Many of us have been a-twitter about World Diabetes Day, bringing attention to the epidemic proportions of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and the Big Blue Test. Seattle had a bike ride as did Victoria, BC. Philadelphia had an event at the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. Those of us in the New York City area celebrated with a huge D-Meetup and pizza party. The indefatiguable Allison set things up in a Midtown office building. At its peak, over 20 Type 1s, Type 2s, and Type 3s gathered to enjoy each other's company and take part in the Big Blue Test.

We started off with a round of introductions. As usual, The Other Half and I were the token T2s. After the intros, Allison noted that the Sundance Channel would be playing Life for a Child this evening, and that any funds collected beyond those needed to pay for the space and the food would be donated to the Life for a Child relief organization.

Pizza arrived shortly afterwards and as usual, food and discussion -- most of it with a diabetes slant -- went hand-in-hand. The CGMers discussed the different brands and models of CGMs, sensors, and keeping sensors in place for the designed duration. A bunch of us discussed differences between the types of care Type 1s and Type 2s receive, and the different sets of comorbid conditions we are prone to. Val mentioned a pump/CGM logging application she is in the process of developing, and The Other Half and I plugged our Diabetes Cellphone Wallpaper. (For those interested in the recipe for the cold black bean noodles in peanut-sesame sauce I brought in, the recipe can be found here.)

A pair of cakes came in shortly before 2PM -- a large chocolate cake with buttercream frosting, and a smaller gluten-free cake to accommodate guests with celiac. After some photos, the cake was cut -- though some of us preferred to delay eating it until after the Big Blue Test. 

There's something to be said about indoor group exercise sessions outside a gym environment which is, they are limited. Instead those of us able to walk around the block spent half the fourteen minutes waiting for elevators to get us downstairs from the 22nd floor, and the first two minute of the "post exercise" portion of the test getting back upstairs. Tests accomplished, it was back to the cake, the chat, and packing the room up at the end of the party.

We may not have raised as much diabetes awareness as other groups in other parts of the country, but we got together, had some fun as people with diabetes celebrating a day of awareness, and participated in the Big Blue Test. And raised some money for Life for a Child.