I really enjoyed my Type 1/Type 2 Conversations with Kate Cornell of Sweet Success: My Life with Type 2 Diabetes.  Our first foray into collaborative blogposts was a four-part series.  We had ideas for about ten posts, so I don’t think that this is the end of Kate/Laddie conversations.  But for now we’ve retreated into our respective corners with a greater understanding of what the “other type” of diabetes thinks and experiences.

When Kate and I started our project, one of our goals was to inspire others in the Diabetes Online Community (DOC) to initiate similar conversations.  Real communication is often lacking in our 21st Century world and the DOC has not been exempt from conflict and misunderstandings.  Fortunately many bloggers have become increasingly vocal about working to unite as one community regardless of medical history or type of diabetes.  (A good example of this is Kerri’s post titled Learning from My Peers.)  Together we can make progress; individually we spin our wheels.  We don’t need to agree on everything and we certainly aren’t the same.  But we can talk to each other.  We can respect each other and we can learn from each other.  We can build bridges to make the DOC a stronger community.

Kate and I hope that others in the DOC will jump on the communication bandwagon and initiate some conversations.  Type 1/Type 2 discussions are great, but don’t be limited by that combo.  How about a LADA talking to Type 1 diagnosed as a child?  How about a Type 2/Parent of a Type 1 dialog?  How about a pregnant Type 1 talking to a young T1 mother?  How about a conversation with your spouse or child?  Maybe a cat-lover and dog-owner (or would that generate too many fireworks?)  The possibilities are endless.

If you would like to participate in the Conversations project, please check out the Conversations page at Test Guess and Go.  You’ll find a few hints on how to proceed and information about obtaining the Conversations banner and graphic if you’d like to use them.  (I can easily customize the graphics to fit whatever your conversation is, so be sure to let me know what you need.)

What are the rules?

1. Be respectful.
2. Have fun and be creative.  If you don’t want to write a long post, consider using Storify with Tweets and/or Instagram photos.  Write limericks back and forth.  Publish email conversations.  Write comic strips.  Create vlogs.
3. Feel free to tackle controversial subjects but don’t avoid fluff pieces that will make us smile.
4. Choose a partner.  A familiar online friend, a new Twitter follower, a big-name blogger, a new blogger, an acquaintance from a TuDiabetes message board.  Don’t be shy and send an invitation.  The collaboration is just as important as the finished product.
5. Don’t forget #1.  Be respectful.

If you need help or ideas, please contact me or Kate through the contact form on her homepage.  Once you’re published, send me your link and I will add it to the list of blogposts on the Conversations page.

Please help the project grow.  All you have to do is join the conversation!

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If you missed any of our Kate’s and my conversations, you can find them here:

Type 1/Type 2 Conversations: Talking about Weight

Type 1/Type 2 Conversations: Diabetes in the Great Outdoors

Type 1/Type 2 Conversations: Friends and Family

Type 1/Type 2 Conversations: Food, Glorious Food

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