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I guess technically, I joined the diabetes online community back in October, 2005 when I joined dLife, and I became active in the overall DOC some time in 2008 -- but it wasn't until this year that I, and others, had the opportunity to "eyeball" the folk we'd been e-mailing, blogging to, commenting blog posts from, tweeting, and otherwise conversing with on various diabetes-related forums and social networks. 2009 is also the year dLife launched the dLife Community, and the year I started blogging here at Blogabetes.

Some of my year's highlights include:

March

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Not the numbers of our ABCs -- although there is strength in that knowledge -- but the strength of many people, standing together, for the same cause.

Many people making the same choice made Jesse Ventura -- a third-party candidate -- governor of Minnesota, and Abraham Lincoln -- also a third-party candidate -- President of the United States.

Many people speaking out on television and in the media made everyone aware of AIDS and of Breast Cancer -- even though those two diseases kill and disable far fewer people than heart disease and diabetes.

Why is it, then, that hundreds (thousands?) of Twitter users turned their avatars red for World AIDS day, or green to support the protesters after the Iranian election, but not blue to support World Diabetes Day?

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In early 2008, I took a look at Passover through the lens of diabetes. One of the traditions I discussed was Dayenu, a song we sing after the recitation of the Ten Plagues visited upon the Egyptians. The word "dayenu" is sometimes translated as "it would have been enough/sufficient". The Haggadah with which I grew up -- a highly-abridged, poorly-translated version, to be sure -- chose instead to title the English version, "We Are Grateful".

The list I drew up included things to be thankful for in terms of being able to live with diabetes (rather than die from it), including:

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If nothing else, diabetes has provided me with stories to tell.

Like the time before diagnosis when I peed my pants.  Or the time I told a classmate if they weren't careful, I'd put insulin in their milk and make them diabetic.  Or the time I socked a kid who called a diabetic friend of mine "sugar-freak."  Or the times I've made a donkey of myself during a low.  

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Yesterday I wrote about how my endocrinologist assumed I was a type 2 simply because of my current weight.

Today I want to tell you why this is such a problem.

When I went in to see my doctor I wanted to talk to him about using Symilin in my diabetes regimen.

He agreed that it may help with postprandial spikes and possibly some weight loss.

(See yesterday's post for the play by play)

He had his nurse bring in a Symilin pen for me to take home and also gave me a prescription for some more pens.

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When I got home from work last night I found a large package sitting on my desk.

"Who's this from?" My son was the only one home and as usual he gave the answer most 15 year olds would give.

"I dunno."

I looked at the label and saw it came from Minimed, the makers of my insulin pump.

As of late I have been eyeing the very cool Lakers skin for my pump since the camouflage one came off but I never ordered it. Hmm. Maybe it's my next box of CGM sensors since I am almost done with those? Hmm. Maybe I should just open it and find out. Duh!

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Diabetes gets old.

Pricking my finger, taking insulin, filling my pump, going to the doctors, counting carbs, and all the rest of the stuff we have to do to manage this stupid disease gets old. Fast!

So with that Diabetes Burnout happens.

I know for myself I get burned out every few months. I just get to that point where I want to give up and take a little vacation from it all. Not necessarily throwing in the towel or forgetting all about it, since we all know where that will lead, but maybe a few less tests or not worrying so much for a particular day.

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What did I do before the internet?

I used to buy the newspaper to find out what movies were showing at the theater. I would call all my friends at least once a week to see what was going on. I would have to watch the news to see what the weather was going to be like the next day. I would read the TV guide to see what TV shows were going to be on.

So much has changed.

Before the internet I had no relationships with any people with diabetes. I knew a few type 2’s but never felt like they understood what I was going through and they were always much older then I was so I felt awkward.

So now that I use the internet all day long, I have no clue how I lived without it.

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On my drive home I heard my cell phone ring. My headset was not on so I grabbed it and turned it on. I missed the call and waited to here the notification of voice mail.

When I heard the familiar "beep" I called my voice mail only to hear my doctors nurse on the line.

"Mr. Simmons this is Dr. Mendez' nurse and I am calling with the results of your blood work. Please call me back here at the office."

I know the number to my doctors office by heart but for whatever reason it is not in my address book. This is sort of a side note but I used the voice dialing feature and it worked perfectly. I don't know why I was so surprised but my phone called the  number the first time I said it.

When the nurse finally got on the phone she said, "The results for your test came back elevated."

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