Blue

Apologies for the lack of posts during Diabetes month. It's been a weird and wonderful few weeks and although I've neglected my blog a little, I have been wearing my blue and telling the people who asked why. I even had the bestest person I know wearing blue almost every Friday as well :)

I didn't take photo's of every single blue outfit, but I did get little Winnie involved one Friday so here it is!

(She was awake at the time I promise!) If I weren't working each Friday I'd have gotten some blue streaks, who knows maybe next year..?

So here's the little update on me:

About six weeks ago I was told I could be made redundant. I have my suspicions as to the REAL reason why this was happening (I finally stood up for myself a couple of weeks earlier) but I'll never find out the truth so took it on the chin. Lots of people have this happen to them especially in recent times. It hasn't been the actual redundancy that's upset me, it has been the way it's come about, feeling pushed out and isolated when I'm in a team of around 20 people.

I hadn't wanted to tell anyone until I know myself, but as D-Day is looming I need to get it off my chest. Unfortunately when I left school I had no idea what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I'm not one of those lucky people who says at the age of 18, right I'm going to go be a lawyer/doctor/teacher now. I had absolutely no clue, felt incredibly useless and lost for 3 months before finding a local admin job.

Now I'm back in that place again, except 3 years older. Making me feel even more useless and frustrated that I don't have any idea what I want to do in the future. I got reasonable grades at school/sixth form but sadly wasn't one of those who could write an essay 30 minutes before class and get an A for it. My parents and friends are being incredibly supportive and trying to keep my spirits up, but I just feel like such a burden. And a miserable one at that.

Diabetes isn't my top priority at the moment (yes I know it should be) and it's showing. I'm still testing/injecting, but getting more emotional with any high/low results. Feeling like you're losing control of all aspects isn't nice but I'm determined to get back on it well in time for Christmas.

Thank you so so much to the people who are putting up with me at the moment <3

World Diabetes Day

Not gonna lie, that banner is a little scary and upsetting. But without it, people have no idea just how serious Diabetes is. They just think you've eaten too many balls of candyfloss, and if you stop you'll be perfectly fine.

BULL!

I didn't eat sugar till the cows came home, and two years ago I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. It's never going to leave me until there's a cure. I'm so incredibly grateful for insulin, its keeping me alive and well! It's not the answer though, it's like a ventilator keeping me going. We desperately need a cure, and for people to realise that Diabetes isn't what they read in the media.

Until a cure is developed I will:

Test my sugars 4 or more times a day.
If I live to 81 and tested 4 times a day, I'll have done nearly 120,000 finger pricks.

Inject my NovoRapid
If I live to 81 and inject my NovoRapid after each meal, I'll have injected nearly 90,000 times. And this doesn't even include corrections.

Inject my Lantus.
If I live to 81 and inject my Lantus every night, I'll have injected myself nearly 30,000 times.

Diabetes doesn't seem as easy now you read that, does it?

As part of World Diabetes Day, Diabetes UK is asking people to get behind the 15 healthcare essentials campaign to make sure we are all getting the care we need. If you're not aware of what you should be getting from your care team then you could be missing out!

Also there's still time to get your Big Blue Test in! Head over to www.bigbluetest.org/ and enter your results in to help get D supplies to people in need. Over the 5000 mark now but still need to hit 8000 before the end of the day.

Simply, test. Get active for 14-20 minutes. Test again. Enter your results!

Diabetes 11.11.11

Tomorrow is 11.11.11 which (thanks to the lovely Mike) has been claimed as Diabetes 11.11.11

If you haven't already heard of this then here is a snapshot, from the main site, of what you need to do if you'd like to take part:

On November 11th, 11.11.11, across the planet, documentary filmmakers, students, and other inspired citizens will record the human experience over a 24-hour period and contribute their voice to the second annual global day of media creation called One Day on Earth. Together, we will create a shared archive and a film.

www.onedayonearth.org/

I would like to invite everyone from the DOC both online and offline to take part if possible by
taking a Diabetes related image on 11.11.11 and submit them either via this Flickr group, via twitter with the #diabetes111111 hashtag or directly on the Diabetes in Spain site.

Please join me and share! – diabetes111111.com

Imagine being able to capture the world on the same day, each giving their unique perspective on

Diabetes around the globe!

Anything goes! It just has to have something related to Diabetes. Please share and pass on to friends, family and anyone else you may know.

I would like to bring together all these images to create a snapshot of diabetes from around the globe!

I'm off work tomorrow so I may take more than one picture... Plus it's a Blue Friday so lots of blue too! :D

Please spread the word about Diabetes 11.11.11 on your blog, your Facebook and your Twitter and get as many pics on the website as posible!

Will post the pictures tomorrow :)

DSMA November Blog Carnival - Poke or Tweet?

Over the past few years social media has pretty much taken over almost everything. Helping people re-connect, make new friends, promote/sell stuff and much more. Lots of people criticise it for various things, however it is brilliant for bringing people together.


Without social media I wouldn't have met so many wonderful people from around the world suffering from the same condition as me. I'd have continued struggling with D 24/7 feeling incredibly alone and isolated, no-one to say 'Yeah I know exactly how you're feeling!'. I've read some incredibly powerful and emotional stories about D from parents, and other Type 1's which has helped me learn a lot more about D and inspired me to set up my blog.


If someone was new to the whole social media thing, my tips/advice would be:


┣▇▇▇═─ Start off by reading a few blogs/forum posts. People will always have different opinions on things but it will help you form your own ideas :)


┣▇▇▇═─ Join Twitter! The DOC will be there for you at any time of the night or day. Whether you're celebrating a good result or having a nightmare with your sugars and just need to vent.


┣▇▇▇═─ It all starts with a Tweet or a poke! Whether its a question or a comment if you reach out to someone, they will be sure to reach back :)


┣▇▇▇═─ When you feel ready (and if you're in the right time zone :P) you can participate in things like #dsma chat every week!


┣▇▇▇═─ Humour is one of the best ways to cope with D, and people from the DOC have THE best sense of humour. Lots of glitter, unicorns and cupcakes included :D


┣▇▇▇═─ Be prepared to get addicted. One you start you won't look back.

This post is my November 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/november-dsma-blog-carnival/

Remember, Remember..

... the 5th of November - Happy Bonfire Night everyone! :)

Apologies for the lack of recent posts, it's been a tough few weeks but it's November which means it's finally Diabetes Month! Just the kick up the arse I needed to get back on track with my blog.

Firstly, I posted a couple of weeks ago about the World Diabetes Postcard Exchange (which I thought was an awesome idea!). I finally finished my card on Thursday and posted it yesterday to my match. I'm not a particularly crafty person, but managed not to glue my hands together or make a big mess and have to start again!

I have also now been challenged to make a Diabotic :D
Who knows, maybe I'm a crafty person after all...















November also means the start of Blue Fridays! I had to help out at Stores so used this as an excuse to wear my bright blue hoodie (please excuse the rubbish camera phone quality!). I also got to wear my Circle D Rocks badge as it's blue too. Afternoon back in the office meant changing back out of my jeans BUT I found a blue top and kept blue all day!






















I'm hopefully off on Friday so I can wear blue whilst completing my Big Blue Test! Just test and record your reading, complete around 15 mins of exercise in any shape or form then test again and post  your results on the website and share on FB/Twitter etc :)

This year aims to get 8000 participants sharing their results so get testing and exercising!