Cover Me . . .

(Are you singing 80’s Springsteen with me??)

This month the DSMA Blog Carnival wants us to complete a sentence.  “I wish my insurance company paid for _________because ______________.”  Can I just say EVERYTHING???

But seriously, “everything” is my answer.  I’ve been pretty lucky as health insurance goes.  I have my insulin pump.  My CGM got approved without much hassle.  My first test strip order with my new insurance was denied because I test 8 - 10 times a day and they said that was more than they would cover, but I asked my endo's office to appeal it and within a week all of the test strips I need were delivered to my door.  So yes, it could be worse . . . . but it could also be better.

I wish my insurance company would cover strips for which ever brand meter I’d like to use - instead of just the two brands they’ve decided I can choose from.  While we are at it, I wish they'd also pay for the actual meter because I'm majorly pining for the iBGStar but don't have an extra $80 to shell  out for it.  I wish my insurance company covered all brands of insulin equally - instead of having “preferred” brands with lower copays.  Unfortunately, my body does not “prefer” the brands on the lower copay tier.  Even with coverage, the copays on the stuff I need is ridiculously expensive!

But still, I’m pretty lucky with insurance.  I think of people who can’t get coverage for insulin pumps.  I think of friends who are allowed only one or two test strips a day.  I think of those who go to sleep every night scared stiff of lows, but can’t get coverage for a CGM to keep them safe.  And I think of the struggles people with other illnesses and conditions go through over insurance.

So instead I wish ALL insurance companies paid for EVERYTHING PEOPLE WITH DIABETES (or any health condition) NEED TO LIVE LONG HEALTHY LIVES because WE DESERVE IT.

This post is my May entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival.  If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2012/may-dsma-blog-carnival-2/ .

On a Mission . . . .

After having my Bad Diabetes Day it would be easy to get frustrated and put in a little less effort.  I’ve been feeling pretty depressed lately too, so that makes it even easier to just throw in the towel.  But instead I’m trying to fight through.  And for some reason, I decided my mission of choice would be to conquer cereal.

A bowl of cold cereal is near the top of my list of foods I can’t seem to work out a bolus for.  I have such a difficult time eating it without a huge post-meal spike.  I’m not a huge fan of cereal, so usually I’m happy to just choose something else for breakfast.  But for the past few days, I’ve really wanted some cereal for breakfast.  So I set about to finally work out a bolus for it once and for all.


I don’t quite have it down yet, but I’m definitely making progress.  For the past two days I actually ended up too low during my post-breakfast blood sugar check.  So I’ll keep dialing down my aggressive bolusing bit by bit until I get the formula worked out.

Eating a bowl of cereal for breakfast is such a minor thing that most people wouldn’t think twice about it.  But when diabetes is in play, the smallest things can become a challenge.  I’m on a mission to make cereal work for me, and I think I’m almost there.

What diabetes missions are you taking on these days?

Bad Diabetes Day

Some days, diabetes slides quietly into the background and I can go about my day with The D running pretty much on auto-pilot.  Yesterday was not one of those days.  Yesterday went more like this:

• I woke up in range, but needed a correction after coffee even though I had bolused for the coffee.
• I bolused for two slices of toast for breakfast and gave my insulin it’s usual 20 minute head start.  Yet I spiked to 220 after eating and needed a correction.  (Twenty minutes is what works usually works for me, but remember, YBMV.  Your Bolus May Vary)
• Had I been smart, I would have ignored the correction recommendation for that 220 because I was off to the grocery store.   I would have remembered that grocery shopping often makes me go low and I would have planned accordingly.  Yesterday I was not smart.
• Forty minutes after returning from the grocery store my blood sugar was 39.
• Twenty minutes after my blood sugar was 39 I had a telephone interview for a web article about the DOC.  Although I had inhaled just about everything in sight before the phone rang, my mind wasn’t completely back on track for the interview.  I felt fuzzy and I’m quite certain I babbled like an idiot.
• A little over two hours later I was trying to bolus my way back down from a blood sugar of 268 and feeling like total crap.  Because apparently inhaling everything in sight before my call was a bad idea.  (Duh!!)
• I had put some yummy dinner fixings in the crock-pot so dinner would be a breeze.  However, it wasn’t all that breezy because hours later I found a cold crock-pot.  It seems you need to REMEMBER TO TURN THE THING ON if you actually want it to cook your dinner.  Also, I do realize this isn’t really a Bad Diabetes Day story as much as it is a Bad Cook story.  But I don’t have a cooking blog to whine on, so I’m whining  here..

Is there a silver lining to my Bad Diabetes Day?  I’m not sure there is . . . . except that today would have to go better.  Right??

Downsizing . . .

Less is more . . . . or more is more?

 Bigger is better . . . . or good things come in small packages?

I suppose either can be true, depending on what exactly you are talking about.  And when it comes to my insulin pump, I’m definitely happy to be going a little bit smaller.


When I started pumping a little over four years ago I wasn’t sure which size pump would be best for me.  For a few reasons, my pump rep and I decided I should go with the larger one.  While this worked just fine, the reality was that it held way more insulin than I could ever use up before it was time to change out my site.  Since I prefer to change both the site and reservoir at the same time, I simply began partially filling the reservoir and later changed to the smaller reservoir (which works in either size pump).

Once my pump warranty expired I knew I wanted to go with the same pump (a purple Revel) but in the smaller size.  And it couldn’t have come at a better time, because my parent’s dog put a gouge in the screen when she stood on my lap . . . . and my pump.  So I was thrilled when my new “downsized” pump arrived yesterday.  Sure, it’s not that much smaller, but it looks so cute and it feels so petite in my hand!  I can’t help but smile every time I look at it.  I’m enjoying it while I can, because I’m sure I’ll get used to its smaller size pretty quickly.  But for now, when it comes to my insulin pump, less is definitely more!!

**I currently have a contract with Medtronic, although this pump purchase was not part of that contract and was made independently.  My contract disclosure can be found here. **

Diabetes Blog Week Wrap Up

Wow!!  Looking back on last week, the first thing that pops into my head is WOW!!!!!   I want to thank you all for your enthusiasm throughout the week.  In the end, we officially have 240 people signed up on the Participants List and I can’t quite wrap my head around that!!

Some quick housekeeping.  If you haven’t yet, please check your listing on the Participants List to be sure I didn’t mess it up.  If I did, please shoot a quick email to my DBlogWeek email and I will fix it.  Also, if you participated but didn’t officially sign up and would like to be added to the Participants List, you can email your name and you blog address and I’ll add you.

The Link Lists will remain open for about another week, so if you didn’t get a chance to add your posts there is still time.  Then they will be closed to new entries (to prevent spam links from being added), but will be available so we can always find the posts from the week.  If you need something added after I’ve locked the lists, I'll be happy to add it for you.

I know the week went by quickly and some people got behind on their posts.  That is fine - I had a busy weekend and almost didn’t get my post up yesterday!!  If you’d like to finish your posts this week (or beyond), that’s great!!  Or if you don’t want to, that’s fine too.  I’m grateful to everyone who participated and for each post that was done.  I haven’t gotten very far on reading and commenting yet, but I will try my best to read each and every post and to leave at least one comment for each blogger who participated!!

Will there be a fourth Diabetes Blog Week?  That’s up to you all!  I’m sure game if you are.  Do you have topic ideas or other requests?  Let me know, because DBlog Week belongs to all of us!!  And thank you again for making it such a success and so much fun!!

Diabetes Hero - DBlog Week Day 7

Welcome to Day # of Diabetes Blog Week. If you are participating, don’t forget to link your Diabetes Hero post on this list.  (Please enter your Blog Name and the URL for your Diabetes Hero post.)


Let’s end our week on a high note and blog about our “Diabetes Hero”.  It can be anyone you’d like to recognize or admire, someone you know personally or not, someone with diabetes or maybe a Type 3.  It might be a fabulous endo or CDE.  It could be a d-celebrity or role-model.  It could be another DOC member.  It’s up to you – who is your Diabetes Hero??

Hero: he·ro/ˈhi(ə)rō/ - (Noun) A person who is admired for courage or noble qualities.

When I think about a Diabetes Hero, I think of the kids with diabetes.  I think of how they deal with this disease at such a young age and how they show such courage.  They are heroes.

Wait, then I think of the parents of those children.  I think of all they do every day to care for their kids.  The sleepless nights and the worry they endure.  They are heroes.

Wait, what about those diagnosed with diabetes as adults.  I can’t imagine how it feels to suddenly have such an intricate chronic illness to deal with.  I think of all of the changes they must suddenly make and all of the information they need to learn.  They are heroes.

Wait, what about the kids with diabetes who have grown into adults with diabetes.  I think about how they were promised a cure in five years, and how many multiples of five years have passed without one.  I think of the strength they show to just keep going, carrying on day in and day out with this disease.  They are heroes.

Wait, what about significant others and loved ones of people with diabetes.  I think about how much they do for us.  I think of my own husband getting up in the middle of the night to get me a juice box.  He, and others like him, are heroes.

Wait, my endo!  My fantastic endo who never judges, never scolds, always does all he can to help me live a happy and healthy life with diabetes.  And all of the other endos, CDEs, nutritionists and the myriad of medical professionals we see throughout our diabetic life.  They are heroes.

Wait, I can’t forget my blogging friends.  Kerri, who blazed the way for us and inspires me every day.  The 240 bloggers who have signed up for Diabetes Blog Week.  Each and every person who shares their diabetes life on-line, so others will learn and not feel so alone.  And those who read and comment and lurk.  They are heroes.

I don’t really feel lucky to have diabetes.  But I sure do feel lucky to be surrounded by Diabetes Heroes.

Saturday Snapshots - DBlog Week Day 6

Welcome to Day Six of Diabetes Blog Week. If you are participating, don’t forget to link your Saturday Snapshots post on this list.  (Please enter your Blog Name and the URL for your Saturday Snapshots post.)


Back for the third year, let’s show everyone what life with diabetes looks like!  With a nod to the Diabetes 365 project, let’s grab our cameras again and share some more d-related pictures.  Post as many or as few as you’d like.  Feel free to blog your thoughts on or explanations of your pictures, or leave out the written words and let the pictures speak for themselves.

What They Should Know - DBlog Week Day 5

Welcome to Day Five of Diabetes Blog Week. If you are participating, don’t forget to link your What They Should Know post on this list.  (Please enter your Blog Name and the URL for your What They Should Know post.)


Today let’s borrow a topic from a #dsma chat held last September.  The tweet asked “What is one thing you would tell someone that doesn’t have diabetes about living with diabetes?”.  Let’s do a little advocating and post what we wish people knew about diabetes.  Have more than one thing you wish people knew?  Go ahead and tell us everything.

DIABETES IS HARD!!!!!  Diabetes is a constant balancing act and I fall off my tightrope just as often as I stay on, if not more.  So far I’ve been lucky and have always landed on a safety net, but I live in fear that my luck is running out.

I really try not to use diabetes as an excuse.  I try not to ask for special treatment because of diabetes.  I try to handle it gracefully and somewhat invisibly.   Most people with diabetes that I know are the same way.  We don’t want diabetes to stand in the way of our lives.  We refuse to let diabetes hold us back.  But maybe there is a downside to that.  All those times I don’t let you see me struggle.  All those times I smile and put on a brave face.  All those times I say I’m fine when I’m anything but.  All those times I lead you to believe diabetes is easy.  Maybe those are the times I’m doing the most damage.  Maybe I’m making the outside world really believe diabetes IS easy.  Why would they think any different?   Why would they think I bust my ass every single day just to live with diabetes?  Why would they think I need a cure?

Diabetes is a big part of the life I’ve been given.  I’m not going to wallow, I’m not going to complain.  My life is good.  But despite what I may lead you to believe, it’s very important for you to know . . . .

DIABETES IS HARD!!!

Fantasy Diabetes Device - DBlog Week Day 4

Welcome to Day Four of Diabetes Blog Week. If you are participating, don’t forget to link your Fantasy Diabetes Device post on this list.  (Please enter your Blog Name and the URL for your Fantasy Diabetes Device post.)


Today let’s tackle an idea inspired by Bennet of Your Diabetes May Vary.  Tell us what your Fantasy Diabetes Device would be?  Think of your dream blood glucose checker, delivery system for insulin or other meds, magic carb counter, etc. etc. etc.  The sky is the limit – what would you love to see?


Sometimes I wish I had a Fairy Godmother who could wave her magic wand and grant me my fantasy diabetes device.  (Okay, it would be better if she could wave her magic wand and wake my pancreas from its slumber, but that would kind of kill today’s post, wouldn’t it?)  What would this dream D-device be like?  I’m so glad you asked!!

I see a tubeless pump that is unlike any tubeless pump available now.  It would be much much smaller, about the size of my current infusion sets or CGM and it would be skinny.  It would also have some flexibility to it, so it could conform to curves and it wouldn’t jab me if I bent over.  Since it’s so small, I suppose it would have to have some new mega-insulin in it, so my Fairly Godmother would need to grant me that too.  A few days worth of this insulin would take up very little space, and the pump could dose it out in the teeniest of droplets.

Of course, I wear my CGM all of the time and  I’m not about to give it up for this fancy new dream pump, so we’ll throw a CGM module right on this thin tiny pump too.  That’s right, just one patch that both gives me insulin and monitors my blood sugar.  And how will I bolus and check the CGM readout?  Well I’ll do that all from my iPhone, of course.  My phone will communicate wirelessly with my fancy dream device, and while we’re at it, I might as well be able to access everything from my laptop, netbook and Kindle too.  Because, you know, we need options!!

What about checking my blood sugar, to calibrate or verify my CGM readings (although this super CGM will be extremely accurate).  Well, I want to do that from my iPhone as well, but with a teeny tiny laser device.  No more lancets, no more test strips, no more actual blood - just a painless and safe laser that can read my blood sugar and calibrate my CGM instantly.

You  probably think this is a pretty tall order . . . . and maybe it is.  But when I was diagnosed, I didn’t have any of the devices I use today because they were just being invented or weren’t even dreamed up yet.  So who knows what the future could hold!!

What would your Fantasy Diabetes Device be like?

One Thing to Improve - DBlog Week Day 3

Welcome to Day Three of Diabetes Blog Week. If you are participating, don’t forget to link your One Thing to Improve post on this list.  (Please enter your Blog Name and the URL for your One Thing To Improve post.)


Yesterday we gave ourselves and our loved ones a big pat on the back for one thing we are great at.  Today let’s look at the flip-side.  We probably all have one thing we could try to do better.  Why not make today the day we start working on it.  No judgments, no scolding, just sharing one small thing we can improve so the DOC can cheer us on!

Damn, is it just me, or is this topic hard??  I feel like there are so many things I could chose from.  You’d think after over 32 years with Type 1 I’d have it all down and be perfect by now.  But that couldn’t be farther from the truth.  Something tells me I’ll always have some diabetes related task that I could improve on.  And that was really what I had in mind when I wrote today’s topic.  The aim IS NOT to beat ourselves up and make a huge list of things we need to fix.  Instead, the aim is to head in the right direction by picking just one small thing to start working on TODAY.  And with that in mind, here is just one thing I can (and will) improve:


I’ve developed a bad habit of procrastinating when it comes to my CGM low alarms.  It might send up a “Low Predicted” flair and I’ll promptly clear it and go back to whatever I’m doing.  If I’m especially engrossed in something, I tend to ignore the actual low alarms also.  My CGM can tell me that my blood sugar is 48, and I might ignore it because I don’t feel low.  The fact is, I have the CGM because I usually don’t feel my lows so telling myself that the CGM must be wrong because I don’t feel low is nothing short of idiotic.

So starting today, I will test each time a “Low Predicted” or “Low” alarm sounds.  I rarely ignore the high alarms, but I’ll make sure I don’t backslide on those either.

What diabetes task do you feel you could improve?
 

One Great Thing - DBlog Week Day 2

Welcome to Day Two of Diabetes Blog Week. If you are participating, don’t forget to link your One Great Thing post on this list.  (Please enter your Blog Name and the URL for your One Great Thing post.)


Living with diabetes (or caring for someone who lives with it) sure does take a lot of work, and it’s easy to be hard on ourselves if we aren’t “perfect”.  But today it’s time to give ourselves some much deserved credit.  Tell us about just one diabetes thing you (or your loved one) does spectacularly!  Fasting blood sugar checks, oral meds sorted and ready, something always on hand to treat a low, or anything that you do for diabetes.  Nothing is too big or too small to celebrate doing well!

I have to admit, even if my whole day turns out to be a diabetes train wreck, I always get it started on the right foot.  Diabetes is probably one of the first things that crosses my mind when I wake up in the morning.  Okay, maybe COFFEE is the very first thing, but I’ve usually at least taken a look at my CGM before my feet hit the floor.



I head downstairs and start the coffee brewing and feed that cat . . . . if Pete hasn’t taken care of those two things already.  And then my one great thing happens.  Every single morning while the coffee brews I change my lancet and do a fasting blood sugar reading.  Yes, that’s right, (for once) you aren’t seeing a typo.  I change my lancet every morning.  And that is my one great thing!

What diabetes thing are you consistently great at?

Find a Friend - DBlog Week Day 1

Diabetes Blog Week kicks off today!  If you are participating, don’t forget to link your Find a Friend post on this list.  (Please enter your Blog Name and the URL for your Find a Friend post.)  If you haven’t signed up to participate but would like to, it’s not too late!  Just fill out the sign up form on this post.


It seems the most popular thing about Diabetes Blog Week is that it helps us find blogs we weren’t reading yet and connect with some new blog friends.  With that in mind, let’s kick off Diabetes Blog Week by making some new connections.  Think about the d-blogs you read that you think we may not know about and introduce us to one that you love!!  Let’s all find a new friend today!    (Special thanks to Gina, everybody’s Diabetes BFF, for helping me title this post!)

I know the topic says Find A Friend - as in ONE friend - but I guess I can’t follow the directions for a topic that I came up with myself!!  LOL  The easiest way for me to introduce you to a new friend is to send you over to the Participants List where you can click around on the 192 (as of right now) blogs listed and find some new friends!!

What?  That’s not really an introduction?  I suppose you are right - it’s not fair for me to take shortcuts on DBlog Week!  So here are a few blogs I’ve recently discovered that you should check out.  (Yup, breaking the rules once again by listing more than one Friend!!)

My Bloody Beautiful Life - I was fortunate enough to meet Jamie last month at a JDRF T1 Adult Outreach meeting.  She is a teenager with Type 1, and she handles it far better than I did when I was a teen!  I wish that I had half of the grace and confidence in my teenage years that she has.  Her blog is only about a month old, so go on over and welcome her to the DBlog Community!

No More Shots for Shannon - I “met” Shannon a couple of months ago and I have really enjoyed getting to know her better.  She does an impressive job of sharing the details of life with diabetes and spreading awareness and information.  She’s also kicking her JDRF involvement up to the next level by heading up their new Adult Outreach committee.  I can’t wait to see this new support group form!

Bajan Sugar - Most of the bloggers I follow live in the U.S. and Canada, with a few in England, Ireland and Australia.  Stephanie is the only blogger I know in Barbados, and I find that so fascinating and exotic!  It’s been interesting to compare and contrast life with diabetes here with life with diabetes in the Caribbean.  (Hint:  PWDs are a lot alike, no matter where they live!!)

And, I also want to mention a not-so-new friend that you absolutely shouldn’t miss!!
Sweet Success: My life with Type 2 Diabetes - Kate is one of the many fantastic friends I have made in the DBlog Community, and is one of those people that I feel like I really know even if we haven’t met in person (yet . . . . I hope).  Kate has Type 2 diabetes, and reading her blog is a great reminder that PWDs are a lot alike no matter which type they have.  Kate always inspires me to work harder (although I don’t think I’ve ever thanked her for that).  I’ve been following her search for a good support group with a lot of interest too.  I hope she has success in either finding one or creating one that is everything she’s looking for.

Seriously, I could sit here all day and list wonderful blogs that you shouldn’t miss.  But I have a lot of Diabetes Blog Weeks posts to read so I’d better get started!!  Have you made any new DBlog Friends lately?

DBlog Week - What You Need to Know

Diabetes Blog Week is almost here!!!  Are you ready to start posting on Monday?  Here are a few things you might need to know!!

• I’ve been adding participants to the Participant List as quickly as possible.  I have a few more that I will add as soon as I publish this post, and that will bring us to 148 bloggers singed up!  (Yay!!  You guys ROCK!!)  Please check the list to make sure I’ve added you and that your info is correct.  If you see any problems, please shoot me an email and I’ll fix it a.s.a.p.
• A few bloggers who have blogs that aren’t “all diabetes, all the time” have asked if they can participate in DBlog Week.  The answer to that is a HUGE YES!!!  As long as you are willing to blog the daily prompts, you are part of Diabetes Blog Week, so go sign up!!
• Don’t have a blog at all?  You can still participate in Diabetes Blog Week.  Joslin Diabetes Center has put out a call for DBlog Week submissions to be published on their blog!  See this post for all of the information you need on submitting your DBlog Week contribution.
• To those of you who sent along comments on your sign up form, THANK YOU!!  I had a great time reading them and they made me smile.  If you sent a question, I should have emailed you back with an answer.  If I didn’t, I apologize and blame bleary eyes from adding almost 150 entries to the Participant List.  Please email your question and I will make sure to answer you.
• I want to explain the Topic and Link List a little further, for those who are first time DBlog Weekers.  The topics for the week are listed, you can start drafting your posts in advance or you can check the list each day for that day’s topic.  This year we will be doing Link Lists again - if you are unfamiliar you can see one from last year.  Each day, once you have published your DBlog Week post, please return to the Topic and Link List page and click the link to that day’s Link List.  Please enter the NAME OF YOUR BLOG in the “Your name” field and the URL OF YOUR POST FOR THAT DAY in the “Your URL” field.  Please do not add any links to the list until we have reached the corresponding day and your post has been published.  Any links posted early have  been removed.
• Is it too late to sign up?  NOT AT ALL!!  Just fill out the form found here (scroll down a bit) and I will add you to the list!

Thanks again for all of your enthusiasm about Diabetes Blog Week!  It wouldn’t work if you all didn’t sign up to participate, so I honestly couldn’t do this without YOU!!

Third Annual Diabetes Blog Week!!!

Two years ago I had an idea for a week when diabetes bloggers could unite and give our views on a set topic each day.  I wasn’t sure if anyone would be interested in joining Diabetes Blog Week but the response was overwhelming and the whole week turned out more awesome than I ever could have imagined!!  Many asked if this would become an annual thing, so last year we did it all again.  Even more bloggers participated the second time around and it was another great week.  So what do you say we do it a third time??


For those of you haven’t participated before, the idea of Diabetes Blog Week is that bloggers sign up to post about a set topic each day for a week.  This way, readers can jump around the D-Blog Community and get a plethora of different perspective on a single topic.  This year will be very similar to the last two years.  I’ve posted the seven blog topics for next week here - just in case you want to start drafting your posts in advance.  Use these topics as a starting point for your post each day and see where it takes you.  Write as much or as little as you like.  There are no right or wrong answers - just read over the topic and start blogging!  I've also included two wild card topics to choose from.  If one day’s topic doesn’t inspire you, feel free to post about one of the wild card topics instead!

As you can see from the banner above, Diabetes Blog Week will run from Monday, May 14th to Sunday, May 20.  It is open to anyone who blogs about diabetes - be it Type 1, Type 2, LADA, or gestational, and it’s also for parents, spouses and caregivers to someone else with diabetes.  If you blog about diabetes in any capacity, please join us!  If you don’t have a blog but have thought about starting one, now is the perfect time.  There are free blogging sites you can use (such as Blogger or Wordpress) and members of sites such as TuDiabetes or Diabetes Daily have a blog built right into their profile!

Of course, the idea for Diabetes Blog Week is that everyone who signs up to participate will post on all seven days.  Although that is the goal, I understand that life sometimes gets in the way, so if you end up falling short of seven posts that’s okay.  Diabetes can be stressful enough, so let’s keep D-Blog Week fun and stress free!

Once again, the key to making Diabetes Blog Week a success is YOU!!  How do you sign up to participate?  Well, this  year I’m doing sign ups a little differently and I’ve created a form to submit your information.  Hopefully it will make things easier and more accurate for all of us.  
 *****Edited 5/9 to Add: I received an email from someone who got server errors when trying to submit the form.  It seems to be working now, but if you have any problems please email me at DBlogWeek@bittersweetdiabetes.com!!  Thanks so much***

Fill out my online form.

There is a space on the form for you to let me know if you have any questions, and you can also email me at any time at DBlogWeek@bittersweetdiabetes.com.  Once again I will compile a master list of participants so we can easily see who is joining in.  I’ll try to update it as often as I can, and it should take no more than 24 hours for you to see your name on the list.  I’ve also included daily Link Lists on the Diabetes Blog Week topics page.  Be sure to add your blog posts to the corresponding list each day so we’ll have all posts linked in one central location - this makes it easy for people to hop around and read all of the posts. Please feel free to grab the banner or button (or both!!) and post about it on your blog if you’d like to help me spread the word.  You’ll find the HTML Codes below, just to make things a little bit easier. If you want to tweet about it to your fellow D-OCers, you can use the hashtag #DBlogWeek!! Together I bet we can make this year’s Diabetes Blog Week the best one yet!!


Grab the Banner <a href="http://www.bittersweetdiabetes.com/2012/05/third-annual-diabetes-blog-week.html"><img border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7249/7148526067_3afe1e2bf4_o.gif" /></a>

 Grab the Button <a href="http://www.bittersweetdiabetes.com/2012/05/third-annual-diabetes-blog-week.html"><img border="0" src=" http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7233/7148526121_1c16b0db45_o.gif " /></a>

Four Years . . . .

In mid-April I celebrated my four-year pumpaversary. I mentioned it briefly in my Dream Day post.  In real-life I didn’t get a huge breakfast cooked for me, but we did take a quick trip to the casino and have a yummy lunch at the Mexican restaurant there.  So it was a quasi-dream day.

In some ways it’s hard to believe that I’ve already been pumping for four whole years.  I think back to the long road I traveled to finally feel ready to give the pump a whirl.  That is the topic of my latest post over at the Loop Blog - Celebrating a Pumpaversary.

** My Medtronic disclosure can be found here. **

Wordless Wednesday - Soldiers

All lined up and ready to fight lows!!

It’s coming . . . .

I love the month of May!!  May means lots of things are coming . . . .

• blooming flowers
• warmer temperatures
• my twin’s birthday

Of course, you know what else May brings, right????



Yay!!  I’m gearing up for the third annual Diabetes Blog Week!!  (Remember year one and year two?)  Check back here on Monday for sign ups and more details!