The movement has begun.

My whole mind and soul is still reeling on the heels of MasterLab at FFL.The MasterLab agenda was filled with informative and motivational speakers, the most compelling being Michael Mangianello.  He was a key disturber of the AIDS movement, and played a pivotal role in putting a face on AIDS and getting policy and moneys allocated for the cause.At the Children with Diabetes Friends for Life conference you are given a bracelet at registration.  A green bracelet means you have Type 1, a Orange bracelet means you love someone with Type 1.Michael said so many things that socked me in the chest. Completely paraphrasing: "I walk down the...

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Summertime basal changes: In drawings

Summertime means changing basal rates.Let me get right to the point: This is how I feel about changing basal rates. For those of you who aren’t familiar with what a basal rate is, it is the underlying insulin that is delivered via the insulin pump to my boys' bodies 24 hours a day.  It delivers whether they eat or not.  Whether they are high, or low…it’s always there. We need insulin to survive because it metabolizes the sugar in our blood stream.  To keep moving my boys need insulin to unlock the energy.  It’s pretty cut and dry if you think about it. Each of my three boys has four different basal rates. ...

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Roadblocks to the Artificial Pancreas

Attending the ADA Scientific Session was much like drinking from a fire hose.  Information is thrown at you at lightening speed, and before your brain has time to decipher the meaning behind one fact, another comes hurling pretentiously, perhaps even unapologetically, towards you.  With my limited smarticals, I must admit, much of the terminology went over my head.  I’m thankful for the people that sat near me, who were more than willing to decipher the medical lingo into laymen’s terms. There was a wealth of information on current technology, and a lot of much deserved buzz around the Artificial Pancreas.  Which begged the...

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FFL Joyfulness.

Turns out, happiness makes you young.Attending the Children with Diabetes Friends for Life Conference in Orlando last week brought heightened emotions, and as a result:I laughed louderI hugged harderI smiled widerI danced longerI loved brighterI held hands tighterI bonded stronglyI savored the small momentsAnd appreciated every biteIt's easy to do such things when you're around wonderful peopleLeaving behind all the “stuff” at home and simply being able to enjoy each moment is a gift that can’t be quantified.I was surrounded by a community that has only embraced and supported me on my journey.  They accept my flawed self, and shower me with...

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