D-Blog Day 2012

Today is D-Blog day, it was started on November 9th, 2005 during Diabetes Awareness Month, to help unite diabetes bloggers and to create awareness about Diabetes.  You can find more info  here.   I participated in D-Blog day the first time back in 2010, 6 things I want You to know about Korky.   This years prompt is Choose a form of Media Outlet to write an open letter to, such as NY Times, CNN, Local/National Newspapers, TV and why it is so important for them to let the world know that diabetes is more than just being overweight and having too much sugar. It is about reporting stories about Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Let them know what kind of things you would like them to write about. If there are specific articles or reports they got wrong, let them know about it! Let’s get it right!

Dear American TV,

Why do you insist on making fun of people with Diabetes.  Did you know that over 25 million people in the US have diabetes, around 8.3% of the population.  Not all of those people got diabetes by laying around on the couch, watching TV, drinking soda, and eating cupcakes!  Not all of those people have had or will have a leg amputated.  Some of those people with diabetes are kids, and they didn't get it because their parents let them have a sweet treat every now and then, they certainly didn't get it from a Happy Meal at McDonalds. 

You develop Diabetes when your body either stops producing insulin or when your body builds up resistance to insulin.  It is a serious chronic illness!  There are many different types of diabetes.  Do your research, when you report about diabetes, report about all types of them, not just one. 

Why do you insist on painting the country pink in October, and then forgetting about everything else for the rest of the year.  Diabetes has a month too, its November, devote some time in November to educating about the differences, of course its good to talk about the preventions but when you talk about preventing diabetes, tell the world which diabetes you are trying to prevent.  Take into consideration the children and adults with Type 1 Diabetes, the ones whose immune system turned on them.  Take into consideration the ones who have hereditary diabetes. 

No more jokes on talk shows, late night shows, and news shows about sugar highs or amputations.  That stuff scares my kid who has diabetes.  You don't make fun of cancer, mentally handicapped, or other illness, so don't make fun of diabetes either.  It is anything but fun!

If you're going to talk about, research it, get your facts straight, make a well-informed piece.

Thank you, Amanda

Now, for the Wego Health NHBPM prompts for today, they were to make a care package for your fellow patients, or to tell a descriptive story about a memory. 

Yesterday I wrote a little about Kortnie's diagnosis in Dear Diabetes or you could read about her Diagnosis Story for some of my memories.

As far as a care package for our fellow patients, I actually can't really think of anything very nifty right now.  When Kortnie was in the hospital, it was a children's hospital.  They had all kinds of neat things there for her, they had the Disney channel, movies, video games, board games, and books they could bring to your room.  They also had a game room, arts and crafts room, and even a school room you could go to for awhile if you wanted, even a playground.  The people at Child Life brought her a Bag of Hope from JDRF, which had a Rufus bear in it, Rufus also has diabetes, they also brought her a couple of blood sugar meters and skins for them.  They let her pick out a medic alert bracelet too.  They had free wifi there too, so that was nice for me, I could update worried friends and family through facebook (no smart phone for me back then, they were still fairly new), and I could research Type 1 when she was resting or watching tv.  They gave us some books about diabetes, a whole binder full of information, great training, and free samples of meters and test strips.  They gave us toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, soap, towels, and washrags, they had a lounge with a Keurig type coffee machine, tv, magazines, a refrigerator, microwave, and a shower for us parents.  The hospital was great to us.  I can't think of anything else they could have done for us. 

If I heard about a newly diagnosed family in the hospital.  I might bring them some food for the parents, tv dinners or something they could keep in the refrigerator and microwave in the lounge.  I might bring the kids a new pair of PJ's, for a girl some nail polish.  I would definitly bring them a list of helpful websites, groups on facebook, organizations, and blogs.  The biggest thing I would bring them is love, support, and prayers. 

Diabetes Fact of the Day
Sugar free is not necessarily good for a Type 1 Diabetic, sugar free candy and treats are usually filled with sugar alcohol which can cause tummy issues, and they almost always have just as many carbs as the non-sugar free version. 

Go take the Big Blue Test if 20,000 tests get logged by World Diabetes Day on November 14th, $100,00 will be donated by Roche Diabetes Care to humanitarian diabetes chairites around the world which will deliver lifesaving insulin and supplies to children around the world.  You don't have to have diabetes to do the test.  For a non-diabetic, all you need to do is 14 minutes of activity.  Dancing, Running, Aerobics, Zumba, Yoga, Weight Lifting, Swimming, Walking, Playing at the Park with you kids, Bicycling, anything.  It only takes a minute or less.  Go log your activity and help save a child here! 

Dear Diabetes

Dear Diabetes,

On this date, November 8th, 3 years ago in 2009 you came barreling into my daughters life.  Actually, I'm pretty sure you came into her life awhile before that, but it was on this day, 3 years ago that we found out you were here, and here to stay. 

We've fought the good fight for 3 years, we'll keep on fighting forever if we have to.

 

I will never forget that day, looking down at my little girl so tired and weak, sleeping in her daddy's lap in a church pew, looking like a bag of bones, while I was up on the stand participating in the Primary program.   I will never forget telling my husband, "I'm taking her to the ER, right now" and marveling at the fact that he didn't even try to tell me it would be okay to wait until tomorrow morning when the doctor was in.  I will never forget how she just laid there in that big hospital bed and was too weak to fight off the needle stealing the blood from her arm.  Soon after someone came and told me she had Diabetes, I had to wait a good hour and a half after that to call Brian, he was still at church with no cell phone.  I will never forget the doctors telling me that she was in bad shape and they couldn't keep her at our local hospital, they were afraid she'd go into coma or have a heart attack, they said she had to be flown to Phoenix.  I will never forget them strapping her to a travel gurney and loading her into that helicopter.  Thank the Lord the let me fly down with her, my one and only unforgettable helicopter ride was anything but enjoyable.  I will never forget sitting in the PICU with Kortnie and crying at the site of 7 different tubes of stuff going into her IV. I will always be forever grateful that Brian didn't get there until the next afternoon, by then we were out of the PICU and in a regular room, Kortnie looked so much better, he won't have to live with that frightening image in his head.  I will never forget those 5 days we spent in the hospital, Kortnie, Brian, and I, away from our other kids, missing them like crazy, and scared of how much our lives were changing.  I will never forget the fear, the anger, the fright, the despair, and the confusion I felt. 

 

 I don't know what Kortnie remembers of that time, because I am afraid to ask her.  She does say that you, dear diabetes, you suck.

 

3 years with Type 1 Diabetes, Kortnie added 'It sucks!'

 

 

The other day, we were at Walmart which is right across the street from the hospital.  A helicopter took off, likely flying someone to Phoenix, Brian and I stood in the parking lot watching that helicopter fly away, I said a prayer for whoever was in there.  I looked at Brian watching that helicopter and he told me, "that makes me sad", I told him it made me sad too.  Every time I hear a helicopter fly over my house, I get scared that something has happened to Kortnie at school and that helicopter is going to pick her up.  I can't shake it, it's been 3 years and I can't shake the fear.

 

You know what though, dear diabetes, you have changed us, all of us, and maybe, just maybe, some of those changes are okay.  We eat a little healthier, we've met so many wonderful people, we've made friends in real life, and friends in our computers, we've learned so much, we've been able to teach.  Kortnie is strong, really strong, you have made her extra strong.  You have also made her better at math.  You have given us compassion too.   You aren't winning and you never will.  We will continue to fight, to live, and to strive to advocate and teach, and to look for a cure. 

 

Kortnie and her girls from the Aztec Cabin at D-Camp

 

Kortnie and Sugar at the JDRF Walk

 

 

Kortnie at the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes 2012, fundraising for a cure.

 

 

 

Don't get me wrong, I hate you, and I try not to hate anything, but I really do hate you, I would kick you to the curb, or take you from Kortnie anytime.  I'll keep the stuff you've given us though. 

 

Today we celebrate, 3 years of kicking your ass.  You still scare me, you still suck, you will still try to take over our lives, but we won't let you, you won't beat us, we'll keep fighting, forever.  You haven't just invaded Kortnie's life, but you've invaded my home, the lives of my family, you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us.  We've made beating you a family affair, with all of us working together, you don't have a chance. 

A 3 year D-Aversary celebration ice cream cone. Yes, she can eat that!

 

Graham and Stasia say it sucks too.

Watch out diabetes, we've got our eye on you!

 



Sincerely,
Kortnie's Family

 

 

 

Day 8 in the Wego NHBPM, the prompt was Write a letter to your Health.

 

 

Kortnie's Diabetes Fact of the day

 

3 years today, living with Type 1 Diabetes
11,000 finger sticks
1,260 syringe injections
320 site changes
16 doctor visits

14 blood draws
5 days in the hospital
2 eye dialations
1urgent care visit
1 ER visit
1 helicopter ride
All because of Type 1 Diabetes
 That's only 3 years, she is only 8 years old, she needs a cure.



 

 



 

 

 



The Weirdest Thing about Kortnie's Health #NHBPM Day 2

Day 2 in the Wego Health National Health Blog Post Month.

Today's prompts were write about the weirdest thing about your health, or find a quote and use it as inspiration.

I'm going to write about the weird things. 

Where do I start?  It's been said that Diabetes is a fickle bitch, and that is the truth! Fickle bitch could easily translate into weird though, couldn't it?

Diabetes means fluctuating blood sugars and fluctuating blood sugars can produce all kinds of craziness.  One minute Kortnie will be my sweet 'normal' girl and the next she can be a raging maniac!  You can look at her wrong and she'll just start crying and/or stomping around  and I'm like "what the heck, go check your blood sugar!" 

One time we were driving in the car, we had just left the bank and were heading to Walmart, less than a mile drive I'd say.  She was fine!  I was talking to her and all of a sudden she slumped over and passed out!  That was some freaky weird scary stuff, I quickly pulled over and her blood sugar was like 35 or something ridiculously low like that.  No rhyme or reason, I mean she was fine 1 minute previous.

The crazy unexepected-no reason at all-high and low blood sugars-they give the weirdest reactions and they are the scariest, and they happen at any time, no rhyme or reason, just because diabetes is a fickle weird bitch.

Another weird thing, for me at least, is that I am literally pumping my kid full of a man made hormone all day every day 24/7.  She is connected to an insulin pump ALL of the time, and that pump gives her man-made insulin every 3 minutes.  Her doctor, her school nurse, he father, and I are always changing up her ratios and rethinking her insulin doses and tweaking it.  Too much of that insulin can kill her pretty quickly, not enough can cause major damage and kill her within a few days.  I have always been the mom who relied on chicken soup, orange juice, water, and rest as a cure all, I avoided doctors offices and medicines as much as I could, and now I am the mom pumping my kid full of a man-made hormone all day, everyday.  That is weird for me. 

That being said, here is the bonus quote that I need to inspire me

Diabetes Fact of the Day

Type 1 diabetes strikes both children and adults at any age. It comes on suddenly, causes dependence on injected or pumped insulin for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications.

Why I Write About Kortnie's Diabetes #NHBPM Day 1

November is Diabetes Awareness Month.

 

So, in honor of that, I am going to try to  participate in Wego Health's National Health Blog Post Month.  This means that I will be writing one post per day for the month of November.  Wego Health has given prompts for each day of the month.  I can choose from 2 different prompts or from a list of alternate prompts, and I get to skip 2 days during the month if I want. 

 

So here goes, today is Day 1, and the prompts were "Why I write about my health" or "My favorite thing about social media/Internet/online health communities".

 

I am choosing the first, hence the title of the blog post.

 

I write about my daughter's health, in essence, her Type 1 Diabetes for a couple of reasons.  These are in no particular order.

 

#1 I write for me, so I can vent, so I can remember, so I can look back and see how far we've come.

 

#2 I write for Kortnie, so she can look back and remember.  Also, I write for her because... well, this is hard to say, but because I am afraid that someday she might have a child with Type 1 Diabetes, and maybe this blog will be beneficial if she ever becomes the mother of a child with T1D.

 

#3  I write for the other mothers out there.  Reading the blogs of other D-Mom's and PWD's (persons with diabetes) has helped me in so many ways.  They give me a feeling of same-same, they give me a sense of community, they give me good ideas and insight.  Reading blogs was my first foray into the DOC (Diabetes Online Community), and from the blogs I first found I have made friends and joined other online communities.  I treasure these friendships!  I hope that my blog gives the DOC back some of what they have given me.

 

#4  I write for my family and friends.  I know of a couple of my cousins and friends who read my blog.  I don't ever want them to feel sorry for me or for Kortnie, but it's nice to be able to share some of our daily challenges and triumphs with them so they can glimpse what our life is like.  Also, I figure by blogging I can share all of that and they can read or not, it's their choice, they don't feel like it's shoved down their throats.  I hope!  I think in the beginning I talked about diabetes way too much, in person, on my personal facebook page, and on my other family blog.  I probably still do sometimes, but hopefully I'm toning it down some.   Now, some might say that I have that right to talk about diabetes whenever I want to, but really, I don't want to talk about it all of the time, everywhere to everyone.  I don't want diabetes to RUN our lives, it is a BIG part of my family and our life together, but it DOES NOT rule the world! 

 

#5 I write for whomever may stumble onto my blog, maybe they'll learn something.  All I knew about diabetes before my daughter's diagnosis was the stereotypical type things.  I have learned so much these last 3 years, and this is one small way that I feel I can advocate for my daughter and for other Type 1 Diabetics.

 

So, that's it, that's why I write this blog.  As a bonus, I'll answer the other prompt too.  My favorite thing about social media/Internet/online health communities is.....reading blogs of other D-Moms and a few PWD's (later on in the month one of the prompts is to share your favorite blogs!).  Also I belong to a few pages on Facebook where I can go and write anything about diabetes or ask a question, and instantly so many other parents of CWD's (Child With Diabetes) or PWD's are right there to sympathize with me or help me out with an answer. 

 

Also, everyday during November I will be sharing a Type 1 Diabetes Fact of the Day and today's fact is...

 

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease in which a person's pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone that enables people to get energy from food. It occurs when the body's immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, called beta cells. While its causes are not yet entirely understood, scientists believe that both genetic factors and environmental triggers are involved. Its onset has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. There is nothing you can do to prevent T1D, and-at present-nothing you can do to get rid of it.