The Diabetes Explosion......

As more and more folks are diagnosed, I have noticed a few things.

1. There are a lot of people now on the Internet who are diabetic and creating sites.
2. Smart people are being diagnosed and you are seeing a lot of diabetic commerce going on on the web.
3. There seems to be a top 20 or 30 diabetic folks who seem to dominate a lot of the net.
4. It takes a lot of net time if you want to be one of the top 20 or 30 on the net...lol
5. There has been a lot of knowledge sharing and I am seeing that a lot of the sites are seeing the same conversations that may have taken place a year ago.
6. The diabetes industry is definitely growing, consolidating, and maturing.
7. I have no idea what is going to happen to the industry if the government gains control of health care but I am sure that it will change dramatically.
8. The internet has been a very positive change for folks who live with diabetes including knowledge sharing, mental support, and friendships.

I look forward to the upcoming years to see how diabetes and the net evolve together....

Diabetes Books

As a Diabetic author who wrote The Joy of Diabetes, I have been overwhelmed by a few things.

1. People have been very positive, supportive, and receptive to my diabetes book.
2. Businesses, Suppliers, and People, are genuinely kind when they hear what I have written a
book on diabetes, and do their best to go out of their way to help any way that they can.
3. Diabetics across the world need help dealing with this disease and are typically in various
states or levels of diabetes management. I have been very honored and blessed to have folks
at varying levels of their diabetic walk offer their help, kind words, and support.
4. This has not been a money making venture yet. I guess that because so many folks need help,
I have been a soft heart and often give away things and time to folks who are truly hurting. It
has been my goal to reach out and change folks mindset and their thoughts regarding
living with diabetes.
5. Depression and sadness abound in the world of diabetes. I was not aware before I wrote The
Joy of Diabetes how many, many, many, diabetics were in such mental duress due to this
chronic disease. Diabetes is truly a disease of the mind as much or more as it is a disease of the
physical body.
6. The ups and downs of Living with Diabetes take a toll physically and mentally on the body
and soul....and often the pocket book too. This is an expensive disease that extracts it's costs
from the heart, the wallet, the psyche, and the body.
7. My observations are that Diabetics who stay in the zone of control can live a very, very, long
and happy life, and their mindset is key to their success. Those who accept diabetes have
peace with the disease, and take charge of their spiritual and physical situation, seem to enjoy
life and health at a high level.
8. It has been much harder than I thought to get the word out about The Joy of Diabetes book.
9. This whole thing has taken much more time, money, and effort than I ever imagined it
would.
10. I didn't realize how much I would have to learn about people, the disease, the internet,
diabetes forums, diabetes websites, Amazon, printing, publishing, marketing, and what it
takes to be a diabetic author, a speaker on diabetes, and social networking. Wow, I am getting
tired just looking back on what I have learned and been exposed to over the last year....but
Wow, what an experience!
11. It has been a very educational, exciting, and demanding ride, and I am glad to have had the
opportunity to do it. I wrote this book for diabetics and their loved ones, but I have also
gotten so
much out of the process too. By helping others, I too have been helped more than I would
have ever dreamed. I learned that I love to write.... (didn't see that coming in school).
12. I have learned to accept help from others in the diabetic community. I have learned that I
am frail, and I learned that I am strong. I have always been one
who stood on my own, did what it took, and would never ask for help. Okay, I've gotten over
that. :) At this point, I am willing and asking....any help you can provide to help me get the
word out is much appreciated. If you know anyone who would benefit from The Joy of
Diabetes book, or anyone who can help me in my goal to help others "Take this disease by the
horns and wrestle it to the ground, feel free to send them my way. I truly
appreciate all the new friends I have made all over the diabetes world and look forward to
what the future of diabetes holds.
I also learned that I like the word Cheers....Oh yeah, and that little smiley face thing that I
probably use too much.. :)

Cheers........Bob

Has diabetes ever stopped you from something you wanted to do...?

Has diabetes ever stopped you from something you wanted to do...?

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Looking back, was there ever a time that you chose to not do something because of how you might have to cope with the D.?
I think that I have pretty much done just about anything I set my mind to during my life and just took the disease in stride.
There are only a few times that I can remember Diabetes getting in the way.
It wasn't that I was worried, but society and employers were......probably rightly so.

1. When I worked at Disney in the late 70's...diabetics were not allowed to operate the rides.
I did want to drive the Jungle Cruise boat ....dangit.

2. When I was younger, I thought I wanted to fly and would have liked to have gotten my pilots license.....but alas, not back then. I understand that now a days, you can fly fixed wing aircraft if you meet certain criteria as a D.

3. I probably would have been in the Coast Guard or the Air Force, but was not accepted for medical reasons (diabetes). I always thought that I would have enjoyed being a military guy. I have a lot of respect for those who serve.

How bout you? Did you ever not do something, or did others stop you from doing something based on your Diabetes?

__________________
Keep Going.........Peace, Bob

Dehydrated........?

Dehydrated....?

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This last weekend, I attended my 2 boys Soccer tournament here in North Florida. 98 degrees and about 98 per cent humidity.
The games were at 2 different complexes....Here's a recap
Game 1 ...set up chair ...grab umbrella..spend 1 hour cheering on my 9 year old..
Game over ...load up ...go drive 25 minutes to other complex.
Game 2 set up chair, grab umbrella ....spend 1 hour cheering on my 16 year old..
Game 3 drive back to first complex and repeat
Game 4 drive back to 2nd complex and repeat

Rinse and repeat.......for 2 days...a total of 8 games.

On labor day, we went to shoot skeet in the hot sun for about 4 hours....

Monday night, I had an incredible headache. I don't normally get headaches and i was trying to figure out what was going on. I remembered that a buddy of mine recently was having horrible headaches and went to the doctor. The doc said he was dehydrated and made him drink a lot of water over the next few days. He recovered and felt much better and his headaches have not returned.
Hmmmm..I really didn't drink almost anything over those 3 days. I'm not sure why, but I didn't really think about it. So, Monday night I drank about 6 glasses of water and after a while started feeling better. Tuesday I continued to drink a lot and ultimately felt much better. I wasnt have blood pressure problems or anything else, so I truly believe I was dehydrated. I know it sounds crazy, but I never really thought about it before.
I am doing much better and have now realized that I truly have to prepare better for the hot outdoors than maybe I have in the past.....

well, the good news is that both my boys swept the tournament and had a great time
Like momma says,......drink lots of water..

I do not like Green eggs and D'

Posted this on DD awhile ago...thought I'd repost it. Some folks say that they might want to be D again if they had the opportunity to choose.....some not. Heres my thoughts.....

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Okay, here goes another strange, warped, take on this thing

Would you take this thing called D
If you could start over and avoid or flee

would you stay ...the same as you are
or would you choose to run away far

would it be.. the disease that defines you
or would you choose eating what the others foks do

would you choose this accepted known plight
or would you slink away in the night

could you be happier with no phsical worries
or are you made better ...you be the jury

what is it ...that could possibly make you
choose to stay with this thing wherever it takes you

24-7, forever, no breaks
why would you want this ...for goodness sake

would you, could you, choose this again
Not me, no way, Nada my friends.......


.....just one mans thoughts.......but I respect all others..Cheers...Bob

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lwLAV5Zykg The most recent video....It's kinda cute....

I wanted to wish everyone a Healthy, Happy, and Prosperous 2009. I know 08 was a tough one, but the future is ours to make what we will of it. I believe that there is a lot of opportunity out there right now and in the upcoming year if we only choose to find it. There will be a lot of millionaires made this year…I’m thinking we should all be one of them.
The older I get, I realize what is truly important to me…..My God, My wife, My family, My friends, My health, My belief in myself and others, Good Mentors, Passion for whatever I am doing, Humor, Teaching/helping others to be more, Learning new things, and the understanding not to take myself too seriously. I know that when any of these are not going right, my life is not going right.
As most of you know, I wrote The Joy of Diabetes and published it in 2008. It has been a true blessing to be involved with and work with so many great and interesting people in every aspect of Diabetes-publishing-marketing-internet-sales-P.R.-Development and the like. What an amazing industry…and a truly helpful group of diabetics who care.
Sometimes folks look at me funny when they hear Joy, and Diabetes in the same sentence. I believe they are thinking “excitement and elation”…that’s more like Happiness…
Joy is about Peace and Confidence…..That is what I strive for and what I strive to help others find also. I think it is safe to say that I have found Joy in my situation.
I wanted to thank everyone whom I have worked with, been friends with (hopefully both), been helped by, and who have intersected my life in 2008.
I look forward to finding Joy in this year of 2009. I look forward to you being Joyful in 2009 too…..
I hope that you, your family, your work, your business, your finances, and your health, are all that you hope for this year. Best wishes………Keep going…………Peace, Bob
Ok…I gotta include a couple of my favorite Jim Rohn quotes again here.
“We must wage an intense, lifelong battle against the downward pull. If we relax, the bugs and weeds of negativity will move into the garden and take away everything of value.”
“Don’t take the casual approach to life. Casualness leads to casualties.”
“America is unique because it offers you an economic ladder to climb. And here’s what’s exciting: It is the bottom of the ladder that is crowded, not the top”

Finally......They're Here!!!!

I picked up the books yesterday afternoon from the press.

I can't describe how great it felt to finally see all the hard work in fruition.

The Joy of Diabetes has been a long time in the making and it was like watching your child be born. I hope that this book is helpful to a lot of folks.
I have shipped all of the pre-orders today and everyone should get them in the next few days. Thank you all for your patience.

It is a relief to finally be done and see the finished product. They turned out beautifully and the the folks at Harrington Design in Jacksonville Florida did a great job. I highly recommend them to everyone. You can follow the link on my blog to see their website. They do good work!!
Keep going.....Peace, Bob