Sunday, July 29, 2012

Appease Me Not

"You see me on the street, you always act surprised
You say, "How are you? Good luck," but you don't mean it
When you know as well as me you'd rather see me paralyzed
Why don't you just come out once and scream it?"


Now, I'm not usually a Bob kinda girl. But when I heard Positively 4th Street yesterday, the lyrics went right to the heart of matters. Admittedly, Bob was likely not thinking of an endo-CDE-patient kind of relationship when he wrote this song back in the day (Larry informs me it was a hit in 1965 -- he's helpful like that).

It's been a rocky road for me lately. I've been grounded -- no driving for me. Long story, but I've found out some things, and I need answers. So this week I'm going to be visiting the medical records department to get my hands on a report (likely for a ridiculous fee) that my endocrinologist submitted to the Ministry of Transportation.

The question is - did she just tell me that I was a "great and compliant patient" just to appease me? Funny, she never made me feel that way before. What changed? The fact that she had bad news to share, and if she told me this story just to make things easier for us during the appointment? I wonder. I need to find out. And that report contains answers.

A doctor-patient relationship is supposed to be based on trust. I feel like I've been let down. I need answers to questions like - did the doctor really do what she said she'd do. If she did do it, I can let the matter rest, and work on rebuilding the trust. If she did not do it, then, that's a whole other matter.

I fear that trust cannot be restored.

"You got a lotta nerve to say you are my friend
When I was down, you just stood there grinning
You got a lotta nerve to say you gotta helping hand to lend
You just want to be on the side that's winning"
                                                          ~Bob Dylan


Sunday, July 22, 2012

InkStain'D: Meet Stanley & the Bloggers

Seems I was at a loss today to come up with a good title - I always have trouble with that. So we have a title worthy of a concert opening for our very own rockin' Dgroup Blunt Lancet!

That being said, InkStain'D has been published, featuring an awesome story about Stanley, the Interactive Piano who puts a new spin on the player pianos popular in our distant technological past with ragtime playing player pianos.



So what does it have to do with diabetes? Admittedly nothing. But I thought it was cool and think every town should have one. And of course, there are so many other awesome posts there by some of our venerable Diabetes Cast of Characters.

Not to mention, there is a recipe (or several) featured, including making your own mozzarella, just for all the #cheesesluts out there!

Accessibile Ink'Stain'D


Screenreaders are notorious for totally ignoring embedded videos. See below for links to videos featured in this issue of InkStain'D:

Celebrating DSMA's 2nd Anniversary

As for the Stanley video, I invite you to read the cool article, however, I extend my apologies regarding sharing of an inaccessible video. Apparently Vimeo isn't really accessible, other than allowing downloads. In Stanley the Interactive Piano video, it doesn't have any voice description. If you feel strongly, you will need to find a sighted family member to describe it to you :(


Saturday, July 14, 2012

Are you Somebody?


If someone needs help, all they need to do is ask, and people will be there to help.

Somebody Else is there. Somebody is always there.

Any time, night or day.

Somebody Else is helping Someone all the time. Nobody Else needs to be there. Nobody knows that Somebody Else is helping.

But if, one day, what if Somebody cried out for help. What if Nobody heard?

 

What if Nobody realized that Somebody Else needed help? Nobody knew that Somebody could need help. What if Nobody heard?

Consider for a moment, what if Somebody was no longer there... because Nobody heard Somebody Else's cries for help. What if Somebody went Someplace Else for help. What if Somebody just gave up?

What if...

If Nobody hears the cries, who will be there for them.

So listen for the cries of Somebody Else. Nobody may be hearing the cries.

Somebody Else just may slip away unnoticed.

Don't ask what Nobody asks, "Where did Somebody Else go?"


So be there for Somebody Else. One day we may need Somebody Else to be there for us.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Is peanut butter the new apple cider vinegar?

I am always on the prowl for a good tip. Last week, as I was donning my plumbers hat and took on a stubborn toilet clog (um, despite one young lady's promise, this home remedy did not work for me). However, there are amazing homegrown tips out there. 

A few years ago, it was all about apple cider vinegar, and unlike the promise to unclog my toilet, it does work. A couple of months ago, when I was suffering from the plague (not really the plague, but I'm sure that's what it felt like), and despite the grossness of the taste, after gargling with the stuff, it really did help me feel better.

Today's find was learning how else peanut butter might be used, other than making a most awesome PBJ sandwich or Peanut Butter Cheesecake Cups (and these only have 10 carbs per serving... bonus!).

Unknown image source: notify via comments if known

Before you move on, because you are a hater of peanut butter or something, please stick with me for a moment.

I make no promises as to whether these peanut buttery tips work, but just when I thought I heard everything, there was a bit of randomness at the end of this video that make me sit up and take notice.

Be sure to stick it through to the end... you might be surprised at what you might find too.

Click here to watch on YouTube

Who knew that peanut butter did so much?! It can reduce the smell of cooking fish (nothing like the smell of lingering old fish from 3 days ago! yuck!) ... or shaving, "My, that's an interesting cologne you're wearing".

But, did you catch the claim at the end? Women who eat peanut butter 5 times a week are less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. Really? Could this be true? I do believe that there is some (a lot) of truth in preventative medicine through better nutrition, so I will suspend my skepticism for a few moments.

I set to finding out if they were just joshing with me. I did find a study documented at JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association) in 2002. So there could be something to this. I'm a little skeptical of such findings (like, I wonder who commissioned this study? The Peanut Butter Institute (Ed Note: I made that up) perhaps?... but maybe some of our better researchers out there might be able to find out).

Regardless of how comprehensive this study was, and it could contain quite valid conclusions for all I know, but surely, what could it hurt.

Granted, many of you reading this blog may likely already have diabetes, so you might be just shrugging your shoulders, like, so what? Nonetheless, I think it's a pretty cool tip too.

So to all our womenfolk out there concerned about reducing the chance of developing Type 2 diabetes, get your peanut butter on!