Death Too Soon…..We Can All Help……Even a Little

Posted on November 30, 2012 | by tomkarlya | 1 Comment

Take a good look at the photograph. A father and a daughter; the bond of which love is universally understood. They are at a charity fund-raiser to find a cure for the little girl. Her name is Megan and her father worked tirelessly to help raise funds to find a cure. Interestingly enough, it would be a cure for him also because he too had Type 1 diabetes. But daddies do not do for themselves, they do for their children.

Imagine that bond. Even tighter if ever there could be one. Both having Type 1 diabetes.

Her face is absolutely priceless, she is just gorgeous. Would you not agree?

In an almost instant Megan, and her family’s life would change…….unfortunately forever.

From my good friend and super-dad Tim Brand who wrote:
I remember seeing another sad post about someone passing away in the diabetes community, but this hit close to home. Another d-dad passing away at too young of an age. Another family lost their hero, kids lost their father, a wife and mother left to grieve, left to wonder about her family. So much does not make sense as to why a man of 42 suddenly dies. Makes less sense when its a d-dad who is the primary bread-winner. That leaves the wife and mother left to wonder about tomorrow. The Doss family has been left to wonder and they need our help.

Brian Doss was a super-hero dad.

And it is our help we will give Tim. Look I know everyone has their hand out at his time of the year but if we cannot come together to help one of our own…..where does that leave us? Imagine if 1000 people just gave only $10. Just ask yourself one question: Can I give just a little bit…….a little bit…..and do it!

I have said 1000 a times, any writings I do must come down to us ‘not doing nothing’ and if ever there is a chance to help someone……I must make that attempt, we must make that attempt. There by the grace of God, go all of us.

Go without that beer or pack of cigarettes this week. This family is devastated. So many times we give to great places and organizations—-this is a direct hit on a family we know and we care about. Search your heart….and give something…..anything.

You will feel good about helping one of our own. Losing a super-hero-dad is crushing. By all accounts, Brian was a super-hero-dad. Let’s show Mary Ellen, his wife, and his children that we do care, and will care.

Their hero was taken and can never be replaced. At least let’s try to give them some financial relief……….imagine the holidays without your hero!

Go here: http://www.giveforward.com/dossfamilyfundraiser ……..take a final look at that picture…….do it because Megan’s daddy would have most undoubtedly have done it for you.

Thank you.

I am a diabetesdad.

Your Child May Listen to These Folks….Even More Than They Listen to YOU!

Posted on November 29, 2012 | by tomkarlya | 3 Comments

Unless you are a parent of a child with diabetes and actually have diabetes, you do not know what it means to have it, and live with it, every second. I have stated that many times. Conversely, children who have diabetes do not know the pain we, as parents, feel.

Today I am listing many members who write about what it is like to live with diabetes who actually have diabetes. In as much as parents talk to each other to both empower and help each other, no matter how hard we try; our kids KNOW we do not have it. I do believe at some point or another, a child ‘will play that card’ to remind us that WE JUST DO NOT KNOW…….and they would be correct.

Take a look at this powerful list below of people who write about living with diabetes. Read them, but more importantly, share the ones you like with your child who has diabetes because the information these writers pass on……..is invaluable.

This group from the Diabetes Advocates web page http://diabetesadvocates.org/ do not have to write about what they know. But they do. They do it with humor, pain, and reflection to help all those who are on the same journey that they have been on for some time.

We would never choose to make a meal that we have never tried before without a recipe, would we? We would look to the experts who have made the dish before to show us how to do it perfectly. Well here is your recipe to help your child; read them, and follow them for a few weeks. When you find one or two that you really like; just print out some of their articles and leave them around the house. Your child, who of course is at the appropriate age to use a computer, will find it and take it from there.

They write great stuff. Many have achieved great things. But mostly, they write from their heart-felt experiences. And what can be better than that?

We really do not know what it is like to live with diabetes……….here is a gift you can give your child(ren) who have diabetes; the gift of experience. What they are feeling these writers know already. Been there, done that. We thank them for their efforts on first-hand-lessons we could never teach.

I am a diabetes dad.

DA Resources for Type 1 Diabetes

1happydiabetic.com Bill Woods

Bill produces diabetes video logs, or vlogs. It’s all about having the right diabetes attitude

alizawithdiabetes.com Aliza Chana Zaleon

Aliza lives with type 1 diabetes and multiple other chronic illnesses. She tries not to let that define her; rather, she has decided to DEFY the odds!

bittersweetdiabetes.com Karen Graffeo

Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in Dec 1979, Karen blogs about its up and downs at Bitter-Sweet.

blog.sstrumello.com Scott Strumello

Scott writes about and provides an analytical view of the most current type 1 diabetes issues, including his acclaimed ‘Business of Diabetes’ feature.

bloggingdiabetes.com Tony Rose

A blog and podcast about real life with diabetes.

carbdm.org Tamar Sofer-Geri

The Carb DM website complements the work Carb DM does to bring the type 1 community together.

countrygirldiabetic.blogspot.com Cara Richardson

Living life with type 1 diabetes. Every day, every hour, every minute!

diabetesaliciousness.blogspot.com Kelly Kunik

Author of the patient blog, Diabetesaliciousness. Kelly is a diabetes advocate; blogger, speaker, writer, humorist and living-with-diabetes consultant.

diabetesinspain.com Mike Young

Mike is interested in healthcare social media consulting and diabetes advocacy.

diabeticallyspeaking.com Martin Wood

Diabetically Speaking is about life with diabetes and all the adventures that happen in between. Martin Wood has had type 1 diabetes for more than 30 years, and is a medical librarian, a cyclist, and a purveyor of all things awesome. Martin has an affinity for all things plaid, and believes that in everything we do, we should find a way to have fun doing it.

diabulimiahelpline.org Erin M. Akers

Diabulimia Helpline is a non-proft organization devoted to the support, education, and advocacy of diabulimics and their families. DBH is working to help diabetics with eating disorders find hope and recovery through their 24 hour hotline (425) 985-3635, three online support groups, an insurance specialist, regional workshops, and a direct line to the best treatment programs in the U.S..

kellywpa.com Kelly Booth

A type 1 diabetes patient since January 1984, Kelly shares what she has been through, including neuropathy and gastroparesis, and provides information to help others.

ladalife.com Susi Rafati

Susi has been living with LADA (slow-onset, antibody positive diabetes in adults) for 35 years, and uses an insulin pump.

livetolovediabetes.com Naomi Kingery

Naomi Kingery, also known as The Diabetic Diva®, has been involved in the diabetic community since her diagnosis at the age of twelve. She is the author of The Sugar Free Series, and the writer of the blog livetolovediabetes.com.

livingvertical.org Stephen Richert

Stephen writes about climbing and adventuring with type 1 diabetes

MeandDBlog.com Jessica Collins

Jess has lived with type 1 diabetes since 1993. She shares her random thoughts and musings on life with diabetes on MeandD.

MegansTouch.com Megan A. Quickle

Megan created Megan’s Touch to combine diabetes blogging, education and advocacy to find a cure for diabetes. Megan has had type 1 diabetes for 24 years.

momentsofwonderful.com Sara “Knicks” Nicastro

Diagnosed with T1 diabetes as an adult, Sara advocates for living life to the fullest. “I’d rather have 30 minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special.”

ninjabetic.com George Simmons

George shares all sides of his diabetes life in order to reach those who feel alone.

pearlsa.com/blog Pearlsa Bintomani

A girl’s life collides with type 1 diabetes and she becomes an advocate.

portablepancreasgirl.com Stacey Divone

Living with type 1 diabetes for 30 years, Stacey has had her “portable pancreas” (or insulin pump) for five. Her site shares her story of coping with diabetes and everything else life has thrown her way.

princessladybug.blogspot.com Cheri Pate

Each time we meet a new person with diabetes or the loved one of a person with diabetes, we have the opportunity to learn something new about diabetes and ourselves.

ridingoninsulin.org Mollie Busby

Riding on Insulin features ski/snowboard camps for kids and teens living with type 1 diabetes.

scottsdiabetes.com Scott K. Johnson

Scott’s Diabetes is where Scott talks about living his life with type 1 diabetes.

sixuntilme.com Kerri Sparling

Kerri Sparling has been living well with type 1 diabetes since 1986. She manages her diabetes and lives her life by the mantra “Diabetes doesn’t define me, but it helps explain me.”

strangelydiabetic.com Scott Strange

Diagnosed in 1970, Scott Strange believes in being brutally honest about diabetes and shares his experiences so that others may benefit from them.

sweetlyvoiced.com Melissa Lee

Melissa Lee was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1990 at the age of 10. She voices her journey as a diabetic, a singer, and a mommy at her blog Sweetly Voiced.

t1trigirl.org.nz Heidi-Jane James

The T1 Consulting Organization is concerned with raising awareness of type 1 diabetes and supporting type 1 diabetics in living a healthy and sporty life.

textingmypancreas.com Kim Vlasnik

Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1986 at the age of six, Kim writes about and illustrates her life with diabetes on Texting My Pancreas.

thebuttercompartment.com Lee Ann Thill

A lifetime of type 1 diabetes: reflections on the struggles and triumphs, inspiration, art and the creation of meaning.

thegirlsguidetodiabetes.com Sysy Morales

The Girl’s Guide to Diabetes seeks to encourage and empower women with diabetes to live their lives to the best of their ability.

thelifeofadiabetic.com Chris Stocker

The Life of a Diabetic is a blog about what Chris Stocker, a person with type 1 diabetes, goes through on an everyday basis. Just another person living a normal life with diabetes.

type1diabeteslounge.com Merle Gleeson

Living with diabetes is a constant challenge, and connecting with others in the same situation can help us feel less alone.

type1rider.org Tony Cervati

This organization is dedicated to all people affected by diabetes, particularly those who ride and race bicycles. The primary goals of type1rider are outreach and advocacy.

victoriacumbow.com Victoria Cumbow

For more than 19 years, Victoria has lived with diabetes and learned that having a support network contributes beyond all imagination to her diabetes management and control.

wearediabetes.org Asha Brown

We Are Diabetes is an organization primarily devoted to promoting support and awareness for the eating disorder diabulimia. We are dedicated to providing support, hope and resources to those who suffer from diabulimia, as well as to their families and loved ones.

youtube.com/mrmikelawson Mike Lawson

Mike Lawson’s YouTube series My Life As A Pin Cushion, is a positive, comedic way for him to share some of the lessons he has learned living with diabetes and to spread the positive message that a diabetes diagnosis doesn’t mean that you have to stop living.

T.G.I.F. (Thanking Great Individuals Forever)…….these dads are serious.

Posted on November 16, 2012 | by tomkarlya | 1 Comment

Today’s T.G.I.F. are a group of men I met recently. When I was over in the UK with the Children with Diabetes I met a group of dads, an amazing group of dads.

They are regulars dads, husbands, partners, with regular jobs, likes, responsibilities and in many ways are just like any other dads…….but they have achieved something that I have not witnessed before in my 20 years at this ‘diabetes’ thing…….they have a bond, a really tight bond.

They have created a mechanism that works for them incredibly well. They have a trust. They have a place they go where they can talk about anything they want from diabetes to sports to anything else that comes into their lives that they need to discuss. They do it in a place that they have built where there is a comfort level knowing that it will stay within the confides of the group. When it comes to dads, this kind of group is unique to me.

There ARE dads groups and discussion groups that are run very well, but these men have made a location where it is mano y mano only to discuss whatever it is they need to discuss in dealing with diabetes and life. This is a support group with a rock solid foundation of trust.

My main point about this group is that they came together and created what they needed to work for them. Many may not believe it is ‘okay’ to have a mens only and invite only group; and surely you are entitled to your opinion. But as I read over some of their subjects that are discussed, I was moved deeply as these men truly pour their hearts out to each other when it comes to the way they deal with diabetes in their household.

This is not a “man vs. woman thing”, rather this is a place where opinions on everything are on the table; for discussion, for help. Many professionals will tell you that one of the most important issues in dealing with anything is communication. Sometimes that self-searching begins with discussions with those you trust and understand because they are dealing with the same ‘life’ as you are and may have achieved better results.

However this all works, it works for this group of dads and it works extremely well. The specifics will remain with them and their actual location will remain theirs. Another major point is that whatever is needed to deal with diabetes, it takes a lot of work to make it happen. In the lives of these dads, diabetes was just not acceptable and they needed a place to learn from each other…..and they created such a place……and THAT is a really good thing. Perhaps we all can learn that something important, something needed, should be sought until found. These men surely did.

Take a bow dads, I envy your fellowship and you are diabetesdad’s TGIF.

I am a diabtesdad.