Blog Entries With Tag: WDD

Blog: Anna's Blog

From: FatCatAnna

Hmmm, I've been seeing various places within the DOC (diabetes online community) going on about this being some celebration of diabetes month (NDAM). 

Yuppers, glancing at my calendar on my wall - THIRTY days of advocating in many different forms about my disease I've had for almost 1/2 a century.  Boy oh boy - do WE feel special or what?  

On further research (gotta love search engines) - I discovered that in the United States - Mr. Obama has declared that it indeed is true. JDRF Canada has as well -along with ADA (American Diabetic Association).  I was even surprised after abit of sleuthing that the CDA (Canadian Diabetes Association) website that they have as well!   I could probably post more - perhaps from other parts of the world - but I'll leave that up to you to let your fingers do the walking across your keyboard (and if you find any good ones - post them here).

Everyone has their different approach to how to celebrate.  I have to admit one of my favs has always been the Lee Anne Thill's World Diabetes Day Post Card Exchange (details can be found at the bottom of this blog for 2013).

A new one I've come across this year is well known American advocate/blogger Kerri Sparling's of Six Until Me - Diabetes Month Photo-A-Day project.  I always like to take pictures (have mobile - will click) - so you'll either see those pics posted here at Diabetes1.org OR my Blogger site - The Roller Coaster Ride of Diabetes.  All depends on how many projects I get involved in (I mean - there is a life outside of diabetes - right?)

So - what will you be doing this month to tell the world about diabetes?  I can't wait to see - but remember - awareness and advocacy isn't just a once a year thing.  It's all the time for many of us that advocate / educate. 

Remember though - if a person's eyes start to glaze over as you yammer on - retreat - some of what you'll have said will enter into their already over-logged brains - and hopefully they'll walk away with abit better understanding of what diabetes is all about!

Blog: Anna's Blog

From: FatCatAnna

Every Friday I try my best to wear blue (I'm always wearing my blue circle pin everyday – I collected a few when I was a volunteer at IDF).  The idea of wearing blue on Friday was created a few years ago by Cherise Shockley who is part of the team at Diabetes Community Advocacy Foundation (DCAF) to bring attention to World Diabetes Day every November 14th (Dr. Bantings birthday)  – and well – most of us within the DOC (Diabetes Online Community) just love the colour blue – so we flaunt it with a smile on our face.

Well, this past Friday, I lucked in on a really REALLY nice find.  I have this thing for stainless steel bling – it’s clean (I’m not allergic to it as well as it’s surgical) – not shiny – it’s just purrfect in my eyes.  I saw this indiscreet pendant – with a zircon blue stone set into it – and I just fell in love with it (helped that it was 80%) – it was purrfect colour of blue.  The price was just right – and when the clerk told me that the stone was the real thing – even better.  I am now the owner of a blue topaz – bling bling!

I explained to her about the wearing of blue on Friday for awareness of diabetes.  As usual the confusion with the types of diabetes came up – and I pulled out my insulin pump – showed off the infusion set in my tummy (see only 1 shot every 3 days instead of 30 – whoopee!!!).  Her mouth dropped when she learned of the increase in Type 1 diabetes – and that you didn’t have to be young to get it – that it really has no age limit now – the autoimmune system goes nuts – and BANG – pancreas shuts down without a thank you Mam!!!  She mentioned that she knew someone that might be interested in an insulin pump – despite my shocking her with the price tag if you have no coverage either via work place and/or provincial coverage.  I just told her for me – that so far – no complications of being an addict to insulin – and she said I had a glow to me (of course – I blurted out it was due to rosacea ).

 
So, exchange of my little calling card I always give out  – and off I went with my little bling bag – as I slowly started to realise …. the glow maybe more from just the rosacea – but a low blood sugar.  So, blood test, 3.5mmol/l /63mg/dl - something sweet – and then I was off again (with safe to drive BG/blood sugar) – to head home to get some more substantial grub into my body which was ….. GRILLED CHEESE!!! 

Now did you know that there are a few diabetics out there (and nonD’s) that just LOVE their grilled cheese!!!  Some like it squishy / chewy / American cheese only / Old Cheddar Cheese / you name it there are so many variations to this simple cheesy delight (low carb depending on the bread you use).  A few weeks ago – I had a discussion on my Facebook wall going on about websites devoted to this delicacy – and of course – Scott Johnson – a prominent blogger/member of the DOC has rights on the name of AGrilledCheese.com – along with Kerri McKay filling in from time to time (she’s from Canada – whoot!whoot!).

Tools of trade in picture above - cheese slicer to ensure uniform cheese slices (in this case - I sadly skimped on cheese - should have put more in - but I was hungry - and just wanted to manger).  Brushing smoked olive oil onto bread is my mini-me chef thing.  What you don't see in the above picture - is the $20 press down grill my BFF gave me a few years ago - handy for grilling meats and  ..... GRILLED CHEESE!!!

So, please do not drool on your screen – as you look over the pictures of my greasy mug staring at you (and note the blue bling – I did my best to take self pictures – I really suck at being my own paparazzi). 


Psst - notice BLUE plate below - yuppers - it's all about Blue Friday (aka #BlueFriday in Tweeter land) - not just on my clothing/bling/whatever - BUT my dishware I so lovingly lick off of (saves on dish washing :) )!

 Above - bit of thyme roast pork tucked lovingly inbetween my home made buttermilk bread :)

Blog: Anna's Blog

From: FatCatAnna

Blog: Anna's Blog

From: FatCatAnna

Well, if you didn't know about Lee Ann Thill from The Butter Compartment and her  postcard project - then check it out here  - you may still have time to participate.  I completed a few postcards this week - all done with stuff I have here at home - and sent them off in the post the other day.  It was so much fun (I felt like a kid again).  Below is  one of the postcards I made!  My fingers still have glue on them, making typing a wee bit fun .

Other projects coming up this month during this BLUE month of November - is of course - WEAR BLUE ON FRIDAYS - which I'm doing today (are you?).  Though not sure about putting the blue coloured contacts I bought yesterday.  I'm not a big lover of placing objects in my eyes.  I'd tried wearing contacts back in the 80's - which usually ended up driving me crazy with trying to put these little bits of plastic onto my eyeball BUT for one of these Friday's - I'll plunk 'em in and see how it goes!  So for now, I have a blue hair extension in along with my favourite pair of blue earrings!

Mike Young from Diabetes in Spain has a great idea that on 11.11.11 we all take a picture that is diabetes related - he has opened up a group on Flickr for posting your pictures you take that day or submit via Twitter with the #diabetes111111 hashtag or directly on the Diabetes in Spain site.  All the details on the "how to's" are at his website above.

The forever fab Gina Capone from The Diabetes Talkfest Blog is having The 6th annual D-blog Day on November 9.  Usually in the past she's asked participants to blog about a certain subject but this year seems we're all getting artzy fartzy and if you are into making up a "scrapbook" page - then this could be your project.  She has the other option of writing a blog which she's chosen the topic - you can check out the details at this link.

Of course, there is the Big Blue Test .  You can do this any day between November 1 and November 14 at midnight PST, by simply testing your blood sugar, getting active, testing again, and sharing the results online (if the link doesn't work - paste the following link in a new browser window - http://BigBlueTest.org ).  This year, the amount of people who test, a donation from Roche Diabetes Care will help more then 8,000 people with diabetes in ned.  Within the USA, five nonprofit organisations will each receive $10,000 while $25,000 will go to support the work in Latin America by the International Diabetes Federation's Life for a Child Programme for a total of $75,000 in Big Blue Test grants to be funded.   Now is that awesome or what?

As usual the International Diabetes Federation (IDF)  has many ideas for you to celebrate WWD2012 - watch Jean Claude Mbanya - President of IDF in this video to get you even more motivated!!  

Last but not least, Mark-John Clifford from 1 Disease! World! Voice! is holding his 3rd Annual World KID'Z weekend - but this time it won't be held on the weekend but over a 7 day period.  It starts on Monday, November 14th and continuing on until Sunday, November 22nd.  Last year 250,000 people attended this, and this year is looking even more promising for attendance.  This event will be live on the internet via Livestream, Ustream, Skype, Twitter and Phones for everyone to watch and take part in - don't be shy - come in and join on the fun (I do every year).  For more information - check it out at this link.

Are there events I haven't listed above that you are attending or holding yourself? Then feel free to share them here!!!   

Blog: Anna's Blog

From: FatCatAnna