Being Less Efficient . . . .

I asked for, and received because I’m spoiled, a Fitbit for my birthday on Monday.  Since then it’s been riding along with me, clipped beside my insulin pump on my waistband.  And what it has been telling me from the start is not really surprising.  I don’t move enough.

I hit 10,00 steps easily on Monday, but it was my birthday and a holiday so that made it easy.  Sure, I had a lazy morning with breakfast in bed and a chick flick.  But the sun was shining and my Fitbit was calling, so Pete and I went for a run by the ocean.  And before going out for dinner, we took a nice long walk on the beach.  Bam, goals reached, thank you very much.

Then Tuesday hit and the normal weekday routine kicked in.  Long walks on the beach are replaced by long hours with the laptop.  And the step goals?  Not even close.  So I cut all goals in half, as a start, and will take the advice I read about increasing them by 5% each week.  Even though I cut my goals in half, I still didn’t meet them on Tuesday.  So I’m learning ways to be more active during the day.  And part of that seems to include being less efficient.

I’m a wiz at efficiency and multi-tasking.  But my new goal is to knock down my efficiency in order to take more steps.  The recycling gathered in a neat pile to be brought to the basement at the end of the day?  Well now I’m bringing each item downstairs immediately.  Belongings gathered on the main floor landing to be taken up in one trip?  Nope - each thing gets whisked upstairs and put away immediately.  On the upside, my house has never been cleaner!  Straightening up adds steps.  Vacuuming adds steps.  Wiping down counters and scouring out sinks adds steps.  With a little more cleaning and a lot less efficiency, I’m learning how to work more movement into my day.  10,000 steps still might be a tough one to crack, but I’ll keep trying to add 5% more steps each week and see if I can make it work.

Do you find an activity tracker is helping you move around more?  What are your secrets for working in more steps?

Move Along . . . .

Memorial Day Weekend has always been one of my favorite long weekends of the year.  The weather is turning nicer and summer is kicking off - Pete and I usually attend our first cook-out of the year.  Honestly, I’m already in holiday mode over here, so I’m going to move you along to some other places worth a visit today.

First, check out Diabetes Mine’s announcement earlier this week about the 2014 Patient Voices scholarship contest, in which you can win a full scholarship to this year’s DiabetesMine Innovation Summit.  The application process has changed this year, so be sure to check out all the details.  And I’m delighted to have been asked to be part of the selection committee this year, so you’ll definitely be hearing more from me soon about the event.  And I’ll also be reminding you to get your application in before the June 20th deadline.

Also, my latest post is up at The Loop.  I’m talking about different kinds of stress and some ways I try to deal with them.  Of course, I’m hoping your weekend will be completely stress free but unfortunately Tuesday will be here before we know it and we’ll be back to the old weekday routine.

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

Wordless Wednesday - Good Stress . . .

Yesterday I was thrilled to be included as a panelist again for the second annual Diabetes Hope Conference.  I truly love having the opportunity to speak on panels, but I always get a bit nervous before.  And my CGM graph definitely reflects that (good) stress.  I ran high all morning with a bigger rise during the half hour before my panel.  Stayed high during the hour my panel was on and for the hour following.  Then as my nerves faded away, I came right back down into range.

Highs caused by fantastic opportunities like the one I had yesterday?  I’ll take them!!

It’s A Wrap - 5th Annual #DBlogWeek

So another Diabetes Blog Week has come and gone, and the day after always greets me with joy from the fantastic week mixed with a bit of sadness that it’s all over already.  But it is, it went by really fast (at least for me it did) and it’s time to wrap up a few loose ends now that we’ve made it across the finish line!


First of all, thank you so much to everyone who signed up this year.  We officially capped off at 211 names on the participant list this year and I can’t tell you how thrilled I am for all of the DOC enthusiasm and support.  I’m working hard to read all of the posts on the daily link lists.  Some days I read most of them, some days I only read a few, but I will be going through each list over the next few weeks to read all of the posts I haven’t yet gotten too.

Speaking of the link lists, they will remain open for a couple more weeks.  If you’ve written a post and forgotten to add it to the list, go ahead and do that now.  Or, if you missed a day of blogging but want to tackle the topic now, feel free to add your link once your post is up.  On June 1st the Link Lists will close, meaning no new entries may be added.  But the lists will remain online (hopefully FOREVER) for future reference.

I want to send special thanks out again to Mike Lawson for the fantastic DBlogWeek graphics, and to Lauren’s Hope for the FB graphics and all of the support last week.  Thanks to all who shared blog posts and tweets spreading the word.  Thank you to everyone who sent in topic suggestions for this year - I thought this was our best year ever and that’s because of you.  Thanks also to everyone who has sent a note, tweet, comment or post telling me how much you enjoyed the week - I love hearing that more than you know!

So what is next?  Well, don’t forget to attend the Diabetes Hope Conference tomorrow (it’s free and virtual) for another great chance to connect with the on-line community.  If you’re wishing for another blog prompt, remember to check out the DSMA Blog Carnival every month for a new topic.  This month we’re teaming up with Diabetes Mine to get your input on open D-data & device interoperability.  And next May, if everyone isn’t tired of #DBlogWeek, we’ll do it all again for a sixth year!

My Favorite Things - #DBlogWeek Day 7

We are down to the last day of another Diabetes Blog Week.  This truly is the most fun week of my year and I’m always a little bit sad when it draws to a close.  But what better way to sum it all up than to look back over the week and share our favorite parts.  Which is exactly what today’s topic, My Favorite Things, is all about.


As we wrap up another Diabetes Blog Week, let’s share a few of our favorite things. This can be anything from a #DBlogWeek post you loved, a fantastic new-to-you blog you found, a picture someone included in a post that spoke to you, or comment that made you smile. Anything you liked is worth sharing!

• I’ve happily discovered a ton of diabetes blogs that are new to me and I can’t wait to get to know you all better.  But the one that really stands out in my mind is April’s blog mygirlblogs.  Her daughter was diagnosed less than a month ago and yes, it’s always hard to hear that someone else has joined our ranks.  But I am endlessly impressed that April is already connecting and blogging and sharing their journey.  I hope we can all make this road a little easier for her and her family.
• As for  my favorite post - well I love each and every post that was shared this week.  But one that really stands out in my mind is the Mantras and More entry from Ilana at Diaturgy.  It’s a mantra and a beautiful story all rolled into one.
• My favorite picture was shared by Laddie at Test Guess and Go for Saturday Snapshots.  It’s like a snapshot meets Diabetes Art Day meets poetry, with a dash of Andy Warhol thrown in.
• I appreciate everyone who took the time to read my posts this week and to leave me a comment.  You guys are the best.  But I have to send a special THANK YOU out to Katy of Bigfoot Child Have Diabetes for leaving the sweetest comments every single day.  You rock, Katy.

There is honestly so much more I could share today, because about every part of this week has been my favorite.  But, if you are like me, there are a lot more posts on this week’s link lists that are waiting to be read - so let’s get to it  and discover a few more favorites!!

Looking for more favorites from this week?  Check out the My Favorite Things - Sunday 5/18 Link List.

What is Diabetes Blog Week? Click here for an explanation.  You can also check out a list of participants over here.

Saturday Snapshots - #DBlogWeek Day 6

It may be the weekend, but Diabetes Blog Week is still going strong.  We officially have over 200 bloggers signed up to participate.  I just want to send out a quick thank you to the DOC for all of the enthusiasm and support this week, and for all the time spent writing posts, reading posts by others, and leaving comments.  I’m guessing I’m not the only one who has been wishing for a housekeeper and personal chef this week?

Today it’s time to share some pictures for Saturday Snapshots.  Back for another 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.

The subtitle for  my post today is “FORCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL”.  My pictures are proof that things can go wrong through no fault of our own.  For example, a couple of Fridays ago, my high alarm went off after dinner.  I thought nothing of it, because I’d had a sore throat all week and my high alarm rang every time I ate, no matter what I ate or how aggressively I bolused.  I cleared the alarm and Pete and I settled in to watch some T.V.  As usual, I fell asleep on the couch.  But when I woke up a few hours later, things were anything but usual.  My CGM showed a blood sugar over 300 with a rapid up arrow.  I grumbled when Pete suggested I change my site - I had just put that site in that afternoon and had a low afterward so I was sure the site was fine.  But I changed it anyway, and it turns out the site was anything but fine.  The cannula looked normal when I pulled it out, but I looked down to see blobs of blood all over the floor.  And blood streaming down my leg.


Definitely not what I had planned for a Friday night.  After a correction by syringe, a ketone check (medium), lots of water and a blood sugar that topped off in the 400s, things finally started to settle down.  I checked every hour until I made it into the 200s around 1 a.m.  Knowing my CGM would alert me if I didn’t continue back down into range, I went to bed exhausted.

Then there was a mishap just a couple of days ago.  Around 3:30 in the morning my CGM high alarm went off and again the screen showed rapid up arrows.   When I got up to use the bathroom I felt my pump tubing smack against my leg, but the place it hit was far too low.  You know why?


Because apparently the tubing was no longer connected to my site!  I’ve never seen anything like this happen before (although I’m sure some of you have?).  A 3:30 a.m. site change is never much fun, but I was thankful that my CGM helped me find this problem while my blood sugar was only in the 200s and my ketones were only “small”.

When you are dealing with diabetes, sometimes doing everything right doesn’t matter one bit.  Sometimes things will just go to crap no matter what.  We just need to learn to roll with the punches, adjust, and keep going.


You can find more diabetes-related pictures on the Saturday Snapshots - Saturday 5/17 Link List.

What is Diabetes Blog Week? Click here for an explanation, and check out the list of participants over here.

Diabetes Life Hacks - #DBlogWeek Day 5

Welcome to Day Five of Diabetes Blog Week!  Before we get started today I want to take a minute to make sure you know about a great event happening next week.  The 2nd annual Diabetes Hope Conference is a free, virtual event in which we can all gather for “frank and honest discussions about diabetes”.  The three panels will be held on Tuesday, May 20th from noon to 3 p.m. EST.  There are some great topics scheduled for discussion and I’m grateful to have been invited to participate on a panel again this year.  If you are interested in tuning in for part or all of the conference be sure to register today.

Our Friday #DBlogWeek topic is one I find really fun - Diabetes Life Hacks.  Share the (non-medical) tips and tricks that help you in the day-to-day management of diabetes, everything from clothing modifications, serving size/carb counting tricks to the tried and true Dexcom-in-a-glass trick or the “secret” to turning on a Medtronic pump’s backlight when not on the home-screen (scroll to the bottom of this post). Please remember to give non-medical advice only! (Thank you Rachel of Probably Rachel and Kelley of Below Seven for this topic suggestion.) 

Most of my diabetes hacks have been blogged about before.  I like trading those boring meter cases for something a little more fun - here a while ago and here more recently.  I like to dress up my pumps with skins (all you can really see here is a cat rump but the full pump skin is really cute).  I’ve also been known to bling out my meters with stickers.  I’ve blogged about keeping a diabetes travel pouch prepped and ready to go and about wearing a pump with a dress.

But lately my Diabetes Life Hacks have been focused around food.  More specifically, on making it so easy to carb count that I won’t just swag a bolus.  For example, in March when packing train snacks for my trip to Government Day, I wrote the carbs on the bag and packed a measuring cup right in with the trail mix.  No excuse not to bolus correctly.


My new favorite after-dinner treat is a single serve Marie Callender’s cake.  They are the perfect mix of sweet treat and built in portion control, but the box they come in hogs up too much space in the freezer.  My solution?  Ditch the box and note the carbs right on the cake lid with a Sharpie.  Problem solved.


And, of course, a couple of years ago at Christmas time I worked out the carb counts on the Christmas cookies I bake every year and tucked the spreadsheet in my recipe book.


My hacks won’t change your life.  But if they make diabetes even just a little bit easier, they are definitely worth sharing!!

You’ll find more Diabetes Life Hacks - Friday 5/16 on the Link List.

What is Diabetes Blog Week? Click here for an explanation.  You can also check out a list of participants over here.

Mantras and More - #DBlogWeek Day 4

Welcome to Day Four of Diabetes Blog Week.  As we pass the halfway point of the week I hope you’ve been having fun and discovering some great new blogging friends.  In case you haven’t heard, yesterday Lauren’s Hope announced a surprise DBlogWeek contest so head over to their blog and nominate another DBlogger to win a fabulous prize that will be awarded tomorrow. 


Today we are getting back to the positive with our topic Mantras and More. Yesterday we opened up about how diabetes can bring us down. Today let’s share what gets you through a hard day? Or, more specifically, a hard diabetes day? Something positive you tell yourself, or mantras, or what you fall back on to get you through. Maybe we've done that and we can help others do it too? (Thanks to Meri of Our Diabetic Life for suggesting this topic.)


As much as I hate it, I’m a worrier and an obsessor.  This applies to life in general, but also to diabetes.  I often need to tell myself to take a step back and a deep breath and just stop for a minute.  Because when things are getting hard and everything is going wrong, I come up with huge sweeping plans to immediately fix everything to the last detail.  Diabetes off the tracks?  Well, I will only eat healthy foods, consume no more than 20 carbs per meal, exercise 45 minutes a day seven days a week, test my blood sugar every two hours and track every single diabetes detail.  Can you imagine how that turns out?  Big ol’ fail with a side of burned myself right out.  So the mantra I concentrate on most is this . . . .

It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be better than it was.

I need to remember things didn’t go to crap all at once, so they won’t get perfectly fixed all at once.  They just need to be improving steadily.

• Haven’t exercised in months?  Shoot for once or twice this week and keep going from there.
• Blood sugar sitting at 253?  Don’t expect it to be back in range when I test again in an hour, just expect it to be lower than 250 and DON’T rage bolus!
• Snacking gone out of control?  Trade one bad snack a day for an apple.  Reach for a piece of cheese instead of a piece of chocolate.  One trade off at a time can get me on the right path.
• Bolusing off my CGM instead of fingersticks?   Before meals reach for the meter instead of looking at that CGM!

I’m not perfect.  Diabetes isn’t perfect either.  Neither of us ever will be.  But if I can make it better than it was before, I’m headed in the right direction.

You can find  more mantras on the Mantras and More - Thursday 5/15 Link List.

What is Diabetes Blog Week? Click here for an explanation and to sign up.  You can also check out a list of participants over here.

What Brings Me Down - #DBlogWeek Day 3

Welcome to Day Three of Diabetes Blog Week.  If you have signed up to participate, please check the Participant’s List to make sure I’ve added you correctly.  I tried my hardest but the chances are slim that I didn’t mess up an entry or two.  So please email me if your listing needs to be corrected and please accept my apology for the error.  Also if you are blogging along with DBlogWeek but haven’t officially signed up yet, please do so here so I can add you to the participant’s list.  We want to be able to find your blog!

Our topic for today is What Brings Me Down.  May is Mental Health Month so now seems like a great time to explore the emotional side of living with, or caring for someone with, diabetes. What things can make dealing with diabetes an emotional issue for you and / or your loved one, and how do you cope? (Thanks go out to Scott of Strangely Diabetic for coordinating this topic.)

Today I want to show you the face of someone who struggles with depression and ongoing feelings on inadequacy.  This is the face of depression.

So okay, I'm not really quite sure where to go from here.  I think you find this surprising, because when I’m bogged down with these feelings I still I try to put on a happy face and keep the depression hidden away.  But then again, maybe everyone sees it and I’m just fooling myself about hiding it away.  After all, I’ve written about this before, even though it’s often something I’d rather not discuss.  And there in lies the bigger problem.  Why aren’t we talking about this more?  Why do we need to slap on a happy face and tell the world we are fine?  Isn’t it hard enough to have these feelings, without constantly trying to pretend you don’t?  Let’s not do that anymore.

I find it fairly impossible to explore how closely the feelings of depression and inadequacy are rooted to diabetes because I’ve lived with diabetes for over 3/4s of my life.  But without diabetes I don’t think I’d feel so broken.  Without diabetes I don’t think I’d feel so burdened, and like such a burden to my husband (even though he NEVER sees me as a burden).  Without diabetes I probably wouldn’t have grown up feeling so different and like an outsider, hiding diabetes so I could try desperately to fit in.  Without diabetes I probably wouldn’t feel that it’s mostly my fault that Pete and I will never be parents.  (I’m not saying that is true, I’m just saying it’s how I feel and it breaks my heart every day.)  And although I know it probably isn’t diabetes that makes me feel so isolated and with nothing to offer society, I also know without these other depressive feelings from diabetes piled on I’d probably have an easier time conquering that isolation and worthlessness.  Without the constant burden of diabetes I’d probably feel much stronger and more confident in myself.

Now I think it’s important to point out here that this blogs tagline in meant with all of the sincerity in my heart.  Life with diabetes isn’t all bad.  I have had so many great opportunities and experiences and made so many wonderful friends because of diabetes.  And the depression isn’t constant, it ebbs and flows throughout the year.  But some days, well, many days life with diabetes does seem all bad.  And this is the face of depression.



Click for the What Brings Me Down - Wednesday 5/14 Link List.

What is Diabetes Blog Week? Click here for an explanation and to sign up.  You can also check out a list of participants over here.

Poetry Tuesday - #DBlogWeek Day 2

It’s Day Two of Diabetes Blog Week!  I want to start by letting you know about an special savings code that Lauren’s Hope is offering to celebrate participants of Diabetes Blog Week, as well as those following along.  The coupon code “DBlogWeek” is good for a 10% savings on both their medical ID jewelry and their new non-medical line.  They were also kind enough to donate the Facebook graphics for DBlogWeek, including the profile picture on the right.  Thank you, Lauren’s Hope!

Our topic today is Poetry Tuesday.  This year, Diabetes Blog Week and TuDiabetes are teaming up to bring out the poet in you! Write a poem, rhyme, ballad, haiku, or any other form of poetry about diabetes. After you’ve posted it on your blog, share it on the No Sugar Added® Poetry page on TuDiabetes, and read what others have shared there as well!



One drop of blood hangs precariously from my finger
before sinking into the test strip to give me a number I’ll either love or hate.

One drop of honey on that same finger is all it takes
to completely throw off the results my meter reports.

One drop of glucagon is injected in a panic
and is the difference between life and death.

One drop of insulin, so so precious,
truly keeps me alive second by second.

One drop of cool clear water is the elixir of the Gods
or so it seems, when ketones come crashing in.

One drop of juice is guzzled in haste (or perhaps 1000 drops?)
in a desperate attempt to banish those low symptoms.

One drop of a salty tear is briskly brushed away
so my loved ones don’t notice how hard this all can be.

Sometimes it feels like diabetes,
and my life,
is measured one drop at a time.

You can find more Poetry Tuesday - Tuesday 5/13 post here.

If you’d still like to join in for Diabetes Blog Week click here for an explanation and to sign up.  You can also check out a list of participants over here.

Change the World - #DBlogWeek Day 1

Welcome to Day One of the Fifth Annual Diabetes Blog Week.  I’m thrilled to see so many past participants signing up again.  And I’m equally excited that so many new blogs are joining in for the first time.  Welcome everyone!!  If you are still interested in signing up it is definitely not too late.  You can find all of the information you need over here.

Today’s topic is Change the World.  Let’s kick off Diabetes Blog Week by talking about the diabetes causes and issues that really get us fired up. Are you passionate about 504 plans and school safety? Do diabetes misconceptions irk you? Do you fight for CGM coverage for Medicare patients, SDP funding, or test strip accuracy? Do you work hard at creating diabetes connections and bringing support? Whether or not you “formally” advocate for any cause, share the issues that are important to you. (Thanks go out to Kim of Texting my Pancreas for inspiring this topic.)

I came to the DOC looking simply for others who understood what it is like to live with diabetes, and I found just what I was looking for.  But it turns out I also found so much more than I could ever imagine.  I found a passionate group of people working to improve just about every aspect of life with diabetes.  Emotional support, research funding, technological advances, access to medication for everyone in the world, safe and accurate devices, diabetes education . . . . the list goes on and on.  And I have to say, I’m on board with just about every initiative out there.  I’m proud to jump in and support these causes as much as I can (even if it often feels like I’m not doing enough.).

So which ones are closest to my heart?  Where do I focus most of my energy?  Well, connections and peer support still tops my list.  Our old local T1 dinner group (originally created by Kerri) has joined forces with the Fairfield County JDRF Adults with T1 committee and we volunteer to help with planning there.  It’s been great because we reach more people and have a better mix of events, with speakers sometimes instead of just dinners.  And although I’ve  never considered myself much of a fundraiser, I love serving as the Advocacy Team Chair for the New Haven JDRF chapter.  I may suck at asking friends and family to donate to diabetes causes, but I have no problem lobbying to our political representative for the funding!

Of course, I’m also behind so many grassroots advocacy efforts because there are tons of fantastic people working on a lot of fantastic causes.  And it’s easy to get caught up in feeling like I’m not doing enough.  But perhaps it’s important to remember that if we each just do something, no matter how big or how small it may seem, together we can change the world.

Here are more Change the World - Monday 5/12 posts.

What is Diabetes Blog Week? Click here for an explanation and to sign up.  You can also check out a list of participants over here.

Fifth Annual Diabetes Blog Week

Five!!  I can't believe it’s time for Diabetes Blog Week number FIVE!  I remember that first year when I wasn’t even sure anyone would be interested in participating.  I was so thrilled that so many of you did, and then you wanted to do it again.  During the second year  DBlog Week grew, and it continued to grow over the third year and fourth year.  And now here we are at five!  I'm so grateful for all of the enthusiasm and support Diabetes Blog Week has received year after year from the D.O.C.  I’m thrilled to do this each year and thankful for all the help I’ve received to make Diabetes Blog Week happen again and again.  So, are you ready?  Here we go! 

 

What inspired Diabetes Blog Week?  For those of you who haven’t participated before, Diabetes Blog Week was originally inspired by a fiber-blogger event called Knitting and Crochet Blog Week.  When I participated that first year on my knitting blog I loved the way it united the community, and I knew I wanted to try to do the same for the DOC.

What is Diabetes Blog Week?  The main idea for 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 DBlog Community and get a big variety of different perspectives on a single topic.  The hope is that new DOC connections are made, and that our voices are raised to spread a little more diabetes awareness.


When is Diabetes Blog Week?  The fifth annual Diabetes Blog Week  will take place next week, from May 12th through May 18th.

Where can I find the Diabetes Blog Week topics?  You can find the topics for next week on the Topics and Posts page.  They’ve been posted in advance, just in case you want to start drafting your posts this week.  (Remember not to publish your post until that specific day though!)   Use the 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!

Who can participate in Diabetes Blog Week?  DBlog Week is open to anyone who blogs about diabetes - be it Type 1, Type 2, LADA, 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!  The more perspectives that are shared the more connections we can make and understanding we can foster.  If you don’t have a blog but have thought about starting one, now is the perfect time.  There are free blogging sites (such as Blogger or Wordpress) that you can use to get started.

Can blogs done by groups, organizations and companies join?  I like to make Diabetes Blog Week as inclusive as possible, so yes, group blogs and professional blogs are welcome to join.  However, the posts must be written by a blogger with a diabetes connection.  Also product plugs / advertising will not be allowed.  Posts that do no adhere to this policy will be removed from the master link lists.  (More about those lists below.)

What if I can’t write posts for all seven days?  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 absolutely 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 DBlog Week fun and stress free!


How do I sign up?  Once again, I’ve created a form to submit your information.  Fill it out and you will be signed up and added to the Participant List within 24 hours.  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.

Fill out my online form.

Will there be a master list of posts for each day?  There sure will!  I’ve included daily Link Lists on the Diabetes Blog Week topics page.  Once you’ve published your post each day, be sure to add it to the that day’s list by entering your blog name and the url of that day's post.  This way we’ll have all posts linked in one central location, which makes it easier for people to hop around and read all of the posts.

How about a button or banner for my blog?  This year Mike Lawson (@MrMikeLawson) has donated his talent and time to the cause and provided fantastic DBlogWeek graphics.  (Thank you Mike!!)  If you’d like to display the button or banner on your blog you’ll find the HTML Codes below - just to make things a little bit easier.  Highlight the code in the box, then copy and paste it into the HTML section of your blog’s sidebar or post or where ever you want to display the graphic.

Grab the Banner <a href="http://www.bittersweetdiabetes.com/2014/05/diabetes-blog-week.html"><img border="0" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7202/13848270005_2f28c2982f_o.jpg" /></a>   Grab the Button <a href="http://www.bittersweetdiabetes.com/2014/05/diabetes-blog-week.html"><img border="0" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7366/13849112974_b64422ab60_o.jpg" /></a>
What if I want to tweet or Facebook about Diabetes Blog Week?  That would be awesome, you can use the hashtag #DBlogWeek.  
 

What else do I  need to know?  Great question.  I’ve tried to cover everything, but I’m sure I missed something.  So please leave any questions in the comments section below or email them to me at  DBlogWeek@bittersweetdiabetes.com.  I'll be sure to answer you as soon as I can.


Thank you all again for the overwhelming support during the last four Diabetes Blog Weeks, and I’m thrilled to be doing it a fifth time!