Diabetes Stress

After wearing the OmniPod for a few days, I am excited about the new style of pump, but I am not on board yet.  I love the tubless concept, but it is still bulky.  It was bulky on a 30 year old woman with a few extra pounds, and it is bulky on a 6 year old with 3% body fat.  But nevertheless, the path towards better diabetes control moves forwards and the next logical step is an insulin pump of some sort. After considering the options, Ellee's dad and I decided the Ping it is.  If you want to read more about the stress of trying to convince a 6 year old that a pump is a good idea, go to ElleeB.blogspot.com.

For anyone who has to deal with Type 1 Diabetes, they know that it's rough, especially when it's a young child who has it.  How do you explain to them why they have to get shots and test their sugar often?  It's even harder to answer the question of "Why do *I* have it and not anyone else?" 

As an adult, I've grown to know that while I may not like shots or blood draws, I know that they are important.  I've even realized that they are more tolerable if I don't watch.  I can donate blood and be still for a blood draw as long as I look away while they insert it.  How do you get a child to understand that? 

I've come to the realization that I am ready... I am ready to do a JDRF Ride to Cure!  Ever since Ellee was diagnosed and I found out about the JDRF Walks, I found the Ride to Cures and I knew that I *have* to do one.  No way was I to that level of riding and the fundraising requirements are steep, but I knew that one of these days, I *will* do one! 

Just like my realization and acceptance that an insulin pump is the next step in control, I am also at that same point with this Ride.  I rode 50 miles with my boyfriend on July 17th and I knew that if I could ride 50 miles in 4 hours, then with hard work and dedication, I can ride 100 miles!

My blog from now until the next year or so will be geared towards my preparation of this ride!  I may get a little too technical or boring, but bear with me!  100 miles in one day on a bicycle is a lot, even for seasoned riders, and having to raise between $2,000 - $4,000 is a lot of money to get in donations in this economy.  But that $4,000 puts us that much closer to a prevention in Type 1 Diabetes and hopefully a successful transplant to cure!