Diabetes Meetups

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Today I want to share my latest adventure this week, going to a diabetes meetup. Now I have been diabetic a long time and other than a stint at diabetes camp many years ago, I have never really met other diabetics face to face. As much as I love all my online D buddies, there is something special about meeting other diabetics face to face.

So this week an online twitter buddy told me about a local meetup and invited me to go along (if you tweet, check him out at @MarkMansheim, he is great!). So I put my nerves aside and planned to attend the monthly JDRF meetup. I braved rush hour traffic and made it on time to the restaurant. I asked the hostess where I might find the JDRF group. She pointed me over to the bar, where a gal my age was sitting. I went over, introduced myself, and the fun began. It turns out that many of the regulars for this monthly meetup couldn't come so it was just me and this person I just met, Melissa. You might think "wow, only one person showed up? How fun could this be?" but I will tell you, this was one of the best nights I had in a long time. Melissa and I hit it off and talked on and on about ourselves and living with diabetes.

As we moved to a table for dinner, I got a bit worried. I had checked online for nutritional info for this restaurant and found none. Being a fairly new carb counter, I was worried about what I would order. The last thing I wanted was crazy BGs because I can't carb count well. When looking over the menu, Melissa suggested the fire grilled pizzas. As much as I love pizzas, I don't eat them anymore unless they are frozen, lower in fat, and have a nutrition label! The pump is supposed to give you freedom to eat what you want but pizza has always messed up my BGs. I expressed my concern to Melissa about the pizzas. She told me that the pizzas were not greasy and fatty and that she had good luck with them in the past. Then I admitted I wasn't sure how to count the carbs (not feeling embarrassed as I usually do with a non diabetic). She understood and said she would help me out. So we decided to split the black fig and prosciutto pizza. It arrived at the table and we spent a few minutes discussing carb counts, made a

decision together about the carbs and started eating. It was the best pizza I have had in years and my BGs stayed in target both 2 hours after the meal and the rest of the night! Sweet success!

So the moral of the story is try to attend a diabetic meetup in your area. Not only could you find a new friend who gets what you deal with diabetes wise but you can get tips and new ideas to try. Melissa helped me think outside of the box I was in and just enjoy a pizza once and awhile. I needed that! And I was able to help her with BG and exercising problems she was having so she was able to exercise and finish with a good BG.

Be Happy,

Suzanne

Meme for The Butter Compartment

Today's post is in response to LeeAnn over at The Butter Compartment. Check out her blog today and join in the meme fun with us!

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?
My car payment. Oh why didn't I wait until after grad school when I had a job to buy new wheels?

2. Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?
Romance, what is that, hahahaha! Does International House of Pancakes count?

3. What do you really want to be doing right now?
I'm with LeeAnn on this one. I want some ice cream from Stone Cold Creamery like right now!

4. How many colleges did you attend?
Two. Columbus State University (part of the University of Georgia family of schools) and Argosy University for my MA.

5. Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?
It matched my fancy shirt I had on over it when I went up to visit my former internship site today.

6. What are your thoughts on gas prices?
Don't even get me started on this one. And please don't ask my husband who has a degree in economics. I really don't want to hear the free market speech again (love you honey!)

7. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
Are you kidding me? I just went to sleep!

8. Last thought before going to sleep last night?
I hope I get a decent night’s sleep without my DexCom screaming at me. That didn't happen by the way.

9. Do you miss being a child?
No, I am much happier as an adult who pretends they are a child :)

10. What errand/chore do you despise?
Cleaning the bathrooms. I will NOT do it.

11. Get up early or sleep in?
Get up early. If I sleep in too much I waste the day. Even if said day just involves playing on the PC and tweeting ;)

12. Have you found real love yet?
Yup, took me awhile but I did.

13. Favorite lunch meat?
Thin shaved turkey breast.

14. What do you get every time you go into Wal-Mart?
Ditto on preferring Target. I could spend all day in there. I buy the Dex4 Fast Acting Glucose Sour Berry bits. Thanks diabetes!

15. Beach or lake?
Beach, definitely!

16. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?
No, but it is not right for everyone.

17. Sopranos or Desperate Housewives?
Neither. I prefer Intervention, Dexter, True Blood, or Mythbusters.

18.What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
LeeAnn's response-"Hmm… would you think I’m a stalker if I said Dr. Polonsky of BDI? Although, I think my social ineptness would take over and I wouldn’t know what to say… or I’d say something megadorky and sound like a stalker." I'm with her on this one. I have spoken to Dr. Polonsky on the phone before and I know I sounded like a dweeb! I would like a do over please!

19. Have you ever crashed your vehicle?
Yes, I backed into a car while trying to get out of a driveway, ooops!

20. Ever use a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?
No but I almost had to about 5 years ago when my hubby built too big of a fire in our tiny fireplace!

21. Ring tone?
Fall Out Boy's This Ain't a Scene. It's the only ringtone I can hear from my crappy old phone.

22. Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth?
In the woods while camping.

23. Somewhere in California you’ve never been and would like to go?
San Francisco for sure!

23. Do you go to church?
No, I was raised catholic so I have done my time in church ;)

24. At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or a new relationship?
Career, I think. Oh, wait a minute, I am doing that right now with the whole counseling thing. Now I just need an interview or two....

25. How old are you
36 and fabulous!

26. Do you have a go-to person?
My hubby

27. Are you where you want to be in life?
Yes, because I wouldn't be who I am if it weren't for where life has taken me. Who I am opens a world of possibilities up for me!

28. Growing up, what were your favorite cartoons?
Looney Tunes

29. What about you do you think has changed the most?
I am not an angry, depressed person like I was for most of my life. I have found an inner peace & self acceptance.

30. Looking back at high school were they the best years of your life?
Uh, no. I hated high school!

31. Are there times you still feel like a kid?
Farts make me laugh like crazy!

32. Did you ever own troll dolls?
Only 1. My sister gave me a cavewoman troll doll for high school graduation because my classmates made fun of my full name when we had graduation practice. When the principal said my full name one of the boys yelled "Una the cavewoman!" making fun of my middle name. Of course the entire graduating class started laughing at me. Said boy is bald now so I think karma took care of balancing the universe!

33. Did you have a pager?
Yup, for an IT job back in 1995.

34. Where was the hang out spot when you were a teenager?
Denny's in Columbus, GA is where all the misfit and cool kids went. I also did not take insulin to cover the pancakes, much like LeeAnn. I think I thought I was too cool for insulin!

35. Were you the type of kid you would want your children to hang out with?
If I had kids (or wanted them) then yes. I was a pretty good kid.

Thanks LeeAnn for the trip down memory lane and a chance to reflect on myself today :)

It’s All About The Attitude…

Please check out all our latest blog posts at www.1happydiabetic.com!

I spent yesterday afternoon with a friend I call “the angry diabetic.” Let me tell you a bit about this friend. He is a smart, savvy guy with a BIG chip on his shoulder about his diabetes. He is 40 years old and has had diabetes for about 30 years now. He is a pumper yet does not carb count properly or test often enough. He is always angry about anything going on in his life and usually he finds a way to blame diabetes for this anger. Often he says it’s not fair he has diabetes (I agree, it’s not fair any of us have diabetes), diabetes holds him back (I disagree, he holds himself back in life), and being diabetic makes him a “loser.” In fact, he has told me more than once that all diabetics are losers. I for one am no loser! His negativity and anger about his diabetes colors his whole life and world. It affects his relationships and his health (he often gets so angry at small things that his blood sugar shoots into the 300’s which then makes him madder!).

Yesterday I expressed my concerns to my friend. I explained I wanted to be his friend but the negative attitude that he always has was wearing me down. It bothered me to see him suffer. He explained to me that he feels he has no control in his life because he is diabetic. He is depressed most of the time. He feels alone, like no one understands how he feels. When we hang out, he gets angry if my blood sugar is in target and his is not. He realizes that his depression is out of hand but feels hopeless, like things will never get better. He acknowledges that his attitude about diabetes “sucks.”

When I returned home, I started thinking about how much the attitude you have about your diabetes can shape how you live your life, as well as how much control you have in your diabetes care. Diabetics are at risk for depression, just as anyone who deals with a chronic illness is. Let’s face it, having diabetes sucks. It is not fun watching every morsel of food that you eat, logging, calculating insulin dosages, and sometimes having to stop doing something you enjoy because your blood sugar is low or high. Even when you do everything right, sometimes your diabetes still does not cooperate! Add depression to the day to day grind of diabetes and your attitude will do a downwards spiral!

You do have control about your attitude towards your diabetes, even if sometimes it doesn’t feel that way. A bad attitude puts you in a bad mood, setting you up for a bad day. It becomes a vicious cycle like my friend is stuck in. Does that mean you should be little miss/mister sunshine all the time? No one can be super upbeat all the time, that is unrealistic! It’s about balance and acceptance of diabetes. If you are feeling like you have a bad attitude towards diabetes, reach out to others. Talk to your doctor, friends, or family. Speak to people online at social networking sites. If you are feeling depressed, talk to your doctor immediately. Depression can suck motivation and positive attitudes right out of you.

So what do you do to change your attitude to a more positive one? Do you struggle with keeping a positive attitude? What do people in your life do to help you keep a positive attitude? I’d love to get your feedback!

Suzanne

PS-My friend is going to talk to his doctor about his antidepressant medication and he is considering going to therapy. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for him!

A video all diabetics must see!

The other day I was on YouTube and checking out what new videos awaited me in my subscription list. One of my favorite YouTube folks is Allie Beatty. She runs a site called www.alliesvoice.com. If you are not familiar with her, Allie has strong beliefs and opinions and is not afraid to share them with the world. Love her or hate her, she makes you really think about things when it comes to your diabetes, your healthcare, treatment options, etc… She is a vibrant and strong voice in the diabetes community and I respect the heck out of her for it!

So I settle into my chair and hit play on Allie’s latest video, “Do Anti-VEGF Shots Cause Strokes?” and I have to hit pause about 15 seconds into it because I am in shock. My eyes are filling up with tears as I sit in disbelief, staring at my laptop. I urge you to watch this video in its entirety now, before you finish reading my post.

Part of me wants to scream that this has happened to her. Part of me is angry that this could happen in this day and age. A big part of me is terrified that something like this will happen to me. Here is why I urged you to watch the video. Allie is a fighter and she will get through this. Visit her site, www.alliesvoice.com and offer her support. Do not let this story paralyze you with fear. Use this as another weapon in your diabetes arsenal to remind you that you must ask questions of your doctors, you must research treatment options, and you need to be actively involved in your health care. Know that sometimes you will have to take risks when choosing a treatment option and you may get some unwelcome side effects. This is part of the diabetes survival game. Never give up!

As Allie recovers from this stroke, I know she will continue to be brutally honest and question everything. It’s part of why the D community loves her so much! You are in our thoughts and prayers Allie.

Crazy Diabetes Ride!

Hello all! I have some really exciting news! I have partnered up with Bill, AKA 1HappyDiabetic, in the launch of his new, improved site. A big factor in the decision to re-launch the site was to make it easier for everyone to see the 1HappyDiabetic videos in one place and for people to be able to comment on them or request a topic for future videos. As Bill’s videos were viewed on YouTube, others like myself began making videos in response to Bill. Now all these videos and voices have a home at www.1happydiabetic.com as Bill and I work together to bring you the content you want, in a fun and silly way.

When Bill began making videos his goal was simple, reaching people across the globe all looking for the same thing… what is that you ask? It’s the search for a friend with diabetes. One that you can relate with, talk with, laugh with, and dance with! The idea of 1HappyDiabetic is the idea that all of us can become a happier, healthier diabetics. In other words, you too can be 1HappyDiabetic! Being a happier, healthier diabetic touches many areas of your life and you are not alone on this journey.

Thanks for joining us on this crazy diabetes ride!

Bill & Suzanne

I am no longer alone!

Today something huge happened. Something that shows we are not alone as diabetics or PWD (whichever way you prefer to be called). Today www.tudiabetes.com reached 10,000 members! This is an amazing, awesome thing!

It got me thinking about what this community means to me over the short time I have been a member. I joined tu about 9 months ago. Although I had been working in IT for over 13 years, it had never occurred to me to look online for help with my diabetes or to connect with others with diabetes! That is how alone and isolated I felt in this disease. I came across this brave, new world through YouTube, from 1HappyDiabetic’s profile. From there I realized the wealth of information and the ability to connect with others in no time. I quickly joined www.tudiabetes.com. Since that time I have made new friends, gotten help when I needed it, helped others in need, had people who understood what I go through taking care of my diabetes, became a blogger, became a twitter freak, and I have felt connected for the first time in my life. I am no longer alone! What a precious gift to know you are truly connected to others in your life. Words cannot do justice to the feelings…

Many thanks to Manny and his team for making this forum available. Thanks to all the bloggers out there who work hard to give us information and a forum for our cause. And thanks to all of you out there coming to connect with others and share part of yourself.


Find more videos like this on TuDiabetes - A Community for People Touched by Diabetes



Find more videos like this on TuDiabetes - A Community for People Touched by Diabetes

Feelin’ The Blues

According to the experts, the exact cause of depression in patients with diabetes is unknown. It is likely complex, involving interactions among psychological, physical and genetic factors. If you do a search on diabetes and depression, you will see this statement repurposed over and over. What does it tell us? Not much! We know that irregular glucose levels, substance abuse, eating disorders, smoking, noncompliance in diabetes care, physical activity and weight gain all affect one another, and feed into the life cycle of depression. It is stated that diabetics are twice as likely to suffer from depression than someone without diabetes. This is all great information but does it really offer a lot of insight into why we feel the blues? Not really!

Experts cannot tell us what really causes depression. There are no blood tests or brain scans to diagnose depression yet it is a real phenomenon that many people must deal with. Currently the best way to treat depression among any population, diabetic or not, is through the use of a combination of medication and therapy. We know this works, just not exactly why or how it works.

There are not a lot of answers as to why we are at risk. But we do know we are at risk for depression. Let’s face it, it is hard to live with a chronic illness that is 24/7 that you never get a break from. You can’t just wake up one morning and say “hey, I am going to pretend I am not diabetic this weekend and not take my shots (or pills or pump)” and expect to not end up sick or in the hospital. The planning, glucose monitoring, unexpected highs and lows, and the healthcare costs can drain a person. On top of that, many health care teams don’t even consider the emotional and mental impact of living with this disease!

So what do you think about the link between diabetes and depression? What do you think causes the higher risk of depression to diabetics? Have you suffered from depression since being diagnosed diabetic?