I'll admit it. I'm a big fan of cheap wine. Yummy. Give me some Boones Farm Strawberry Zinfandel on a hot summer night, and I'll get my buzz on - and get it on good. And I used to, back in the day, enjoy a nice cigarette (or ten) with my wine. Even now, every so often, I'll get a craving for a cigarette. Thankfully, the urge is usually cured by the smell of a heavy smoker passing by and occasionally cured by a simple, single drag on another person's gross-stick. (READ MORE)

Many of us have been a-twitter about World Diabetes Day, bringing attention to the epidemic proportions of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and the Big Blue Test. Seattle had a bike ride as did Victoria, BC. Philadelphia had an event at the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. Those of us in the New York City area celebrated with a huge D-Meetup and pizza party. The indefatiguable Allison set things up in a Midtown office building. At its peak, over 20 Type 1s, Type 2s, and Type 3s gathered to enjoy each other's company and take part in the Big Blue Test.

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes twenty-five years ago. Twenty-five years is a long time to live with something. It is an especially long time to live with something that requires tight control. Twenty-five years is enough time to have seen lots of bad days, lots of good days, and lots and lots of in betweens. And it is enough time for me to have had the good fortune of seeing vast improvements in access to information and treatment, developments and improvements in technology and even some improvements in (GASP!) what health insurers are willing to cover. (READ MORE)

If you spend any time around the diabetes social media advocacy (#dsma) community on Twitter, you will see references to #unicorns in general, and "glitter-farting unicorns" (GFUs) in particular. The unicorns seem to have sprung fully-grown from Kerri's vision of cockeyed optimism, and it is said that their flatus can cure even the most stubborn case of type 1 diabetes.

Obviously, GFUs are part of the Diabetes Online Communitiy's myth and legend, and may even be responsible for Halle Berry's miraculous "recovery" (come on, can't you see her dressed in a skinsuit and narwhal-horn-shaped headdress?) Their pull is powerful, and talismanic unicorn mascots have been popping up all over the DOC.

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I know he meant well.

I know he was just curious.

I know he is simply concerned about my health.

But seriously, since when is "So how's your diabetus?" an acceptable question?

It's not like saying "How's your broken leg?" or "Is your cold getting any better?" The status of diabetes doesn't get any better.

I should say, though, that I suspect my friend--whom I had reminded that I have diabetes when he spotted my pump the day before I got hooked up--was really just wondering if the pump was making things easier for me. In fact, he asked as much several minutes later. (READ MORE)

theo_pz

What an awesome, great, fabulous, wonderful time I had this weekend in St. Louis, MO. I attended a family retreat put on by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The event offered people associated with our disease MANY opportunities. There were tons of kids, parents, and loads of helpful information. If you are someone who has diabetes or someone who has a relationship with a person with diabetes then I would highly recommend becoming a part of your local JDRF chapter if you have not already. There are literally hundreds of them around the globe and the nation and you will get everything you need from them.
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