Friends For Life Orlando, 2018

Just a few things of the many things I loved about the Children With Diabetes, Friends For Life Orlando conference, I attend last week.

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Super special coin and bracelet.

People roaming the halls of Disney’s Coronado Springs wearing green and orange bracelets, and who “get diabetes," without ever uttering the D word. I LOVE THAT. 

Littles running up to me and shouting: Mama, she has a green bracelet like me!

Realizing that the young “teen” you've mentored/been friends with for years, is now a vibrant 21 year old woman with t1d who is thriving! 
Sidebar: And who promised you (and put it in writing,) that as an adult t1 woman, she will ALWAYS keep an 8 pack of juice boxes by her bed. 

Seeing the 16 and 14 year-old t1s and the awesome 11 year old orange bracelet sibling you’ve known since they were in single digits,(and missing the 16 year old orange bracelet sibling and her mamma, who were sidelined due to an injury,) are growing and becoming and it blows your mind.

Hanging at the bar with other green/orange bracelet adults and laughing with them about everything - including all the beeps and blips from all the various diabetes electronicals.

Bumping into the little boy who told you last year that diabetes “makes him happy and sad,” and who now declares “that he loves diabetes,” and ROCKING YOUR WORLD, in the process. 

2018 and 2017.
What a difference a year makes~

Meeting a 10-year-old, green bracelet “First Timer,” and his orange bracelet wearing little sister in the lunch line, and who become super excited to make superhero capes at the Dexcom booth after you explain to them that Dex's Super Hero Cape Making Station is an actual thing. 
Then green bracelet boy discusses with you (and in great detail,) about pumping; wearing a Dex, and how he gets his love of sauerkraut from his Grandmother, as he piles his lunch plate with 3 big scoops. 

You get dTechy with him and also tell him that you can totally relate to his sauerkraut obsession because thanks to your dad, you feel the same exact way about horseradish — and you both start to giggle. 

He follows you over to the dessert table and you both go for the oatmeal cookies “because they are the best,” and the giggles continue.

A few hours later, two green and orange bracelet wearing super heroes (and one with a penchant for sauerkraut,) are rocking capes and participating in your #IwishPeopleKnewThatDiabetes booth, then head over to the Beta Bionics booth and make the crazy light thingies and then give them to you, and after you'd complimented them on their cool crazy light thingies.  :)  

My new FFL cape wearing, sauerkraut loving,
orange and green bracelet wearing, sibling Super Heroes!

Your special group of “First Timers alumni,” are now seasoned Friends for Lifers, who you have special drinks with at the pool and exchange silly texts with.

T1 Chicks & Orange Bracelet friends @ the Omnipod party for
T1 Adults at #FFLOrlando18 

D Squad goals met and exceeded because of a group of fantastical green and orange bracelet wearing chick friends who have indeed become friends for life. 

These women always encourage you throughout the year; send you wake up texts on the day you fly out to ffl; buy you unsalted almonds and water at Publix, ply you with British chocolates, understand your “L Explorer” and “GM Running Club” references, and always make you laugh!

Sitting at the bar and watching your “diabetes brothers” totally nerd out over Disney’s Avatar Ride, while you and your D-Sister can’t stop laughing at and with them.

Attending adult t1 support sessions about diabetes burnout and diabetes complications in a judgment free zone. 

Your D mama friend who once again makes sure you’re OK with juice boxes and bottled water. 

Orange bracelets who have become friends for life!

Watching your t1d friend experience FFL for the first time and through her eyes.

You forget that she’s shy because she's anything but with you. 

And you burst with pride as she reaches her goal to meet 3 new green/orange bracelet wearing friends in one hour at the bar.

Discovering that the shy little Ninja Turtle loving, 4 year old green bracelet wearing boy from last year is now a talkative, confident, and positive Spidey Super Hero with a huge smile and an amazing attitude!

Experiencing one of the worst lows of your life surrounded by people who love and help you, and continue to check in with you throughout the day, into the evening, and well into the next day - and in a way that doesn’t make you feel like a burden. 

And you are so incredibly thankful that they were there.

Realizing a few days later while talking with your diabetes brother about that low, that maybe it’s time to do something you’ve been putting off for a while. 

Sidebar: More on that later. 

Standing at the ice machine on Friday afternoon after a long day of sessions, attempting to fill a ziplock bag with ice, so you can ice your broken toe (long story), and failing miserably, because the goddamn ice keeps spilling EVERY WHERE and you are about to lose your proverbial shit.

Then, and just as your about to let out a stream of expletives, you feel a slight brush against the side of your thigh and exactly where your Omnipod and purple grip are, followed by a little voice that’s barely a whisper, saying: I like your gripper and your Omnipod. 

You turn around and see a little girl with blond hair, wearing a blue and green bikini, with a pod on her belly that’s surrounded by a super cool black oval grip— and she’s looking up at you with a broad and shy smile.

And you know it must have taken all the courage she could muster to walk up and start a conversation with you.  

Your heart melts and you respond: I like yours too. 

And then you both start talking about all things diabetes — your new D friend is a year and a half in and her mom is watching and smiling. 

All of a sudden you’re not frustrated anymore. You’re happy and want to hug this amazing little girl and tell her that’s she’s exceptionally awesome, because she is, so you do. 

You’re glad you’re wearing sunglasses because you know your eyes are on the verge of leaking. 

Then her mom grabs your arm and thanks you for “doing what you do because it’s amazing,” and you feel your cheeks turning red. 

You thank the mom for all she does, tell your new friend that you’ll look for her in the pool and in the hallways and she promises to do the same. 

You say your goodbyes and walk in the direction that may (or may not,) lead your back to your room, as tears start streaming down your face and in the best of ways.

And once again you are reminded how much you need to be at the Friends for Life Conference in Orlando - for yourself and for others.  
And how much #FFlOrlando18 recharges your diabetes batteries and your spirit - and once again, you are so incredibly grateful~

I'm Off To #FFLOrlando18

I'm heading back to Orlando this morning to attend the Children With Diabetes, Friends For Life Conference, at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. 
And #FFLOrlando18 on the Social Media - and I can't wait! 
This is my 6th year attending (which blows my mind,) and it's a week of being surrounded by people who "get diabetes in all dimensions." 
It's a week of sessions about living with diabetes and support. A week where green and orange bracelets rule, carb counts on all the group meals are the norm, not the exception, and official low blood sugar stations are around every turn. 
It's a lot of laughter, a few tears, and an enormous amount of hugging with friends you haven't seen in 365 days, friends you ate breakfast with, or friends you just met!
It's meeting new friends at every turn because if you wear a green or orange bracelet - you are immediately part of the gang. 
I received/responded, to the following text from one of my DMama friends last week, who wanted to make sure I had enough juice boxes and water in my room because she knows me (and she knows my preference for Elmo Fruit Punch Juice boxes;) she gets me, and she knows and gets diabetes. 
I think it perfectly sums up how the friends you make at the Children With Diabetes, Friends For Life conference - really do become friends for life! 

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Advocate Everywhere

"ADVOCATE EVERYWHERE," are the words printed on the front of one of my
favorite T-shirts, obtained years ago (maybe 2013 or 2014,) from the Diabetes MasterLab, which at that time, piggybacked CWDFFL, in Florida. 
And they are words that continue to inspire me in my life... and my life with diabetes. 

I wear this shirt because I love the message and the spirit 
behind it. 
I love how this message sparks
conversations whenever and wherever I wear it. 
Lastly, I love how it encourages us to use our voices individually and collectively, because all our diabetes voices matter and no act of advocacy is too small. #AdvocateEverywhere ~

Finally, My Experience at #CWDFFL2017 - It Was AWESOME

First my apologies for not posting sooner. 5 days after I returned from CWDFFL, I came down with a nasty viral infection (that I’d probably been fighting off since before I went to Orlando,) that left me with a low grade fever and down for the count for a little over 2 weeks.I've never felt so horrible in my life, I never want to feel that way again. 

More about that ridiculousness in another post because late or not, I want to share my Children With Diabetes Friends For Life, experience.

And yeah, I agreee - IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME.

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When People ask me about the Children with Diabetes, Friends For Life Conference - it’s hard to put into words - and it’s not. 

Amazing

It’s truly amazing being around people who “get it,” without ever having to utter the D word. 

The immediate friendship and feelings of “me too," that green and orange bracelets bring not only prove that you are not alone - it’s also makes you feel safe and connected  - even if you’re attending the conference by yourself - TRUST ME. 

HAPPY - so much happy!

Watching First Timers became part of the mix makes my heart happy for several reasons. I was a First Timer once, I know how it feels - I also know how it feels when the First Timer fears wash away and the feelings of happiness and community replace them - it’s freaking magical. 

Having a green bracelet wearing child see your green bracelet and watch as you change out your insulin pump reservoir between sessions, and then come up to you all excited saying: Mommy and I just changed out my reservoir too!

And then you get excited and all of a sudden you’re grabbing snacks from the snack table and have become fast friends - and friends for life. SO COOL.

All of It

Laura Hugs; hanging with my DOC peeps in real life, watching some special children with diabetes (and their equally amazing siblings,)  I’ve loved over the years grow up and continue on with the fabulous - And damn if I don’t swell with pride!

Hanging out with friends who have become family and that you see for one week every year  - so many hugs, so much laughter - and it makes you feel great to be alive!

Meeting new adults and children with diabetes and having them become part of the tribe.
And don't even get me started on the Jalapeno Margaritas!

Caring - so much damn caring. 

The unspoken rule of “no man or woman left behind,” and seeing it put into action time and time again. Like when your friend experiences a low and you and your friends spring into action - one goes and grabs a soda, the other offers glucose tabs, and another stays with with your friend - and a Disney employee name Christal from the Snack Bar, runs up with juice and food because Disney not only knows that  CWD,FFL is in town, but are there to help anyone in a green bracelet experiencing a low/ high blood sugar, or anything in-between. 

Whether it’s having friends (who are parents to a grown up t1 daughter and newly minted mommy,) pick you up juice boxes and bottled water at Publix because they worry about you having middle of the night lows - and the wife waits in her car while her husband walks you back to your room and refuses to let you carry any packages. 

Also, said D mama was very specific as to what brand and flavor of juice boxes required because she knows PWD (people with diabetes,) have their preferences. 

Or your PWD friend from the UK, who brings you Cadbury chocolate from Merry Olde England because she knows how much you dig British sweets! 

Safety

There’s the feeling of safety felt when I experienced a nasty low on my way back from the exhibit hall - and my friend Joanne ( an awesome chick and DMomma,) sat with me while I downed a Mickey Mouse Ice Cream pop. 

Then Jeff Hitchcock stopped over and said - it’s OK, you’re not alone -and again, the feelings of safety and security washed over me. 

AWE 

I kid you not, you're awe inspired every damn day at CWD,FFL. In awe of the children, adults, staff, speakers, performers, faculty and yes, in awe of the sunsets! 

On a personal note, I watched in awe as children with and without diabetes come up to the IwishPeopleKnewThatDiabetes booth and drop truth bombs and words of wisdom - same goes for the adults! 

Personal note, part 2. There’s the gift of my own personal journey -not always diabetes related - personal insights from D friends, when they saw that I was  struggling with things having nothing to do with diabetes - and care enough about me to take me aside and talk. 

You know who you are. Thank-you and IRREPLACEABLE. 

HOME
CWD,FFL feels like home, because it has become just that to all those who attend. 

Bottom Line: Every day at CWD,FFL there are boatloads of wisdom; tears, laughter, (SO MUCH LAUGHTER,) knowledge, understanding and everything else in between - you are surrounded by those feelings for a solid week.

The Children With Diabetes, Friends For Life Conference is wonderful and overwhelming all rolled into one - and I wouldn’t trade that week in Orlando (IN JULY,) for anything! 

If you have a child with diabetes, or an adult with diabetes - give yourself the gift of attending CWD,FFL!

Here's the LINK to all the upcoming CWD conferences so you can do just that!

And you can thank me when we’re hanging out by the pool next July ;)

Batteries Need Charging - Headed out to #CWDFFL2017

So it's been a while since I've posted and I apologize. 
It's been a little crazy on this end and honestly, I've been burned out as of late - like crazy burned out - my preverbal well is dry and my batteries need recharging - and I can cop to it. 
Which is why I'm incredibly grateful to be flying out this morning to attend The 2017 Children With Diabetes, Friends for Life Conference in Orlando, Florida. 
I can't wait to get my green bracelet on, (literally and figuratively,) and spend 5 days with friends who are indeed family. 
Working and attending amazing sessions, running the #IwishPeopleKnewThatDiabetes booth, and spending time with people who "get it!"
Also, did I mention that all the cwdffl meals have carb counts listed?

follow the #cwdffl2017 hashtag and I promise to post from the Orlando! 
If you're attending - I can't wait to give you a hug! 

After Six Days At The Children With Diabetes, Friends For Life Conference - It's Too Quiet.

After a 6 days at the Children With Diabetes, Friends For Life conference (aka, #cwdffl16,) in Orlando - it's too quiet. 
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My Children with Diabetes, Friends For Life, green bracelet - otherwise
known as my talisman of hope~

It's too quiet.
No green and orange bracelets at every turn.
No Laura sailing through the hallways giving hugs or Jeff capturing memories with his camera.
No talking to strangers with green or orange bracelets, Who become friends you hug hello.
When my pump and alarm went off yesterday, nobody said,"is that me or you?"
No one to have dinner with and talk about the day; the night, the daily sessions, pool shenanigans, the parks and everything in-between.
No one walking up to you (or vice versa,) and starting a conversation just because you're wearing a green or orange bracelet.

No one to say: Are you OK? 

When I walked through Orlando airport on Monday, it was too quiet - even though it was jam packed.
No green or orange bracelets to be found - no matter how hard I looked.
Not even a lone test strip on the ground - and that bummed me out.


And I drank my coffee in silence in terminal 30 something - and not one person said hello.
It felt like the loneliest place on earth.... because it was.
And as far as I'm concerned, Orlando International Airport on the day I leave Children with Diabetes, Friends For Life conference, will always be the loneliest place in the world.

I'm home now, but I'm not.

This morning I looked down at my meter and didn't like the number, and nobody was there to say "it's OK."

No sessions that made you feel like you weren't the only one.
No friends running down the halls of the Marriott to hug you because it's been 365 days since the last time you saw them - or two hours.
No chocolate covered strawberries. 

No friends I've known forever, but are meeting for the first time in real life at the hotel lobby bar.
No friends I've just met during the conference - but feel like I've known forever.
No little girls running up and shouting: Mommy, her got a green bracelet like mine!
No carb counts already calculated at every meal.
No yearly Mojitos with friends who are family.

No "me too's." 
No people who "get it."
(SIGH)


It's too quiet.

And I can't wait for #cwdffl7

Home From #CWDFFL15 and Homesick~

There’s so much to write about my Friends For Life Experience - And as I sit at my computer, I don’t know where to begin. 

And I’m distracted because I keep looking down at my green Children with Diabetes bracelet and I wish I was back in Florida.

The green bracelet is my talisman and touchstone to people and an organization who mean the world to me and I love my FFL family very much.  

And now That I'm back in the "real world", I wish I wasn't. 

My green bracelet is my touchstone & my talisman~

The real world is filled with me playing catch-up with work and life and has me dealing people who don’t “get” diabetes and don’t want to. 

The real world is filled with strangers who don’t look you in the eye because they’re too busy looking down at their phones -and that sucks. 

As we get older, making friends isn’t as easy as it was when we were in fresh out of the gate. At FFL, everyone introduces themselves and everyone talks with one another. 
Adults and children with green bracelets find one another and the “me too” factor kicks in with a vengeance and it’s beautiful. 
Little children see my green bracelet and immediately show me theirs - and vice versa. And then we show one another our pumps and talk about how much fun we’re having. Princesses, Batman & Spiderman tend to enter the conversation, as does “Jake & The Pirates,” and I'm totally cool with that.

 Orange bracelets seek out the green and green bracelets seek out the orange, friendships are formed and lessons are learned between the laughter and the tears. 
Those conversations start anywhere and everywhere. In line for gelato, at the sink in the ladies room, at the pool, the breakfast line - EVERYWHERE - and it’s a beautiful thing.

Both green and orange Bracelets seek out those wearing “First Timers” ribbons on their name badges and pull them into the FFL mix and help them navigate the FFL waters until they go with flow and become part of the FFL ebb and flow. 

And then there are all the hugs and understanding from people who “get it.” 
Oh how I miss those hugs and all the understanding! 
And I miss the learning and the bonding and the frenetic pace that leaves everyone breathless, smiling, and wanting more.  

FFL, makes me feel like I'm the aunt to thousands of amazing green and orange bracelet wearing children and teens and makes me feel like I have a thousand green and orange bracelet wearing brothers and sisters - and parents for that matter. 

And I kid you not, now that I'm home, I'm incredibly homesick for my green and orange bracelet wearing family. 

And now for the not so mushy (at least for the most part,) part of the post. 

This year’s FFL was jammed packed and crazy, wonderful in all dimensions. 

Before FFL officially started, I had (along with so many in the DOC who were attending FFL and some who were there for the lab,) the opportunity to attend the 2015 Master Lab, presented by the Diabetes Hands Foundation, in collaboration with Children With Diabetes.  
The Master Lab was an intense 1.5 day lab on Diabetes Advocacy, Non Profits, the Press, Social Media, getting your story out there and everything in-between, and it was incredibly informative and powerful. 

The MasterLab gave me the courage to ask for help with #IwishPeopleKnewThatDiabetes Booth. 

I’m still wrapping my head around everything I learned and going through my notes with a fine tooth comb.

I was also part of the FFL Staff. My job as a Room Captain was to introduce the session Speakers and help them anyway they needed me to during the sessions and learn a few things ( OK, boatloads of things,) in the process.

Sidebar: For a great FFL tech/other cool stuff breakdown, read THIS post by Mike Hoskins post over at Diabetesmine.

And I had the amazing opportunity to have an “official  #IwishPeopleKnewThatDiabetes Booth in the Friends For Life Exhibit Hall - which seriously ROCKED MY WORLD. 
To be honest, I was nervous about it - but as I mentioned, it ROCKED MY WORLD (in the fantastical sense of the term,) and it was truly an amazing experience! 
The booth was filled with familiar faces from the DOC, who gave their time and energy and helped to make the booth functional, fun and a success!

 I'll be posting about #IwishPeopleKnewThatDiabetes booth experience as soon as I'm finished writing about it.... Stay tuned ;) 

Diabetesalicious-Lite: Diabetes Dark Ages, Alecia On The APP/AP, Fearless/Fearful, Positive D Visuals, CWD-FFL15 & #SpareARose

I’ve written about the Diabetes Dark Ages a lot on Diabetesaliciousness, because (and lucky me,) I was diagnosed just as that chapter of diabetes history was coming to a close  and diabetes technologies were coming into play - and my memories are vivid.  
I wrote a piece on the D Dark Ages over at SuiteD and I'd love it if you click HERE, check it out and let me know what you think~

Speaking of Diabetes Technology/technologies, t1 and SurfaceFine blogger, Alecia Wesner is featured in today’s NY Daily News, re; her "app-tastic' experience on the AP. 
Click HERE and read about our fearless and fantastical friend's experience! 
Also: I WANT.

Fearless and fearful, similar versions of the same root word, with very different meanings. We all find ourselves walking a fine line when it comes to being fearless and fearful in all aspects of our lives, including our lives with diabetes. 
And if we're lucky, we find ourselves a place to exist and flourish in the in-between of both words and worlds. 
Not being so fearless to the point of of being flipping crazy, and not being so fearful that we allow ourselves or others to be imprisoned by our fears.
After 37 years of living with diabetes, I've seen a hell of a lot and I've learned and continue to learn everyday. 
For me, the 24X7/365 requirements of my diabetes life include; continual education, (of myself and others,) the latest in diabetes technology, copious amounts of laughter, lots tenacity, acknowledging and then doing what I fear when required, while remembering to focus on the positive & help others in the process. 
Also, I require boatloads of hope and positive diabetes visuals - we all do! 

Re: positive diabetes visuals, take a look at Moira's positive & empowering post over at Despite Diabetes.   

Speaking of positive and empowering, here's a sneak peek at the initial and not yet complete/still fantastical work in progress, Adult Program for the 2015 Children With Diabetes- Friends For Life Conference! 
Sidebar: The Kids Program isn't up and running yet, but I guarantee it's sure to please!
Continue to watch childrenwithdiabetes.com for updates and details & see you in Florida! :) 

Lastly and also in the positive/empowering vein: The Super Bowl isn’t the only thing kicking off on February 1 - SpareARose also 'kicks-off' on Super Bowl Sunday and quite frankly, my bet's on #SpareARose for the win!  
11 roses are better than a dozen and for the cost of 1 rose (5 bucks) you're literally sparing a rose and saving a child. 5 dollars provides life saving insulin for a month to a child with diabetes in third world/developing country!  It's a sure bet on game day and it'sthe best money you'll spend on Valentine's Day.  

Order your "spared rose and or roses," here.

What A Difference A Week Makes: Finding Diabetes Support, Online & Off

What a difference a week makes. Last Thursday I wrote about my Endo appointment, my less than wonderful A1C, how burned out I was feeling from diabetes and how both my Dr. & CDE were amazing. Also, between you and me, I think I was also going through some CWD FFL withdrawal. 
Anway, last week my CDE Cheryl, invited me to an Insulin Pump Support meeting she was having. At one time I attended those meetings on a regular basis, but due to budget issues there hasn't been an Insulin Pump Support Meeting in years - until this past Tuesday. Here's how it went~
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My drive to Philly was shorter than expected and as I inched towards the Walt Whitman Bridge, I started to feel really good about things. 
My excitement finally bubbled to the surface in the parking garage elevator, as soon as I stepped in and realized that the woman next to me was wearing an insulin pump. 
And I knew exactly where she was going. 
Me: Are you on your way to Cheryl’s meeting?
Her: Yes, yes I am!!
And simultaneously we both grabbed our pumps, giggled and started talking. 
Together we walked towards our shared destination and we talked about our endos, how great the practice was and how amazing Cheryl the CDE was. 
And when we walked in the building, past the security guard and towards the room where the meeting was held, we saw Cheryl. 
And at that moment I was so grateful to Cheryl for being such an amazing type 3, for always being there for her patients and for getting the group up and running again after such a long hiatus... and for asking me to attend. 

And I’m not going to lie - I was really grateful that Cheryl procured food from Panara Bread, which included a variety of tasty sandwiches and cookies with the carb counts written out. 
FTR: A Panara big chocolate chip cookie is 58 grams of carbs - And it’s worth the bolus.
But I digress. 

I could write how amazing it was to be in a room with people who “got it" and how everyone said “OMG, that happens to me, too,” whenever anyone mentioned something D related. 
I could wax poetic about how people shared their feelings of being alone sometimes - even if they knew they weren’t. I understand that feeling very well -  I know you do, too. And I mentioned the Diabetes Online Community multiple times to the group - who wasn’t even aware that the DOC existed until: 

1. Cheryl told them about my blog as we were going through the group introductions
2. I told them about the DOC and give them twitter search terms like #dsma, dsma twitter chats, #doc #diabetes, Blog Rolls, Facebook groups and communities and how there is indeed a D Tribe out there online in the room we were sitting in, not to mention The Diabetes Unconference that's happening next year.

And they were really excited to hear that the DOC existed.

But this post is supposed to be about the awesome Insulin Pump Support Group meeting.  

I’ll admit to being blown away by the fact that some of the group members had been living with diabetes for decades, and by decades I mean 60 years, 53 years, 50 years and 40 years  - They inspired me and I wanted to hug them and hold them tight. 
There were were people who were recently diagnosed as adults with t1 - or who’d who came to their t1 status by way of a pancreatectomy. All of them were doing what they needed to, even though change can be difficult - Especially when your pancreas is the one that decides to make the change, and after it's been working just find for you &well into your adult life. They reminded me about life throwing us curve balls just when we think everything is peachy. They inspired me and I wanted to hug them and hold them tight. 
And there were also people like me there. People who weren’t 50 years in, but who’d lived with diabetes longer than they hadn’t. And they inspired me and I wanted to hug them and hold them tight. 
In each of them I saw bits of myself. As I was, as I used to be... And as I hoped to become. I was grateful to each and everyone of them - just like I'm grateful for each and everyone of you. 
Whenever I think of the Diabetes Online Community or finding other's in our D Tribe in real life, expected and or by kismet, I ALWAYS think of the following quote by C.S. Lewis that I found on TwistedSifter. 

Yep, sums up the DOC perfectly!
Photo with quote courtesy of TwisterSifter

This thing called community - Of being there for one another - It's so important. 
If you're part of the DOC, you get that. 
And I know Cheryl gets that - She's always been so supportive and she asked me to present at  a future meeting on DOC resources. 
If your Endo's office doesn't offer a support group, reach out to them and suggest that they start one - And bug the crap out of them until it becomes a reality. 
And I know I don't need to tell you this, but I will anyway. 
If you know of any PWDs (people with diabetes) off-line who might be feeling alone, reach out to them and tell them about the DOC and then ask them if they'd like to grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine - And then bug the crab out of said PWD or PWDs (and in the nicest way possible,) until it actually happens. 
Peer support for every single person living with diabetes is so incredibly important - And a little red wine, or coffee, or cupcakes between PWDs every now and then doesn't hurt either ;) 

Stop The #Dstigma & Run With The Diabetes Advocacy

There’s been a lot of talk about the stigma associated with diabetes as of late, a.k.a. #dstigma. On June 15th there was a PFDC, Johnson & Johnson twitter chat moderated by #DSMA discussing DStigma at this year's ADA that addressed the subject head on. 
Diatribe put together a great Storyify re: the #dstigma panel discussion they participated/presented on last week at FFL & why we need to discuss it.
I was helping in another FFL session so I missed this & I'm so grateful that Diatribe storified the session!
And #dstigma was brought up multiple times in regards to #DiabetesAdvocacy last week during Diabetes Hands Foundation's #MasterLab at #CWDFFL14.
Speaking of #Masterlab - Diatribe breaks down the #Masterlab via Storify, HERE.  
And Kim has a great #Masterlab debrief today over at Textingmypancreas.com and so does Sue over @ Diabetes Ramblings ~
And the following is my 2 cents on the subject~
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I Googled the word “stigma, and this was the first thing that came up: 

Sound familiar?

Add a “d” or the word diabetes in front of the word 'stigma' to the definitions above & you’ve got #Dstigma. 

Look, none of us should feel shame because we have diabetes - but we do. 

All of us living with diabetes and regardless of the type, shouldn't feel disgraced because we bear the scarlet letter, D. But we do. 

None of us should feel that we’ve dishonored ourselves or our families - but we do. 

No PWD should feel Ignominy & opprobrium (OK, I’ll admit that I had to look both of those words up), but we do. Ignominy means public shame or disgrace & opprobrium means  harsh criticism or centure. Sound familiar? It should because I know that we’ve all felt shame, discraced or centured  - A.K.A.: Why are you checking your blood sugar in public?!” 
All you need to do take a look at how diabetes is presented in the media 90% of the time and you’ll feel shame and disgrace - Not to mention anger. 

And none of us should feel like we've we’ve failed because our pancreases and metabolisms have - But we absolutely do.
 And none of us should feel humiliated by our diabetes and what our diabetes requires us to do - but there are moments when we've all felt that.

How many times have we said “I’m sorry” to the people we love because our diabetes is behaving badly - even when we do everything right? 
And how crappy does always feeling like we have to apologize for our diabetes feel? 

The diabetes guilt and the #Dstigma it causes is an anchor around all of our necks, one that many of us have become so accustomed to wearing that we actually forget it’s there - But it drags us down none the less.  

And even if you’re not familiar with mythology, each of us can relate to Atlas, the man who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders for eternity, because we continually carry the weight of diabetes on our shoulders for what seems like an eternity. 
We perpetually find ourselves playing the role of  defense with diabetes and #dstigma - And it wears us down and beats us up on a daily basis - If we let it. 
There’s dstigma within our own community - the us verses them when it comes to type 1 verses type 2 and acknowledging that LADA 1.5’s exist. 

Here’s the thing: Every single person living with diabetes  or loving and or caring for a person with diabetes is part of the same Diabetes Family Tree, no matter the type. 
Regardless of the type, we are all part of the same D Tree - Just difference branches. 
And if we’re going advocate for diabetes and elevate #dstigma  successfully, then we must stop with the #dstigma within our own community. 

We need to unify and act as one community. 

We must work together and use our powers collectively as Diabetes Advocates to create real change on all levels re: the public, private and governments perceptions of diabetes and what living with diabetes entails.  

WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER.

Lastly, if you want to stop #dstigma, educate others and advocate for real change,  

then embrace the KISS of Diabetes Advocacy , a'la Christel!
ALSO: #RockOn