Sweet Doodabug.....Coming Soon

Sweet Doodabug will be releasing an exclusive collection of diabetes art. The personalized paintings are perfect to decorate a room, to educate about diabetes, or just simply look at in enjoyment. More details coming soon!!!

Sweet Tea for Diabetics

Since moving to Memphis from Chicago 5 years ago there are two things that I learned about Memphisians. One, they love Elvis and two, they love sweet tea. My son is no exception as he absolutely loves sweet tea! Every now and again we let him have a sip but that's very far in between because sweet tea is like the plague for us....we stay away at all cost!!

I'm so happy that I've discovered sugar free sweet tea. For some, you're probably thinking what's the big deal but for me personally I feel like I've invented the wheel :)

 We came across the brand Gold Peak. They make a delicious diet sweet tea but we've only been able to find them in 18.5oz bottles at either the gas station or Target but however my local grocery store carries the 59oz bottle of unsweetened tea. When I purchase that, I pour the unsweetened tea into Landon's cup and add (3) Splenda packets (each packet is less than 1 carb). We also do this when we go to a restaurant.



Told you Landon loves his sweet tea


So there you have it folks...sweet tea for diabetics!

Designer Looks for Less

I don't know about you but I must say that I love to get a designer look and not have to pay the designer price. I recently did some shopping on Shoedazzle and I was highly impressed with my purchases. The prices and quality were absolutely superb.

I purchased the Maresa for $54. This shoe is very reminiscent of the Giuseppe Zanotti Bow Detail Platform Sandal. I love this this shoe as its so girly and fun. I would've preferred a brighter color but hey the black still gets the job done.



Shoedazzle, Maresa $54





Giuseppe Zanotti Bow Detail Platform Sandal $895



Another designer look at like is the Christian Louboutin Pigalle Spiked Pump, this shoe is absolutely bad ass but at a whomping $1,295 it will not be joining my shoe collection anytime soon. However the Kali from Shoedazzle has and she is as equally beautiful.



Shoedazzle, Kali $39.95





Christian Louboutin Pigalle Spiked Pump $1,295



DIY: At Home Face Mask

Wouldn't you love to go to a spa and have a nice relaxing facial? I'm sure we all would but due to the fact of not having the time or money that facial isn't hapening no time soon. So why not save some money and have fun making your  very own face mask with ingredients found around the house?

 If you have oily, dry, or combination skin, there is a facial recipe out there for you. I’ve been feeling that my face has been dryer than usual so I was looking for a face mask that will hydrate and deeply moisturize my skin. I decided to try an avocado/honey/olive oil mask. Overall I was very pleased with the outcome as it left my face feeling as soft as a baby’s bum.

Ingredients needed:

1/2 Avocado

1 tbsp Honey

1 tbsp Olive Oil

Mash the avocado in a bowl, try to get most of the lumps out.

I did think the avocado smelt strange but once you add the honey the smell gets better.

Add 1 tbsp of honey and olive oil, mix them all until you get a smooth consistency, it should pretty much look like guacamole.

Apply 2 layers on your face and leave on for ten minutes.

Rinse face with warm water and you have completed a very simple moisturizing face mask.

Hope you guys enjoyed!!

Diabetes Art- DBlog Week Day #6

I went to a painting class last week and I absolutely loved it!!! So when I saw this blog topic it was the perfect excuse to head to Hobby Lobby and buy some paint, brushes, and canvases.

Not too shabby if I may say so myself

Freaky Friday- DBlog Week Day #5

Just like in the movie, today we’re doing a swap. If you could switch chronic diseases, which one would you choose to deal with instead of diabetes?

This is will be a relatively short post as there isn't another disease I would rather have my son deal other than diabetes because whoever said the grass is always greener on other side is crazy. I don't know about you but I know for a fact that that isn't true.

To the general public when they see Landon, they see your typical 3 year old boy. He doesn’t look sickly, he rides his four wheeler, he can even eat a candy bar. But what most people don’t know is how much “planning” goes into him eating that candy bar. They don’t know of his daily pricks and pokes. People don’t know that under Landon’s shirt is an insulin pump that is constantly giving him medicine. So I say all that to say is that I don’t know the true day to day struggles that people with other chronic illnesses experience. But I have to believe whether you have diabetes, sickle cell, or lupus, the struggles and pains are all the same.

Accomplishments- DBlog Week Day #4

We don’t always realize it, but each one of us had come a long way since diabetes first came into our life. It doesn’t matter if it’s been 5 weeks, 5 years or 50 years, you’ve done something outstanding diabetes-wise. So today let’s share the greatest accomplishment you've made in terms of dealing with your (or your loved one’s) diabetes. No accomplishment is too big or too small - think about self-acceptance, something you’ve mastered (pump / exercise / diet / etc.), making a tough care decision (finding a new endo or support group / choosing to use or not use a technology / etc.)

My son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes last year at the age of 1. Since that day he has truly amazed me with his acceptance of his condition. In the beginning he was scared and pretty resistant but to see where he is a year later is absolutely remarkable. He hasn’t let diabetes define him at all. He’s not ashamed to tell you that that’s not a cell phone on his hip but an insulin pump. He’s not ashamed to test his sugar in public for everyone to see. Diabetes is just one facet of who Landon is. He’s still a 3 year old boy that jumps off the couch and rolls on the floor…. insulin pump and all ( I cringe at these moments).

Here are just  a few moments of many where I look at him and say to myself this boy must’ve been diabetic in another lifetime J

·         When we first began pricking his fingers to take his blood sugar be was quite hesitant but now he’s a finger pricking pro. He now can check his own sugar, with assistance of course.

·         There was a time when I was about to take his sugar and he said “Don’t do my fingers, do my toes. You and daddy said my fingers need a break.”

·         One day he was eating a pickle for a snack and he told me with much concern that I didn’t give him any medicine for his food. I explained to him that he didn’t need any medicine because pickles don’t have carbs.

·         When it’s time to eat lunch, he’ll grab the potato chip bag and look on the back of the bag and say “ I’m counting the carbs.”

These moments make be extremely happy and keep me motivated on the days I feel like giving up.



First day at pumping. Woo hoo!!



Memories- DBlog Week Day #3

Today we’re going to share our most memorable diabetes day. You can take this anywhere.... your or your loved one's diagnosis, a bad low, a bad high, a big success, any day that you’d like to share.

Isn’t it funny how some things you can’t ever forget? I mean even if you wanted to you just can’t. It seems just like yesterday I was anxiously and nervously waiting in a sky blue room at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. My husband and I were just told that our son’s blood sugar was so high that the hospitals glucometer couldn’t read it and it reads up to 600!!!

Sitting in silence, rapidly bouncing my leg, fearful of the unknown. The door opened and two male nurses walked into the room. They made some small talk but nothing could ease the fact that my heart was in my stomach. They instructed for us to put Landon on the table as they were about to start an IV on him. My eyes bulged as I couldn’t believe that those needles were about to be put in my son’s little arm. They told my husband to come by Landon’s side and hold him down and told me that I can leave the room because most moms do. I told him I’m not most moms, I’m not going anywhere!!!

Trust me, I wanted to leave. Of course I didn't want to see my baby like that. But I just couldn’t imagine my son looking to me for comfort or to save him and I’m nowhere around. I look at staying in that room symbolically. For me it symbolized that no matter what my son goes through in his journey with diabetes, no matter how much he’s hurt, I have to stay strong for him and assure him that I am always by his side at any cost!!! As the nurse inserted the needle into Landon’s arm he began to scream, kick, and cry. I held him down forcefully, I held back my tears and began singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Once it was all over, I calmed Landon down and handed him over to my husband. I casually walked out the room, walked down the hallway, found myself a corner and cried like a little baby.

That moment was the beginning to the emotional roller coaster of this thing called diabetes.

DIY: Flower Pen Pots

 These flower pen pots were a hit for Mother's Day!! They will also make a perfect gitft for any occassion. They're so simple to make and the kiddos can help too. So let's get started!!!

Materials Needed:

Artificial Flowers
Wire Cutters
Clay Pot
Pens
Floral Tape
Sponge Brushes
Acrylic Paint
Acrylic Paint Marker
Glue Gun/ Glue Sticks
Decorative Rocks/Stones


Step 1: With a knife, carefully remove the cap off the end of the pen.

Step 2: With wire cutters cut the stem off the flower to approx. half the size of the pen...maybe even a little shorter.

Step 3: Add some glue around the pen chamber and place the end of the flower into the pen chanber. Press firmly until the flower is securely attached.

Step 4: Starting at the top of the pen, begin wrapping the pen with floral tape. Don't wrap the tape all the way to the bottom of the pen as if you do the cap wont close on the pen. Tape until you get to the pen top.

Step 5: Clip the floral tape and tack the end down. It should stick pretty well without using any hot glue.

Step 6: Paint your pots however you desire.

Step 7: Once it dries, use an acrylic paint pen to write a message on the pot.

Step 8: Once the pot is completely dry, fill each of the pots with beans or decorative stones and add your beautiful flower pens.

 See, easy as 1,2,3 :)

We, The Undersigned- DBlog Week Day#2

 Recently various petitions have been circulating the Diabetes Online Community, so today let’s pretend to write our own. Tell us who you would write the petition to – a person, an organization, even an object (animate or inanimate) - get creative!! What are you trying to change and what have you experienced that makes you want this change?

Dear School Superintendent:

As a parent of a Type 1 Diabetic child it is very important that my child receives around the clock care and that includes during school hours. All schools need to have a group of non medical staff trained to provide routine and emergency care for diabetic students. I understand that you might not have a nurse, or she’s part time, or the nurse you have just can’t be everywhere at the same time. And for that reason it needs to be priority to ensure that staff are trained to help diabetic students in need. There will be times that assistance will be needed on field trips, sporting activities, lunchtime, etc.

I also understand that a school doesn’t have time to tend to every child's medical needs however unlike many other conditions Type 1 diabetes is a condition that requires 24/7 monitoring and management. Unfortunately diabetes can’t be turned off during school hours just for your convenience. Our children deserve to have a normal life as much as possible and that includes while at school.

Caring for a child’s condition shouldn’t be optional, it should be mandatory.

Sincerely,

A concerned parent

I haven’t experienced this issue personally as of yet. But I do know this a problem for many and possibly me later down the road. But for the moment I have to say that my son’s school rocks!!! They have been with my family from the beginning. Transitioning from insulin injections to insulin pen to insulin pump. They have experienced his lows and his highs. They are just so great and I have so much comfort when my son is at school. I honestly don't know what I'll do without them.

Share and Don't Share- #DBlog Week Day 1

Often our health care team only sees us for about 15 minutes several times a year, and they might not have a sense of what our lives are really like. Today, let’s pretend our medical team is reading our blogs. What do you wish they could see about your and/or your loved one's daily life with diabetes? On the other hand, what do you hope they don't see? 

I love my son’s endocrinologist and I truly believe his best interest is always at heart but as of lately I have been wanting to say “Shut up and listen to me!!!  My husband and I live with my son’s diabetes 24/7 so I understand it’s difficult for a doctor to see us every 3 months and make an adequate assessment on what’s going on as the numbers don't always accuratey depict what our family experiences. So with that being said, less talking needs to be done and more listening.

 Listen to me when I tell you he had pizza at school everyday for lunch. Listen to me when I tell you that that could’ve been a poor absorption site. Listen to me when I tell you I’m scared. LISTEN!!!!!!!!  Doctors may see diabetes on a daily basis but there’s an emotional side to diabetes that doctors don’t seem to understand. They're not sleep deprived due to checking blood sugar at 2am. They don’t deal with the frustration of working so hard on your child’s numbers to only see little or no improvement. So even though I’m forever grateful for the abundance of my knowledge I have around me, I just need them to stop and LISTEN!!!!