Swine Flu Vaccine...H1N1..

To vaccinate or not....Well, I chose to....
I always get the flu shot every year as some of my most horrific illnesses have been bouts with the flu. As a diabetic, it is very difficult to get the flu and not get wiped out. Usually, I will be down and out for a few days and my bloodsugars will vary widely. A few years back, I chose to forgo the flu shot....needless to say, I won't do that again. I was sicker than a dog and was completely out of control of my diabetes.
For me.....Vaccinate!!!!!

Books on Diabetes

There are quite a few diabetes books out there and folks are always asking which ones to read. Of course, after you read The Joy of Diabetes book, (LOL) there are some other great books on diabetes out there.
Many folks like :

Amazon.com: Think Like a Pancreas: A Practical Guide to Managing ...

Amazon.com: Think Like a Pancreas: A Practical Guide to Managing Diabetes with Insulin (9781569244364): MS Gary Scheiner MS, Ph.D. Barry Goldstein MDMD: ...
www.amazon.com/Think-Like-Pancreas.../dp/1569244367

I have also heard that many folks like....

Amazon.com: The Diabetes Diet: Dr. Bernstein's Low-Carbohydrate ...

Amazon.com: The Diabetes Diet: Dr. Bernstein's Low-Carbohydrate Solution (

9780316737845): Richard K. Bernstein: Books.
www.amazon.com/Diabetes-Diet-Bernsteins.../0316737844

These seem to be liked by most folks..of course there are lots, but regardless what you choose, keep reading and learning.
Knowledge is power....especially with diabetes...

Keep going.....Keep reading books on diabetes...
Bob Hawkinson author....The Joy of Diabetes

Living Out Loud with Diabetes ....Forum

Wow....a lot of work. I have been twittering and have created a site at www.joyofdiabetes.ning.com as a diabetes forum. It is a lot of work, and I am glad to see that it is starting to move more on its own now. I noticed folks are starting to make their own connections and I am tickled to see lots of folks have joined. If you have an interest, come check us out. And lets have a little fun ....Living with D'......
Peace, Bob

Living Out Loud with Diabetes ....Forum

I have moved this blog and created "Living Out Loud with Diabetes" as a diabetes forum that is much more easy to use and allows for active membership posting and participation at no charge. Come visit us at www.joyofdiabetes.ning.com There is some good stuff there....Thanks Bob

The Bird Strike of Diabetes....The Liver Dump

Liver Dump…The Bird Strike of Diabetes….Monday, January 19th, 2009
Yesterday I was able to kick back and relax a little and lo and behold….I fell asleep on the couch. After about a 2 hour deep sleep nap, I awoke with some unexplained high numbers. Am I the only one who sometimes seems to get a liver dump after a long nap? This is not the first time it has happened, and it is always hard to manage as you have no idea it is coming, and no idea how much insulin to take to offset it…..Ahhh, the Diabetic Birdstrike…...The Liver dump. My cgms alarm was working overtime…..
Listen to an Interview I gave on the Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Show With Jimmy Moore http://cli.gs/LivinLowCarbInterview

Navigating through the Christmas party season....

I don't know about everyone else, but I always struggle trying to maintain stellar glucose control when attending parties throughout this season. With all of the unknown tantalizing foods on the table, it is hard to figure out your insulin needs.
Usually most cooks seem to go for the high carbohydrate or high fat foods during these times. Unfortunately, it is not always apparent what exactly is in Aunt Mabels Super Surprise Caserole. You don't want to hurt her feelings, but you also don't want to mess up your sugar levels either. I think the solution is to say yes to small portions (sometimes really small) and to know that it is OK to say NO to things that you know will cause you problems. I am not always the best at doing so but after a party I attended last weekend and had major glucose control problems later, I have decided to just be more assertive in my NO's and more inquisitive in my YES's. I will focus more on what I have to do than on worrying about hurting someones' feelings.
I just have to get better at saying No I think.... I'll keep it a joyful season I guess being more resolved in my control and less worried about offending others.
I'll just see everyone as my teenager kids....that should make saying "No" easier.....lol

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

Lost without my CGMS.......

I recently had a few sensors on my CGMS that went kaput.....since I normally reorder with 2 sensors left, I didn't have any more in stock, and have been the last 2 days without it. Having been on a Dexcom for around 2 years, I always knew that I depended on it but I didn't realize how much. The data I get every 5 minutes really helps me in keeping my diabetes in check. I didn't realize that the last 2 years I had become so dependent on that information and that it truly has been a huge help and blessing in improving the management and the confidence I have in my daily diabetes control. Hurry up Fedex.......
If you don't already have a cgms, I would tell you to ask for one for Christmas.....
Keep going, Peace, Bob

The Misadventures of Lil' Johnny....and his cgms

Here is the most recent video. I think it's funny,I hope you like it. You are welcome (wait strike that....Encouraged) if you like it, to pass it around. You can see all the videos at www.youtube.com/1diabetic There is some funny stuff, and I should have a few more out soon....
Keep going, Peace Bob

Living Out Loud with Diabetes..................

I have just recently started a new Diabetic Forum called Living Out Loud with Diabetes. It is a humorous site for diabetics and those that love 'em. You can see it at http://www.joyofdiabetes.ning.com/ Come visit and post often....

Diabetes Presentation at Mayo clinic

Tomorrow I will be givng a presentation on The Joy of Diabetes to Diabetes Educators at The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. I will be addressing them for about an hour and hope to inpire, educate, and shed some light on Living with diabetes......It should be a lot of fun.....Bob

Passionate......expressing passion or strong feeling. Capable or characterized by passion or intense feeling. Vehement.....

A word that I think has always described my approach to my diabetes. It is also how I feel about trying to motivate existing diabetics who are not taking care of themselves or are in denial .
This last week,I had 2 stories of how someone's loved one was not taking care of themselves, and the terrible impact that lack of action was causing in their lives. It was once again, incredibly sad and troubling to me.
Why oh Why, oh Why, don't people "get it". It just is what it is, You got the D!....now is the time to take charge and deal with it. The good news is that when you do, life improves and so does your health. If not.......well, we all kinda know how that works out.

Diabetes..........oh the Joy!......

Keep going,..................................Peace, Bob

Some scary numbers......80,000 to be exact.

It is estimated that there are about 80,000 diabetic amputations in the United States every year.
Betcha didn't know.....that equates to about 9 diabetics an hour.. 24 hours a day getting some part of their body removed....forever. I don't know about you, but that is enough to get me motivated to pursue tight control over my glucose levels. I hope you will too.

Keep Going.....Peace, Bob

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

Hour by Hour, Daily Battle!

Well, Today's the Day! I went to my press company and did the Press Check for color at 8 a.m. this morning and the book is being run today. They tell me it will be folded and bound next week and I should have it by Thursday or Friday. It is amazing how everything, is always a week out. It was great as I had my son with me and we got the tour of how the operation ran and printed and were allowed to tour the whole facility. The press operators were very helpful. One said that he really appreciated the concept of the book as his father had become diabetic in the previous few years and that it was close to home for him. I am amazed at the numbers of people affected by this disease.

As I got back to my office, I got a phone call from an old friend who had been diagnosed diabetic and is on 4 injections a day. I highly recommended looking into seeing if maybe an insulin pump would help him to improve his control. I related to him that before I went on an insulin pump 15 years ago, I too was taking 4 injections a day. Wow! am I ever glad to be done with that. As like the rest of us, he is struggling to maintain control and keep it right! It is an hour by hour, daily battle.......but it's a good fight!

As always, Keep going...........Peace, Bob