesson is that it's not mine. I learn it again and again, in different ways. And each time, there is nothing I wouldn't do for her, and her diabetes.

Pinboard - Day 16 WEGO Health Blog

I'm participating in the WEGO Health Blog's 'Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge' where bloggers are asked to write about their conditions. The goal is to write from these 30 health related prompts for 30 days in April.

Today is day number 16. And no, I don't do weekend blogging. Rare. 
Pinboard. Create a Pinterest board for your health focus. Pin 3 things. What did you pin? Share the images in a post and explain why you chose them.

Diabetic Pinboard

Uh, yeah, I don't do Pinterest. Like I need one more time-sucking thing in my life. Who had time for Pinterest as a D-Mama? I have explored it, but them I soon learn what a true time-suck it was, and no thanks. Don't need it. And I need to be invited to join? Again, uh, no.

So I chose 2 images upon Googling (I love how 'Googling' is now a word in English and everyone knows what you mean. 'You know, just Google it.' Who would have thought, huh?!)

The myths of diabetes. 

I came upon this image and it lead me down the path of all the things people say to me, and say to Grace, upon hearing or learning that she has diabetes. No, she didn't eat too much sugar and get the 'betes. No, she didn't eat too many cookies. Ha ha ha. Yes, she can have that cookie you are offering her. No, I wouldn't let my other two non-diabetic kids have 3 cupcakes, so why should I let my kid with diabetes have them? On and on and on. I am completely over all the myths. Completely.

The language of diabetes

Especially when it comes to how we talk to our kids with D. 

'Hey, you need your shot.' 

'You are REALLY high right now?' 

'How low do you feel?' 

'Here, have some juice and a cookie, that will bring you up.' 

'I haven't a clue how many carbs, let's guess on this one.'

'Well, this is a crapshoot Grace. Let's see.' (Just said this to Grace last week.)

The inner workings of diabetes technology

This is the inner workings of an OmniPod insulin pump, which my daughter wears. It delivers insulin to her 24/7/365 and frankly, keeps her alive. It is a constant reminder that she has diabetes and needs to care for herself. People actually invented this technology and for that, I am eternally thankful. And I am amazed that we have it. 

10 Things I Can't Live Without - Day 13 WEGO Health Blog

I'm participating in the WEGO Health Blog's 'Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge' where bloggers are asked to write about their conditions. The goal is to write from these 30 health related prompts for 30 days April.

Today is day number thirteen.
10 Things I Couldn't Live Without. Write a list of 10 things you need (or love) the most.

10 Things I Cannot Live Without

1. These three girls. I am counting them as one.

2. Books. And reading. A lot. I love me some reading. Dream vacation, you ask? A spot on the beach and a stack of books to read. ALL. DAY. LONG.

3. The beach. Love it. Grew up on it. The ocean soothes me and calms me and centers me. I feel most at home when I am by the water. This was my view of 'home' when I grew up. When I was in the ocean, this is what I saw, and each time I see it, I am brought to my childhood on the beach. There is nothing like a sunset over my beach. Nothing.

4. A nail file. Yes, a nail file, you read that correctly. I cannot stand to have a ripped or torn nail. And I need a nail file. I have them stored all over my house and in my car. You don't wanna be with me if I cannot find one. I will go and buy one. Honest.

5. Laughter. Is that a thing? I guess it is. I love nothing more than to laugh. Tell me a joke. Play a prank. Just laugh. And I will laugh. I think most things are funny. And if you are my husband, and you fall while you are running into the ocean, I will, literally, laugh about it for years while I even think about it. In fact, now I am laughing.

6. Music. Every kind and every era. I will listen to anything. OK, being totally honest, metal-death-rock-ear-splitting-decibel-level really does nothing for me. But if I listened enough, I might enjoy it, with a set of ear cancelling headphones on. I love music, concerts, albums, LPs, cassettes, 8 tracks (remember those????) and CDs. I have favorite songs, but they are too numerous to mention. 

7. This guy. The hubs. He makes me laugh every day (see #5). He rolls with the punches. He's easygoing. He loves me and I love him. He makes my days great. And he carries a nail file for me (see #4). And he loves the beach (see #3).

8. Summer. I love everything about the heat and the humidity. Yes, I said it! I love the hot. I couldn't live without the change of seasons somewhere and where it didn't include a rockin summer.

9. Chocolate There, I said it. And you are wishing you said it too. I need chocolate to live. And be happy. And get through the day. And well, just because.

10. Insulin. All you have to do, is see my #1.