DSMA June Blog Carnival - Diabetes Troubleshooting

Diabetes can often lead you into some pretty dark and lonely places. You think that you're on your own with Diabetes, the only comfort is food and the only shoulder you can lean on is your pillow.

You're not alone.

There are thousands and thousands of people all around the world with Diabetes, most of which are online on various forums, twitter and facebook. These are the people that I go to when I have problems with my D at all hours of the day or night.

Around a year after my diagnosis I started googling about people with Diabetes and found a brilliant little forum which has helped me so much and continues to do so everyday even when I don't feel like posting because I'm having a difficult time. This ever-growing forum is incredibly supportive with both D and non-D related issues. The moderators are online throughout the day ready to answer questions from newbies and share weblinks, support members if they are suffering from burnout and celebrate if someone has a good HbA1c result.

Althought I regularly see my DSN and consultant at the hospital and they do a great job, I've learnt more from the forum than I could hope to imagine and have even shared my own experiences despite being a newbie to D myself! I met up with a number of people in April from the forum which was brilliant and will be doing so again next month in Brighton!

Over the past few months I've also found through Twitter that the DOC is an awesome troubleshooting tool with people from all walks of life offering their support and experiences. It's a brilliant feeling when someone gets what you're going through and just says 'You're not alone'.

Kim from Texting My Pancreas has come up with the 'You Can Do This' project which is 'is a growing community of videos, created by people with diabetes, with the aim of provide validation, hope and encouragement through honest talk for those who struggle with the disease'

It's a brilliant idea and we could end up with a Diabetes Channel on YouTube if we get lots of vlogs! (Still not decided if I'm brave enough for a Vlog...)

A Diabetes Google would be even better!! :D

This post is my June entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival. If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2011/june-dsma-blog-carnival/

** Please remember it is important to speak to your doctor about any problems and what can be done to solve them.  I am not recommending that you make alterations to your D care without consulting your Doctor first **