Mark Your Calendars

There are so many cool things coming up that I am using my post today to let you know, fill you in, bring you up to speed, keep you in the loop, you know what I’m saying. ;)

First you should know that right now, as you read, BlogHer is happening in New York. I know that there is a new conference for guys but I am not sure it will be as cool as this event seems to be. I guess all my whining about not being able to go has upset my Kitty Casey. He teamed up with Perl and K.C. for some Friday Cat Blogging. Check it out. Good stuff!

Tomorrow is the La Habra Corn Festival Parade and will be the debut of my son as Drum Major. I know this is not as big a deal to anyone as much as it is to me but this is like a dream come true. I remember when he was a baby thinking that one day he would be marching down the street just like his mom and dad in band and maybe even as drum major! We are very proud of him. I will have some pics up and video hopefully next week.

World Diabetes Day is not that far off. November 14^{th (happy birthday sis!)} people is coming faster than you think and with that, you need to figure out what you are going to do to raise awareness! I am working on something but I am not sure I can pull it off. My brain has a tendency to think on a grand scale when my budget is and ability to pull things off is so much less.

And the last thing I want to remind you about and make sure you have the date for is the JDRF walk and 20^th D anniversary bash on October 2^nd in Ontario California. By my count it looks like we may end up with 100 people walking with Team Ninjabetic! I cannot even believe the amount of people that are going to be a part of this event and the party afterwards is coming along nicely. If you are reading this you are invited to join the team and come to the party immediately following the walk. Although this was planned because it falls on the date of my diagnosis 20 years ago, my plan is to really celebrate all of the PWD’s who fight every day of their lives with this disease. We should all celebrate surviving each day.

Well, that’s all I’ve got for today. I hope you all have a great weekend!

Where to Send Them?

Being a computer geek has its ups and downs. I used to be the guy who only built his computers, never bought one. I was the automatic “go-to tech support” for my entire family and most of my friends.

It’s cool that people trust me, know my knowledge, and think I am good enough of a resource to send their friends to me when they have a computer problem.

When it comes to diabetes I too am the resident “go-to” for family and friends to send people who are newly diagnosed or that have D questions. 99% of the time the people they tell me about are type 2’s but that is okay. I don’t mind and I typically tell them upfront about type 1 and 2, the differences, the similarities, and how I might be able to help them.

Like I always say, “If I can help, I will.”

Last Sunday at church a friend of mine told me she was diagnosed with T2. She was nervous, scared, and confused about stuff. She kept referring to me as having the “bad kind” and that she should be happy she only has to take pills. I told her that diabetes is not easy for anyone. It requires constant 24 hour management and it’s a lot of work but you can do it.

She seemed to doubt her ability to change her eating habits and seemed already so defeated.

I asked her if she was on the internet at all to which she said, “no.” I told her that she should ask her doctor or check with a local hospital to see if there is a support group she can join. I told her how much the OC has helped me and that peer support makes you feel less alone and is helpful when you have questions.

I told her that she can call me any time about anything and if I can help I will. She appreciated that and through some tears she thanked me and gave me a hug.

As I left I thought, “Did I do the right thing?” Should I find out about this stuff locally so when people who are not online ask about who to talk to I have a definitive answer? If some did say they were online where would I send them? Tu Diabetes? Diabetes Daily? dLife? I really didn’t know.

Would I overwhelm her if I suggested to hop on Twitter or Facebook and join in the fun?

It seems like something I should know. Like a tool I should keep with me so I can hand it off to people when they ask or when they are newly diagnosed.

What do you do? When people who are newly diagnosed come to you, where do you send them? How do you assist? Do you just provide your own support or none at all? 

Ton of Bricks

Last night I had a low that hit me hard. It was only a 54 according to the One Touch but it felt a lot worse. I was rocking back and forth trying to open my tube of glucose tabs (watermelon) all the while trying not to fall over onto my pillow.

When my wife woke she grabbed a couple of granola bars and I inhaled them. I don’t remember going back to sleep but I must have because I woke this morning to my alarm blaring and my head spinning.

Fifteen minutes before I need to leave for work and I just woke. How was I going to pull this off? I need to shave, shower, get dressed, get my son to summer school and get to work in time to open up before everyone else gets there.

Yeah, I skipped the shave.

The shower was quick although I felt like I was filled with mud. My body is moving as if I was dreaming and for those who have seen Inception, I checked my totem, we’re good. I made it to work on time but keep feeling as if each step I take is making an imprint in the ground. Like a giant robot on the beach or something. Why did this 54 hit me like a freight train?

My first thought was that my BG was crazy high because of overtreatment but I was surprised to see my BG before the shower was 169. High yes, but not crazy high.

So now I will drag. Probably snap at people, reply “ugh alright” when people ask how my day is, and generally be in a crappy kind of mood.

Why can’t I work for a type 1 who would say, “Dude sleep in, I understand. Come in when you are 100%.” I wish. People just don’t get it. They can’t get it.

To them I should be used to this stuff. It should be no biggie. But Diabetes doesn’t think so. It wants to be noticed. It wants to remind me what it did last night and how much I can underestimate what a number feels like.

Alright Diabetes, I get it. You got away with screwing up my day but this is just one battle lost in a long line of battles to come.

I plan on winning all of those.

You Tube Tuesday #182

I love to play Disc Golf. For those of you who don't know what that is, it is basically golf but with Frisbee's and you throw them into baskets as the pin. It's one of those games that is easy to learn but takes time to master. 

There is another Disc game called Ultimate Frisbee. It is more like Football and Soccer meet Frisbees. This clip is of one of the coolest catches I have ever seen. 

Enjoy.

Mac Daddy

I cannot believe I just titled this post that way but whatever. It's Monday and I bought a Mac! w00t!

I am still learning how to do stuff on it but I am way excited. The guy at the Apple Store thought it was funny that we have iPhones, iPods, an iPad, Apple TV, and even Airport Extreme (Apple's wireless router) but we never had a Mac. This completes the Mac circle of life in a way. 

Anyhow, I am spending most of my time checking out stuff, reading stuff, and watching tutorials. If any of you Mac users have any tips, tricks, or guidance I would appreciate it.

I've used a PC for so long that it is taking some getting used to but I am ready for those hurdles.

So long Windows!