Last week, a rabbi I follow on Twitter mentioned that she was beginning to work on her sermons for the Jewish High Holy Days. A bit off-the-cuff, I threw out the topic of "G-d forgiveness, versus self-forgiveness, versus forgiving one's fellow man". While the first of these sits squarely within the framework of religion, the other two often sit at the same table as the many theories of diabetes management. Especially where caregivers, and type 2 diabetes, are concerned.

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One thing I've learned both living with diabetes (and hypertension and everything else) and having family members with diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and other health issues is that no matter how far away you are, and whether that be in miles or in outlooks, the chronic illness of one is shared by the entire family. Here, many hands do not make "light work" -- that right goes to the bonds of love and familial obligation. While a large support network might ease the afflicted person's ability to live a full life, it means that a much larger number of people need to consider the needs of that person, that many more perceive an increase in their own risk for developing that malady, and that many more must learn to accommodate a family member's needs within their own lives.

To start with, it's hard to address diabetes without addressing diet. After all, they both start with the diphthong // dai //

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While I posted yesterday that Nick Jonas was in New York Sunday for the Diabetes Research Institute's Carnival for a Cure, I didn't mention much about the event itself. Billed as "New York City's largest indoor carnival," the event was a cross between a street fair and an arcade, aimed largely at the under-twelve crowd. Three walls of the Metropolitan Pavillion were lined with inflatable mazes, slides, and bounce rooms, and a human-powered "mechanical bull". Several street-fair games-of-skill, aimed again at the under-twelve set, occupied a block of canopies in the center of the room. Prize tickets were given to the winners, and by the end of the afternoon almost every family there was wrangling multiple shopping bags of toys. (READ MORE)

I don't believe in vaccines. Perhaps it was the family that I grew up in. Or the disease that I've lived with every day since a series of regular, routine vaccines when I was 4 years old. Maybe it's just my own understanding of health and traditional thinking.

But I don't believe in them. However controversial that might be and however many of you might hate/ban/harass me for it, I cannot bring myself to believe in them. And trust me, I have done my research.

When I was 4 years old, my mother took me in for all the regular vaccines. The most memorable for both of us is the MMR because it has since been linked to autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes. Almost immediately, my mom noticed a change in me. I was sick, unlike myself, and in ill health.

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Being a dad with diabetes can be tricky. I watch everything my kids do hoping I do not spot a symptom of this stupid disease in their lives. When they want a lot to drink I worry. If I hear them get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom I worry. If they are tired for no reason I worry.

Besides keeping a watchful eye on my kids I am also always careful about what I fill our cupboards with. We don’t my sugary cereals Hostess is not one of our major food groups, and regular soda is almost never in our home.

The bad side about this is feeling like the enemy of fun. I know I am making good choices for them but at the same time I feel kind like a jerk who doesn’t want them to enjoy kid stuff. (READ MORE)

vancity197 @stock.xchng

I feel like such a mean dad.

I am the father of two very awesome kids. My son is 14 and my daughter is 10. They are both very smart and well mannered kids. My wife and I are extremely blessed in that they are both good kids. We thank God all the time for them.

I am usually considered the "cool dad" with my kid and their friends and as much as I am "cool" I am also pretty strict. I have definite rules with my kids and as long as they do not break them then they have lots of freedoms. Break a rule and freedoms are gone.

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