Education and misinformation

There's been quite a bit of chatter in the diabetes community during the last couple of days regarding today's Oprah show devoted to "America's Silent Killer", diabetes.  Many were very hopeful that she and Dr. Oz would share helpful, correct information that differentiated between Types 1, 2, MODY, gestational.....since there isn't just ONE type of diabetes.

I will be honest and say that I did NOT have great expectations, because in general any time you hear a show promoting "DIABETES", everything is geared towards Type 2 with no distinctions made.  As such, I did not set the DVR to record the show.

Reading the comments on the Oprah.com site and from the D-Moms via Facebook, it seems that my low expectations may have been too lofty.  SIGH......  Now millions of people have heard Dr. Oz and Oprah say that if diabetics would just stop drinking pop and eating "white carbs", they'd be all better!  Double sigh.....
Apparently there was one brief mention of the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 partway into the show, but they were never differentiated clearly.

To say that all forms of diabetes are the same and should be treated in one way is like saying all forms of cancer are the same and should be treated with the same methods.  Oh, except you really don't ever hear someone telling a person with cancer that it was THEIR fault - if they just hadn't eaten that donut or had they exercised just a little more, their brain tumor wouldn't have developed.  I suppose people with lung cancer do get that blame put on them (if you'd just not smoked all those ciggies), but there are people who have lung cancer who've never smoked a single puff, just as there are people with diabetes who have never been obese, have eaten healthy diets and exercised - but still have the damned disease.  (pardon my French)

So to HELP spread the word about Type 1, please go to Mark Sanchez's Pepsi Refresh Project   and vote to help Mark and JDRF teach schools, teachers and children about the signs and symptoms of Type 1.
Let's try to spread the TRUTH about Type 1 diabetes instead of the Oprah-ized version.

Hello, February

My goodness, it's been a while! Sorry for the lack of posts....life has been crazy normal around here,
which means not getting a whole lot of things done.  I seem to get a little bit of everything taken care of, but nothing is done completely.  Oh, well, I'm not as Type A as I need to be, apparently. :)

Hmmm, so what's been going on around here.....
Arizona was slammed by an enormous winter storm last week.  We had an incredible amount of rain here
in the valley ("of the sun", ha) and the northern half of the state was covered in several feet of snow.  Schools and businesses were closed for days - how come when *I* went to NAU, we never had a snow day?  (Oh, that's right - because snow hadn't been invented yet.)  I spent the weekend in Prescott with some friends, and we had a FABULOUS time, even though I seemingly became a Weeble and was unable to stay upright in the snow.  Of course, I was informed that Weebles wobble but they DON'T fall down...but fall down I did!
Pics may be forthcoming, when I get them from the Official Photographer.  :) 

Things on the school front are not looking good.  This state is NOT supportive of public education, and it's looking like class sizes will be going UP (again) and pay will be going DOWN, most likely significantly.  Oh, and insurance costs are projected to go up about 30%.  If my salary is cut by the amount that other districts are cutting (anywhere from 15% to 40%!!) I may end up owing money to the district by the time all my deductions are taken out. :(   In this economy, I am grateful to have employment and I am even more grateful for the insurance benefits, but to be completely honest, the idea of working harder and not having any take-home money is really, really discouraging.  Part time job, anyone? 

Diabetes continues to throw a monkey wrench into things.  Miss M will have a day or two of lows followed by a day or two of 200+ readings that refuse to come back down.  I have stepped away from the majority of d-care tasks, as they had become a major source of contention between Miss M and I.  The DH is now designated d-care-parent.....how hard has it been for me to let go, you ask?  Well, do you know me at all?  I have a minor little control-freak streak.....just a little one.   He's doing fine - perhaps not doing things the way I would do it, but the peace between  my daughter and I is SO worth the nail-biting I have to do.  

Mr. Boy is growing taller every day...it won't be long until he passes me by.  (go ahead, those of you that know me - say it.  Passing me in height isn't that much of a challenge...)  They are both growing so fast!

Back to school!

It's hard to believe that Winter Break is already ending....two weeks flew right past.
I am amazed at how much I thought I would get done, and how much *actually* got done.  Funnily enough, the two don't quite match.

The husband is recovering nicely from his gallbladder surgery, the kids made it through without causing each other too much bodily harm, and I got a lot of reading and relaxing accomplished - all in all, I suppose it was a nice break.

I'm sorry to say that for some friends, break wasn't so wonderful - Kelly's dad has had surgery, as has Shamae.  I will be keeping them both in my prayers.

Happy 2010 to one and all; here's hoping for a year of good health and prosperity for everyone!

Blogging Mamas!

Here we are, the West Valley T1 support group bloggers, at the annual Christmas party.  If you haven't already, please visit:

Leigh - My Two Monkeys
(me)
Kelly - Chasing Numbers
Tracy - The Ripley Mommy
Wendy - Candy Hearts

We all blog about life in general, life as a mom/wife/pancreas, and how life with diabetes affects us all....in very different ways, yet with a common thread running through it all.  I'm ever so thankful to have my support group and blogging mama friends to keep me (mostly) sane!

Thanks, Wendy, for the photo....my camera is still being most uncooperative. :P~~~~~~~, camera!

The Christmas party

Last night, our diabetes support group got together for our 2nd annual holiday party, at Santa's Winter Home in Arizona.  Thanks to the Musils, who have the most beautifully decorated holiday house EVER!  We even had a special visit from the Jolly Ol' Elf himself, who came in and delivered gifts to all the deserving little people (and not so little people, too).


(imagine a cute little picture here - when I can get my camera running I'll put one in)

It's always wonderful to get together with other families who live with Type 1 every day.  We speak a common language, that of infusion sets and basal rates and carb counts.  "Why is she HIGH?" has an entirely different meaning in our little corner of the world, and when you ask that question to a d-parent, no one gives you the look that says, "I'm calling CPS and the police department as soon as she turns her back". 

In related news, I got Missy Miss to wear a Navigator sensor again - Happy Holidays to me! The kids are going off to Grandma and Grandpa's house while I take the Dear Husband to have his gallbladder removed and he recuperates for a couple of days.  G & G are great at helping her, but I want her to start taking some baby steps towards responsibility of her care when she is on her own.  Hopefully having the Navigator on will help her to manage her numbers a little more without the constant need for finger poking (which she isn't great at remembering to do if a parental person isn't around).   I do so love the Navigator and its constant stream of information....

We at Casa de Rambling wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a healthy New Year full of blessings!

It's the most wonderful time.....

How can it be mid-December already?  Wasn't it Labor Day just a minute ago?


My mother always told me that as I got older, time would seem to go faster.  Once again, she was right.....I wish she were here for me to tell her that in person.  I know she is watching and LAUGHING her head off at me.....I thought I was so smart.  Now I look at my own daughter and wonder if she will look back some day and realize I'm not quite the brainless lump she takes me to be.  I sure hope so.

We here at Chez Rambling are not quite into the swing of the holidays yet.  Tree not up, no lights outside, not much done in the way of gifts.  I have an enormous list of fabulous CWD friends to send cards to, and I promise that I REALLY, REALLY will send them.....just as soon as I get the photos taken to have them made. Eep, I had better get moving!

Many thanks to friends Kelly  and Joanne for the Circle of Friends award!  This comes with 2 conditions:
Tell five things you love and pass it on to five more friends.  So, here we go....

1.  My husband -  Yes, you may give me the "Thank you, Captain Obvious" award to go along with this one.  I've known him longer than I haven't.  He's been by my side through just about every major event in my life and hasn't run screaming away yet.  He's patient and kind and puts up with me no matter what, and he's a great dad to Missy Miss and Mister Boychild.  Is he perfect?  Well, he's perfect for me. :)

2.  My kids - I know, the second most obvious answer. Despite impending teenagerhood and the perils of puberty, and despite threats to the contrary, I wouldn't trade them for anything.  They make me laugh, they exasperate me, and they keep me off balance 99% of the time.  Which is probably really, really good for me, even when I don't appreciate it during the moment.

3.  My job - Some days I wonder how in the world I'll get through, and some days I have to drag myself there. But I can't imagine doing anything else.....when I finally make that breakthrough with a tough kid or someone finds a reason to be proud of him/herself and the smile lights up the classroom, I know that I am doing what I was meant to do.  Would I like a bigger paycheck? Well, duh! But sometimes the pay doesn't show up in the bank account, but in the heart.  Added bonus - FABULOUS coworkers who keep me laughing, keep me on my toes, and keep me sane in the staff meetings!

4.  Insulin - another "Captain Obvious" sentiment to be sure.  If it weren't for insulin having been discovered by Banting and Best and crew, I wouldn't have a daughter to make me crazy any more. Some days I hate diabetes more than others (it is NEVER my favorite thing) , but every day I remind myself to be grateful for that which keeps her alive.

5.  The members of the DOC - The Diabetes Online Community.  I truly believe that if I hadn't found the CWD site I would have lost what remaining sanity I have. From there, it branched off into mailing lists, blogs, the formation of our local support group, and our traveling to events in California and Florida.  Most of my local d-mom friends either blog or post on lists that I frequent, and I have virtual friends all across the US and Canada (and a few farther-flung than that).  I've learned so much from and gotten support from those who have already walked this path and from those who are following in the steps we've left behind us.  Being a parent of a child with diabetes is frustrating, frightening and challenging but the DOC (local and virtual) is the family that keeps me propped up and going when I need help. 

Now, to pass it on to five friends!  OK, four friends.

Kat, who I've known since we were in grade school and who updates her blog less than I do...if that's even possible :)
Michelle,  a CWD mom that I've had the pleasure of meeting in person....she is an extraordinary writer on top of all the other hats she wears
Major Bedhead, whose blog was one of the first I found when I looking for d-blogs and who inspires me to keep on keeping on.  I'm sure she's received this already but I'm sending it to her again.
Splendidly Imperfect Miss M, who I met many moons ago as a teen-aged one-on-one aide to a student and who has become a married-college graduate-mom-super crafter extraordinaire!

I think everyone else I know who blogs has been tagged already.  If you haven't, consider yourself awarded and let us see your list!

I can't say it any better than this....

http://rosefamilyaz.blogspot.com/2009/11/world-diabetes-day-2009-blue-circle.html

Thanks, Wendy!