Tag: jdrf

You can Make a Difference Right Now….and it’s SOOOOOO Easy!

Posted on | by tomkarlya | 1 Comment on You can Make a Difference Right Now….and it’s SOOOOOO Easy!

Okay my friends——this is about as easy as it gets to make a difference. You can help the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) raise $50,000 and you do not have to give a dime out of your pocket, but just allow your opinions to be heard. ANYONE CAN BE PART.

Real simple, right on your phone:
Text “DRIF” to 31996
You will get a step-by-step process to register——SUPER EASY
You will then be given a menu to give your opinions on foods, films, entertainment, stores, and so much more. For each one you fill out, $2.00 will be donated to help the research of the DRI.
You can do up to 150 surveys and each one takes NO MORE than 30 seconds and you have until the end of February to complete as many as you wish.

Your info is not stored and you will not be contacted by ANY OF THE companies in the Survey. I have been doing this and it is so simple. Spouses, moms, dads, in the same houselhold or not—-you just need to be over 18 andyou can all participate. Each survey completed; The DRI Foundation receives $2.00.

HERE IS ANOTHER REASON TO DO THIS—-WE ARE ALL INVOLVED IN CAUSES THAT ARE NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR HEARTS. WHEN YOU SEE HOW EASY THIS IS TO DO, I WILL PERSONALLY CONNECT YOU TO THE GROUP SO YOU TOO CAN DO IT FOR A NON-PROFIT CAUSE DEAR TO YOU AS WELL.

Thank for caring……..and PLEASE share this with someone.
I am a diabetes dad.
Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.

We CANNOT Break

Posted on | by tomkarlya | 2 Comments on We CANNOT Break

We are a community.  What impacts one, impacts all.  Those of us who have decided that Just Doing Nothing will not do, have taken up our position in this diabetes battle.  There are as many positions as there is work to be done.

Taking no action, takes no effort.
Again:
Taking no action, takes no effort.
It’s easy.

It can cause you no harm. One has enough to worry about than to think, ‘I have to spend all my precious time on me and my family’. Right? There is power in that, but if we all only looked after our own personal lives, where would we be? I have known and been friends with so many people in this battle who believe stronger in doing things that I do not do.  I have known friends that support organizations more so than I support.  There s just so much tine in a day.

That’s okay.

They are on the front lines of battle.  Like the strongest of Palm Trees they bend during the storm but they do not break. It would be so much easier to take a seat in the back of the room. But they stand directly in the front of our diabetes community facing the diabetes storm; advocating, fighting, raising money, walking, running, bike riding, hanging posters, testifying in front of state and national Capitols, teaching, organizing, and in simple terms they are doing something they find to be important.  Something that will help their own, and in doing so, helping you.

It’s easy to point and criticize. It’s harder to say, “Let me help you”.  You may not be the first in the battle you undertake……..and you will not be the last.  But we cannot stand as a divided entity.  We cannot stand opposing each other.  When I started this battle I was a 35-year-old man who had a ton of energy and hope for my daughter (and then my son as well).  Now at 61, my hope for our kids has not wavered one iota, I just move a little slower.

So ask yourself what you are doing to help and make a difference?  Because if we don’t help……..who will?  Look around you, you have 9 million chances and choices but it starts with that first realization……..”I need to get involved”.

Just Don’t Do Nothing
I am a diabetes dad.
Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.

Remember there is a “Best” in Banting and Best

Posted on | by tomkarlya | 2 Comments on Remember there is a “Best” in Banting and Best

November 14th, is World Diabetes Day.  This date was chosen because it’s the birthday of Frederick Banting.  Who chose this?

I’m a huge fan of Hamilton, the Broadway Musical.  In as great as the show is, I always found it interesting that Alexander Hamilton, a man who was not even president, became as popular as he did, and stayed.  Was the biggest claim to fame the fact that he was shot, and died, in a duel?   In the show, the opening number in fact, Aaron Burr announces,…..and me? I’m the damn fool who shot him.  We are lead to believe in the musical that Aaron Burr was much more popular than Hamilton and his life’s love declares that she would spend the rest of her life making sure history remembered Alexander Hamilton.

I guess it worked.  I mean I do not see Aaron Burr’s portrait on any currency.

Which brings me back to my opening sentence.  Who decided that Frederick Banting gains all the attention when poor Charles Best, lacking the PR machine that Alexander Hamilton had, becomes not much more than a foot note in this historic discovery.

Now I’m very aware that it was Banting who spearheaded this endeavor but it just seems to me that there was much work that went into the discovery of insulin.  I mean both of their names are on the patent (there is a third name as well—a different story for another time).  Banting even shared half of his money from winning the Nobel Prize.  Good. But not good enough.

The world will never fully understand the work of Charles Best in the discovery of something that literally has saved the lives of millions of people.

Insulin.

So this February 27th, the birth date of Charles Best, I say we do something in honor of the man most forgotten in a discovery that had glory enough for all.  Perhaps pass legislation on this date that makes the very discovery created to save lives, also affordable to save lives.

I am a diabetes dad.
Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.

Could it be; a Patch that REALLY STAYS? Take a Look and Try for Yourself.

Posted on | by tomkarlya | 4 Comments on Could it be; a Patch that REALLY STAYS? Take a Look and Try for Yourself.

As many of my readers know, I do not use these pages for advertising.  If I find something that can help, solve a problem, and/or make diabetes life any easier, I share. To be clear: I have received no remuneration for this article, I’m sharing about this product because, quite frankly, it just does what it’s supposed to…….stay on.

I hope it works for all, but in fairness I have not seen it on everyone so I can not say 1000% that it will be for everyone.  And of course if you have any hesitation, ask your medical team about the product after you visit their site and find out more.  That said, and the disclaimers aside, if you ever had a problem with your patch you may want to read carefully.

StayPut Medical is a series of patches created by Mike Mangus (founder Pres./CEO) because he heard from so many while in his prior jobs what a problem these patches are/were with the medical devices supposed to stay on, including those devices worn by people with diabetes.  I saw a group of moms talking about StayPut and then I gave a few to people I know; and each one said the patch made an incredible difference.

So now I share with you.

You can click the link above on Mike’s site where you will find a boatload of information,  how this all came about, and also how you can receive a free sample ($1.99 for shipping and stuff).

Good luck and let me know what you feel after you try them.  And also share this on sites where this patch might help others.
I am a diabetes dad.
Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.

A Favor……Perhaps……..Could be Times 4!

Posted on | by tomkarlya | Leave a Comment on A Favor……Perhaps……..Could be Times 4!

As many of you know, I rarely utilize this column for anything more than the articles to hopefully teach and inspire,  But there is this incredible opportunity given to the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation that I’m sure hoping you will join in and help.

The Sola Sweet company, from now until the end of November –Diabetes Awareness Month—-will match every dollar up to $10,000 donated on the site listed below—-we already have over $1600.00.  And to make it even better; we also have another match from a Foundation that will match that $20,000 donation as well.   It’s too good an opportunity not to ask if you would be so kind and help.

Go to this site on FaceBook:
https://www.facebook.com/thesolacompany/
……and donate today.  November is Diabetes Awareness Month, Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, with everything your $20 donation would be matched to make it $40, and that entire match would be matched again to make it $80.00…..so EVERY donation will be multiplied by 4……please donate today.

Any questions, feel free to shoot me an email at tkarlya@drif.org

Thank you so much for caring so.
I am a diabetes dad.
Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.

NEWSBREAK: No One was Better for Diabetes Causes than Mary….RIP

Posted on | by tomkarlya | 1 Comment on NEWSBREAK: No One was Better for Diabetes Causes than Mary….RIP

MaryI wish I could say I was a friend of Mary Tyler Moore’s, she surely made you feel that way.  There was a time when she, or her beloved husband Robert, and I would pass and a ‘hello’ was stated.  We knew of each other in the same battle.  She wrote a wonderful inscription in her book when she sent it to me to thank me on a specific project we worked on together and I will cherish it forever.

She THANKED me. Really?  Like I could ever be on par with what she had done over the years.  We worked together on fundraising, Washington DC advocating, and when it came to ANYTHING diabetes…..rest assured Mary was there in full force……how lucky was I to have just a little piece of life with this incredible woman.

It’s not often one gets to work with an icon, with a person who has her character-genetic pool somewhere in almost every comedic character to appear on TV—she was not the best—she was the best of the best and she did it—-while battling diabetes.

I have stated it before, and will always feel the same, no one in the celebrity world came close to do for the world of diabetes than what Mary Tyler Moore accomplished with JDRF.  Her efforts were tireless over the years.  She would attend events, meet with elected officials, testify before congress and yet, it was when she met those who lived like her….with diabetes, that I will remember most.  The time she took to speak to them and relate to them, to tell them they would be okay…..that is the Mary I will remember most.

Every organization under the sun wishes they had a spokesperson the caliber of Mary Tyler Moore.  Her connection with JDRF (and what was then JDF) was, and is, legendary.  She loved the JDRF and the people involved with the organization.  How fortunate they are, and were, to have Mary as part of their family.   My heart goes out to the many who worked with her at the JDRF, especially Karen Brownlee, who worked with Mary for years as the Liaison between the JDRF and Mary’s ‘people’.

Mary had but one goal when it came to diabetes….to bring to the attention of the world the battle of diabetes and how important it is to one day cure it.  How important it is to handle it.  Perhaps if she meant something to you, you can give a donation to JDRF in her memory (or to YOUR favorite organization). Mary would want it done that way.  I did.  It’s the least I could do for the woman who taught me to fight diabetes with as much fierceness as possible and at the same time; try to turn the world on with a smile…..which no one did better than Mary Tyler Moore

Rest in Peace friend, and thank you.
I am a DiabetesDad.
Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’