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Reflections: Why I Do What I Do

sisterSTAFF Blog
Last weekend, DiabetesSisters hosted its SEVENTH Weekend for Women Conference. I have been fortunate enough to attend 5 of these Conferences (missing only 2010 Raleigh and 2012 San Diego), as  attendee, volunteer and staff member. This year, I have returned from Washington, DC, where the Conference was held more motivated than ever.
 

Matters of the Heart

sisterSTAFF Blog

January was a whirlwind month! At the office, we launched new programming for our PODS Meetups, opened registration for our Weekend for Women Conference in Washington, DC, and met with the Board of Directors to discuss the organization’s focus for 2014. At home, I welcomed the first significant snowfall in the Triangle in many years which paralyzed things for a few days, continued to balance the home-diabetes-work-life scales, and faced a medical milestone in my life: my father needed a pacemaker. The news that my father needed a pacemaker scared and worried me.

Diabetes and Gratitude

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When I was diagnosed 20 years ago, doctors told me that there would be a cure in “the next five years.” But five years later, there was no cure and my battle with “diabetes denial” began. For two years, I was angry, depressed and noncompliant. Yes, I admit it: I was noncompliant. Sometimes I tested my blood sugar, sometimes I didn’t. Some days I injected insulin, other days I didn’t. I would postpone appointments to see my endocrinologist. I just stopped caring.

Lessons Learned at Children with Diabetes Friends for Life 2013

sisterSTAFF Blog

Last month, my family and I had the opportunity to attend the Children with Diabetes Friends for Life Conference in Orlando, FL. A conference originally geared toward children with type 1 diabetes and their parents, it has evolved into a meeting of over 3000 attendees including people with type 1 diabetes of all ages, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and even friends.