The second annual "No-D Day" was Friday, 7 October. I missed it in preparation for Yom Kippur.

This is the second year that the diabetes online community has dedicated a day specifically to writing about things other than, um, diabetes. Let's face it: most of the time our posts are so full of highs, lows, food diaries, d-meetups, medication schedules, glucose tests, and so on that we tend to lose site that behind those walls of figures sit real people. People with parents, spouses or partners, sometimes children, sometimes furkids, jobs, homes (we hope!), and a whole range of interests beyond the latest FDA letter drive for an iPhone-mounted glucometer or a low-suspend pump.

  (READ MORE)

At faire:

New club member (sotto voce, to partner): I'm 145. I need something low-carb. (to group) Any idea where I can get something low carb?

Me: Diabetic?

New member: Type 1. (holds up structured leather pouch with diabetes gear)

Me: Pump or shots?

Her: Wireless pump.

Me: Omnipod?

Her: Yes.

Me: I'm Type 2, diet and exercise. Best I can think of for low-carb are those turkey drumsticks, steak-on-a-stake, or if they're selling jerky...

  (READ MORE)

Some who know me might suggest I have more "costumes" in my closet than "real clothes". That's a bit of an exaggeration -- I don't have costumes, I have garb. I have STARFLEET uniforms. I have conjectural historical recreations. The difference is that "garb" is "normal clothes" to the character to whom it belongs. Garb is worn frequently and repeatedly, as clothes. Garb must stand up to everyday-normal wear and tear -- often in rough environments -- and it must undergo closer scrutiny than what is seen across a stage or a movie screen. And because garb belongs to the real-life individual who portrays the character, it is often custom-tailored and highly-detailed.

  (READ MORE)