I would never choose to deal with another chronic disease. They are all awful. Diabetes chose me and I have to deal with it.

To choose a chronic disease is so unfathomable I cannot even go there. 

But in not wanting to be a party pooper and the fact that its Friday I am going to put my spin on this prompt.

So, if I could trade my diabetes with someone else who has a chronic disease I would trade my type 1 with any type 2.

Not that I think type 1 is harder than type 2 or ANYTHING LIKE THAT! I would not wish any type of diabetes on anyone. 

I would do this so that person with type 2 could go to the Friends for Life conference and experience the awesomeness that occurs there for themselves. That's it! Then we could switch back.

So, wanna trade?

I was diagnosed as a 17 year old and for the most part I completely ignored my diabetes for a long time. It wasn't until going into the hospital with DKA and finding the DOC that I turned some things around. 

When I think about accomplishments the first thing that comes to mind is quitting smoking. When I really think about my 15 years smoking and the 7 since I quit I realize it was not so much an accomplishment as it was something I just needed to do. I knew I needed to do it, for my health and family but was it something I could be proud of? Yes, in a way. I am proud I did it but I am not proud that I had to. That I was ever even addicted in the first place. 

So when I think about something I have done that really changed me and my diabetes life I would say it was writing a song about my diabetes.

Several years ago a tune came to me on the drive home from work. The words just started falling all around me, about how I never wanted this disease. Nothing I did made me have this and it sucks. It sucks because it never ever ends. With all the noise it brings to my life both literally and figuratively you would swear it was yelling in my ear all the time. 

"You're here with me but not by choice. You scream so loud, without a voice. I learned your name but still I don't understand why you never end."

The verses took me from diagnosis, to denial, to acceptance, and to finally feeling empowered to do something about it. 

The last verse ends with, "'cause we can't stop, no that's for sure. Until we find ourselves and everyone a cure." And yet the chorus takes me back to that feeling of sorrow. That feeling like the never ending battle is hard because it is never ending. We can have hope and yet still feel sad, defeated, and depressed because that light at the end of the tunnel feels like a mirage.

Writing a song all by myself and recording it was a major accomplishment for me. So much so that I have not done it since. 

Not By Choice may be a short song but it is full of my fears, my journey, my hope, my struggles, and my desire to do more. To not give up. To care for others. All of that is in there. 

And it warms my heart to know other people have listened to it and have it on their iPod's somewhere. Any money I made from the sale of the song was donated to the International Diabetes Federation.  

If it brought one person comfort or a feeling of not being alone than it is as big a hit song as it needs to be for me. 

I also used the song in a slideshow I shared at my 20th anniversary of diagnosis party. I had asked members of the DOC that could not come to the party to send pictures of themselves with the number of years they have been living with diabetes. I still get chills watching it.

Since I have found the DOC I have had many days that are memorable. All the meetups, my first trip to Friends for Life, the summits and conventions I have been invited to, and of course the Tour de Cure last year.

But the most memorable one for me was my 20th Diaversary weekend.

When I saw that my 20 year anniversary of diagnosis was falling on a Saturday AND there was a JDRF walk scheduled that same day near by I knew I wanted to take it to the next level. And I did!

Not only did family and friends fly in for the walk but we had a big party afterwards and a weekend full shinanigans. 

I felt special, not alone, surrounded, loved. Most of all I felt loved. 

Not many people can say that wholeheartedly and believe me, I do not take it lightly. I realize how blessed I am to have so many around me that love me. I always feel unworthy and undeserving. So I hope I show them the love right back.

To: Target

We, the Undersigned are request full disclosure on the seemingly undetectable yet potent aerosol insulin you pump through the stores. 

Each trip to Target ends prematurely with the chomping of glucose tabs, grazing of snacks on the shelves, or ordering smoothies from the snack bar all to fight hypoglycemic reactions that occur in many a diabetic.

We understand that it may not be insulin but an insulin inhancer or booster that makes our Humalog turn into Supalog! Whatever magic that lives or is creating in every Target we must be allowed to understand and utilize for our own good and not only to increase your smoothie sales.

Please sign below if you have ever experienced the Target phenomenom we are now calling "Targoglycemia." 

Targoglycemia is real, at least it is in my head which is enough for me. ;)

(this is clearly a joke because if Target had that magic we would all be there immediately after a visit to a cupcake shop)

This writing prompt for day one made a lot of thoughts go through my head.

Years ago I would have written an angry post about how my doctors don't understand me or my disease. That I feel unimportant and the cause of all of my issues. I would have said how guilty they make me feel and much I cannot stand going to see them.

I can't say that now. I have a great doctor who help and guides me. 

So I guess all I can say is Thanks!

My doctor is a type 1, uses an insulin pump, and a CGM. He never makes me feel alone in this battle. He won't let me get down on myself when numbers are not where I would like them to be. Every time I see him he tell me something I am doing right and it makes all the difference in the world!

Skipping appoinments, lying, and not bringing up stuff I want to talk about for fear of ridicule never happen for me anymore. The comfort I have in being able to talk to my doctor about anything is such a blessing and one I never thought possible.

Thank you Dr. Awesome! 

Thankfully she is going to be okay. She still has 6 more weeks of chemo and some more surgeries scheduled for later this year.

So this year it’s been hard for me to focus on my diabetes as being such a burden. I felt like I should make efforts to spread awareness about breast cancer and get back to diabetes when she is done with it.

I told Diane when she was diagnosed how I could empathize with the feeling like something is wrong with you. She said, “yeah but after my surgeries and chemo I will be done. It’s not like what you have every day.”

That is a great example of her personality. Thinking about me before herself is how she always has been. And so strong. One of the strongest people I know. She sees this as a life speed bump and a lesson to make sure she always knows what is happening in her body. A good lesson for all of us.

When she called a while back and said she wanted to come out for the annual Revlon Run Walk for Women I was ecstatic. Every chance I get to see her is awesome but I wanted to walk with her and hear the word “Survivor” in reference to her.

Survivor

I love that.

So this weekend we have a small team walking in support of Diane! My mom is also a survivor which makes it a double special walk. We have done it before with mom and now both Mom and Diane will be strolling through Los Angeles showing the world that they will not be beat! So awesome.

If you are willing and able, please consider donating to our team, “Diane’s Double D’s – Divas and Dudes!”

Those of us who live with diabetes are survivors every day but this year I want to shine the light on my sister because she is one of my favorite people on the planet.

And the best wheel barrow race partner ever!

Thank you SO much for your support!

My good friend and BFAM (brother from another mother) Anthony texted me last week to see if him and his partner Mark could Jasmine and I to dinner at a restaurant called Sundried Tomato. Now we ended up at this restaurant by accident one night and loved it, especially their EPIC tomato soup. Which any other time I have had it have not liked it one bit. This one I crave!

His partner had been out of town back in March and they wanted to take us out for a belated birthday dinner. After to checking with my wife to make sure the schedule was clear we set the time. Saturday at 6PM. Perfect.

It was about 5:40 that I get a call from my good friend and BFAM Mark (a different one BTW) and he sounded really upset.

“I hate to ask this of you but there is an event happening at church tonight and I was asked to set up the portable sound system. When I plugged it all in the lights came on and then just shut off. Could you please come by church really quick to check it out? Are you home?” He sounded really concerned and I was not going to let him go down like that.

“We are just getting ready to head to dinner but we will stop by on our way out. We can find something else for them to use if we need too. Don’t worry.” I told Jasmine that we would have to stop by church on our way out. When Mark and Anthony got to the house I let them know that we would need to stop by church quickly to help Mark. Everyone was cool with it since our Reservations were not until 8PM. We had plenty of time.

When I pulled up to church I saw the parking lot was packed. “I thought this thing didn’t start until 7PM? I hope people aren’t upset!”

I parked far away from the hall where the event was being held so as to not take a parking spot that a guest might need.

“I see Mark pacing out front. I’ll be right back guys.” I thought it was weird that they all just got out and said, “We are just gonna wait out here.

Whatever.

I walked up to the door and saw Mark. He said, “I don’t what the deal is, I have tried everything.”

He motioned for me to head into the hall and I could hear all kinds of commotion.

And then this…

That was the DOC’s very own Jaimie in the house! I love the moment when I spot her. So cool.

I was completely shocked and surprised! It was amazing. Everything was Hollywood themed and one of the highlights of the night was the awards ceremony.

My Sister Jennifer, Cousin Alyssa, and SFAM (sister from another Mister)Jenny awarded me with a “Tony” for plays I had been in and my directorial debut, Cinderella, which they were all in.

My DOC Sister Jaimie awarded me with an “Emmy” for my episode of dLife about diabetes and smoking.

My oldest sister Anna awarded me an “Oscar” for my portrayal of “audience member at a basketball game” in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

My BIL Paul, BFAM Dave, and BFAM Jeremy awarded me with a “Grammy” for my hit single “Not By Choice.”

And then my daughter Gillian awarded me with an EGOT for winning all 4 trophies.

Each one had some really nice things to say that made me laugh and cry.

A slideshow of course made me well up but as soon as it ended and I saw my sister Diane on the screen with my BIL Frank I really fell apart. With her being in New Mexico and still undergoing chemo treatment I knew she could not easily take off for the party but to see them on the screen in a video they made wishing me happy birthday was just awesome. Then my nieces came on to shout a big, “We love you Uncle George!” I love that and them so very much.

A photo booth, DJ, Taco Bar, Dessert Table, and the most unique guest book I have ever seen added to the perfect night.

All I wanted for my birthday was to have a room filled with people I love and that what was I got. My speech wasn’t too great because I started to blubber. Looking around that room I had a story and memory with every one of those people. Like actual funny or meaningful memories! That is a HUGE gift and am spoiled rotten! Spoiled rotten with love.

Such a perfect night and a perfect surprise.

I still can’t believe it happened! 

Bonjoir!

Zdravstvujte!

Those words are how you would say "hello" in Japan, Mexico, France, and Russia. And that took me probably 10 minutes to figure out and make sure I was spelling correctly.

 So when I heard that Lilly Diabetes and Disney are making the "Coco" book they debuted two years ago available in 18 different languages to be distributed around the world, there was no question as to why it took a few years to make happen.

I wrote about Coco before and still I talk about the character whenever I can. She is important in the push to get real, accurate information out there to dispell myths about what PWD's can and cannot do. The cannot's by the way are join the military and levitate.

Check out these images...

Que bueno! Me pone contento que Lilly está haciendo esto. Los niños en todas partes necesitan entienda la diabetes mejor. Y los padres también!

English translation: So great! It makes me happy that Lilly is doing this. Kids everywhere need to understand diabetes better. And parents too!

This was just one thing I wanted to share with you about the Lilly Diabetes Blogger Summit I just returned from. More to come but this was too good not to share first.

Adios!

**Check out the official press release from Lilly here. 

Have you heard of Mellitus City? It is like most cities in the world. Tall buildings, busy streets, tall trees, mad scientists...

That's right! Mad Scientists!

But don't worry because The Diabetes Duo is ready to protect Mellitus City and help the world fight diabetes.

Check out the latest episode of Captain Glucose and Meter Boy as they take on the evil Blood Sugar Maniac and his monsters. When things get a little crazy and some extra help is needed a certain character you know well makes an appearance. 

Go overnight basal rates! WOO HOO

And also maximum respect to my correction bolus amount. Good job!

My post prandial bg’s are not so great but the more time I leave between bolus to grubbing the better. It makes for less corrections which is always nice.

So why is it that EVERY TIME I am scheduled to have my A1C and other lab work done, EVERY TIME, I have my highest blood sugars in months the day before.

My diet doesn’t change so that’s not it. I just bolus incorrectly, forget to bolus all together, have a tubing issue with my pump, or in this case totally miscalculate my carb intake.

536.

That was the number I had last night before I started my fasting for the draw this morning.

I woke at 119.

I know an A1C reflects your bg average of three months so it sucks that my average just got destroyed but some lame once in a great while screw up.

The only solution I can come up with is spontaneous blood tests. Maybe I can trick myself into not jinxing my quarterly draws.

Does this happen to you? I feel like an idiot because I honestly do this EVERY TIME!