Death of a Pancreas author and D-Mom Joanne Cunha continues our Mother’s Day tributes this week by sharing her proudest moment as a mother. Hint: it has to do with how her daughter has handled her diabetes.

Read the full post at Discuss Diabetes here.

Best, Laura K.

To help us celebrate National Nurse’s Week and Mother’s Day, Candy Hearts blog author Wendy Rose wrote a guest post about how her roles as an RN and a mom influence one another. It’s an incredibly honest and heartfelt post! Read the full article at Discuss Diabetes here.
Best,

Laura K.

In Part 2 of our discussion with Angela Moskow, our VP of Chronic Disease Prevention, Wellness & Innovation, she talks about prevention efforts for seniors, minorities & women and the lessons she is applying in her personal life. Read the full post at Discuss Diabetes here.

Best,

Laura K.

At 11:30 this morning I walked into the kitchen to see my Lantus Solostar insulin pen still resting on the counter. I take my shot in the morning, and in the morning I take my pen out of a mug I keep it in on my kitchen counter. After I take my shot I put it back in the mug. This has been my method to track whether or not I take my morning shot for the past year.

It seemed odd that my pen would still be on the counter three hours after I usually take my shot. It's not like me to…

As part of our effort to introduce you to some of the people that make up Sanofi US, we’re featuring Part 1 of an interview with Angela Moskow, VP of Chronic Disease Prevention, Wellness & Innovation. She worked in the diabetes division for 17 years and that experience led directly to her current role which is focused on helping to prevent chronic diseases. Read the full post at …

Today is a day of 4s, AND it's my birthday!

Help me celebrate by doing 1 of these 4 things (bonus points if you do all 4!).

1 - Call someone you care about, but haven't talked to in a while - tell them why they are special to you.

2 - Perform a random act of kindness.

3 - Take a 15 minute break for yourself today with a walk.

4 - Laugh continuously for 1 minute (extra, extra bonus if you do this one 4 times) Check out…

My 7 year old son has had Type 1 diabetes for 3 1/2 years now. Ever since his last "major" illness (stomach flu) last November, he has been totally freaking out at even the thought of germs. If someone sneezes, he runs to another room. I am even hearing now that when he goes to the nurse's station at school for his bg checks and dosing, he refuses to sit in a particular chair because "sick kids sit there, and there's germs there". It's almost to the point where…

privileges/racial superiority I receive from being perceived as white with diabetes:

• I receive and/or am more likely to receive better quality health care and treatment than a person of color even if we have the same insurance status, income, age, and similar medical condition

• The majority of my medical providers at the clinic are people who look like me, especially doctors (white males)

• I do not…

I realized, while walking my dog today, that training a dog and managing diabetes have some things in common. Up until about a week ago, I thought my dog really got the whole process. He went out in the morning, did his thing, then went out again around mid-day and once more at night. He was eating two meals a day with a few treats scattered in there.

Then about a week ago, for no apparent reason, he stopped eating breakfast and started going out at random times with or without…

Each year I look at the Friends for Life Canada program and I am amazed by the wealth of knowledge and experience found in its presenters. I see names that I have read about. I see people whose work I have followed. I see an entire alphabet behind their names and I think, "Wow! How lucky am I to be heading off to see them?"



When the time comes, I pack my suitcase and I begin to panic. What the heck am I doing?

I am going to catch up with old friends and meet new…

Ok, that phrase alone - proliferative diabetic retinopathy - has got to be sending a chill up anyone's spine who is a PWD like me. I've been racking my brain over this for about 48 hours since my diagnosis (Friday 7/29/11). It wasn't a surprising diagnosis. After all I have diabetes since 1989 (22 years this December) and it is a complication that as we get older (44 right now) comes with the…

I had my quarter meeting with my diabetologist (specialized endo) yesterday. My A1c came back with 5.5% and this is the lowest A1c I ever had. There are several reasons for this A1c but the most important one is the use of analog insulins. I have used Actrapid and Protaphane (NPH) from 1987 to 2005 with success for my A1c (around 6%) but many negative side effects. In the year 2004 to 2005 it was nearly unbearable because I had far too many lows at night (have I slept in these two years?).…

"Mom, would you do all of this stuff if I had some disease?"

"Absolutely!! I love you both equally and if there was something that you had to deal with, I would do everything in my power to make it better for you as well.  I pray you never have diabetes or anything else but I will always be there for you no matter what."



About two years after…