Technology 1 Me 0

Ok ok.. I don't get it.

I'm trying to do a really cool post about our Sushi Making Party at Christmas.. and it won't let me insert pictures from my computer.  Dumb computer.

2012 In Review

“This post is my December 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/december-dsma-blog-carnival-2/"


So this if my first DSMA Blog Carnival entry.. ever. The topic is to reflect on diabetes in 2012. 

Holy cow!! It has been quite a year for me.

The first couple months of the year were your normal everyday months.  Work, laundry, family, pets, chores, work, laundry, family, pets, chores, etc.  Nothing really stands out diabetically speaking until March. 

In March I had my first, and hopefully only, surgery since getting "Freeda" my insulin pump.  My doctor was very accommodating.  When I talked to him about staying connected, or at least reconnecting right after surgery his response was, "You can take care of your diabetes better than we can so we will give you back control as soon as possible."  Have I said that I really REALLY like the doctors I have now?  No?  Well, I do.

In April I got "George" my CGM. Who knew that having that much information could be addictive? My readings have always been WAY OFF if I start the new sensor right after inserting, so I usually swap out the sensor before I go to bed, and then start it in the morning. That does mean I have a whole night of no safety net alarms. I did it all the time, so why should I worry? But I do. Those nights I don't sleep real soundly. Thankfully I can get about 14 days out of each sensor.

Also in April, I unknowingly at first, participated in my first ever JDRF walk.  I was the adult in charge (no laughing) of the JROTC group that was helping with the games and clean up.  My doctor was there and said that next year I should be on the walk committee.  So far, the committee meetings have been great.  I think we're doing a tour of the local pizza parlors though.

In May, at my regular doctor's visit my doctor asked if I tweeted.  I didn't at the time, but looked into it.  I've been tweeting ever since.  I found the DOC (Diabetes Online Community) and participate in DSMA Wednesday evenings, just about every week (life permitting that is).  I have met some awesome people around the world that someday I hope to actually meet in real life!  It will happen.. life permitting that is. 

In October I started this blog.  There were so many ideas running around in my head of things I wanted to share.  Things that took more than 140 characters to explain.  Can anyone really tell their diagnosis story in two sentences?  I couldn't.  The hardest part in getting started, however, was figuring out a name.  Looking around my desk at work, my house, and my hectic life it came to me..  My life was a zoo,  a Sweet Zoo.

In November I participated in the National Health Blog Post Month.  The joy of having topics given to me to write about was great.  Little nudges of ideas that got my brain working in a certain direction.  Some days I was stumped.  I now have a greater appreciation for those that always do a blog post everyday. 

So here we are in December.  My first DSMA Blog Carnival post. 

What will 2013 bring?  I have no idea.. but I'm sure that there will be lots of things worth writing about so stay tuned.

Maintenance and Blog Roll

So, I've been looking and reading a lot of blogs lately.  Well, I've done that for quite awhile.  However, I've noticed that most blogs have some sort of blog roll on them.  Right now, my blog roll is a "Favorites" folder on my browser.  So, over the next few weeks I'll be adding a list of all the blogs I read to my page.  It may take a bit.  Between work, holidays, driving, being a mom, and other stuff (sleep doesn't count.. I don't get enough), my day gets pretty full so it'll be a work in progress.

Recap NHBPM - Post 30

WOW!  30 days is done and over.  So, it was done and over a few days ago, but better late than never, right?  I must admit, I did both better.. and worse.. that I thought I would when I first started this. 

Back around the end of October, Christina of Stick With It Sugar tweeted that she was going to do the National Health Blog Post Month challenge and wanted to know who was with her.  I had just started my blog in the couple weeks prior and figured, why not?  What better way to get into the blogging routine?  So I agreed.

I kept the list of suggested topics both at work and at home.  The first few days were GREAT.  I cruised along until day 6.  I had to pick an alternate topic then.  I just couldn't think of anything.  Day 12 was my first "post free" days.  I didn't have a smart phone (yes.. this has since been corrected) and so I didn't have a favorite app.  Calling BS on something that was ridiculous?  Well.. I would still be typing that one.

I then started cruising again, up to day 22.  Then I hit the technological brick wall.  Thanksgiving weekend was also lost, but I was able to come back on day 27 and finish everything off.  Okay.. so day 30 is three days late, but it's here and that is what counts.

I am glad I participated and I look forward to doing it again.  I truly hope you all enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed typing.

Healthy Facebook? - Post 10

Today I choose to write about whether or not we should post about our health/loved one's health on Facebook.

To share or not to share.. that is the question.  Is it really any different than sharing about my health on Twitter?  No, not really.  Either way puts your information out into the cyberworld for all to see.  The benefits of that are enormous (ie: the DOC), but the downfalls are there too.  How many of us have received spam email about a miracle cure? 

To share or not to share someone else's information.  That is actually an easier question to answer: Only if asked too.  My stance on any information or story of someone else's, be it health, good news, bad news, etc. is that is isn't my information/story to share.

So should we post about our health on Facebook?  It's your call.

Why I share what I share. - Post 4

I know, I know... this post is a day late, but I had my head in the oven most of the day yesterday and by the time I crawled out I was exhausted.  It was much safer, for everyone, for me to not try writing anything yesterday.  Who knows what I would have said.

There are many reasons why I share information about me.  Sometimes it is simply because my brain doesn't engage before my mouth opens.  Thankfully that doesn't happen as often as it used to.  It created a few... interesting... conversations.  The best reason I share is to help someone else, to let them know they are not alone.  I try to be careful so I don't sound like I'm whining and looking for sympathy.  It is way to easy to come across as a complainer. 

Another reason I share is for the reverse reason.  Maybe someone out there has been through what I have and can give me the support or suggestion that I need to make it.  I know I'm not the only one who has (fill in the blank), so there is no need to try to do it myself.  Why reinvent the wheel?  Square doesn't work, I promise.

Sharing is caring.. unless it oversharing, then it's just TMI.

Why I write about my health - Post 1

So I decided to take the challenge from Wego Health and do 30 posts in 30 days for national Health Blog Post Month #NHBPM.  I'm not sure if I'm ambitious, or just crazy, but either way here I go.

Today is November 1. T1Day.  There couldn't be a better way to honor Diabetes Awareness Month than to blog about my health, or something related, every day for the next thirty days.

To be honest, I don't know why I write about my health.  In fact, I just barely started blogging (this is officially my 8th post).  So let me tell you why I believe it is important to write about my health.  I believe it can encourage others.  There have been so many times in my life, health and non-health related, that knowing there was someone else who had been through the same or similar thing helped me to get through it.  Knowing that someone else made it and didn't give up is so encouraging.  If writing about my health challenges and successes can give that sense of connection to someone else, then it is all worth it. 

Another good reason to write about my health is... well let's face it, I'm not getting any younger.  I used to be able to rattle off all sorts of historical data about myself, family, friends, weird facts, movie quotes, etc. etc.   Lately, the movie quotes are still good, but the medical history, especially when it comes to date specifics, is getting a little fuzzy.  Writing about my health gives me something to go back to so I can look for patterns and act on them as needed by making changes to help me be better.  There is nothing quite like being a frog in boiling water just to realize that you've been in the pot for weeks and could have hopped out long ago.  I'm hoping that by writing I can avoid being a frog.  I don't like frogs.  They give me the heebie jeebies...  even if they are blue.


He is kinda cute though.  I found him here.

So why do YOU write about your health?  Do you?  Have you thought about it?  Hop to it! (sorry)