Apple Juice is a Girl's Best Friend (And Gala Updates)

Funny story about my life before diabetes - I hated had a strong dislike for apple juice.  Seriously, I would never touch it.  I was fine with orange juice and stuff like that, but apple juice?  Out of the question.  My 7-year-old self was very stubborn on the topic.

Another funny story; when I was first diagnosed with diabetes, my 3rd grade class room was a pretty long walk from the nurses office.  My teacher was also a diabetic mom, so she knew how to handle things like lows.  And I distinctly remember telling her I didn't drink apple juice, and her response being along the lines of 'well I hope not, because you'll probably have to drink it sooner or later.'

On that note, say hello to one of my best friends!

Last week, my blood sugars decided to play a terrifying game called 'Stay in the 50's and 60's for two straight hours'.  I can't speak for other people, but there are just days when my blood sugar refuses to rise.  I don't know why it does that, but I do know my most recent episode had me missing school and downing juice and Starburst for the rest of the day.  And I came upon this picture I'd texted to a friend, and I figured it could help with a fun new post.

Long of the short of it, I've tried my fair share of juices to treat lows; apple, orange, cranberry, and all sorts of things like that.  I no longer hate apple juice, and since it's the only kind my nurse carries, that's what I'm stuck with in the event I go low.  Or until I get my lazy self in gear and go buy my own low snacks (if I steal another rice cake from Chaz, our 6th grade diabetic, he just might kill me).  Whichever comes first.

So yes, no big deep meaning behind today's blog post, just expressing how angry my 7-year-old self would be if she found out I eventually caved to the sweet, BG-raising goodness.  Because, really, these are big issues to 7-year-olds.  I think.

As far as anything else of interest coming up, I'm getting really excited for the JDRF Gala in a few weeks.  If you're in any way involved in a JDRF chapter where there's a Youth Ambassador program and a Gala, the girls will tell you this is super important!  Now I just have to figure out what to do with my pump.  I glued a peacock feather on it last year, but this year I may just paint it (Yay for expressive OmniPods!).  Along with that, I have some super exciting news I hope to share with you all soon!  Stay tuned!

1,300 (Or How Not to Listen to Depressing Country Music)

Today, I'd like to tell you a little bit about Children's Congress.

Every other year, JDRF does thing where they get a bunch of kids from all 50 states (and the District of Columbia - yay for remembering the District of Columbia!), and take them to Washington D.C.  From there, these kids get to meet face-to-face with members of Congress, and show them why finding a cure for T1D is so important.  It was sort of an underground thing until 2009, when every tween's favorite diabetic (aka Nick Jonas) went to the event.  Then, boom!  Everybody wanted to be involved.  Because...hey, who doesn't want to bond with a hot singer over blood sugar problems?  I do!

Anyway, back to the topic at hand.  This year, I decided I'd try my hand at applying for Children's Congress.  I mean, I work hard in JDRF, I'm advocating in the community, not to mention sharing my story with my own personal blog (wink, wink).  I can do this!

So anyway, applications were due around November, and earlier today, I today I got my response letter in the mail.  And as you can see, I'm hanging it proudly on my bedroom wall!  Why?  Well, because it had some pretty awesome-sauce news on it!  Yeah, that's right!  This letter is an awesome reminder that I applied for Children's Congress 2013 and I didn't get in!

...Wait, what?

Yes, you read that right!  I will not be attending Children's Congress this year.  Or, well, ever.  See, to qualify for the program, you have to be between 4 and 17.  Since it's held every other year, this 2013 meeting was my last chance to be in it.  And, well, that's not going to be happening.

Alright, sarcasm aside.  Am I upset?  Yes, I am.  I spent a lot of time on my application, working hard to make sure it was perfect, and spending months worrying about whether or not my hard work paid off.  And I got the answer to that question today, and there's no beating around the bush; it didn't.  And that sucks (It probably didn't help that my blood sugar was low when I got the letter.  Low BG's = sensitive emotions = sob fest).

But you know what?  It's ok.

See, according to this letter I received, over 1,500 kids from all over the country applied to Children's Congress this year.  That means that in this country, there are 1,500 people who understand how sucky low blood sugars in the middle of the night are, how annoying it is to hear how your friend's grandpa's cat has diabetes, and understand the alternate definition for the word SWAG (hint: it's Scientific Wild-Ass Guess, which is creating a random bolus/injection amount for a certain food or drink when you don't know how many carbs are actually in it).  Also, I seriously doubt this program will accept more than 150 kids into it, which means over the next few weeks, there are going to be 1,300 kids who understand how much it sucks not to be accepted to Children's Congress.  Even suckier, this may not be their only rejection letter, and I can't imagine that.

So, there are now 1,300 of us in this little club.  What do we do, guys?

We be happy.

I know, I'm not making much sense right now.  Hear me out.  Yes, we're not going to Children's Congress.  But that doesn't mean nobody's going to Children's Congress.  Roughly 150 (estimated by my math skills, which admittedly aren't very good but that's ok for this example) kids are going to be there, and they're going to advocate like freaking crazy!  These guys are not going to leave until every person in Congress can accurately define 'rage bolus' (another hint: it's a large bolus/series of mild bolus's administered to correct high blood sugar, which can sometimes lead to low blood sugar.  I think we need a diabetic slang dictionary).  Diabetes is going to be in excellent hands with these guys.  I know it and you know it.

Yes, we are allowed to be sad.  We are allowed to be angry, and we are allowed to mope around and listen to depressing country music for a few days (Blog title tie-in...here!).  But what we are not allowed to do, let this decision bother us.  Because it doesn't matter if we're going or not.  What matters is that, overall, 150 kids are going.  And they are going to bring us one step closer to a cure.  In fact, just writing in to these guys has brought us closer.  Wanting to be a part of Children's Congress has shown how important this is, and has made other people take it seriously.  Whether we know it or not, all 1,500 of us, together, took a big step in getting closer to the cure.

And that's all we can ask for.

2013

Getting wild on New Years Eve with drinking.....regular soda.

#diabeticlife


Happy 2013 everyone!

Today.

Today reminds me that this world

Has evil, hate and scorn.

And at the same time shows me,

How heroes can be born.

I will look upon my friends today,

And family in my life.

And no one will forget today,

No matter how they try.

Today it does not matter

If my blood sugar was high.

For I look up and I thank God

Today I have my life.

May Peace And Love Find Newtown, Connecticut Tonight.

World Diabetes Day

You knew this was coming.

For those of you who aren't very connected to the diabetic world, November 14th is World Diabetes Day.  It's the birthday of the guy who invented insulin or something like that, and all the diabetic communities put up long and sappy posts about the hardships dealt with and the friendships made, because without this guy and his invention, the world would be down a couple hundred million people.

And hey, if you can't beat 'em - join 'em.

It's been 10 years since I was diagnosed with this disease, and remembering what life was like before it can sometimes be very difficult or as clear as water.  I have certain memories in my head, and instead of thinking about the good times they hold, the only question that comes to mind is 'was I diagnosed then?'  I never want another child on this Earth to think that way.  I've had days where I've felt like a stronger person for dealing with this disease, and days where I've wanted to throw my insulin pump out the window and say screw it because I can't deal with it anymore.

However (yes, there is a however), I can't deny the good things diabetes has brought me.

I know, I know; what good things?  But you'd be surprised.

I'll be honest; diabetes has helped me find a voice.  I've been able to go in front of my community and educate them, and help them understand a large percent of this country.  I've been able to meet people, make friends, and be a part of a large community of caring and creative people (because come on; I've seen people turn lancets into adorable earrings; how many people know what a lancet even is?).  The friends I've made through diabetes will last a lifetime.

Yes, my eyes are closed.  No laughing

I don't think I'd be who I am today without diabetes, and for that I am truly grateful.  The laughs, the tears, the people, the lessons...they all mean something.  Back when I was little, and people asked me to name a superhero, I would've named some guy with a comic book and spandex.  Nowadays I can't even think of the word superhero without thinking of D-Boy, the diabetic superhero and his sidekick Ribbon (pictured above), or the amazing mother that has made them so strong (looking at you, Alexis!).

So for the friends, the doctors, the nurses, the awesome JDRF office workers at my local branch, the overly-kind teachers who have let me retake final exams, and my own family...thank you.  Thank you for having hope in my despite this disease, and thank you for giving me the strength to fight it.  I love you all more than I can begin to put into words.

Nuggets of Truth and Wisdom: Control

Free Day (And Candy Corn)!

Before we get to the important things, I'd like to start out this post by saying everyone in my neighborhood had an obsession with cobwebs.  Seriously, about half the houses in my neighborhood have those things hung up on walls, bushes, you name it.  I feel like we missed the memo saying 'By the way, every October you MUST use cobwebs in your Halloween decoration.'

Seriously.  I mean...why?

Anyway; it's Halloween!  Candy and costumes and scary movies and staying out late with your friends.  It's a kid's favorite time of year and a diabetic parent's worst nightmare.  Because trust me, if my parents scolded me about eating too much candy before, boy did they get more uptight about it on my first Halloween as a diabetic.

Speaking of which, let's talk about my first Halloween as a diabetic!  I'd been diagnosed for about 3 months by the time Halloween rolled around, and by that time my parents were watching everything I put into my mouth with a magnifying glass.  So when October 31st rolled around and I went trick-or-treating at Alex Bice's big Halloween party (oh it was a big deal; every 3rd grader who was anybody was there *sarcasm*), they warned me extensively that I needed to bring my bag of candy to them when we all got back so they could help me count carbs for it and do a shot and everything.  So I did, and while everyone else got to munch away on anything and everything, I got stuck with (I remember to this day) a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, a fun sized Snickers, and a Laffy Taffy.

Now I'm not beating around the bush; I was freaking pissed.  It was Halloween for God's sake!  I wanted candy, blood sugar be damned.  And when it became obvious I wasn't getting any more, I went from pissed to sad.  Especially since Alex's party was a candy-trading hotspot, and I had nothing to trade for.  I was the saddest diabetic witch you'd ever seen (at least, I think I was a witch.  It might have been a genie).

Thankfully, I wasn't the only one to have this revelation.  My parents realized being denied candy on Halloween was cruel and unusual punishment, diabetic or not.  And thus, we established the concept of 'Free Days'.

I'm assuming most parents of diabetic children have something similar to it, but overall the concept is this; check your blood sugar, do a big fat dose of insulin, and go have fun.

That's what I've done every Halloween since then, and I've been a happy pirate, genie, or whatever I'm dressed up as.  Sure, there's the possibility I might go too high or too low, but who cares?  It's a holiday.  If you can't unwind for holidays, when can you unwind?

To be honest, I think these free days are completely necessary to a kid with diabetes.  We go through so much, every day, and are constantly worried about what we do, what our parents think, and what's going to happen.  It's nice every now and then to remember we're kids first, and diabetics second.  One day is not going to hurt us in the long run, and everyone needs a break.

So, just take a deep breath.  Have fun, eat a Twix, and don't worry about it.  That's the best advice I can give.