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Dear Sister,
March blew in with gale force winds, especially for those in the Mid-West and South who endured a multitude of devastating tornadoes over the last week. I will keep all of my Sisters in those areas in my prayers as the painful recovery process begins.
In North Carolina, we had one day this past week with 80 degree temperatures. Now....Is it just me or does the warm weather bring out the intense desire to "clean up and clean out?" It hit me so hard that I started a big remodeling project in my kitchen and also took a hard look at my diabetes management. It felt like a "spring awakening." As a result, I am now actively trying to test my blood sugar more often throughout the day (I had gotten in a bad habit of going for long periods during the day without checking.) If you are looking for a "spring awakening" in your diabetes management, I encourage you to consider attending the 2012 Weekend for Women Conference. If you don't feel rejuvenated and ready to 'start anew' with your diabetes management at the end of the Conference and Walk, please contact me about a refund!
In Sisterhood,
Brandy Barnes
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SISTER SPOTLIGHT:
Jennifer Graham
My name is Jennifer Graham. I am a 27 year-old wife and mother of two (Katie, 5 and Lucas, 2) living in southwest Virginia. I work full-time in the mental health field and have a strong involvement in my church youth group. This full, happy, and chaotic life co-exists (peacefully, most days) with my Type 1 Diabetes and Hashimoto's Thyroid Disease.
I was diagnosed with diabetes at age 13-- the oh-so-painfully awkward age when all one wants to do is fit in, try on makeup, and dream about boys. My younger brother was diagnosed a year before me, so all I knew of diabetes was negative. As the "healthy one," I saw the tears behind closed doors as my parents put on a brave face for my brother. No hospital stay was required since my parents knew the ropes of the disease, and that meant no support or individual education for me. I spent the majority of my adolescence ignoring my disease and believing I would die before my life even began. This is what I believe to be the biggest barrier to accepting and, ultimately, conquering my Diabetes-lack of education.
As a young adult, I married and became pregnant -- with a terrible A1C. The horror stories preached for my benefit at each doctor visit led me to seek others- anyone, really- in my shoes. I found an online forum for diabetic mommies, and I was instantly accepted. The other major roadblock in my treatment has been, well, a lack thereof. I live in a very rural small town, and the closest endocrinologist or even qualified doctor is an hour and a half north. The women I met online were insulin pumpers and had amazing control...I was amazed, inspired, and empowered. Was it really possible to have a 5.0 A1C? At last, I had found a detour-one that eventually led me to find DiabetesSisters to attend the 2011 conference in Raleigh, North Carolina. One thing led to another, and I am now leading a PODS group in my secluded city. I aspire to be "the one" who inspires others as I have been inspired.
Accepting my disease and living a healthy life has been a long, difficult journey, but the view from the top is amazing. Be your biggest advocate and don't stop searching for the answers or the help you need. Educate yourself. Cut yourself some slack and roll with the punches. Make informed decisions, and meet others like you to ride shotgun. Thanks for allowing me to share my story!
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DiabetesSisters News Briefs
18 STATES, 2 COUNTRIES REPRESENTED AT 2012 WEEKEND FOR WOMEN CONFERENCE
Eighteen US states (AZ, CA, FL, GA, IN, MA, MI, MD, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, and 2 counties are currently represented among registrants (US and Canada) for the 2012 Weekend for Women Conferenceheld in Raleigh, NC on May 18-20, 2012. Natalie Strand, MD, known by most as the winner of The Amazing Race in 2010, will serve as Keynote Speaker at the event. Natalie's feat means much more to those living with diabetes because there is a deep appreciation of the work involved in managing her diabetes while racing around the world and winning such a rigorous competition! In her everyday life, Nat serves as an Assistant Professor in Clinical Anesthesiology at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine.
There are only 10 remaining spots, so make your reservation today!
WALKERS AND VIRTUAL WALKERS: ORANGE:WILL WALK IN FULL EFFECT
The 2012 orange:will Diabetes Awareness Walk will take place on Sunday, May 20, 2012 at 8am in downtown Raleigh, NC. EVERYONE is invited SUPPORT WOMEN WITH DIABETES by registering for the Walk as a Walker or a Virtual Walker. The purpose of the Walk is to increase awareness of the unique issues faced by women with diabetes and establish orange as the official color for women's diabetes. Our fund raising goal is $20,000. MAKE YOUR MARK!
LUXURY INCENTIVE PRIZES OFFERED TO TOP THREE
ORANGE:WILL FUND RAISERS
Thanks to our generous Grand Prize Sponsors (Travel Experts, JetBlue, ABC Fitness, Stewart Group Enterprises, Omega Sports, VSP)DiabetesSisters is pleased to offer the following choices to the top three fund raisers:
AND... each of the top three fund raisers will have their choice of:
- 1 pair of Designer Sunglasses OR
- 1 pair of custom fitted running shoes
CURRENT FUND RAISING LEADERS:
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$400 raised | 8 supporters
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$375 raised | 8 supporters
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$244 raised | 13 supporters
The TOP Fund Raising Team will also be recognized the Walk with a special prize. Currently, the "team to beat" is the Rational Rowdies! If you will not be in town on May 20th, you can register as a Virtual Walker! All Walkers and Virtual Walkers are eligible for fundraising incentive prizes. ABC11 will be onsite at the event as the Official Media Sponsor and Zevia will be the Official Beverage Sponsor! Local and National Vendors will be on site from 7:30am-10:00am.
NEW CONFERENCE PROGRAM OFFERS HELP TO PARTNERS OF WOMEN WITH DIABETES
DiabetesSisters is pleased to launch the FIRST Partner's Perspective Program at the 2012 Weekend for Women Conference. "Although it is often assumed that we (men) don't want or like to talk about these issues, there is a surprising number of us who do enjoy the camaraderie of other men who are going through many of the same experiences," said Chris Barnes, Partner's Perspective Program Manager. For the minimal cost of $25, Partners will have the opportunity to meet with other spouses for educational seminars and for social events. To register,please click here.
SISTERMATCH PROGRAM -
NUMBERS DON'T LIE!
DiabetesSisters' website is the proud home of an innovative web program called SisterMatch. SisterMatch is focused on connecting women with diabetes- especially those who have a great deal in common. Women earn quilt blocks by participating in knowledge tests, personality quizzes, and health challenges - each woman's unique quilt is then woven into the intricate Community Quilt. Check out some of the exciting stats to date for SisterMatch program - 406 total users, 584 quilts made, 1182 questionnaires completed, 236 responses to another's story, 24 gifts sent and much, much more! These numbers tell the story that people are making connections, please come and join in!
DIABETESSISTERS' FOUNDER
IS GUEST ON DSMA LIVE
On March 1, 2012, DiabetesSisters' Founder Brandy Barnes appeared as a Guest on DSMA Live with Cherise Schockley and Scott Johnson. To hear the interview and learn more about how Brandy got her start in the diabetes advocacy world, click here.
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Volunteer of the Month:
Joan Kelly
DiabetesSisters extends a sincere Thank You to
Joan Kelly
Joan Kelly has made her mark at DiabetesSisters in so many ways- from attending the monthly and quarterly PODS meetings and being part of the Weekend for Women Conference in 2010, to most recently tracking her experience living with Type 2 diabetes in the sisterTALK blogs. By sharing her story, she has not only documented all her ups and downs but also inspired other women living with diabetes.
Now, she will continue to be a part of the DiabetesSisters volunteer team by taking on the role of Co-Moderator of our Women's Support Forum. Here, she'll continue to be a key member of our community by sharing her own experiences and encouraging others.
DiabetesSisters would like to thank Joan for openly sharing her experience living with Type 2 diabetes and for continuing to give back to the organization.
If you'd like to read more about Joan's journey, visit the archived entries on the Type 2 SisterTALK blog here. Or, you can check in with Joan on the forums here.
DiabetesSisters thanks Joan and each member of our
volunteer team for their dedication to the organization.
Your contribution is appreciated!
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STAY IN TOUCH!
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DiabetesSisters
2530 Meridian Parkway, Suite 2123
Durham, NC 27713
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TAKE A STAND
for Women with Diabetes TODAY!
REGISTER for the 2012 orange:will Diabetes Awareness Walk
(even if you can't attend in person, you can be a
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REGISTER FOR AN UPCOMING EVENT:
CURRENT PODS
MEETUP LOCATIONS:
Mar 21st, 6:30pm
Mar 19th, 6:30pm
Mar 16th 6:30pm
TBD
Mar 7th 7pm
Mar 14th 7pm
TBD for April
Mar 9th, 6:30pm
TBD for April
Mar 15th, 7pm
Bracey, VA
Mar 20th, 5:30pm
QUARTERLY GATHERINGS
Glenville, NY- March 15, 11:30-2pm; Location:
The Water's Edge Lighthouse Restaurant, 2 Freemans' Bridge Road; Speaker: Brandy Barnes, MSW, Founder of DiabetesSisters; Contact: connie@diabetessisters.org for more info
Raleigh, NC - June 2nd 1-3pm; Location: Brio Tuscan Grille
Speaker: Dr. Allen Ashforth - Positive Thinking
Raleigh, NC- August 18th 1-3pm; Location: Brio Tuscan Grille
Raleigh, NC- November 1-3pm; Location: Brio Tuscan Grille
2012 WEEKEND FOR WOMEN CONFERENCE
OR
ANGE:WILL DIABETES AWARENESS WALK
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A SPECIAL
THANK YOU
TO OUR 2012 SPONSORS
&
PARTNERS
Official Media Sponsor
Official Beverage Sponsor
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An Opportunity ToGive Back:
DiabetesSisters is in need of volunteers in the following areas:
If you can donate your time/expertise and want to be part of a phenomenal group of women, please contact us.
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