Last of the Decade!

A blogger, I still am not. Well, at least there is an entry once a year! In the end, all roads lead to diabetes. Here is a recap of some of the highlights of 2009.

The good:
· Serving with fellow Board of Directors of the American Association of Diabetes Educators (what an incredible, lifetime experience).
· Launching Dance Out Diabetes
· Doing an LGBT Health Survey in the Castro of San Francisco. This community has the highest rate of cigarette smoking, a known risk factor for type 2 diabetes (see photo of Ion Coman and I)


· Mingling with the California Network of Diabetes Educators – what an incredible group of passionate, dedicated diabetes educators
· Witnessing many people living with diabetes make a connection, get support and relief

The bad:
· Loss (dad died, as did a couple of dreams, and no doubt some beta cells).

The ugly:
· Having my work stolen, twice! How flattering.
· Seeing my weight follow the 2 pounds after age 40 formula.

Looking forward to what gifts the future may bring. Happy New Year and New Decade. May you find much health and humor.
Warmly,
Theresa

A blogger I'm not

This is ridiculous. Months since my last post. I've really been meaning to... I'll fill you in on the lastest, and for the best bloggers, check out:

*Amy Tenderich, Diabetes Mine http://www.diabetesmine.com/

*Kerri Morrone Sparling, six until me http://sixuntilme.com/

*David Mendosa, Living with Dabetes http://www.mendosa.com/

Let's go in reverse.

10/4/08 Golden State Diabetes Network, La Jolla, CA
This past weekend was an incredible connect with fellow CA diabetes educators. After an stellar conference on glucose sensors in sunny San Diego, we had a fun dinner w/comedy event. It was my comic diabetes debut. Special gratitude for Kim Higgins and Debra Norman for organizing this and for the support of DexCom and Animas One Touch Ping. I'm tired of all the reps who come to our diabetes center and say "What do you need?" and you tell them sponsorship, and they rarely step up to the plate. I digress.

Here's a little photo of my stand-up routine. I meant to record it, but realized half way through that I forgot. Low estrogen strikes again. Hit bits: nurses don't give a rats behind about carbs, explaining the credentialing process to becoming a d'titian, and pimp my pancreas.


It was a bit risque'. Good thing this is tolerantville. Nice audience! The Golden State Diabetes Network ROCKS. The majority of chapter leaders attended; several of us laughed into the wee hours of the morning. Who knew diabetes policy could be so exciting? Our deepest gratitude and respect go out to Kim, Marilyn and Lisa, 3 of our CDEs with type 1. The rest of us were humbled by their enlightening experiences. We really don't have a clue.

Kim Higgins was awarded as the golden educator, or something of equivalent highest regards, and well-deserved. Chesney's doing the official cloaking and Debra precides over the ceremony.
Next year, Monterey, 10/09 (any CA-
AADE members, plan to come to our 2nd annual statewide meeting!)

10/3/08 My book with ADA got published: Your First Year with Diabetes. It was a 2 year process. Hard to believe it is out!

9/9/08 EASD (European Diabetes Conference), Rome, Italy
Villa Miani
What an interesting twist of destiny from entering Inspired by Diabetes on a whim at the last minute to going to the city I nearly moved to just before getting a job in diabetes education. It was 10 years ago that it I cashed in my retirement to move to Rome rather than stay in the field of home health. Then Onnette McElroy (hi honey) convinced me to apply for her job so she could retire. I put my money back into stocks. And you know that ending. While we are on the subject... we are in big trouble if the country is in a depression. We know where that leads. To more diabetes.

Fast forward to this shwanky villa

with the most inspiring views of

the enternal city.

To rubbing elbows with leaders from International Diabetes Federation, European Association and Eli Lilly, wearing a dress that shows off my vitamin D defeciency (hint: hump). All because of Peggy from Pin the Pancreas on the Piggy. If only pharma regs could have paid for the trip!

The best part was exploring Rome with my sister Cammie. And all that gelato. And some red wine. And cappuccino. And a lot of style and long walks in search of shade from that stiffling heat. And to speak a little della bella lingua che e' molto diverso e un piacere di parlare. This was Cammie's first trip. It was fun to yell "CAM-IL-LA" down the street and no one thought it odd. God I miss Rome. (Villa Miani, where the award ceremony was held, is to the left of the radio tower on the horizon.)

8/8/8 American Association of Diabetes Educator Annual Meeting, Washington D.C. (again)
This was another fun conference, only this time, international. Here is our President, Amparo Gonzales, with the Presdent of Australian Diabetes Educators, and the Pres of Spain. I did have their names written down...somewhere. How awkward.

And check out our 2008 Diabetes Educator
of the Year, Janiz Roszler. She's amazing.
Learn more at http://dearjanis.com/podcasts.html

Pre-meeting planning... or was that post meeting?

This was a memorable AADE. It was the first time
I gave a lecture at conference (standing room only!), my election to the Board was announced, and I avoided the temptation to load up a Cialis bag with take out diabetes educator stuff (helpful, yes - but not worth a torn rotator cuff).

5/3/08 Planning Committee for Golden State Network Meeting,
Sears Restaraunt, San Francisco, CA

3/15/08 SFBAADE (San Francisco chapter of AADE) planning retreat at Point Bonita.

Marlene Bedrich (Pres. Elect), Catherine Dorey (Treasurer), Kathy Love (Pres.) and Lynne Lyons (member) during a morning walk. Glorious views!

So as you can see, there has been a lot of diabetes educator activity. At this rate of blogging, I'll see you next summer! In the meantime, tune into the real bloggers!

Terri Miller, RN, former President San Diego AADE

From all accounts, Terri was incredible. I only met her once in LA and didn't really know her, or about her legacy that would soon live on. (I do not intend to turn this blog into an obituary page, although we need one as we are getting older as nurses and as diabetes educators.)

Maybe she will inspire you too.

It is speculated that she lost her life in a car accident as a result of low blood sugar. In honor of her, the Golden State Network of Diabetes Educators is sponsoring a "Dog 4 Diabetics" an innovative non-profit organization that specifically train dogs to identify, and more importantly, act upon subtle changes of hypoglycemia. By alerting their owner, these dogs save lives. Each dog costs about 10k to train to the point of being able to detect hypoglycemia. (See http://www.dogs4diabetics.com/ for more info.) So, are you ready to save someone from fatally low blood sugars? Then help us sponsor a dog.

Stay tuned for a cartoon with doggie parts to sponsor. The first donation came in from the current national diabetes educator of the year, Teresa Valpone, a pharmacist and diabetes educator from Washington State. She sponsored the sweet little area right between the eyes - the window to the soul (Ziggy and Gaja chipped in). As Teresa put it, this could help someone avoid GRRRRR - lows! The rest of the doggie is up for grabs. Who wants to sponsor the tail, the left ear, the heart? You can mail a check to Dogs for Diabetics, Inc; 1647 Willow Pass Road, #157 in Concord, CA 94520.

Terri left needlessly. Save someone from a similar fate.

A fallen comrade: Molly Keane

She just went out for a walk on the beach with her dog. Neither came back.

Molly Keane, beloved friend and well-known diabetes colleague, died February 16, 2008 while trying to rescue her dog, Bo, who was swept out to sea by the extreme surf.

Many knew her as the Senior Medical Science Liaison for Medical Affairs for Amylin Pharmacueticals. Her life was much more than that. She touched the lives of so many people and will be missed dearly.

To read about the online memorial, go to:

http://www.virtual-memorials.com/ and search Molly Keane.

Her service is March 8th, 2008 4-7 p.m. at 335 Panoramic Way, Berkeley, CA 94704

JJDI

Hold onto your hats, diabetes community! The Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Institute is set to transform diabetes care by uniting the diabetes professional community. I was fortunate to be invited to one of their pilot groups this past week. People attended from all over the world. We collaborated and learned many things.

The biggest "pearl" of wisdom, is an obvious one, yet something we miss: diabetes care and education needs to be patient driven. We tend to provide diabetes education in a linear format, covering topics that are grouped together for the convenience of the practitioner or institution.

So, fellow diabetes educator colleagues, challenge yourselves to go with the patients' agendas. Ask what it is they want covered before you get into your laundry list of important topics. They might be important to us, but we cannot be in someone elses shoes. Come up with innovative ways to allow groups of patients to drive the curriculum. (You can use standards of care topic cards. Patients can pick the one item they want covered for that class. At the end of the series, you can cover anything that wasn't picked. Group PowerPoint topics on your desk top by topic card to make it easy to navigate, or use the Conversation Maps as an adjunct.) And, for diabetes educators and professinals interested in attending the institute, visit www.seeuthere.com/jjdisurvey to be considered.

People and families with diabetes, ask your healthcare providers to go with your agenda. Share your concerns. Ask for a partner in your care.

Other random topics before dance time:
*A1C (3 month average glucose) will soon be reported as "A1C derived average glucose". This will take a couple of years to provide transition, and it should help minimize confusion over what the A1C means.

*Diabetes is progressive, but you have tools you can use now to derail the high risk of complications. Are you ready for the "i" word? It's estimated that 50-60% of people with type 2 will need insulin. The key is to start insulin early. What? Yes! Go natural! When we play the, "Let's wait and see you in 3 months before we change anything," we put you at risk for many more complications. Very few people stay at an A1C of less than 7% for more than a year. Medications need frequent adjustments to improve the A1C and keep you safe. Many people freak out over insulin because of its many associated myths. It's the high A1C levels (above 7%) with high blood pressure and high cholesterol that cause heart attacks, strokes, blindness, amputations and other ravages of diabetes, not insulin.

Stay tuned for the website for JJDI on my links page.

Ciao for now, Theresa

Inspired by Diabetes contest

Did anyone enter the international contest called Inspired by Diabetes? It's a contest about diabetes, art, and connecting people. Too hard to resist. In the Spring, I'll share my entry. If I breath a word of it before they announce the winners, it'll be "Good bye Jack," as nana used to say (meaning, it won't make it).

P.S. Happy early birthday to my CDE friend with initials JW (she occasionally wears a Wonder Woman cape!)