Welcome Guests! Thanks for joining me on this fine day for the Grand Rounds host Birthday 
Edition, Vol. 5, No. 31 — where the best of this week’s medical and health blogging comes to party.
And now straight to the festivities, where you’ll find some delightful surprises in store:
SWEETS
Birthday cake, anyone? Alison Finney, a fellow diabetic and author of Shoot Up or Put Up, shares my April 21 birthday! (also with the Queen of England). She’s turning 30, and finds this a good time to look back at her first birthday with diabetes, when her parents took a novel approach to “diabetic-friendly” cakes.
Chris Nickson of Life in the Fast Lane is yet another April 21 birthday baby! This week, he’s in the midst of a 4-part series on the sweet strategy of “positive pimping” — with mixed success.
Yet another kindred spirit: Laura Brandes of My Favourite Number describes her first Easter/Birthday celebration living with both type 1 diabetes and celiac disease (my illness twin!) She’s focused on the importance of diligent testing/diabetes management “for the proper enjoyment of this celebratory day full of gluten-free goodies, friends, dancing, wine and ice cream.” XOXO, Laura!
And a very happy 4th birthday to David Williams’ Health Business Blog! (read his roundup of favorite posts from each month)
Are Banana-Split Jelly Beans the Key to Happiness? That is the question, from How to Cope with Pain. Sugar is only a short-term high, of course. Read the post to find out what else creates good feelings in the long-term.
Did you happen to know that comedienne Paula Poundstone thinks Ring Dings make life worth living? This bit of trivia provided by Florence dot com. btw, food guru Michael Pollan happens to disagree, unless you’re able to really able to compartmentalize your “special occasion food.”
PRESENTS
The Happy Hospitalist got a GPS wristwatch for his birthday on March 19th. He promptly went on vacation to Busch Gardens and rode rollercoasters with the GPS turned on. Pretty cool.
It’s like a birthday for every doc who owns an iPhone these days! Insure Blog‘s Henry Stern reviews the new iTriage application — putting access to vital info in the palm of both providers’ and patients’ hands — and he interviews the CMO of Healthagen to boot.
Open this package, Medbloggers: Better Health Blog speculates that blogs will replace traditional media health beats, and that we’ll get better information in the process 
SERENDIPITY
Barbara of In Sickness and In Health has certainly experienced how illness can so easily get in the way of joy. Therefore, when you can experience something meaningful, even if it’s something as familiar as a simple hike in the woods, it’s a cause for celebration.
Over at Reality Rounds, the author’s reminiscing about taking care of a special family on her birthday as a new nurse. “This family changed my life,” she says.
Sometimes patients want nothing more than to offer gifts to thank their medical caregivers, but is this a conflict of interest? One ER physician over at MedScape realizes that maybe we shouldn’t make things so complicated, especially when someone really sick just wants to kindly share their Elk Jerky (requires free login to access).
See also: some very nice thoughts on reclaiming the meaning of rituals vs. “hallmark moments” from Nancy Brown at Teen Health 411.
Good to know, from Healthcare Technology News: new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rules on identity theft now cover Protected Health Information (PHI) as well.
The ultimate in serendipity from Axis Deviation: even when you’re out Clubbing and celebrating, it helps to be trained as a doctor.
PARTY GAMES
Now, how about Twister? Or a rousing round of Limbo? How low can you go? David Harlow’s Health Care Law Blog discusses MGH pediatric heart surgery. Note: “Acting appropriately on this post should help ensure that a bunch of folks reach future birthdays.”
Shall we try a little Pin the Tail on the… Dog? The Fitness Fixer blog will clear up any misconceptions straight away.
Speaking of blindfolding, here’s a new game called “hide the evaluation”: Dr. Bruno Oliveira reports on web sites that allow patients to “grade” their physicians, and how some physicians are now asking patients to sign forms promising not to participate on such sites (requires free login).
How about a peek at everybody’s baby photos? That’s always fun! Kerri Sparling writes about how her type 1 diabetes diagnosis didn’t seem so far away until she stumbled upon old photos that proved just how much life has, and hasn’t, changed.
Jenni Propoky, on the other hand, is trying out something called the “Be Here Now” experiment — attempting to “live in the moment” for 30 days straight.
Test your party etiquette: Kim over at Emergiblog reminds us that she never passes judgment on her patients, and that nurses deserve the same fair treatment as well.
PARTY CRASHERS
There’s no way around it: you’ve got to invite the relatives. Over at Colorado Health Insurance Insider, Louise hosts a post from her father in-law. He’s a retired psychologist who knows a thing or two about what it takes to make healthcare reform actually work.
Everyone loves a good beach bash. Not to be a party pooper, but Dr. PS Auberbach has some 
cautions about rip tides and alcohol at the beach: “choose wisely.”
What, guests talking politics, religion or sex? Oh my! Eve over at A Healthy Piece of Mind starts out by wondering “Why make the woman have surgery when a vasectomy is so much simpler?!” But there’s much more to this story.
Ouch! Inside Surgery has the scoop on Farrah Fawcett’s case of anal cancer, and a possible course of diagnosis and treatment for this unhappy condition.
IT’S MY PARTY AND I’LL CRY IF I WANT TO (more bad news)
Whaaaaaa!!!! NHS Blog Doctor shares a story of a birthday that went badly wrong in a UK hospital –- and “has been seized upon by the right-wing American media as an example of the evils of socialized medicine” (note: the twin babies were saved).
Sometimes things can go terribly wrong in routine surgery as well. Luckily, Other Things Amanzi is on the case — with a post on the blood-stemming surgical principles of bongi.
Clinical Cases and Images blog reminds us that even when we’re having fun, sometimes the party gets a little out of hand — especially if you’re freewheeling on the Internet. You don’t want to end up in court, so be careful what you upload; have a look at these tips for medical bloggers.
Getting your just desserts? Duncan Cross offers a dark look at the attitude that sick people are somehow getting what they deserve — complete with an “anti-birthday” cake.
OK, so now the party’s nearly over and you’re thinking about going back to work? Breath easy. Otherwise you too may be a victim of “occupational asthma,” as reported this week by Allergy Notes.
Once you are back at work, Paper Mask blog reminds us to beware of “meeting fatigue”: “The bigger the hospital, the more time you seem to spend in meetings and not actually treating patients.”
GOODIE BAGS (don’t leave without one)
To end today’s festivities on a high note…
Over at AusMed they’re having a peek at what’s in the bag? It could be something really great, especially if the bag is squirming!
Laika’s MedLibBlog has some goodies for you, all right. She reports on the many rewards of both applied science and research work.
Plus, always remember and never forget: there are enormous health benefits of laughter (especially for folks with type 2 diabetes and heart disease risks). Jan over at Doc Gurley blog reports on that which is well worth a giggle.
Thank you for joining my party, One and All!
Now I’m off to enjoy some gluten-free birthday delicacies in Boston, MA, as I jet out that way to participate in the Spring Health 2.0 Conference. (Read: I’m on an airplane all day today, so forgive me if I don’t respond to emails and comments right away.)
Next week, please join Grand Rounds over at SixUntilMe.
[...] 0.0/5 (0 votes cast) This article was found on DiabetesMine: the all things diabetes blog. Click here to visit the full article on the original website.Welcome Guests! Thanks for joining me on this fine day for the Grand Rounds host Birthday Edition, [...]
Happy Birthday to you ! Great edition!
[...] Here is the compilation of posts on the theme of Gifts and Presents . The next Grand Round wil be hosted by another well known diabetes blogger: Kerri Morrone Sparling of Six Until Me [...]
Super job, Amy – and Happy Birthday!
Thanks for hosting, and for including our post!
[...] out the latest edition of Grand Rounds hosted at Diabetes Mine. It’s the author’s birthday and that’s [...]
Wonderful Grand Rounds, Amy. Happy Birthday.
Get job and Happy Birthday! Thanks for including my post.
That’s supposed to say “Great” job. Need more coffee.
Great work – nicely done!
And happy birthday!
[...] 40 sites end up getting featured with a brief description. This week’s Grand Rounds is at Diabetes Mine. Check it out to see some blogs much cooler than mine. [...]
Happy Birthday, Amy! Thank you for including my post. Enjoy those gluten-free birthday treats and have a wonderful day.
Cheers,
Laura (your illness twin)
Happy birthday! I enjoyed the list of good blogs and posts there.
Can I be really pedantic? Oh, okay then. The Queen of England is really the Queen of the United Kingdom (and a number of other Commonwealth States) and she has two birthdays – her actual birthday today and one in June, which is her official birthday http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen%27s_Official_Birthday
Yeah, I hate pedants too.
Happy Birthday Amy!
And all others celebrating today.
Happy birthday Amy!
Happy birthday and wonderful job! Great to see such creativity!
Enjoy your b-day and the conference, Amy! Thanks for including Flo (sorry about the Ring Dings- she doesn’t get out much). Here’s a Grand Rounds link with a few more gifts: http://florencedotcom.blogspot.com/2009/04/gifts-that-keep-on-giving.html
[...] And Amy over at Diabetes Mine has done a great job with her Birthday Edition!!!! [...]
Happy Birthday! You are the B.E.S.T.
http://prescriptions-pain-medications.blogspot.com/
This is really a well laid out website. I like how you have presented the information in full detail. Keep up the great work and please stop by my site sometime. The url is http://healthy-nutrition-facts.blogspot.com
Terrific edition! Thanks for hosting on your birthday.
Excellent blog. Congratulations on your Birthday, but we received the gifts. May you celebrate many more in good health.
Nice one, well done and thanks for hosting! A very slight correction… my blog’s name is “Nursing Handover”, not “Ausmed”.
Happy Birthday. Busy cooking so forgot to enter. Still you might not want too much of what I have cooked.
The Cockroach Catcher
[...] media as an example of the evils of socialized medicine” (note: the twin babies were saved). [...]Coming next week: Updates to web activities, contact importing … Coming next week: Updates to web [...]
[...] media as an example of the evils of socialized medicine” (note: the twin babies were saved). [...]Coming next week: Updates to web activities, contact importing … Coming next week: Updates to web [...]
thx
Excellent blog. Congratulations on your Birthday, but we received the gifts. May you celebrate many more in good health.
Amy, missed this on Tuesday, Happy Birthday.
[...] AmyT created an interesting post today on » Grand Rounds: Birthday Edition – DiabetesMine: the all things …Here’s a short outlineNHS Blog Doctor shares a story of a birthday that went badly wrong in a UK hospital –- and “has been seized upon by the right-wing American media as an example of the evils of socialized medicine” (note: the twin babies were saved). … [...]
[...] 23rd, 2009 | Tags: Amy at Diabetes Mine hosts this week’s Birthday Bash edition of Grand Rounds. Hey, it’s worth stopping by just for the cupcakes! Leave a comment No Related Post [...]
[...] AmyT created an interesting post today on » Grand Rounds: Birthday Edition – DiabetesMine: the all things …Here’s a short outlinePlus, always remember and never forget: there are enormous health benefits of laughter (especially for folks with type 2 diabetes and heart disease risks). Jan over at Doc Gurley blog reports on that which is well worth a giggle. … [...]
Happy belated birthday Amy! A great edition of grand rounds!
Colleen
(another illness twin)
I’ll have to pass this along to a diabetic friend of mine- they should love it!