Twenty Eight.

It doesn't seem quite possible that it has been this long

Since my immune system and pancreas got it so wrong.

My beta cells keep dying so I wear this pump, you see

It looks so simple but isn't - the math is up to me.

Every day I count, I track, I dose, I worry, I guess

I wear the stuff; I eat the things; I try to do my best

But sometimes diabetes, it has its own agenda

Enigma wrapped inside a mystery, this contend(ah).

How do I bolus for stress? What's the ratio for grief?

The intangibles swarm invisible; flaunting their teeth.

Then again, when things go well and efforts don't seem fruitless

Pancreatic skills degrade; a diabetes hubris.

This means I must stay vigilant; my experience shows

"In range" is often just a rest stop between highs and lows.

This day won't look too flashy but here I'll commemorate

That today marks when my diabetes turns twenty-eight.

Twenty Seven.

Today marks 27 years since I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I don't have much in the way of profound reflections or revelations this year, but what I do have is a life and health I will continue to be thankful for.

I'll be in search of celebratory cupcakes after work today - bring on the Super Bolus!

Talking With Tony.

Tony Rose was kind enough to invite me on his podcast this week, and in case you'd like to hear me babble on about about things like diabetes camps, celebrating diaversaries, feeling angry about diabetes, Friends For Life and the You Can Do This Project (because I obviously haven't talked about those last two things enough), I have a link for you: http://bloggingdiabetes.com/2012/07/bdp-049-interview-with-kim-vlasnik-cgm-data-and-diabetes-news/

I also mention fanny packs. You've been warned.

Twenty Six.

It was twenty six years ago today that I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. "Juvenile Diabetes", if you're old school.

Last year, when I hit the quarter century mark, I decided it was time to ask for a copy of the hospital records (a "discharge summary" is what the hospital called it) from my diagnosis. I had never had much interest in finding out things like the glucose level I tested at upon admittance at or my first A1C result, until I started reading the stories of others online - and the answers they found. It got me curious.

It was an interesting story, but not a remarkable one. A reading of 385 mg/dL is something I could very easily see now, if I really miscounted a meal or had a leaking infusion site overnight. A loss of 8 to 9 pounds over a three month period would actually be a welcome physical change right now, instead of an alarming phenomenon.

I remember the eat-for-the-insulin regimen. I remember the plastic Rubbermaid container that rested on our kitchen counter, filled with "diabetes stuff". I remember the bottle of NPH being rolled between my mother's hands to warm it up from its refrigerated state, and the clack-clack sound it made as it hit her wedding rings. 

I remember tears. I remember being confused. I remember being scared.

But I also remember parents who loved me unconditionally, who did the very best they could to keep me happy and healthy, and who would have done anything to take that burden away from me.

As an adult, it's my job to keep myself happy and healthy. It helps to have a loving and supportive husband, dog (hey, he helps) and friends both near and very far - but when it comes right down to it, it's up to me and no one else to make sure that these last two assessments remain true:

Twenty six years, diabetes. I've got my eye on you. No funny business.

Twenty Five Years With Diabetes.

Saturday* was my silver anniversary with this roommate of mine -

And you'd better believe I celebrated: with family, friends, cupcakes and wine**.

A quarter century of blood draws, finger sticks and shots;

Six of those wearing gear, just like the robots.

We've done a lot together; diabetes and I...

And I feel quite old knowing this many years have gone by.

Childhood summers filled with art classes, bike rides and softball.

We went to all-day music festivals as teenagers - unrefrigerated insulin? Bad call.

Double-digit A1C's. Hours of blood testing, we did without.

And because of that, we had an eyebrow piercing that totally grew out. 

International travel. Half marathons. In front of politicians we've sat.

Diabetes and I; we've done all of that.

I used to want to hide it. Diabetes existed in stealth.

And now? It's weird - I'm telling the whole world about my health.

But the weirdest thing, about sharing so much here?

Is that it actually doesn't feel that weird. It isn't always something to fear.

Because the greatest gift diabetes has given me (when thinking of it positively)

Is the friends I have in all of you - this wonderful diabetes community.

Thanks to you guys - for all you've done.
You've shown me that parts of life with diabetes can be kind of FUN.

So this is it - the big two five.

Celebrating resilience, a bit of luck, and being healthy and alive.

Why yes, that is a giant clipboard with a winner's bracket I drew.
And yes, we played You Don't Know Jack (really wanted to call it
The You Don't Know Jacket, but Aaron voted "Um, no."). And yes, we
then played Rock Band until 3:00 in the morning. And yes, I may have
totally dominated drums and singing-ish. Is there
another way to celebrate a 25th diaversary?

Thanks so much to my friend Natalie for making the
awesomely good cupcakes - with my favorite color, even!

*The overwhelming amount of well wishes and congratulations on Facebook and Twitter this weekend was much appreciated! You guys helped make the milestone even sweeter. (Pun totally intended.)

**Wine, and its consumption, not pictured. Because there are some things The Internet just doesn't need to know.

Free Coffee, Twenty Five, and e-Pharmony.

I'm feeling a bit list-y today, so here we go.

• Last night, I decided (after seeing another one of their commercials) that we need a version of e-Harmony for patients to be matched up with doctors. We could call it... e-Pharmony? You'd be matched up on dimensions of healthcare compatibility, like "bedside manner", "actually listens to me", "will reward progress with high fives and exploding fist bumps", and "takes my insurance/Medicaid/I can afford you".
• This weekend, my diabetes turns 25. (Does that mean the cost of my health insurance will go down? No? Darn.) I'm planning to celebrate that at least a couple of times this weekend - more on that next week.
• And in honor of that milestone, I got a hold of my hospital records at diagnosis. More on that later, too.
• One of the JDRF volunteers I met at JDRF Government Day has written a guest post over at the Diabetes Social Media Advocacy site, and is looking for input on how JDRF can help adults with type 1 - would you have some time to go over and check it out, and leave a comment with your thoughts? (She's totally a rockstar!)
• And finally - in celebration of Earth Day, head over to Starbucks with your own mug and get yourself some free coffee. I'll be there - maybe more than once. :)

Planning A Party.

In about a month, I'll be marking my silver anniversary with type 1 diabetes.

Thing is, I've never "celebrated" a diaversary (diabetes annivesary) before, so I'm not sure what I want to do, or how. Last weekend I told the room of JDRF volunteers at Government Day, in my introduction, that I plan to celebrate with cupcakes - and I totally will. (I've been looking into ordering Crumbs - because, dammit, I still haven't had one of those infamous cupcakes of theirs!) But past that - I have no plans.

credit

My diaversary coincides with Easter weekend, which makes it a little hard to organize a party. Or... maybe that means there's a built-in party involving Peeps, jelly beans, and Cadbury creme eggs?

I'm hoping it also means that my pancreas will rise from the dead, but I'm not sure that falls within the Easter Bunny's scope of abilities.

So in case it doesn't, I need some help in the form of ideas from you guys on how to mark the occassion. If you've celebrated a diaversary before, what did you do? Who did you celebrate with? Were there unicorns involved? Just me? Okay.

Please leave a comment and help me with some ideas!