I’ve thought about starting a diabetes blog for a long time, but I never got very far.  Once or twice I’ve looked at blogging sites and several times I’ve jotted down potential blog names.  What has stopped me?  Laziness maybe, but more likely fear.  Fear of doing something I don’t know how to do.  Fear of starting something that would be a continuing responsibility.  But mostly fear of exposing myself to the world, to my friends, to my family, and I suppose to myself.

I used to be a pianist and accompanist.  I found it easier to play for crowds of 100 to 500 people than I did for 1 or 2 people.  I’m very good at anonymous.  I’m not so good at one-to-one and face-to-face.

The DOC (Diabetes Online Community) has become a family to me.  Most of the blogs I read are written by Type 1 diabetics who are in their 20’s, 30’s, and maybe inching into their 40’s.  A few are older, but most are my children.  They’re the mobile generation.  They blog, they vlog, they friend on Facebook, they Tweet.  Boy, do they Tweet.  They welcome and embrace me, but maybe it’s time for me to step out of their shadow.  I think there is room for my voice in the DOC and I hope that I can help and inspire others  in the way that I have been helped and inspired by others.

I would like to thank Scott Johnson who posted my first guest-post at his website in April of this year.  The positive responses that I received from Scott, my family, friends, and the DOC gave me confidence to continue on this journey to start a blog.  I certainly know how to debut at the top by writing what is probably the best post I’ll ever write and by being featured on one of the most popular and long-lived diabetes blogs.  You can find that post here:  http://scottsdiabetes.com/2013/04/safe/

I’m  61 years old and have had Type 1 diabetes since age 24 in 1976.  I’ve always had good insurance and have never had to worry about the availability of insulin and test strips.  Insulin pumps and CGM’s have been readily approved.  I have worked hard to live a healthy life with diabetes, but there are days that it is very difficult to do that.  Although I have lots of autoimmune issues and some of the comorbidities that go along with Type 1, I’ve been spared the major complications of eye, nerve, and kidney damage that can occur with long-term diabetes.

The medical system in the United States is changing and I really wonder what the next years will bring for those of us with diabetes.  My current insurance is through the high-risk program in Minnesota and that will change in 2014 when insurance pools with no pre-existing condition clauses become effective under the  Affordable Care Act.  Although my premiums may be reduced, I think that I will end up with poorer insurance with this change.  And before I know it, I will be on Medicare with a new set of rules that will save me lots of money in some areas, but will try to dictate that I live with 3 test strips a day and throw away my CGM because it is not proven technology.

I hope to use my blog to chronicle my journey through life with diabetes.  Many of my posts will be reflections on the last 36 years as well as my opinions on current issues.  I have invited several online friends who are about my age to regularly write posts on this blog.  These are women whom I’ve bonded with in the DOC and they have been an inspiration to me as I’m sure they will be to you.

Thanks for visiting my website and please come back!