Thursday, October 30, 2008

Hallelujah

Every year, on our town's trick-or-treat night (which happens to be October 30th), my church does a Halloween alternative program for kids, teens and adults called Hallelujah. They have programs, skits, music, a costume contest, and they give away candy to the kids. We've done this for many years now. I think around 16 years.

Each year it is different and fun. This year was no exception.
Our youth did the "Thriller" dance. It sound quality on my camera isn't great, and sometimes the lights made the camera go out of focus, but it was so cool. I wanted to share it on here, but I can't get it to upload. If I figure it out, I will post it later.
Also, I had to share a picture of my favorite little Spider Man (my friend's baby boy, whom I adore).


And, my own costume, which has a back story. Since I was an infant, my much older brother has always referred to me as Cara-boo. I have no idea why. I'm not even sure he knows why. But, that's what he's always called me. About three years ago it suddenly occurred to me that Cara-boo and caribou sound like the same word....so this year I dressed up as Cara-boo....complete with antlers. :P

I hope you all enjoy.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Hannah Montana

November approaches us very quickly. Diabetes Awareness Month is all the buzz in the diabetes community. This is the time of year when it's much easier to get our word out and to educate those on what it is like to live with diabetes. There are activities, World Diabetes Day, and events like the National Luminary Lighting Event. There will be spots on television talking about diabetes and statistics and things that can be done to prevent diabetes (hopefully they will metion that Type 2 is the one you can prevent).

Sadly, there is still VAST misinformation in the mainstream community and the media continually helps to feed this misinformation. This is a subject that all of us here in the Diabetes OC tend to mention on a fairly regular basis.

Today Kerri posted an interesting blog post about an upcoming episode of Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel. If you even know of a child under the age of about 14, you know who Hannah Montana is. On Kerri's post she linked the bootlegged copy of the episode that someone had sent her. After watching it myself, I was highly disturbed.

In the episode, Oliver, Miley's best friend, gets diabetes. At first he tried to hide it from Miley and Lilly but they find out by accident from the school nurse. Afterwards, they spend the whole show trying to keep Oliver from eating any sugar. At the end, Oliver is talking to them about diabetes and saying how he really wants a cupcake, but he just CAN'T have it. Basically, it is mentioned several times that diabetics shouldn't have much sugar. While, I agree that NO ONE should eat a ton of sugar, the whole episode is made out that Oliver can't have ANY sugar.

I know that parents in the Children With Diabetes community are raising a fuss. I, myself, went to the Disney site and left a message. I posted it below.

While I find it highly unlikely that Disney will pull this episode, I thought I had to at least let my opinion be known.

Hannah Montana is a hugely influential show on the young people in America. And Disney is misinforming an entire generation. While we in the Diabetes community fight constantly to bring more awareness to this disease that affects so many people, Disney seems to be able to come in, in one swift motion (or one 30 minute episode!) and destroy what we are working so hard to build: AWARENESS

As I'm sure you are aware, November is National Diabetes AWARENESS Month. Awareness being the key word here. And while I admire the attempt at adding a character with diabetes to the show, Hannah Montana, you have gotten it WRONG! Diabetics can and do eat sugar! A person with diabetes does not produce insulin. Insulin is necessary in the body for the carbohydrates that are consumed. And while sugar is a carbohydrate, 1 Snickers bar will raise my blood sugar just as much as 3 slices of whole wheat bread. Period. By having an episode in which Oliver is not supposed to have sugar, you are misinforming an entire generation of young people in what diabetes really is like. Not only do you make them think that Oliver can NEVER have sugar, you also never show a blood sugar meter, insulin, a shot, or an insulin pump. This is a GROSSLY inaccurate presentation of Type 1 diabetes. As for my credentials in writing you on this subject...I have been living with Type 1 diabetes for 23 years. If that ain't enough knowledge, I don't know what is. I encourage you to pull this episode immediately. Re-write it. And give an accurate description of diabetes. Thank you.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Bad Sensor

I put a new sensor in a couple of days ago. About 1/2 the time since, I've had it turned off. Because when it's on, I can't seem to get it to work right. I think I have officially come across my first "bad" sensor.
There have been no calibration errors. But time after time I will check and it will be 100 to 150 points off! I will try to reset it and then in 4 or 5 hours I test again and the reading is off in the opposite direction.
I am taking it out tonight. It's been a while since I've taken some time off from the sensor. I may take a few days break. We'll see how long I last before I'm putting a new one in. I usually don't last more than 24 to 36 hours because I have gotten so used to seeing the CGMS to have an idea of where my blood sugars are heading.

By the way, since I am not walking for JDRF this year, I am posting a fellow diabetic's info so you can donate to her. This is Kacey, the daughter of Jill at My Crazy Life.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Tennessee Gathering Report

Last Saturday was our first Tennessee gathering. Despite small numbers, we had a good time and plan on doing it again. In fact, already others have told both myself and Vivian at Danieldoo, that they want to come to the next one. We had food, games (thanks for the challenge Daniel!), paddle boating, and GREAT weather! Below are some pictures that we took. Maybe you can join us next time!





P.S. My pump's new name is LOLA. A victory by only 1 vote. :)

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Detached

I have read on other blogs, at other times, about people becoming "detached" from their pump. Taking it off to try on clothes and forgetting to reattach. Or having a site just not go on correctly. Well, it was my turn on Sunday.
I have ripped out a site before. But I've never had one not attach. I was running late on Sunday morning (too much lazing around!) and was in a hurry when I got out of the shower and started getting ready. I reattached my pump and threw on a skirt and shirt and headed to church.
I always check my pump a few times during church. I held stead around 100, according to the CGMS until about time to leave church. I looked down and saw my blood sugar was rising. By the time I got home and looked again, I had shot up to 189. This was in the span of about 30 minutes. I quickly changed clothes and noticed that my site was not hooked up completely. I'm not sure when it happened, but when I checked my blood sugar, I was 240.
I made sure I was firmly reattached and gave a correction bolus, but was still shocked at the rapid change in my blood sugar levels. I checked my clothing and my site. It wasn't wet, like it had been unhooked for a very long time, but it must have been for my blood sugar to shoot up so quickly.
If you have become unattached before, how long was it before your blood sugar started rising?

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Nationwide Luminary Lighting Event to Support Juvenile Diabetes!

What: Annual Juvenile Diabetes / Type 1 Luminary Lighting
T-1 Luminary Enlightenment
When: November 5, 2008.
Where: Luminaries displayed in front of your home, visible from the road. All roads in town will be lit with luminaries.
Why: Three years ago, Harrison was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. This year he has one major goal: to build awareness for the millions of people with Type 1 / Juvenile Diabetes. With awareness comes compassion for ALL of our children.
How: Send an email to czjdrf@gmail.com with your mailing address and the number of luminary packs you would like to purchase. We will send you a pack of 3 luminaries and 3 tea lights for $5.00. On November 5th, place the T-1 luminary outside your house visible from the road and keep it lit in honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month. In addition, hang the Type 1 fact sheet on your front door for everyone to read and become “enlightened.” This is an easy way to show your support from the comfort of your home. You don’t need to join a walk team… climb mountains… or write a big check.

Thank you in advance for helping light the way to a cure for Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes.
This is a nationwide event. Don’t be the only street in your town not lit with luminaries.

Proceeds will go to support research aimed at finding a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. Please send checks payable to Harrison’s Heroes T-1 Luminary Enlightenment.
Mail to:
Harrison Heroes
P.O. Box 2813
Westport CT 06880
czjdrf@gmail.com


DID YOU KNOW?
There are two very different types of diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes is when your body no longer produces insulin because the immune system kills the cells in the body that produce insulin. Insulin is essentially the key that allows the glucose (sugar/energy) from your blood into your cells. Since people with type 1 diabetes can’t produce their own insulin, they must put insulin into the blood stream 24 hours a day through injections or an insulin pump (See attached picture of the sensor and insulin pump infusion needles that are injected under the skin in the stomach or lower hips and need to be changed ever 48 to 72 hours in children. Imagine how hard it is to get the average five year old to brush their teeth…now imagine the strength and courage needed, at any age, to administer these needles every few days). Without insulin your blood sugar will become very high resulting in seizures, coma or death. To properly determine how much insulin a child with type 1 diabetes needs, they test their blood every two hours, around the clock.

A child’s body is constantly growing and changing, therefore the amount of insulin a child requires can vary from day to day. There are many different factors involved to determine the amount of insulin needed and too much insulin in the body will result in low blood sugar levels resulting in seizures, coma or death. Unfortunately, determining the amount of insulin is not a science, but rather an art. Adrenaline, growth hormones and stress on the body can all affect blood sugar levels and the amount of insulin required. Someone with type 1 diabetes must calculate the amount of insulin for everything they eat. You will often see moms inconspicuously counting every goldfish cracker their child eats at a birthday party or trying to guess the carbohydrate/sugar content in an orange at a soccer game.

Normally, insulin in the body starts working the second a person looks at food. However, for someone with type 1 diabetes the insulin that is injected can take two to three hours to metabolize in the body, resulting in very unstable blood sugars throughout the day. High and low blood sugars affect how a person feels resulting in blurred vision, headaches, nausea, confusion, irritability and exhaustion.

Parents of children with type 1 diabetes are up all night testing blood sugar levels -- giving apple juice to prevent low blood sugars and administering insulin to prevent high blood sugars. There is no vacation from diabetes. Every 2 hours of every day—every meal, every sports activity, every play date, when they are healthy, when they have a cold, and even when they are sleeping—parents are making decisions to maintain tight control of the diabetes in their little ones.

It is a misconception that you can grow out of type 1 diabetes or that it can be controlled by diet and exercise like type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease -- it is not a result of obesity or a poor diet. While diabetes is sometimes genetic in most cases the cause is unknown. Unfortunately there is no cure for type 1 diabetes YET! Only with a national enlightenment will we be able to develop a cure for type 1 diabetes and other chronic diseases that affect children. There have been many amazing advances in care over the last five years and we are grateful for anything that will help the quality of the day to day life for our children. However, our children deserve more… they deserve a cure! Thank you for helping us light that way to a cure.


Nationwide Type 1 Diabetes
Luminary Enlightenment
November 5, 2008


Thank you again for your support and participation in the Type 1 Diabetes Luminary Lighting! If you can’t participate, please pass along the luminaries to a friend, neighbor or someone who can.

Directions for November 5th, 2008:

1. Fill luminary bag with 2 cups of sand or small rocks.

2. Place tea light inside the bag.

3. Place the bag outside your front door, visible from the street, and light the candle.

4. Keep candle lit in honor of the Type 1 Luminary Lighting event.

5. Hang the Type 1 Diabetes Fact Sheet on your front door for people to read and become “enlightened.”

6. On the night of the Luminary Lighting event, take a picture with your luminaries in front of your home/street and send to P.O. Box 2813 Westport, CT 06880 or email to czjdrf@gmail.com

Hopefully the weather will be great on November 5th, if it is raining or too windy to light the luminaries then wait until the next best evening. November is Diabetes awareness month so we have the entire month to enlighten the Nation.
Keep your luminaries in your sock drawer for safe keeping until November 5th -or- keep a note in your sock drawer to remind yourself where you have them stored. (If we all keep the luminaries in the same place then we can remind each other where to find them on Nov. 5th and for years to come.)

Note: All luminary bags are flame resistant. However, be sure to be careful and do not leave the bags unattended.

These are 3 of the 4 attachements that Courtnie sent me. I have already posted on TuDiabetes about this and am now posting it here. Courtnie said to be sure that everyone knew you CAN make your own luminaries. This is about raising awareness for Type 1 during Diabetes Awareness month.
If you'd like these attachements, along with the order form, let me know through comments and leave me your e-mail address.
Thanks to all!!!!

Friday, October 10, 2008

The Today Show-Diabetes T-1

This looks like something that might be of interest to our Diabetes online community. I am going to e-mail this lady and see what happens.


Saturday, October 4, 2008

Gathering Coming...and a Poll

I am just posting a lovely reminder that the Tennessee Gathering that will be next Saturday, October 11th in Cookeville, Tennessee. I am hoping to see several different people there. Let me know if you need directions or more information. Or you can visit the event page on TuDiabetes.com.

Also, I am naming my pump with all of your help. There is a poll on this page that is good until October 17th. Help me name my pump. :)