A little diabetes online fun for your Monday: Use your Noggin and three lucky readers will win a free copy of Dan Hurley’s new “epic” book, “Diabetes Rising.”
First off, you may have heard a lot of buzz about this book lately. The full title 
is, “Diabetes Rising: How a Rare Disease Became a Modern Pandemic, and What to Do About It.” It’s written by award-winning investigative journalist Dan Hurley, who’s lived himself with Type 1 diabetes for over 30 years.
According to the publishers, the book is a “gripping expose of the quest for a cure for the disease that afflicts hundreds of millions of people around the world.” I’d tend to agree. I thought it was the best overview I’ve ever read of the evolution of diabetes care and research. I know at least one other D-blogger who thought there was too much emphasis on the history of the disease and the theoretical side. To each his own…
BUT, I can tell you this much: Dan Hurley is a no-holds-barred straight-talker, perhaps even a whistle-blower type.
Check out my two-part interview with the guy published in September, in which he very frankly criticizes the American Diabetes Association, and communicates the real state of affairs in the development artificial pancreas technology:
Author Dan Hurley on Diabetes, Part 1: “Try Harder” is Not Enough!”
Author Dan Hurley on Diabetes, Part 2: “Transformative Technology”
And now on to How You Can Win:
Some of you may know of Matthew Zachary’s excellent online community for young people struck by cancer, called I’m Too Young For This. I’ve had many chats with Matthew, who’s got no shortage of great ideas about how to use social media to do good things for the patient community. His web site also pops up under the URL StupidCancer.com — an irresistable title, no?
So, in response to his prompting, I’ve registered a similar URL for us equally obstinate PWD-types:
StupidDiabetes.com
What do you all think we should do this web property, Folks? Post an idea in the comment section below, and your name will be entered in a drawing to win one of three free copies of Hurley’s new book.
Should StupidDiabetes.com become a blog for snarky stories of daily life with diabetes? Or a wiki where the OC can share favorite tips? Maybe a new place to share “America’s funniest home diabetes videos?” Or something more serious — like a clearinghouse for donating to diabetes causes?
Again, all you have to do is make some kind of suggestion, and you could win a free book. I think we can all agree that diabetes is stupid, stupid, stupid… so why not get creative with it?
Winners will be announced on Friday, Jan. 22.
I think it is a great idea!
What be awesome is a place for people to have stories posted about some of the different situation they face, like I am type II, 27 and mine is the result of an infection that I had when I was 23. Try tying to relate to anyone about that. I love not being able to experience my 20′s I MISS BEER SO MUCH .. HA
Cheers
Andrew
One of my favorite things is diabetes humor. The stuff nobody else “gets” and finds funny other than a PwD or a parent dealing with this disease. You know, all the places you’ve found a test strip…. or asking your 12 year old if he is high in the grocery store and the funny looks you get….these are the things that make me feel like I am part of a secret club!
I think it would be great to hear short anecdotes from people. Would also be nice for bloggers to be able to write a short bio and then link to them.
Just Jenny- I realized the other day that I often tweet “My daughter is high” and how that might be misconstrued, lol!
I think it should be mainly humorous but with some helpful info and maybe links to blogs. Things like “Top 10 strangest things people say to you” “Top 10 funniest diabetes stories” and the like. Videos would also be cool. One thing that would be great would be a shout off board. Nothing more than a text box you can type in a short vent and it get’s posted on a wall. No names, just venting.
It’s not bad to make fun of people with have diabetes, just don’t get them a wound, it is so hard to heal a wound when your blood sugar is high. mostly in the extremities. by the way i just lost to the topic. Lets go back to the book, how can I win that book again? I really want that book, it can help me more about the trend of diabetes today, and how is it affecting the life of the people that has it, and the world, its a pandemic.
Humor is nice, but I think the site should be a clearinghouse for what to do when you get frustrated – links to places like TCOYD, or helpful books, maybe a chatroom, stories of how other people cope, etc.
I think it should be, in Amy’s words “Should StupidDiabetes.com become a blog for snarky stories of daily life with diabetes.” There are already sites like TuDiabetes where people can post questions and get other diabetics to answer them. There are also Yahoo e-mail lists (like IP – Insulin Pujpers) where people can post their questions. This sort of site could give us non-official bloggers a place to share our personal stories about the things we endure on a daily basis. Perhaps the site could be divided into Type I and Type II sections.
Let me re-phrase that first sentence, folks: “I think it should be, in Amy’s words, ‘a blog for snarky stories of daily life with diabetes.” (Sorry, I didn’t proofread before having sent my earlier post!)
I’d like to see people share how they change the dynamic with their health care providers from one of judgment to one of supportive team work. There is a way to make going to the endo team something to look forward to (at least not dread) — it should be a diabetes coaching session filled with empowerment and exchange of ideas. Emotional health must be addressed too – sometimes front and center. It’s time for the health care professionals to become compliant with the needs of their patients with diabetes.
I like the idea of a place to share the challenges of living with diabetes. For the non-diabetic it’s hard to imagine just how difficult balancing carbs (oops almost said ‘cars’), insulin, exercise, stress, etc.
I might be good to help people get more insight into this.
I love humor! My D-friends and I always trade D-jokes. So I think it would be awesome to have a website dedicated to diabetes humor!
A test with questions about diabetes, and if you don’t pass you may be called stupid! Done in a humorous way as it is to educate and not offend.
OK, Amy – I am going with the humor aspect with a teaching/learning aspect.
You could have sections like:
D’OH! – Stupid things PWDs have done (when high, when low). You might have to get licensing from “The Simpsons”. Subsections could include “Can’t satisfy the munchies when I’m HIGH” and “How low can YOU gow – er – GO!”
Diabetes Police – Stupid things the D-Police have done that are also funny (is that oxymoronic?)
Intelligent Design Awards – Funny yet inspiring things PWDs have done AND lived(!) kind of like a reverse Darwin Award.
Endo Life Counseling – No, not a comment on the healthcare debate, but funny and/or stupid things associated with going to visit your favorite(!?) endocrinologist. (This could have a special section hosted by Sara Palin on Twitter.)
Statistical Victims Unit – could this be directed by Dick Wolf of Law and Order fame? Stories of how PWDs have overcome or been overrun by the insurance industry – of course, these would be all stupid, all the time.
Lovely Rita, Meter Maid! – Hosted by fellow D-blogger Rita Greenberg, this could have funny BG meter stories. Again, this might require licensing from the Beatles or whomever is the current owner of their great songs.
Fair Winds,
Mike
I love the humor side of the idea with an eye out for teaching and learning as well. How about a section devoted to Diabetes Myths. We’ve all heard them from otherwise well-meaning people, who believe that if you just follow their lengthy list of ‘old wives tales’ your diabetes will mysteriously go away from whence it came.
I would rather see it called SmartDiabetes.com. How about a center for dealing with everyday problems? For example:
1. Sharps disposal. Most painless way.
2. Most insurance will pay for a new pump every 4 years. Medicare will pay for one every 5 years. Huh? What about those who go on Medicare part way through our 4 year warranty?
3. How about a basic pump interface without all the other “features” to make it easy. Let’s minimize the button pushing.
I vote for the humor. There are many sites available for the serious education and information, including Diabetes Mine, which I have turned to for answers. But, I would love a site where you can gripe about “stupid diabetes” and see funny stories to make my “moment of glory” not so embarrasing. I agree with Mike above. My first response was hearing Homer saying, “Doh! Stupid Diabetes.”
How about making it akin to “FML”, or “My Life Is Average”, just for people with Diabetes?
“Today my bloodsugar spiked 250 even though I ate normally and took my normal dose of insulin. Stupid Diabetes!”
or
“Today I had to say no to a piece of cake at the office. Stupid Diabetes!”
though you could have uplifting “stories” as well!
Just my 2 cents
Why limit yourself to one subject? It should be a place where one can simply vent their frustration, tell a funny story, a stupid diabetes move story or even share a moment of inspiration.
I would lend a hearty “amen” to the idea of humor. Too much of this damn disease is about avoiding dying. If we can lighten up a bit, maybe we can lower our blood pressures and enjoy the life WE DO HAVE instead of all the time trying to stay away from the grim reaper. Just my $.02.
Kurt
How about a site that shares information, humor, and “snarky” stories from the diabetes community…oh, wait…I think there’s a place called diabetesmine.com that might already cover all the bases. No need for “some other kind of diabetes place”. Thanks Amy for all your hard work.
Never can be too many humorous PWD sites. I like this idea!
I love the idea of a humor/snark site and support the idea of sections particularly dividing types 1 and 2. It would be fun to have a section of “diabetes police comments”. How about a “clueless” section. (Like the person who says, well, if she’s had it for 8 yrs she must be doing ok) I always laught at the CWD section “You know you have a kid with type 1 when…” PS: my daughter is on day 4 of a pretty straight line on her dexcom! (she’s 13) At 24 hours, I proudly told my sister she had been in the zone for 24 hours. She thought I was going to say 24 days! AS IF!!!!
I think it can be twofold.
One – to share stories that lighten the load that PWD carry. How diabetes totally messed up an event you attended. How you miscalculated the carbs. How diabetes once again interfered with what you intended to do with no worries. All those day-to-day things that Type 1s carry. Maybe Type 1s can let them off here. Blame the stupid diabetes.
Two – after the letting go, the carrying on. Donating unused supplies, informational exchange about reduced medicine, I have and you need supply approach to the Type 1 masses. There are so many people out there struggling with Type 1 who need help – material help with managing this stupid diabetes. Maybe while people with PWD can let go of how stupid the disease is on this site, they can also ‘pay-it-forward; to others less fortunate.
Thanks,
Penny, Mom to 7 year old Grace – PWD Type 1
Another vote for humor. I loved recently reading a link (Amy posted here) to someone’s blog where the blogger said something like – “don’t you hate folding your laundry and you look down and there’s a renegade Bg strip staring back at you?” I loved the “yup – been there!” feeling that comes from reading people’s day-to-day experiences. I guess that feeling is empathy — it makes me feel less alone.
In addition to those kinds of stories, it could be a place to share the stupid mistakes we ourselves make (I thought I bolused for 5u and instead bolused for .5u – doh!), the stupid things our doctors do, the stupid things people say, and the ways in which stupid diabetes has made our lives truly hard. Wait, that last one may be too heavy. Hunh. I’ll keep thinking….
(I like what Penny wrote in her first para!)
Stupid Diabetes are words that we speak everyday. Frustration of dealing with diabetes is sometimes one the most difficult things to do deal with and no one outside will really understand. Reading blogs about dealing with diabetes and its frustrations helps me realize that I am not the only one.
Here is my idea: Create a blog atmosphere in a setting similar to when we meet a person with diabetes for the first time. Have conversations similar to when a group of us may come together and talk only about diabetes, because no one else really understands what the hell we are talking about.
Here is my idea:
Share your humorous and real life stories. Sometimes just hearing another persons story and seeing your own situation in the story is helpful. Tell our sucessful and not so successful stories. Give suggestions/comments on how to deal with these frustrations, tell each other that only your Dr. can answer your question. Tell your funny story. All in an enviroment similar to a meeting or gathering in a coffee shop with other diabetics. I will take splenda please.
Amy several blogs ago you had told a story of meeting up with a group of people that all had diabetes. My feeling was that I would have loved to be at that table. I did not know any of those people, but I would have loved to be part of that conversation regarding diabetes.
Invite other bloggers like Manny, Kerri, Scott, Rita and many more to the conversations. Include you tube conversations, provide info recources for ADA, JDRF and so on.
Just imagine a person that is totally frustrated with dealing with diabetes, will be sitting in a coffee shop with laptop in hand. That PWD will find the site and the conversations will begin….How long have you had diabetes, Type 1 or Type 2?
Conversation is healing……
Thank you for this opportunity, dargirl
humor is good!
People with Diabetes are faced with many frustrations dealing with Diabetes. Severa time a day I find myself making comments like, “My BS is makes no sense! Why am I high? Why am I low? I am concern with complications related to the deiseas”. I am so tired of dealing with this emotional roller coaster? Stupid Diabetes! Am I the only one that feels this way?
Stupid Diabetes should be a group gathering conversations. Imagine the readers will be sitting in a coffee shop sharing their story. Hi my dame is dargirl and I have had Type 1 38 years and my stupid diabetes is driving me crazy. I want better control.
Amy in a previous post you wrote about a group meeting that you attended. You did not know the individuals personally, but you did know them as a result of Diabetes. As I read the story I wanted to be a the table participating in the conversation, asking questions. How long have you had diabetes? Type 1 or 2? Shots or Pump? Your pregnant and have Type 1, how is it going? Can you please pass me the Splenda for my coffee? The conversation could be endless and no one else would understand what we are talking about unless you had diabetes or is a caregiver.
Stupid Diabetes can be developed to invite guest bloggers, Manny, Kerri, Scott and Rita for a cup of coffee to participate in our conversations, share there experiences. The website could refer other pages.
Stupid Diabetes is a catchy term, enough to start the conversations. Can you pass the coffee please……
I vote for humor too. We as diabetics have frustrated times and I would love to go somewhere where I can just post something funny or laugh at someone Else’s funny tit bit. I think it will be a great resource.
We already have too many of the serious educational stuff and we should add humor as well.
I think a snarky place for weekly/daily blogs dealing with everyday diabetes problems, but with a sharp tongued, snarky spin. There is so much ignorance regarding diabetes out there…especially surrounding type 1 (ummmm hellllo Steel Magnolias??), we could all use a place to let loose and laugh. I really like the idea for a board similar to MLIA.com and FML.com…those are great for everyday laughs.
If I wrote a blog, I would title it “Sugar’s the biotch, Not me”
-Kelley, T1 18 years, diabetes nurse educator, married to my endocrinologist who has had T1 for 22 years
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How about making StupidDiabetes.com like an online “stress ball”?
You could insert a Paint application so we can draw our frustration or upload our photos to VENT. (Also accomplishing #5 on your list posted today.)
There are great communities our there for us to ask questions and get to know each other. Sometimes I don’t want to talk about diabetes, I just want to say “UGH! Stupid diabetes!” This website could offer creative venting options without words
I think “Stupid Diabetes” actually sounds like a great online web comic! I’d love to see a comic made by people with diabetes for people with diabetes that accurately depicted (in a humorous way) the trials we go through in our day-to-day lives. It’d also be a great way to educated non-PWD’s.
I think the site should be used to let others know anything we have discovered to help us controll our diabetes, for example reading today to have your fruit with your meal instead as a snack was wonderful!!! I am going to try it starting tomorrow. I do not remamber ever reading or hearing this before. Thanks for your wonderful site. I so enjoyed meeting you at the Taking Control of Your Diabetes conference in Santa Rosa, CA and hope to see you at another one soon.
Nothing , except for maybe one thing, beats a good laugh
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