My Diabetic Heart

I Don’t Regret A Mile

Posted on January 6, 2013 by mydiabeticheart

The words below are from the recitation part of a song called “I Don’t Regret A Mile“. The song was written by the late Howard Goodman, a gospel singer. It talks of things that could have made him give up, and reasons why he didn’t. In the wake of all that I’ve experienced with my own personal struggles over the last few years and currently, the words speak to me. And, it being Sunday, I felt the urge to share.

I’ve dreamed many dream that never came true,
I’ve seen them vanish at dawn.
But enough of my dreams have come true,
to make me keep dreaming on.

I’ve prayed many a prayer, seemed no answer would come,
though I’ve waited so patient and long.
But enough of answers have come to my prayers,
to make me keep praying on.

I’ve sown many a seed, that’s fell by the wayside,
for the birds to feed upon.
But I’ve held enough golden sheaves in my hands,
to make me keep sowing on.

I’ve trusted many a friend that’s left me,
and left me to weep alone.
But enough of my friends have been true blue,
to make me keep trusting on.

I’ve drained the cup of disappointment and pain,
gone many a day without a song.
But I’ve sipped enough nectar from the roses of life,
to make me want to live on.

Posted in Inspiration, Life | 3 Comments

Celebrating 4 Years of Life

Posted on December 29, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

Today is my 4th Diaversary.

Happy Diaversary to Me!

That’s 4 years of LIVING with type 2 diabetes and congestive heart failure.

Am I really happy to be living with D and CHF?
Well, no.

Do I hate the diseases with a passion?
Hell yes!

Is this day really something to celebrate?
Some folks would say no, but I think it is.
You did see that big, bold living up there, didn’t you?

You see, today I’m celebrating 4 years of being alive.
4 years of surviving when the doctors said I was going to die.

Today I celebrate beating the odds, and putting up a good fight.
I celebrate strength, determination, and better health.
And I celebrate the people in my life because of my diagnosis.

Today, I celebrate 4 years of life.
Here’s hoping for many more.

Cheers!

Posted in Diabetes, Health, Heart, Inspiration, Lessons Learned, Life | 2 Comments

Peace In The Eye Of The Storm

Posted on December 26, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

While looking through an old blog that I wrote while in college, I came across this poem that I had posted. There were a lot of things going on in the world, and in my life personally, and this seemed to express how I was feeling at the time. In the wake of recent events, it seems fitting to share it here on MDH.

Peace In The Eye Of The Storm
by: Jill Lemming

Let us find peace in an angry world
let us strive harder each day
to live as your people, humble and good
without violence and vengeance, we pray.

Let us walk proud, united as one
determined to live by our faith
trusting Your guidance in all that we do
thankful for the gift of Your Grace.

Lord, we are strong, not by ourselves
but with Your Spirit abiding within
every moment of every day
we surrender to You once again.

With our country in turmoil and bound in sin
we plead for a change still to come
Lord, give us leaders who rely on You
to direct what this world will become.

We leave our future in Your loving Hands
in the midst of a World that is torn
whatever we face, we know You are there
to bring peace in the eye of the storm.

Posted in Inspiration, Lessons Learned, Life | 1 Comment

A Heart and Pancreas for Christmas

Posted on December 17, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

While out shopping with April over the weekend, I heard the song “I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” playing over the sound system in one of the shopping centers. It reminded me of the parody I wrote last year, so I’m sharing it again. Enjoy!

I Want A Heart and Pancreas for Christmas

I want a heart and pancreas for Christmas
Only a heart and pancreas will do
Don’t want a pill, to make me a happy boy
I want a heart and pancreas that’ll work and not annoy.

I want a heart and pancreas for Christmas
I don’t think Santa Claus will mind, do you?
He won’t have to use our dirty chimney flue
Just bring them through the front door,
that’s the easy thing to do

I can see me now on Christmas morning,
creeping down the stairs
Oh what joy and what surprise
when I open up my eyes
to see an organ toting hero standing there

I want a heart and pancreas for Christmas
Only a heart and pancreas will do
No blood pressure cuffs, no glucometeruses
I only like hearts and pancreases
And hearts and pancreases like me too

Mom says the organs could pep me up, but then
Doctor could say rejection and I’d be screwed again.

(Short Music Interlude)

There’s lots of room for them in my chest and abdomen
I’d give up anything if they’d work properly again.

I can see me now on Christmas morning,
creeping down the stairs
Oh what joy and what surprise
when I open up my eyes
to see an organ toting hero standing there

I want a heart and pancreas for Christmas
Only a heart and pancreas will do
No blood pressure cuffs, no glucometeruses
I only like hearts and pancreases
And hearts and pancreases like me too

Posted in Diabetes, Heart, Humor, Photos | 4 Comments

Getting to know Matthew Deets

Posted on November 30, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

Through my interactions with the Diabetes Online Community (DOC) on Twitter and other social media outlets over the last 3 years and 11 months, I’ve had the privilege of meeting some really amazing people. One such person is my good friend and fellow type 2, Matthew Deets. Many in the DOC already know Matt, but for those who don’t, you really should. So, by way of a Q & A set from a recent interview, I’d like to introduce you to him.

So, Matt, could you tell everyone a little about yourself?

Well, I live in Colton, Oregon, and I love my family, friends, Diet Coke, bacon, cupcakes, insulin, and all things geeky.

I love all things tech and Apple. I’ve been a “switcher” since 2005, when I got my first iMac. I switched to Apple because of the accessibility built into OS X and IOS. In the words of Stevie Wonder, “There is nothing you can do on the iPhone or iPad that I can’t.”

Confused by the quote? It’ll make since in a few minutes.

When were you diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and how do you manage it?

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in July of 2007. I’m insulin dependent and use multiple daily injections of insulin (MDI). I use Lantus for my basal insulin, and Novolog for my bolus insulin. I use the FlexPens, and I’m a fan of the BD Nano Pen Needles. I’m a FastClix fan as well.

My meter is the Prodigy Voice. I use the iBGstar App for logging my numbers, and the Insulin Calc App for calculating boluses. These are available on Apple’s IOS.

Oh, and my favorite glucose tabs are the cherry flavored ones from GlucoLift.

Do you have any complications?

At this point, my only diabetes related complication is that I have neuropathy in my feet. So, I have to be extra careful.

Are there any other health issues that you deal with?

Yes, I was born legally blind with ONH in both eyes. ONH is Optic Nerve Hypoplasia, which means that my optic nerves are damaged because they didn’t develop correctly.

How does being blind affect your diabetes management?

Well, obviously management is a bit tricky as I can’t see the meters, insulin pens, etc.. like most people can. I have, however, found some things that help me with the daily routine.

I use the Prodigy Voice blood glucose monitor because it’s the only fully speech enabled BGM specifically designed for the blind.

And I like the FlexPens because I can count the “clicks” to the dose of insulin that I need.

In the future, I hope that companies that make CGM’s and insulin pumps build in more accessibility for the blind with speech enabled devices – talking pumps, cgm’s, etc…

When did you find the Diabetes Online Community and how has that affected your life?

I discovered the Diabetes Online Community or DOC as we call it, in the summer of 2011 after hearing Ginger Vieira on the Transforming Diabetes podcast. And the first blog that I read was George Simmons’ “Ninjabetic: The B.A.D. Blog.”

Meeting my friends in the DOC has changed my life with diabetes like nothing else. Knowing that I’m not alone and that my friends “just get it” means the world to me.

I always look forward to the DSMA twitter chat and DSMA Live radio show each week, and I never miss an episode of the Blogging Diabetes Podcast with Tony Rose.

I believe that no matter what our BG, A1c, diagnosis or disability may be, we are all human beings first, and everything else second. Dr. Polonsky often says “people do best when they don’t do diabetes alone,” and thanks to the Diabetes Online Community, none of us ever have to do diabetes alone again.

Is there anything else you want to share?

I enjoy advocating and educating others about living with diabetes and blindness, and questions never offend me. If anyone would like to know more about me or life with diabetes and ONH, they can feel free to contact me via social media at any time. You can find me in the following places:

Web: http://matthewdeets.org

Twitter: http://twitter.com/matthewdeets

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/matthewdeets

TuDiabetes: http://www.tudiabetes.org/profile/MatthewDeets

Many thanks to Matt for taking the time to chat with me and share his story, and for being such a great friend!

Posted in Diabetes, Diabetes Awareness Month, Inspiration, Interviews, Lessons Learned, Life, Photos, Shout outs | 6 Comments

Thank You – D Blessings Week Day 7

Posted on November 25, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

On this 7th and final day of Diabetes Blessings Week, I want to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who participated this year. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the posts that I’ve read so far. It may take me a day or so, but I will get through the rest of them. 🙂

This week has been yet another reminder that I am not alone in my fight with Type 2 Diabetes and Congestive Heart Failure.

Thanks to the blessing that is the Diabetes Online Community, none of us are ever alone in this fight. And that’s something for which we can all be thankful.

Many thanks for another great Diabetes Blessings Week. Lots of love, my friends!

Posted in Diabetes, Diabetes Awareness Month, Diabetes Blessings Week, Lessons Learned, Life | 1 Comment

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Posted on November 22, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

Wishing a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone in the Diabetes Online Community!

Posted in Cartoons, Diabetes, Diabetes Awareness Month, Diabetes Blessings Week, Photos | 1 Comment

Awesome People – D Blessings Week Day 2

Posted on November 20, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

It’s day 2 of Diabetes Blessings Week, and today’s post is devoted to the some of the awesome people I have been blessed to be able to meet in person this year. Since I’m a subscriber of the notion that a picture is worth a thousand words, I’m going to let the ones below do the talking for me.

Wendy, Mr. Mike Lawson, and Jaimie!

Courtney!

Nicole Johnson!

Dr. Steve Edelman

Josh Bleill

I am quite thankful to have had the opportunity to meet all of these individuals, and even more thankful to be able to consider many of them my friends.

Posted in D-Meetups, Diabetes, Diabetes Awareness Month, Diabetes Blessings Week, Lessons Learned, Life, Photos, Shout outs | 3 Comments

The Importance of Listening – D Blessings Week Day 1

Posted on November 19, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

Today is the first day of Diabetes Blessings Week – a week in which we count the blessings that have come to our lives because of diabetes.

One of the many things of which living with type 2 diabetes and congestive heart failure has reminded me is the importance of listening. I’m not talking about listening when talking to people, which is incredibly important, but rather listening to my body. And understanding what it’s trying to tell me. And doing something about it.

Like listening to my body when it’s begging for water. Could be a sign that my blood glucose is too high.

Or listening to my body when my head is hurting, I’m unable to concentrate, and irritable. Could be a sign that I’m high or going low.

And listening when my chest is hurting and my heart is racing. Is it an acid reflux flare-up or am I having a heart attack?

Or listening to my body when it’s screaming for me to slow down and take it easy for a while. Should I really have committed to doing this or that? Did I really have to go that extra mile on the treadmill? My ankle sure didn’t think so.

Ultimately, because of my diagnoses, I pay more attention to my own needs now, rather than simply ignore them. And that’s OK. We have to listen to our bodies and take care of ourselves if we hope to be able to be there for others.

Listen. And be Blessed!