From The Girls: What we want you to know about type 1 diabetes

What is the last thing that you think about before you go to bed at night?

Oldest daughter:  I go through a check list in my head and I think of everything that I have to do.  I brushed my teeth, I got tested, I had a snack, I dosed, I packed my homework.  Yes.  That is a huge one.  Homework.

Youngest daughter:  I make sure that I have all of my stuffed animals and then well, I don't know.  I go to sleep.

What is the first thing that you about when you wake up in the morning?

Oldest daughter:  Another day of school!  And then I have to think about what I am going to wear and think about what day it is.  If it is Monday, I am going to the computer to hang out and I can be comfy.  But on Wednesdays, I have Yoga.  On Friday, I like to wear jeans and look nice.

Youngest daughter:  I think about what is for breakfast and then I think about what I am going to wear.

What is the first thing that you do when you get to school?

Oldest daughter:  I unpack my backpack and make sure that I have my social studies and science journals.  Then I put my tester and phone and my purse and my lunch box in the backroom (the diabetes lounge).

Youngest daughter:  I grab my homework and stick it in the bin.  Then I go to my desk and take out my pencil and do my morning work.

When do you think about diabetes?

Oldest daughter:  I have to think about it as soon as I get to school because if I forget something, than I have to text you (mom) with what I need.

Youngest daughter:  When I have my snack and then I think of when Miss D. (aide) is going to come in.  I worry that she is going to be late.

What do you think your friends think about diabetes?

Oldest daughter:  Oh wow.  Um.  Go to (my sister first).

Youngest daughter:  My friends think, "What is that thing on your pouch?  What is that tubing or string?" They always ask me that. 

Oldest daughter:  (Laughing)  They ask me "Who won?"  We play a game with my friends that have diabetes and try to figure out who is closest to 150.  My friends always ask me who won!

Does having diabetes bug you?

Oldest daughter:  No.  I think it doesn't really define me.  I think some people think it is such a big issue.  Like, so you are a diabetic?  Yes, so?  I don't care.

Youngest daughter:  No, well, a little bit.  Because I do not like having people ask me all these weird questions.  Because they should really ask their parents. 

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Oldest daughter:  I wouldn't change anything.  I like who I am.

Youngest daughter:  Yeah.  I like me too.

February 2012: Advocating

From the DSMA Website

Recently, the DSMA posted these thought provoking questions.  Since this is not a test and pretty much every answer other than "I dunno" is appropriate, I thought why not sit down and take a few moments to answer.

After all, much of my thoughts towards 2012 center around information sharing within the DOC.  It is my thought as a parent of Naturally Sweet Sisters, that this is the least I can do to advocate the need to further research type 1 diabetes, ultimately finding better treatments, technology and a cure.

We have to speak up and talk about what we need or nothing will ever change.


Q1. How do you get information about innovations in diabetes care?

Our family is active within the DOC and our city/state.  We participate in ADA and JDRF events like the Diabetes Health Expo, the Walk to Cure Diabetes and diabetes conventions.  We talk to suppliers, doctors and patient families.  Mostly we ask lots of questions!

Q2. How do you know when a new device comes on market?

I follow several diabetes blogs on the internet as well as subscribe to various medical magazines.  If I inadvertently miss a release, because we are connected through the DOC, someone often sends us a link for more information. 

Q3.What are some of the things you do as a PWD or a Parent of a CWD to share your needs with the industry?

As a Parent of a CWD, I speak up.  Part of being a responsible parent is advocating for your children.  I am their voice within the community to ask questions and to implement any better strategies for managing type 1 diabetes.  I have written to our goverment at a state and local level to express concerns on the artificial pancreas, I maintain a blog that shows the world what having diabetes means and I also co-manage a support group for parents of children with type 1 diabetes.    Through all of this is information sharing and gathering. 

Q4. Do you think your concerns are addressed in a timely manner?

No.  We have been living with type 1 diabetes for five years.  Little has changed except for finding our voices.  The need for better technology is still ongoing.  I can't even fathom a cure at this point.

Q5. Do you know how to find diabetes issues that the FDA is seeking comment from the public? do you comment?

Yes and I do respond. 

Q6. Do you advocate for PWD with the government? FDA, Congress etc.

Yes and we have received letters in return acknowledging our requests.  Some have been form letters obviously sent by aides, such as Debbie Stabenow, but we received one letter last month from Carl Levin that actually responded with his own plan on obtaining better care for PWDs.

Q7. What topics would you like to see discussed? What would you like to see more of?

Better technology updates with real life release dates. 

Remember to Be A Member!

Greeting to all of our friends out there in 'cyber-type-1-diabetes-land' or the Diabetes Online Community (DOC). 

Hello!  Hello!  Hello!




Just wanted to extend a huge thank you to everyone who is reading Naturally Sweet Sisters. 

Our little blog is growing by the day and we are so proud to be welcomed into your homes.  When we originally started this out, shortly after our first type 1 diabetes diagnosis, the topic was just too painful to write about.  So our original blog just sat there, completely forgotten.

After a few more start and stop attempts, we are finally hitting our stride - thanks to encouragement from our friends and family- to start one more time.   When we post, it is though we are talking to our friends, the ones who get it and really understand this topsy turvy life of type 1 diabetes.

All of your comments have been so kind and heartwarming and we truly appreciate them all.  Each day, we look forward to reading what you have said and to hearing that we are all in this together.

One new thing that you might see from time to time is the perspective of type 1 diabetes through the eyes of one of my daughters.  Our oldest daughter has expressed interest in conveying her thoughts in order to help other parents and kids understand each other.

We also thought it might be a great idea to offer the chance to ask questions.  If there is something that you are thinking of and want to hear another perspective, please send in your question.  We will try to use that as a blog post topic.

A quick reminder and request is to have everyone sign up to follow our blog.  You can sign up through Networked Blogs or Google Friend Connect - Both are located in the right hand sidebar of this post that you are reading.  One click and you won't miss a single post. 

With as much fun as it has been to write our blog, we are also wanting to grow our readership and hopefully, attract some sponsors, because writing is a bit of time consuming endeavor.  We want you to find the content on Naturally Sweet Sisters to be of a worthy value and we are interested in keeping our content at the highest possible standard.

And finally, for everyone interested in keeping tabs on Naturally Sweet Sisters through their e-reader, visit Naturally Sweet Sisters on Amazon Kindle.