My Diabetic Heart

Almost Wordless Wednesday: HealtheVoices18

Posted on June 27, 2018 by mydiabeticheart

In late April, I was fortunate enough to attend the HealtheVoices18 conference in Chicago. The sessions were great, but it’s the connections with the amazing advocates in attendance that mean the most to me. These images highlight that.

The Attendees

#MakeDiabetesVisible

Patient Advocates who Inspire Me

Remember friends, A Little Heart Can Do Big Things

Disclaimer: Janssen covered my travel, lodging, and meal expenses for this conference. All thoughts and opinions expressed here on My Diabetic Heart and related social media channels are my own.

Posted in HealtheVoices18, Photos, Wordless Wednesday | 6 Comments

American Eagle Day

Posted on June 20, 2018 by mydiabeticheart

In honor of American Eagle Day, below are a selection of eagle photos that I’ve had the privilege to capture in northern Indiana during the last year or so. My health consumes so much of my time, thoughts, and energy, but, as I’ve said before, there is so much more to my life than the chronic illnesses with which I live. Nature photography is one of my escapes. I share a lot of my images on Facebook and Instagram, but I think I’m going to start sharing them here more often as well. Because they are part of my story. Enjoy!

Posted in Inspiration, Life, Photos, Travel | Leave a comment

Trulicity: A Few Observations

Posted on June 7, 2018 by mydiabeticheart

So, I’ve been using the Trulicity for 4 weeks now, and have a few observations.

First, my numbers are much improved overall. Fasting and post-meal are better. No major spikes.

Second, it has wrecked my appetite. I don’t feel hungry much, and I’m not able to eat a whole lot when I do. There’s a bit of nausea, and I have noticed more heartburn flareups as well, but that’s the extent of the GI side effects that I’ve experienced so far.

Third, I’m not using nearly as much insulin as I had been before starting this. I’ve cut my Lantus in half, and since I’m not eating as much, I’m not having to use as much Humalog.

And I’ve stopped the Farxiga that I was on, because I don’t feel like I need it, and the yeast infections were too much.

In hindsight, I wish I’d have made this change a long time ago instead of resisting it, but I don’t regret fighting to keep the medications that I had used successfully for so long.

We live and we learn as we go. One day at a time.

Posted in Diabetes, Health, Lessons Learned, Life, Medications | Leave a comment

From the archive: What Brings Me Down

Posted on May 22, 2018 by mydiabeticheart

May is Mental Health Month, so now seems like a great time to explore the emotional side of living with, or caring for someone with, diabetes. It was originally written in response to a Diabetes Blog Week prompt a few years ago. It makes references to other posts where I’ve shared more intense periods in my struggle with mental illness. And I also talk about things that help me through the dark times. I’m struggling right now, as May is hard for me due to a few death anniversaries that have a lot to do with my PTSD. So, I needed this reminder.

If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time, you’re likely aware that I’ve made no secret of my struggles with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. I’ve shared some pretty dark stuff on those topics over the last couple of years. When I wrote the Confessions of a Broken Man at the end of 2014, I was in such a bad place mentally that I was ready to end it. Obviously, I didn’t, but the possibility was real. A few months after that I shared about The Ah-Ha Moment I had that led to my diagnosis with PTSD and that I was working to get back on the wagon. I’ve had success with that. Though I’m still struggling with some things, I’m in a much better place today. Life gets messy at times. And it’s OK to need help with cleaning things up. We just have to ask. I’m glad I finally did.

Mantras, Reminders, and Walks in the Woods

On my worst days with diabetes and congestive heart failure, when everything seems to be going wrong and I’m ready to give up, I try to remember how far I’ve come since I started on this journey. I try to remember the struggles I’ve overcome this far and the strength and determination it took to do so. I try to use that as assurance that I can get through the difficulties before me. I say try because some days it works, and other days it makes no difference at all.

Some days, looking back through my blog archives for inspirational quotes that I’ve shared helps me. This quote from a post in 2012 has become something of a mantra or motto. It’s certainly fitting.

“A little heart can do big things.” – me

Sometimes, though, I really just have to take the time to remember who I am, especially with the identity crisis I’ve faced since my diabetes label changed. I have to look inside myself and reconnect with the person that I know I am.

I am a strong, confident, caring, loving, and passionate man. I have a sound mind, and a strong spirit. I am well educated; possessing the knowledge and abilities needed to make it in this world. I am strong willed; filled with a sense of determination and endurance that will carry me through all situations. I am filled with respect, not only for others, but more importantly, for myself.

I’ve had more than my share of those days. And I’ve spent a great deal of time trying to reconnect and thinking things through. I’ve made progress. Slowly but surely.

I’ve found that the absolute best thing for helping my mood and clearing my mind is spending time hiking the trails at the many nature preserves in the area. And when the weather is cooperative, that’s how most of my days off from work are being spent. I take my nature and trail guides, camera, notebook, walking stick and water, and hit the trails. I stay out for hours at a time. And it helps a lot.

And taking my camera along on my walks in the woods has provided plenty of photos for sharing with friends. Like this photo of a mother and father Bald Eagle in the nest with one of their eaglets.

Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.

One last quote. It’s one of my favorites.

“Life is not a journey to the grave with intentions of arriving safely in a pretty well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming … WOW! What a ride!” ~ Author Unknown

Save

Posted in Depression, Diabetes, Heart, Inspiration, Life, Mental Health, Photos | 1 Comment

Hello, Trulicity; So long, Victoza!

Posted on May 17, 2018 by mydiabeticheart

So, yesterday I took my first dose of Trulicity. It’s a once a week medication, taken via injection, to help with the insulin resistance with which I struggle.

This change comes due to my insurance company stopping coverage for the Victoza that I’ve used successfully for a number of years.

I’ve been putting this change off for a while. Mostly because I’m stubborn and angry about having to give up a medication that works for me because some clueless jerk at the insurance company wants to play god with my health. And also because I had a stockpile of Victoza that I acquired from friends who no longer use it, samples from my doctor, and out of pocket purchases that I made myself. Unfortunately, that stockpile has been exhausted, I can’t continue paying out of pocket, and my willingness to continue fighting this battle has waned.

So, I’m biting this bullet and moving forward. It’s like welcoming a new friend, while begrudgingly bidding farewell to an old friend. Hello, Trulicity; So long, Victoza.

I’ll be sharing more about this soon. For now, wish me luck.

Posted in Diabetes, Insurance, MakeDiabetesVisible, Medications, Photos, Rants | 1 Comment

Attending HealtheVoices18 next week

Posted on April 21, 2018 by mydiabeticheart

I’m both excited and honored to have been selected to attend the HealtheVoices conference in Chicago April 27-29. That’s next week!

The event brings together patient advocates representing a wide range of health conditions for three days of learning, networking, and story sharing. I was fortunate enough to attend this conference for the first time in 2017 and it was a life changing experience. I’m grateful for the opportunity to attend again this year.

This year, the conference is offering a Virtual Experience, which will allow those who are unable to attend in person to join in from home.

I will be sharing updates here and on Twitter throughout my time at HealtheVoices. So stay tuned.

Disclaimer: Janssen is covering my travel, lodging, and meal expenses for this conference. All thoughts and opinions expressed here on My Diabetic Heart and related social media channels are my own.

Posted in Announcements, HealtheVoices18 | Leave a comment

A Makeover for My Diabetic Heart

Posted on April 19, 2018 by mydiabeticheart

1st redesign: 2013-2018

So, if you’ve been to this site before, you’re probably noticing some changes right now.

My Diabetic Heart is undergoing a much needed makeover.

The blog has been around since early 2009, and the last major overhaul took place in 2013. So, it’s overdue for a revamp.

While I liked the old design, it just wasn’t working in terms of working well across multiple devices and couldn’t accommodate some new features I want to add soon.

The new design will address those issues.

Original design: 2009-2013

Admittedly, the transition is very much a work in progress. I’m still working on flushing out some of the content blocks that were on the old layout, and will be creating a new blogroll page soon, and updating some of the other pages. But the biggest change is done.

I’m quite happy with how things are shaping up. Question is, what do you think? Drop me a comment and let me know.

Cheers!

Posted in Announcements | 2 Comments

Remembering Judy Reich

Posted on February 9, 2018 by mydiabeticheart

Judy & I at the Diabetes UnConference in 2017

The Diabetes Community lost a great advocate and friend this week.

Judy Reich, who faced life with diabetes with incredible dignity and grace for more than 50 years, died on Wednesday with her husband, Gary, by her side.

Judy was an unabashedly proud resident of Las Vegas and had an illustrious career in the Nevada broadcasting industry. She was honored as an inductee into the Nevada Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame in the year 2000.

Judy was also heavily involved in local diabetes advocacy as a volunteer with the JDRF, and was a former chair of the Las Vegas chapter.

I was fortunate enough to get to know Judy over the years through our interactions in the Diabetes Online Community. We bonded over shared health and life experiences. She was always so kind, empathethic and encouraging, and always there if you needed someone to listen.

I finally had the opportunity to meet Judy in person for the first time in 2016, when I attended the Diabetes UnConference in Las Vegas. She was just as warm and welcoming in person as she was online. I will always treasure the time we spent talking during that weekend and the advice and encouragement she offered for some of the situations I was dealing with at that time. We caught up with each other again at the UnConference in 2017.

For Judy, it was the shared interests beyond diabetes that meant the most when it came to her diabetes friends and collegues. Arts, musicals, theater, writing, and great wines were just some of her interests. And if you shared them, you had a friend for life in Judy.

Judy expressed an appreciation for the way that I share life experiences and for my artwork, and I’ve always valued her support of my efforts.

Judy was a fan of my nature photos and especially loved the Northern Cardinal shots that I’ve shared on Facebook. When she lived in the Midwest, these beautiful birds were in abundance. Judy told me more than once that she missed them, as they are not common in the Las Vegas area. She would have absolutely loved this photo that I captured recently of a cardinal in flight.

Some folks believe that a cardinal sighting is an indication that a loved one who has passed wants you to know they are around. Reflecting on this image now, it seems like the perfect representation of Judy’s bright, vibrant spirit soaring into the great beyond. While I’m saddened by the loss of my friend, it is comforting to think that the next time I see a cardinal, it just might be Judy stopping by to say hello.

My thoughts are with Judy’s family, collegues, and all of her friends in the Diabetes Online Community. May her memory be eternal.

Lots of love.

Posted in Diabetes, Lessons Learned, Life, Tributes | 7 Comments

Loving Your Heart This Month

Posted on February 1, 2018 by mydiabeticheart

Today is the first day of February and with it comes the beginning of American Heart Month. This month we focus on raising awareness of heart disease and all of its various forms, risk factors, steps to prevent and treat the disease, etc…

To kick the month off, I’d like to pose a question to you. How will you love your heart this month?

Personally, I’m going to try to exercise more this month. My plan is to walk at least 1 mile on the treadmill each day. That may not seem like much, but for a guy who had heart surgery in December and is working on recovery, it’s a good starting point and goal. I may post treadmill mileage pictures each day as a way to keep myself accountable. We’ll see how it goes.

So, I ask again, how will you love your heart this month? Tell me in the comments below. Cheers!

Posted in American Heart Month, Heart | 1 Comment

9 Years

Posted on December 29, 2017 by mydiabeticheart

Today marks 9 years of life with diabetes and congestive heart failure for me. It’s been a crazy journey, and the events of the last month have been a reminder of just how fortunate I am to have come this far. Cheers, folks!

Posted in Cartoons, Diabetes, Doctor Visits, Health, Health Activist Writers Month Challenge, Heart, Inspiration, Lessons Learned, Life, MakeDiabetesVisible, Medications, Mental Health | 2 Comments