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)

People with diabetes, and those touched by diabetes, follow their journey with the disease through a myriad of winding emotional paths. Depression is very common for those newly diagnosed, sadness can rear its head at different stages in the game, and a little humor and humility can even find the door to expose itself from time to time. The keys for controlling those doors are littered all over the place and on  Wrld Diabetes Day today, you can follow this map of internet hotspots. Expose diabetes for all that it is, good and bad, and then share it with others. Find an emotion and embrace it!

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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)

LP

When I tell my "real-life" friends stories about my friends from the Diabetes Online Community (DOC), I'm often told that my stories make these people sound real.

"Well," I say, "They are real. In many ways more real than some people I've met face to face."

I usually get the look then. The one that says: Nicole has been spending too much time online. Nicole's friends all live in the box.

That's the furthest thing from the truth. I mean - really - who can spend too much time online? And my friends don't live in the box, they just talk to me through it. Right?

I'm getting to the point. Patience. (READ MORE)

Diabetes shows up in the most awful places. Take yesterday for example.

A little background first. Saturday night I was two hours away from home with my kids celebrating Hanukkah with old family friends. The Mr. was on call, so he stayed home. As we were preparing to leave and head to my parents' condo, No. 3 fell down a flight of stairs. No one saw her go, but No. 2 saw her at the bottom of the stairs. Actually, No. 2 saw No. 3's light-up shoes at the bottom of the stairs. This was a full flight of 10 to 12 stairs from a first floor to a basement. (READ MORE)

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.

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