Six Until Me.

Friends For Life: In Gatorland.

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:02:53 -0500

I'm here in Orlando for the Children With Diabetes Friends for Life conference, meeting plenty of families affected by diabetes, learning a ton at the different educational sessions, and catching up with some of my favorite d-bloggers. Like Sara. And David and Elizabeth (and their adorable daughter). And Mandy, bless her heart. And Bennet. And my favorite speedracer, Charlie Kimball.

So many inspiring people. And so many cool sights.

Not to mention (but I just did) that Chris and I saw an alligator hanging out mere feet from where people were dining. Yes, we were taken aback, even though we should have known better, since the whole state of Florida seems to be infested with alligators. (According to Sara, anyway, who told us that any body of water smaller than a Cadillac would most likely house them gators.) We're from RI, guys. We know plenty about woodland creatures and furry friends, but alligators? That's a whole different experience entirely. Squirrels forage for nuts. Alligators seem to forage for children.

It's the 10th year for Friends for Life, and I'm proud to be a part of this experience. But there's no time to recap yet. I'll have plenty to share next week once we're home, but for now, I'm off until Tuesday and I'm going to Disney World!!!

No Peace: Revisited.

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:09:53 -0500

Even when I'm waking up in the morning and trying to test my blood sugar so I can stumble out of bed and begin my day, this cat gives me no peace.

Siah, you need a hobby. One that doesn't involve me.

Diabetes ... is a Game?

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:55:24 -0500

The idea of creating a game about diabetes both intrigues me and creeps me out a little bit. Diabetes is a game? I guess after an evening of "WHY 200? WHY?!!" I'm not feeling so light and fluffy about diabetes. But I see the potential for kids to learn about diabetes and its management through the use of games, so I'm all so for whatever gets good information out there. And over the last few days, I've come across two particularly interesting games, thanks to reader alerts, aimed at kids who either have diabetes or have friends with diabetes.

The first game is on the Nobel Prize educational games site and it's cleverly called The Diabetic Dog game. (Wee bit short on imagination once they got to the naming part, I suppose.) I will admit - I played this game for at least 15 minutes and I appreciated the cuteness of the doggy.

As a "caretaker," I was instructed to keep my diabetic doggy (named, in my profile, "DoggyPants") happy (by petting him), well-fed (by purchasing food for him), getting him to exercise (by walking him), and keeping his blood sugar in check by giving him insulin injections. Keeping an eye on the bar at the bottom left of my screen let me know what DoggyPants's blood sugar was, and I could feed and dose him accordingly.

(Sidenote: Having that bar gauge with his blood sugar in it sure helped me figure out what I was doing, and I wondered if the developers of this Diabetic Dog Game realized how they're helping further the case for continuous glucose monitors.)

Overall, I liked how this game showed the importance of insulin, food choices, and exercise as the cornerstones for good diabetes management, and it didn't tout insulin as "a cure." Basically, all you do is chase this little puppy around and feed him or dose him or walk him. Constant cycle of redundancy, only the results aren't predictable. Kind of like real life. :)

The other game I have been receiving reader alerts on is the Didget from Bayer. I haven't seen this game in person, but according to the word on the street (read: their website), "The Didget blood glucose meter from Bayer is the only meter that plugs into a Nintendo DS or Nintendo DS Lite gaming system to reward children for consistent testing."

So it's an actual meter that snaps into the Nintendo system. (It appears to be, or be completely identical to, the former "GlucoBoy" from a bit ago.) Honestly, that is pretty darn cool, and I wish that kind of "fun" was available when I was testing my blood sugar as a kid. Hell, I'd like to have that kind of positive reinforcement NOW, thank you very much.

"This unique meter helps encourage consistent testing with reward points that children can use to buy items within the game and unlock new game levels. And, since the DIDGET meter is based on Bayer’s trusted CONTOUR™ system, you know you’re getting a meter that’s reliable." They are also building a community for kids to "hang out in" virtually, comparing notes. Of course, since it's Bayer, they need to slide in their personal product endorsement, but they have the right idea. Test often, get rewarded for keeping tabs on your numbers, and maybe Nick Jonas will show up at your house and give you a hug.

That last part? A lie. But Bayer is working its way into the hearts of kids with diabetes, and as a former kid with diabetes myself, I would have appreciated that kind of innovation as part of my childhood with this disease. From what I can tell so far, this meter is being marketed towards diabetics in the UK, but hopefully there will be a United States counterpart. With mg/dl readings. Because doing conversions when low? Not so easy.

So there you have it. We've come a long way from that game with the elephants or the other one about the Escape from Diab, and hopefully more efforts will be made to engage kids - and adults! - with diabetes. Positive reinforcement is hard to come by in this whole diabetes mess, so every little bit helps.

diaTribe Giveaway: Dexcom!

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:41:08 -0500

I wanted to let you guys know about this Dexcom opportunity, courtesy of the team at diaTribe. Here are the details, in editor Kelly Close's own words:

"For this month, DexCom has given diaTribe a $500 credit for any DexCom merchandise, which we will give to one lucky reader! Visit www.diatribe.us/dexcomgiveaway to enter the drawing. Like all of our giveaways, this is open to non-readers as well--help us spread the word about CGM."

I'm all for anything that helps get more CGMs in the hands of people with diabetes, and I'm also a fan of the mission of diaTribe. So now you know. And knowing is ... you know. Half the battle. (I was also unaware that there was a G.I. Joe character called "Barbecue.")

Disclosures aplenty on this one: I'm a columnist for diaTribe and I'm involved in a sponsorship agreement with Dexcom. I have type 1 diabetes and I also know how to crochet. Any and all questions can be directed to me. Or Siah, but you'll have a better chance of getting a response from me.

The Name Game.

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:38:43 -0500

Before I married Chris, my name was mangled by teachers, employers, and the general public. "Morrone" (pronounced "mah-rown") became a garbled mess of "Monroe," "Maroon," and my personal favorite, "Moron."

Flashback to eighth grade, which was part of our high school. It was the second week of school and I was trying to fit in and not be noticed, all at the same time. My mom was coming to pick me up for a dentist appointment, and I was waiting in my English class for the teacher to excuse me.

And over the loud-speaker came the follow announcement:

"Kerri ... Moron? Your mom is here."

(Oh the humanity!!)

But I'm no longer a Morrone. I'm a Sparling now.

Which apparently comes with its own set of troubled spellings. Ironically enough, this was on my hotel slip when Dr. Val and I visited the Canyon Ranch Institute in Arizona:

I laughed, took a picture with my phone, and sent it to Chris. "This is a new one," I texted, and he replied "Indeed - I've never seen that one before!"

My new last name has garnered such interpretations as "Sparkling," "Spaulding," "Spanding," and "Sparly." But when I was in Philadelphia last week, I had one that surprised even me:

I suppose it is better than if I hyphenated: Moron-Sparkling.

Little Rhody.

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:17:26 -0500

It's been raining for weeks and we've been working like crazy people for weeks and stress is relentless ... but once Chris and I ended up in Block Island, it finally felt like summer. And we finally relaxed.

Block Island is only about twelve miles from the RI mainland, but it feels like it's miles away and also like a proper vacation. The coastline is beautiful! We spent the afternoon on the beach, soaking up (too much) of the sun and hanging with our friends.

Camera always at the ready, I - again - snapped too many pictures of flowers. (Instead of people. Not sure why that keeps happening. Maybe because flowers sit still for five minutes?) But thankfully, the flora is reasonable photogenic.

An evening in Newport with my husband made for some very pretty photos from the famous Newport Cliff Walk and dinner at Sardella's. Our visit home was too damn short, but worth it! Rhode Island has it's share of weird areas and quirky bits, but there are enough hidden treasures to amaze even a local like me.

Already looking forward to next time. :)

Tin O' Joy.

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:50:28 -0500

I love surprises, and I'm a bit smitten with pear jelly beans.

So when this arrived last week,

... filled with pear-flavored jelly beans, I was very happy indeed.

Thank you, Windy! This was a wonderful anniversary surprise. :)

One Lump or Two?

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:40:54 -0500

Like I wrote a few weeks ago, "Even though I do not like the disease, there are some diabetes-related simple pleasures that make me smile."

But on the flip side of that, there are some diabetes-related things that make me grimace. (Not Grimace, but grimace.) And when I'm feeling down about the hard parts of managing this disease, I often turn to humor to lift me back up. (For me, a little gallows humor goes a long way in keeping me from really falling into a depressive state. It seems like a counterproductive idea, but it really helps me.)

This is where Haidee Soule Merritt's book comes in: One Lump or Two? Her book more than resonated for a 20+ year diabetes veteran like myself. It's taken me a long time to build up this much amusement at a disease that's trying its hardest to take me out, but now I'm in the thick of the smirking-despite-the-chaos.

As I read through her book, I laughed. I laughed and nodded my head in agreement, thinking, "Oh hell yes, I hate those geyser fingerpricks."

Who hasn't this happened to? (Image credit: Haidee Soule Merritt)

I snicked despite trying to be classy when I saw the one about low blood sugars after sex. (Trust me, not fun. And also, awkward as hell.)

Been there. Done that. (Image credit: Haidee Soule Merritt)

Diabetes isn't easy. Neither is laughing at it. But laughter, finding something that alleviates some of the anxiety and fear that comes with a chronic illness, can make such a huge difference in health.

If you want to order your own copy of Haidee's book, visit her website (and enjoy the duck sounds on the buttons, because they quacked me up). As you thumb through your copy of One Lump or Two?, you'll find yourself smirking with understanding, too.

Between Dinner and a Movie.

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:44:53 -0500

Saturday nights when we were very small were the best.

We made blanket forts and used every damn cushion in the couch. Laying pillows on the floor, we'd jump from down-filled island to island, pretending that the carpet was infested with alligators and only by balancing on the pillows would we be safe.

The babysitter always promised to make healthy dinner, but usually we ate popcorn, chicken fingers, and drank diet soda by the bottle, filling the glasses to the very brim and frantically slurping the carbonated foam away before it could spill over.

My favorite babysitters were the ones who played with us, not just sat there and talked with their boyfriends on the phone. Carolyn was my favorite one of all and I named my Cabbage Patch doll after her that year. She was pretty and smart and the characters she pretended to be were so clever. She was the perfect example, to me at seven years old, of what a 'hero' really was.

My parents had a standing Saturday night "date night," and they would go out to dinner either alone or with some friends, then maybe to a movie. Usually they left when it was still light out, while we were still outside playing in the yard or just coming in to have a snack. My brother and sister and I played and fought and made messes and told stories and generally destroyed the house, like little kids do.

Only now, when my memory is jogged, do I remember the headlights pulling back in the driveway, between when dinner ended and the movie began.

Dad would wait in the car while Mom ran in quickly to test me and give me my bedtime insulin injection. Then she'd say goodnight to all of us and run back out to the car to continue "date night."

Only now do I remember those moments and wish I'd named "Carolyn" after my mother, instead.

GlucoStories: Everyone's Got One.

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:03:12 -0500

I'm a supporter getting the stories of people with diabetes out there for public consumption. Awareness and advocacy are the name of the game, for me. We aren't perfect, we don't have all the answers, but we do know what it's like to live, every day, with diabetes.

And now you can share your story and win a prize! Here are the details, according to the info I received:

If you have diabetes, support someone with diabetes, or help the diabetes community, then tell us. Your story could win you a trip to Charlie Kimball’s Firestone Indy Lights Championship race in Florida October 8-10, 2009! (Or other great prizes!)
Entries deadline: Monday, July 6, 2009 Midnight (EST). Enter at www.GlucoStories.com.

I'm pro-Charlie, as you know. I think he's a great guy and I like his mission to help people with diabetes (and I'd also like to drive his car). So when the folks at American Diabetes Wholesale (they're putting this contest on) asked me to help spread the word, I was more than happy to help - and I'll be serving as one of the contest judges, as well. Also, according to the email I received from my buddy at ADW, "any funds that are received from this event will be donated entirely to JDRF." I can't argue with that.

So if you have a story to tell, you still have a few more days to enter to win!

/public service announcement :)

Penguin Truck.

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:04:44 -0500

We're planning for a pregnancy, so I've been working tirelessly to stalk my blood sugars. I'm wearing the Dexcom, testing regularly, and really aggressively chasing highs and lows in pursuit of that nice "between the lines" look on my blood sugar graphs.

So when I changed my infusion set last night and neglected to take the 1.0 u bolus in anticipation of the high (which seems to be the only way I can keep the highs at bay after a site change), I knew I was in trouble. Sweaters on my teeth, and my tongue thick with dehydration, confirmed by the 254 mg/dl on my meter. I cranked up a correction bolus and sent it cruising in, along with some frustration and a few choice curse words.

A few hours later, I was on the steady but seemingly safe decline, with the Dexcom keeping tabs and my meter serving to confirm. No worries. I ate a snack (cottage cheese with some frozen raspberries) before bed and snuggled against the pillow (read: cat) at a blood sugar of 187 mg/dl. Higher than normal, but I knew it would continue to come down.

Didn't anticpate the 3:30 am wake-up call of BEEEEEEEEEEP!, though.

I have no idea what my blood sugar was. The Dexcom showed me only as "low" and I woke up crying, for some reason. Chris was next to me, fast asleep, but I didn't wake him up. I don't know why. A bottle of glucose tabs sat on the bedside table but I didn't reach for them. I don't know why. The shape of my body was outlined in sweat on the bedsheet and my hair was sticky, and for some reason combing my hair down before I went to get juice took priority over eating something to correct the low.

I don't know why.

I don't remember a lot of this low, and that scares me. I was dizzy. I was stupid for not waking Chris up and asking for his help. I remember hearing the Dexcom wailing from the bedroom as I stood at the fridge in the kitchen. I drank the juice directly from the carton, drinking well past my eight sips and gulping until I couldn't catch my breath. Yet, I remembered to wipe down the floor to clean up what I spilled. I don't know why.

Hitting that stride, hugging close to the center lane of 100 mg/dl, is really what I'm aiming for. I've been doing better lately, so every time I'm way off target, I feel the symptoms too late for lows and very intensely for highs. I know this is a signal that I'm in tighter control, but once I'm stuck in the spin cycle of high-to-low-to-high and back again, it's hard to climb out. And a lot of time my morning number sets the stage for the rest of my day. Last night's low blood sugar left me at 199 mg/dl this morning, and I still haven't settled back into range. I feel frustrated, knowing my A1C is being drawn at the end of July. But last night's events kicked my ass too thoroughly for me to focus on anything other than muddling through the day.

It's that pesky penguin truck again. I hope the tire tracks aren't too visible this morning.

Guest Post: 500 Days of Diabetes.

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:24:40 -0500

After a hectic week with the conference in Philly and then Chris's great news, I need to spend some time today catching up on everything. Thankfully, Jessica Phillips has offered to guest post today, writing about marking 500 days with type 1 diabetes. She's come a long way, and I'm proud to host her words here on SUM.

Heeeeeeere's Jessica!

* * *

As I was injecting myself with insulin on a lunch break at work, a co-worker walked by and exclaimed, “I could never do that! EW! I hate needles!” Less than two years ago I might have agreed. I never had a strong phobia of needles, but that is not to say that I particularly liked them either. I was known in my childhood to run out of doctor’s offices into the parking lot at the first mention of “shot”. Now when I hear such a strong and callous remark to my now normal routine of insulin injections, I struggle with trying not to angrily reply, “Well you would have to give yourself shots if you had to in order to live!” or, “How do you think I feel? You think I want to do this?” I’ve learned as of late to simply smile and say, “It’s not easy.”

Reactions like this are commonplace for those of you who have experienced Type One Diabetes for many years, and even some for the majority of your life. For me, June 9th, 2009 marked my 500th day with type 1 diabetes. I was diagnosed in my hometown of San Diego, California on January 25th, 2008 at 26 years-old. For a couple months prior to diagnosis I had been experiencing the typical signs of hyperglycemia and a failing pancreas as I was constantly dehydrated, urinating, and tired. Being a college student and in a constant state of stress, I quickly attributed the majority of my symptoms, from dizziness to infections, to be solely related to my immune system’s battle with my constant stress. After many weeks of procrastinating, I finally urged my doctor to order a blood test. I went in to the lab on January 23rd and was called by my doctor 24 hours later while I was driving to school. The tone in her voice immediately caught my attention and set me in a state of alarm. She informed me that my blood sugar the day before was above 300 mg/dL and I was to avoid sugar and be referred to an endocrinologist immediately.

Luckily I was able to see an experienced endocrinologist the next day, and he diagnosed me with type 1 within minutes of being seated in the exam room. I was in complete shock, and felt confused, angry, and overwhelmingly sad all at the same time. I felt a struggle between trying to remain alert to the bombardment of information he was feeding me, and trying desperately not to cry. The doctor left the room to retrieve my new meter and insulin pens, and I lost it. Luckily I had some moral support with me, but I have never felt so alone and lost. I kept thinking, “how did this happen?” and, “what did I do wrong?” To have gone many years without having anything major occur medically, not even a broken bone, it was a major shock to hear I had something irreversibly wrong with me. I not only had something wrong, but I could not do anything to change it.

The next few days were extremely challenging to say the least. I was unable to give myself insulin and had to have someone else do it for me for the first couple days. I would sit and look at the needle and could not conceive of how this tiny piece of metal was going to go through my skin. I just kept thinking it was so wrong, and foreign. I also cried. A lot. And I researched online and in books so much that I felt as though I could speak at a lecture on the biology of diabetes. I found the knowledge empowering, and the more I grasped what my body was actually doing, and not doing, I became more confident in my ability to control my state.

Now, 500 days later, this diabetic routine is normal to me. I can hardly even remember a time when diabetes wasn’t on my mind. The memories have faded of when my blood sugar was not a concern, and when I was able to look at food as just food. The last year and a half has been a giant emotional roller coaster, full of ups and downs, but they have changed me. Sometimes I get the look of sympathy from others when I detail my hardships with this disease, anywhere from medical costs to just the simple annoyance of pricking myself all the time, and I have found myself realizing that although I would not choose to have this disease, I consider myself lucky. I am lucky of course to not have something worse, but having gone through this change has made me look at my life through a new and clearer lens. My bottom-line now is a cliché idea, but it is so true … life is short, and you only get one shot, so make it worth it, no matter what.

* * *

Thanks for sharing your story, Jessica. (And for the record, Jessica is the one with the fantastic hair on the right in that photo. Also for the record, I just realized that today is my 8,209th day with diabetes. Holy crap, my pancreas is lazy.)

The Faces of the Philly Meet Up.

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:02:21 -0500

The conference I'm speaking at this week is about social media and how pharma and patient bloggers can work together to benefit the patient community.

My main points are to drive home the fact that even though we might be perceived as "target markets" and "diabetes consumers," we are people first. We're people before we're patients, before we're anyone's consumer base, before we're diabetics.

People.

And last night, I had the distinct pleasure of hanging out in Philadelphia's Black Sheep Pub with a bunch of people who just happen to have diabetes. Sitting among all these shining faces (because, holy crap was it hot in there), I wished that Big Pharma was there with us to see the real people behind the diseases about which they create power point presentations.

Hey Pharma! See us! We're your "target market!"

It was great meeting everyone last night! Thanks for coming out in that heat, and I'm looking forward to seeing you guys again!!

A Sparling Sighting in Variety: Buried.

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:05:09 -0500

This morning's Variety article reads as follows:

"After starring with Sandra Bullock in romantic comedy "The Proposal," Ryan Reynolds has lined up a much grittier proposition for his next film.
Reynolds will star in "Buried," playing a civilian contractor who's kidnapped in Iraq and awakens buried in a coffin in the desert, armed only with a cell phone, a candle and a knife.
Rodrigo Cortes will direct a script by Chris Sparling; production will begin this month in Barcelona.
Peter Safran will produce through his Safran Co. banner with Adrian Guerra of Spain-based Versus Entertainment, which is financing the film. The picture will shoot entirely in Spain, which is home to Cortes, best known for directing "The Contestant."
Reynolds takes the job after the showy role of Deadpool in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" and "The Proposal."
He decided to go the indie route as a way to stretch his acting chops in a movie with a claustrophobic premise, and one in which he holds the screen through most of the picture.
Reynolds, the writer and director are repped by UTA."

Wait a second ... is that a Sparling in there?

Oh indeed it is!!! That's a Chris Sparling right in there!!!

I am so, so proud to announce news that I've been itching to share for a while now. Chris's script, "Buried," is being made into a movie this summer. In Spain. Starring Ryan Reynolds. More details to come here in a few weeks, but for now I remain a very proud Sparling.

Thanks for being part of not only the diabetes journey here, guys, but the life one. I'm really happy to be able to share this news with you all!!

Why I Wanted a CGM.

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:44:34 -0500

I'm often asked about why I chose the Dexcom CGM over the Minimed, and I have plenty of posts here on SUM that talk about my experiences with the two devices:

And then fighting for insurance:

And after I had won insurance approval, Dexcom and I joined forces:

Dexcom Disclosure.
Even though I still talk freely about the Dexcom Pros and Cons. :)

Phew! But part of even starting this process was wanting to go on a CGM to begin with. I'm often asked about the different continuos glucose devices and pros and cons of each, I get just as many questions as simple as this: "What made you ready to go on a CGM in the first place?"

I know that for going from injections to pump therapy, I was frustrated with the lows that were happening three times a week, and how my ex-boyfriend was constantly finding me motionless in the bed at 4 am, covered with sweat. After 17 years of injections and after two years of an A1C that wouldn't budge, I made the decision to use an insulin pump.

After deciding to wear one medical device, it was easier to try another one. A few years of pumping made me feel comfortable with the 24/7 attachment of a diabetes device, so when the continuous glucose monitors became more prevalent on the scene, my interest was piqued. At the time, I was in a serious relationship, thinking about having children in the future, and realizing how my blood sugars still weren't running better, despite my increased education and effort. It was time to try something a bit different.

With a CGM of any kind, there's a certain security that comes with it. I feel more confident speaking at events when I can look at the graph on my CGM and see that I'm holding steady. Same for getting in the car for long drives, or on a plane for a few hours. After twenty plus years of only having snapshots of what my numbers were like, I now have access to the streaming video, so to speak, of continuous monitoring.

Yes, there's also the "Hey, you're a robot" component to this. I can't lie. When I look at my body and I see all these things stuck to me, in addition to the red dots of diabetes devices past, I feel a little overwhelmed. But it's part of living with this disease. (Most of the time, I'm able to shake off the robot feeling and just let Chris call me Rosie. Whoops - there's the digression.) I actually feel okay with wearing two medical devices. It's sometimes cumbersome and inconvenient, but for me, the pros outweight any cons. I hear a lot of bad news about diabetes, about how this many years with type 1 can really cause a landslide of issues, about how life can be compromised. And I don't want that.

Regardless of what happens in my future, I want to make every effort to be as healthy as I can, both mentally and physically. And I'm ready to keep trying. That's why I blog. That's why I raise awareness. That's why I pump.

And that's why I wanted a CGM.