Earlier this week I posted about how diabetes can get in the way of life. There are many times when you want to put your disease on the back burner.

So often we have to stop what we are doing to check our blood or count carbs. We have to draw up syringes with the right amount of insulin. We have a lot to do and it can get in the way especially when we are in a hurry.

But have you ever had a moment when you realized your disease has seeped into the lives of others?

We went to dinner the other night. It was my wife, son, daughter, and her friend. We typically have someone over at our house hanging out playing on the Wii, watching movies, or even board games. Our home is a happening place.

  (READ MORE)

www.digital.cg.yu

I absolutely love helping people understand the details of diabetes. I like to know that now there is one more person in the world who knows that carbs are more important than sugar, that it's often quite complicated, and that insulin is not a cure. Part of me wants to spread the wealth of knowledge. Part of me wants to have more join the diabetes "organization" (like the mafia).

  (READ MORE)

After reading through and really thinking about all of the comments on my "Carbs vs Points" post I have decided that starting next week, I am going to begin the Weight Watchers Core Plan.

For those who are not familiar with the Core Plan, it's different than the Points plan or Flex plan as they call it. The Core plan has a list of foods that you can eat. You are only to eat from those foods and only eat until satisfied. I am going to do it on a 2 week basis and see how it goes.

So far I have lost 40 pounds using the Flex Plan which is the one with the Points so I have had some success. The problem is my BG and my need for change. I will do some major shopping this weekend to prepare myself for next week but I am actually looking forward to it. (READ MORE)

Sometimes I am shocked at how invisible diabetes can be. I was having practice at church the other night for the contemporary band when my Bass player asked us to pray for him.

"Of course! What is going on?"

He explains to me that he is having surgery on his eye to drain fluid in it and would just like us to keep him in our prayers. He started telling us about how he had this same surgery on his other eye and that it worked really well so he his hopeful that this surgery will be another success. I asked him what causes the problem he is having.

"Diabetes." (READ MORE)

juliaf

Today would have been my father's 59th birthday and as I was thinking about him I started thinking about all the people who have been important in my life and especially in my diabetes life.

My band director in high school was the one who asked the now fateful question, "Are you feeling okay?" It was drum rehearsal on Monday October 2nd 1990. I told him I was feeling a little light headed but that was it. He said that I looked pale and that was something I don't think I had ever heard before in my life. I have very dark skin since I am both Puerto Rican and Cuban so pale was not a norm for me. (READ MORE)

I was just about to walk out the door this morning when the phone range. Caller ID showed the name of a friend I had planned to call later. It was just before 9 a.m.

"How's The Mr.?" she wanted to know, referring to his recovery effort from Tuesday's surgery to repair an abdominal hernia.

"He's fine," I said. "How's Matt?"

"Oh, you heard?" she said uneasily.

"Yeah, K. told me last night when she dropped No. 1 off after Scouts," I said.

"Blood sugar," she said. "It was 60."

"Oh," I said, feeling relieved that it wasn't the seizure we all thought it was and that this first-grader is prone to. "OH...," I said, my voice getting lower and hinting at sadness and disapointment.

We both know what this low blood sugar might lead to, what it's a sign of. My friend, Matt's mom, is a nurse. She also has type 2 diabetes.

"Maybe it was just a fluke," I said.

Neither of us ever actually said the word 'diabetes.' (READ MORE)