Re: 2017 DiabetesSisters Leadership Institute and Weekend for Women conference:
It’s hard to even know where to begin. There were so many wonderful experiences and people to talk to during the weekend that I was floating the whole time.
So let me talk about the highlights, in no particular order.
In October 2017, I attended the Weekend for Women Conference and DiabetesSisters Leadership Institute. Being surrounded by 150 people with diabetes left me awestruck. I attended many sessions led by brilliant, dedicated advocates for people with diabetes. I learned about the role that the glycemic index plays when trying to balance carbohydrate and insulin absorption from Gary Scheiner. I learned about the latest technology advances available and coming to us from Melissa Lee. 
I was honored and blessed to attend the DiabetesSisters Leadership Institute and Weekend for Women conference in Alexandria, Virginia last weekend. It was co-hosted by the Unconference as well. There were so many friendships, so much knowledge gained, and appreciation for both organizations who put their heart and soul into making life just a little bit better living with diabetes.
The DiabetesSisters Leadership Institute and Weekend for Women Conference has been on my calendar for months, and I have been counting down the weeks and days. The car was packed, fur babies kissed…it was finally time to hit the road to Alexandria, VA. I was full of excitement, as this was my first time attending the Leadership Institute, and it has been many years since my last Weekend for Women Conference.
Day in and day out, women with diabetes work hard. We try our best to manage our blood sugars. We count grams of carbohydrates and compare those numbers to blood sugar levels. We try to decipher serving sizes and discover hidden ingredients that vary blood sugar expectations. Throw in a little caffeine and some exercise and … well, if you are a woman with diabetes, you know how the story unfolds. 
I know I am not the only person with type 1 diabetes, yet it often feels like it. But I certainly did not feel alone with my diabetes the weekend of October 13 – 15 when I attended the DiabetesSisters Weekend for Women in Alexandria, VA, the weekend of OCtober 13, 2017. There were at least 150 women young and old, with all types of diabetes. Years with diabetes ranged from recently diagnosed women to women who have had diabetes for 50 or more years like me.
It’s September, and it’s PCOS Awareness Month.
What is PCOS? Healthline defines PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) as “a condition in which a woman’s levels of the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone are out of balance. This leads to the growth of ovarian cysts (benign masses on the ovaries). PCOS can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle, fertility, cardiac function, and appearance.
Last month, we sat down with Ginger Vieira to chat about her recent pregnancy while living with diabetes.
Would you believe it when I say that at one point, I’d barely talk about my period? That if I did, it would be in hush-hush tones, with code names, with shame, and only to a few close friends (barely even wanted to talk about it to my doctors!).
Mindy is self-publishing an honest book about growing up with chronic illness and mental health. She wrote the content before rose colored glasses impacted her experiences too much. To help this book get published, you can visit the crowdfunding page to learn more, back her project, and help spread the word. You can also follow Mindy on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and her blog “There’s More to the Story”.
We recently had the opportunity to sit down with esteemed DiabetesSisters' faculty member, Ginger Vieira, to chat about her recent pregnancy while living with diabetes.