What A Week! – DBW Day 7 | My Diabetic Heart

Today is Day seven of Diabetes Blog Week and that means this year’s event is coming to a close. Fittingly, today’s writing challenge is one of reflection. Today, we are to look back on the last week, or on diabetic life since we found the D-OC, and talk about what we’ve learned. So, here goes nothing.

As I sit here struggling to figure out how to summarize this last week, the one thought that comes to mind is

“WOW! What an emotional roller coaster ride that was!”

I love Diabetes Blog Week, reading all of the awesome blog posts of all the other participants, and even taking on the challenge of writing my own response to the daily prompts. And that’s exactly what I’ve done this week. I must confess, though, that it’s been far more challenging than I thought it would be.

I’ve been in what I would call “blood glucose hell” for the last two weeks since my doctor changed my diabetes medication. It’s just not working, my blood glucose levels have been high, and we all know that high BGs can lead to emotional issues. Well, that’s where I’ve been this week. And it’s made writing a lot harder than usual. I tried to take more of a light hearted approach in responding to the prompts, but many ended up far more serious than I had hoped.

I’ve felt bad about that at times, but as I look back at the posts and all of the wonderful comments that I received on them, I’ve been reminded of a few things: There’s nothing wrong with sharing raw emotion, and I’m not the only one feeling these things. And reading the blogs of everyone else has reconfirmed that even more.

The sheer number of participants in Diabetes Blog Week underscores one immutable universal truth, We are not alone in this fight. That there are people who “get it.” And there is no reason for any PWD to ever feel alone.

This whole event should bring a moment of pause to everyone involved. Just stop and think about this:

If the idea and effort of one person can bring so many of us together for a week of online diabetes advocacy and fellowship, just imagine what could happen if the same ideas and efforts were taken offline.

Many thanks to Karen for organizing this amazing event, and congrats on another successful Diabetes Blog Week!

13 Comments

Amy R

05/15/2011 at 8:00 pm

There is definitely nothing wrong with raw emotion–especially when so many of us know what it’s like to run into the same problems.
And you’re so right about how much can be done when determined people join together…

Mike Hoskins

05/15/2011 at 8:50 pm

So right you are, Mike -> taking what the online passion does in bringing us together and taking that offline to connect all those who aren’t connected. Part of a bigger, broader picture and so awesome to reinforce that message that no PWD is alone. Sorry you’ve been going through BG Hell recently, but I do hope it balances out before long, my friend. Best your way.

Bob P

05/15/2011 at 10:04 pm

I am very glad there are a lot of diabetes blogs. It gives a lot of entry points, an it provides more opportunities for folks to find voices that resonate with them.

I’m sorry it’s been a tough couple of weeks, friend.

Jess

05/15/2011 at 10:38 pm

great post, mike! sorry your bgs have been terrible. but you’re right- honesty is the most important thing. life isn’t all sunshine and lollipops. hugs!

Becca

05/15/2011 at 11:10 pm

Well said. It was emotional!!

FatCatAnna

05/16/2011 at 1:06 am

LOL – I wrote pretty well the same thing Mike about this being a hard week to write. For me it was like squeezing water out of a stone (my brain) to get something to flow from my finger tips. I can’t wait to find time to read ALL the posts that I couldn’t fit in during the week! I like the fact that alot of new bloggers came out – which makes for more assorted “chocolates” to nibble on (and these don’t affect our blood sugars ).

CGMB The DiabetesDuo

05/16/2011 at 2:09 am

Hang in there, Mike. This too shall pass as they say…well, at least the rough waves of bad bg’s. Diabetes is sure taking its sweet time passing. 🙂 🙁

Wendy

05/16/2011 at 3:10 am

I hope this rut ends soon….ruts are rough places 🙁

This week, I experienced some backlash from non-bloggers about their dislike of the blogging community. (Not to me personally — or least they didn’t SAY it was me — just a very vague statement that sounded all encompassing) Anyway, they feel that we focus on the negative too often. They feel like bloggers need to be more positive and more thoughtful of their readers.

It isn’t positive all the time.

Why do I feel the need to apologize for that?

Mike

05/16/2011 at 3:18 am

Wendy, Our audience is predominantly PWDs, and as PWDs we know that life with diabetes, as Jess so eloquently put it, “isn’t all sunshine and lollipops.” Hell, life in general isn’t like that. Every blogger I know strives to show people all aspects of life with this disease. The good and the bad. We speak the truth, and there’s no reason to apologize for that.

Wendy

05/16/2011 at 3:53 am

Thanks 🙂 It’s just that I don’t see any ONE person who has a bad day, everyday, all the time. I think the blogging community is made up of so many amazing, positive, upbeat people and I don’t like feeling that our platform is being judged so harshly.

BUT…what can you do? You can’t please everyone all the time, I guess. And, if all I ever did was act like life with D is no big deal, then I wouldn’t be genuine…and you can’t escape yourself.

Jane K

05/16/2011 at 9:42 pm

Mike,
You are doing a great job. Hang in there and get those meds figured out so you feel better soon. Thanks for sharing your raw emotions with the DOC.

Karen

05/23/2011 at 8:37 pm

Thank you so much for participating – I’m sorry you were having such a rough week. But I agree, although those raw emotional posts can be so tough to write – it’s really good to put them out there sometimes. Partly because the general public needs to see that diabetes can be rough – and partly because the response you get from the D-OC can lift you up and remind you that you are not alone.

So, here is my question to you . . . . . will we be doing a second annual Diabetes Blessings Week too??

Mike

05/23/2011 at 8:57 pm

Thanks Karen! I love Diabetes Blog Week, and wouldn’t miss it no matter how difficult a time I was having. And yes, I’m thinking Diabetes Blessings Week will be making a return this year. 🙂 Just haven’t decided whether to leave it open ended like last year, or to change it up and have daily prompts. We’ll see. 🙂

Amy R

05/15/2011 at 8:00 pm

There is definitely nothing wrong with raw emotion–especially when so many of us know what it’s like to run into the same problems.
And you’re so right about how much can be done when determined people join together…
Mike Hoskins

05/15/2011 at 8:50 pm

So right you are, Mike -> taking what the online passion does in bringing us together and taking that offline to connect all those who aren’t connected. Part of a bigger, broader picture and so awesome to reinforce that message that no PWD is alone. Sorry you’ve been going through BG Hell recently, but I do hope it balances out before long, my friend. Best your way.
Bob P

05/15/2011 at 10:04 pm

I am very glad there are a lot of diabetes blogs. It gives a lot of entry points, an it provides more opportunities for folks to find voices that resonate with them.

I’m sorry it’s been a tough couple of weeks, friend.
Jess

05/15/2011 at 10:38 pm

great post, mike! sorry your bgs have been terrible. but you’re right- honesty is the most important thing. life isn’t all sunshine and lollipops. hugs!
Becca

05/15/2011 at 11:10 pm

Well said. It was emotional!!
FatCatAnna

05/16/2011 at 1:06 am

LOL – I wrote pretty well the same thing Mike about this being a hard week to write. For me it was like squeezing water out of a stone (my brain) to get something to flow from my finger tips. I can’t wait to find time to read ALL the posts that I couldn’t fit in during the week! I like the fact that alot of new bloggers came out – which makes for more assorted “chocolates” to nibble on (and these don’t affect our blood sugars ).
CGMB The DiabetesDuo

05/16/2011 at 2:09 am

Hang in there, Mike. This too shall pass as they say…well, at least the rough waves of bad bg’s. Diabetes is sure taking its sweet time passing. 🙂 🙁
Wendy

05/16/2011 at 3:10 am

I hope this rut ends soon….ruts are rough places 🙁

This week, I experienced some backlash from non-bloggers about their dislike of the blogging community. (Not to me personally — or least they didn’t SAY it was me — just a very vague statement that sounded all encompassing) Anyway, they feel that we focus on the negative too often. They feel like bloggers need to be more positive and more thoughtful of their readers.

It isn’t positive all the time.

Why do I feel the need to apologize for that?
- Mike
  
  05/16/2011 at 3:18 am
  
  Wendy, Our audience is predominantly PWDs, and as PWDs we know that life with diabetes, as Jess so eloquently put it, “isn’t all sunshine and lollipops.” Hell, life in general isn’t like that. Every blogger I know strives to show people all aspects of life with this disease. The good and the bad. We speak the truth, and there’s no reason to apologize for that.
Wendy

05/16/2011 at 3:53 am

Thanks 🙂 It’s just that I don’t see any ONE person who has a bad day, everyday, all the time. I think the blogging community is made up of so many amazing, positive, upbeat people and I don’t like feeling that our platform is being judged so harshly.

BUT…what can you do? You can’t please everyone all the time, I guess. And, if all I ever did was act like life with D is no big deal, then I wouldn’t be genuine…and you can’t escape yourself.
Jane K

05/16/2011 at 9:42 pm

Mike,
You are doing a great job. Hang in there and get those meds figured out so you feel better soon. Thanks for sharing your raw emotions with the DOC.
Karen

05/23/2011 at 8:37 pm

Thank you so much for participating – I’m sorry you were having such a rough week. But I agree, although those raw emotional posts can be so tough to write – it’s really good to put them out there sometimes. Partly because the general public needs to see that diabetes can be rough – and partly because the response you get from the D-OC can lift you up and remind you that you are not alone.

So, here is my question to you . . . . . will we be doing a second annual Diabetes Blessings Week too??
- Mike
  
  05/23/2011 at 8:57 pm
  
  Thanks Karen! I love Diabetes Blog Week, and wouldn’t miss it no matter how difficult a time I was having. And yes, I’m thinking Diabetes Blessings Week will be making a return this year. 🙂 Just haven’t decided whether to leave it open ended like last year, or to change it up and have daily prompts. We’ll see. 🙂