My goal for 2011 is to feature a new D-Mom or D-Dad every other Monday. It’s a tall order to fill, but I want to hear each and every one of your stories! And you don’t have to have your own blog to be featured.

I’d like to switch up the questions a little for the coming year and would love your input. Please fill out the questionnaire below and tell me what existing and potential question you like or don’t like. Don’t worry, it’s completely anonymous and you won’t hurt my feelings.

The survey is a simple yes/no format to indicate whether you like a question or not. There is room at the end to suggest questions and give any other feedback.

Thanks to all of the D-Moms an D-Dads who were featured in 2010. It is so comforting to read the stories of those who “get it” and I know I have learned a lot.

The information provided here is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please read the disclaimer, disclosure, and privacy policy statements.

Have you joined the new social networking group for parents of children with diabetes?

If you haven’t, there are over 100 parents waiting to meet and interact with you. And the numbers are growing.

There are a few new features of D-Mom and D-Dad Connection that I am happy to share.

Groups: Groups now have more functionality. You can see the members of the groups so that you can become friends with them. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed to get notification when there is a new discussion within the group. Lots of new groups have formed including one for Mac users and several regional groups. Don’t see a group for your interest or state? Let’s form one.

Leaderboards: See top content from the past month. You can see the most popular content from the past month including the most active members and the most viewed videos and photos, even the most popular blog posts.

Chat: There is a chat box where you can see members who are currently online. Have a question or need support at 2:00 am? Maybe one of us is up. We can also schedule chats ahead of time.

Read more about D-Mom and D-Dad Connections and pop on over to sign up.

Visit D-Mom and D-Dad Connection

The information provided here is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please read the disclaimer, disclosure, and privacy policy statements.

D-Mom and D-Dad Connection: New Features is a post from: D-Mom Blog

The information provided here is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please read the disclaimer, disclosure, and privacy policy statements.

Visit D-Mom and D-Dad Connection

I don’t know what I would do without the online community. The other parents of children with diabetes (as well as adults with diabetes) have been a source of support and knowledge these past couple of years.

Over the last couple of months I have developed more and more relationships on Facebook. There are great discussions and sometimes there is another parent there at 2 am when you are up battling a high or low.

Twitter is awesome. Talk about instant feedback. But the 140 character limit can be limiting sometimes.

But here’s the problem with both Facebook and Twitter: once it’s off the main page, those great conversations and that knowledge gets lost in the shuffle. And there is no good way on Facebook to search for information.

Enter D-Mom and D-Dad Connection.

D-Mom and D-Dad Connection is a new social networking site aimed at bringing us parents together, even at 2 am.

Key Features

Groups: Join groups according to the way you manage diabetes (MDI, insulin pump, CGM, etc.), your geographic region (there are even groups for Canada and New Zealand), age or gender of your child, and more. You can post discussions to the group pages.

Blog Posts: Maybe you don’t have a blog, but you have something to say. You can write a blog post for everyone to see. And if you do have a blog already, you can write a short intro to your latest posts and encourage people to click over and read.

Forum: Have a question, need an answer, have an experience to share? You can share in the forums which are organized by topic.

Twitter and Facebook Integration: When you write a status update, include a blog post, or start a forum discussion, you can automatically update your Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Search: One of the best features is that you can search by topic, by product name, even by member.

Badge: Create a badge (like the one above) to let others know you are part of this group and encourage them to join.

Join Today

What are you waiting for. Get on over to D-Mom and D-Dad Connection and sign up today. If you are already a member, why not pop over and start a forum discussion, update your status, or link to a blog post.

I’d like to thank WEGO Health for sponsoring a Ning Plus Membership for the first year. And if you would like to advertise your diabetes- or food- related company on D-Mom and D-Dad Connection, please let me know.

D-Mom and D-Dad Connection: Social Networking Even at 2am is a post from: D-Mom Blog

The information provided here is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please read the disclaimer, disclosure, and privacy policy statements.

You’ve met a few D-Moms here each Monday, but today I am excited to get to know another D-Dad a little better.

I invite you to read about Scott Benner and his daughter Arden and then visit his blog Arden’s Day. He offers the unique perspective of being a stay at home father raising a child with type 1 diabetes. You can also follow him on Twitter; he’s @ArdensDay.

I’d like to introduce you to Scott of Arden’s Day.

Tell me something about your child.

Arden is a softball player and a yoga enthusiast.  She is a very good student. She loves fashion, she has been picking out her own clothes and dressing herself since she was 3 yrs old.

How old was your child when diagnosed?

Arden was diagnosed almost 4 years ago on 8/22/06.  It was one month after her second birthday.

How was your child diagnosed?

To read the complete story of Arden’s diagnosis, please read How Did I Know? on Scott’s blog.

How has your child’s life changed since diagnosis?

I can’t lie, nothing positive has come from Arden having type 1. Positive things have happened since that wouldn’t have happened without type 1, but there’s nothing that I wouldn’t trade for Arden to not be sick. I’m never negative about type 1, but I am honest.

Arden has an awareness about life that she doesn’t deserve to have at this age. She knows that she is sick, she feels different at times, and she can resent the hoops she has to jump through to do everyday things, like eat and run.  The other day she cried and said she didn’t want to have diabetes any more – that happens a few times a year.

How has your family’s life changed since diagnosis?

More stress. Less time.

We haven’t just picked up and run out the door in years. We are always tired. We never don’t know what Arden’s BG is/was.

We’ve met a ton of wonderful people that are also effected by type 1. They are generally a strong bunch with wonderful spirits.

How has connecting online helped you cope with diabetes?

Connecting online has helped in so many ways, but if I had to choose one… Knowing that there are other people living the same life is knowledge that helps me remain centered. Not feeling alone lifted a huge burden. It’s very psychological, as it brings me no tangible improvement, but it’s definitely the best part.

How do you manage diabetes?

OmniPod & DexCom Seven Plus

What would you tell parents of a newly diagnosed child?

Not to set “timelines” for things. I had it in my mind that after a year I would feel less overwhelmed, confused, and scared. When that day arrived and I didn’t feel any better, it was depressing.  Honestly, it took almost two years for me to feel reasonably in control of the situation. It gets better, but there is no way to know when you’ll feel that relief.

What do you know now that you wish you had known at diagnosis?

That everything we were being taught was subject to change without notice or reason depending on the hour.

Meet other D-Moms and D-Dads each Monday.

Meet a D-Dad: Scott of Arden’s Day is a post from: D-Mom Blog

The information provided here is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please read the disclaimer, disclosure, and privacy policy statements.

You’ve read the stories of the moms and dads who have been featured here on Mondays. But now you want to learn even more of their stories, tips, and tricks. I’ve made it incredibly easy to get their updates.

You can read all of the featured D-Moms and D-Dads all in one place by subscribing to the D-Moms and D-Dads Feed Bundle.

Of course you can subscribe to D-Mom Blog in a reader or by e-mail. Subscription buttons are conveniently located in the sidebar to the right.

The orange button is the feed, the blue button with a “t” is Twitter, and and the button with the blue and pink dots is Flickr. To receive new D-Mom Blog posts by e-mail, simply enter your e-mail address into the big gray box.

Click on the buttons in the sidebar to connect or enter your e-mail address to subscribe.

More D-Blogging Posts

Blogroll: D-Mom Blog features a comprehensive list of blogs written by parents of children with diabetes as well as adult patients. Browse the blogs and submit yours for inclusion.

Dining Out: If you are planning a meal out, come check out the Dining Out guide to look up carb counts, download nutritional info, or follow links to restaurants’ websites.

Facebook: Become a fan of D-Mom Blog on Facebook and connect with others.

Subscribe: Did you know that you can subscribe to D-Mom Blog by e-mail or in a feed reader?

Share This: You can e-mail, post to Facebook or Twitter, add it to social bookmarking sites, and even post to your own blog.

Shop: Purchase products mentioned here by using the Shop button in the navigation bar or visiting the D-Mom Blog Amazon Webstore.

Twitter 101: This primer doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about how to tweet with the best of them, it’s a good intro for newbies. If you start using Twitter, make sure you follow me. I’m @DMomBlog.

All posts about D-Blogging.

D-Blogging: Feed Bundle is a post from: D-Mom Blog

The information provided here is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please read the disclaimer, disclosure, and privacy policy statements.

I came across Steve I think when I read a comment he left on another blog. When I visited his site Without Envy I was drawn to his strong writing and felt a connection with him and his wife Franca because we seem to have similar ideals when it comes to food. When Franca e-mailed me with a question, and I knew I had found a fellow cook! I’m going to try out her pizza recipe soon!

I invite you to read about Steve and Franca and their daughter Lia and then visit their blog Without Envy. You can also follow Steve on Twitter; he’s @WithoutEnvy.

I’d like to introduce you to Franca and Steve of Without Envy.

Tell me something about your child.

Lia is an endearing, energetic, kindhearted eight-year-old girl who loves to be outdoors, play the piano and make others laugh. She has a contagious smile and enjoys telling and hearing funny stories about herself and her family.

She also loves singing, especially the Phantom of The Opera. She would like to be many things when she grows up but at the top of her list is a scientist, horse trainer and maybe a parent (she is still on the fence about that one).

Lia playing soccer

How old was your child when diagnosed?

Lia was diagnosed this past December at the age of 8.

How was your child diagnosed?

Lia had been showing signs of a cold for about a week before her diagnosis. At that time, she was showing many of the usual signs: lethargy, frequent urination, thirst. It wasn’t until she vomited that we took her to the doctor, who told us about DKA and diabetes.

It was December 23. Lia spent the next two nights in the hospital as they slowly brought her blood sugars down. We came home on Christmas Day in the afternoon.

Her diagnosis caught everyone by surprise, except of course for Santa. That fat, jolly old elf knew just where to find her!

How has your child’s life changed since diagnosis?

Lia has taken charge of her diabetes and though it is still very new and has been hard on everyone, she insists on checking her own blood, and even giving herself the injections at every meal. She has always been a very smart, willful and spirited young girl, and having diabetes has not changed her at all in that capacity.

But not a day goes by where don’t we all wish she could just be a kid and didn’t need so much courage and bravery in dealing with this disease.

Mostly though, we try and do the same things we used to do before: eat, play, sleep, all in moderation.

How has your family’s life changed since diagnosis?

This is difficult to say. Diabetes is still new to all of us and the emotions and fears and anguish we suffered from just learning of her diagnosis are still fresh in our minds and in our hearts. Lia’s care has been the most important thing and we’ve worked very hard to adjust to her treatment. The big lifestyle changes–sports, sleepovers, to pump or not to pump–are still off in the future a bit. One thing is for sure though: it has made us appreciate every single day, not just those where nothing in life goes wrong.

Franca and Steve with their daughter Lia

How do you manage diabetes?

With just two months under our belts, Lia is still using the insulin pen (Humalog and Lantus) and is checking her blood at every meal, once more in the morning and once in the afternoon. Either Mom or Dad (usually Mom) checks her blood at night. Sometimes we both do, depending on the readings at bedtime and one a.m.

We are an active family and use exercise as much as we can to help control her blood sugars. This fall, Lia hopes to run a 5k on Thanksgiving Day. It’s our goal to get her to the finish line, and get her there safely!

What would you tell parents of a newly diagnosed child?

Find someone and share. Whether it’s each other, another parent, an adult with type 1. Find someone.

Ask questions. Stay calm. Listen and learn and adjust. Be strong for your family. Read. Write. Take action. Get involved.

Make a plan for how you’re going to deal with diabetes and then live the plan. Forget the old reality. This is the new reality. Don’t fight it.

Never ever give up.

What do you know now that you wish you had known at diagnosis?

That free foods are really free.

If there aren’t any carbs, she can eat them if she’s hungry. We’re still somewhat skeptical and not completely sold on this, but if it’s true, it would have saved us all some grief, especially little Lia.

The hardest thing for Lia so far has been finding someone to connect with. Other than if that child lived right down the street, which would be awesome if kids could connect that way, but not likely. So if there were some way to generate pen pals–even the old fashion way, through handwritten letters, that would be nice. Maybe a disposable camera to take pictures. Email would be the easiest though. But Lia has really been disappointed (until very recently) by the response to her requests through various forums for other children with diabetes to write her back.

Food is the hardest. Even food that you think is good for you–don’t get me started on HFCS, you know where we stand–interacts differently with other foods: simple starches and protein, complex carbs and fat, etc. Not everyone shops the inner aisles of their grocery store for food to eat, but so much of what you see out there is written for the masses, not the minority. We’ve both been very disappointed by the amount of information on eating good (meaning real food, that is sustainable and has a low impact on resources).

How has connecting online helped you cope with diabetes? What online resources do you use?

The online community has helped us tremendously. In the early days of her diagnosis, it was our primary means of support. We are finally meeting others in the local area to share ideas and stories and introduce our children to one another, but the things we’ve read, and what we’ve written, and the comments we’ve gotten in return have offered us so much more than information. The hope, inspiration and openness has been simply overwhelming and for that we are grateful. We cannot imagine what life would have been like had we had to face these last two months alone.

As someone close to the disease said to one of us just the other day, I’ve never met a diabetic I didn’t like. Amen, brother. Amen.

Thank you everyone for opening your “doors” to us. We are very appreciative for your thoughts, your companionship and your stories.

Are you involved with an outreach programs or fundraising?

We are involved in our local chapter of the JDRF. Three weeks after diagnosis we attended a statewide family retreat, which was good for us to meet other parents of children with diabetes. We also started the blog Without Envy after a suggestion by the volunteer coordinator that they wanted one linked to their webpage, which it is now.

Franca attended a Promise to Remember Me meeting with our U.S. Congressman. Coming up this spring are some opportunities for us to support the outreach program, volunteer recruitment, easter egg hunt and gala.

Finally, we’re working hard to help JDRF develop stronger and better organized local connections.

For North Carolina residents: We also have done our part to help bring the JDRF license plate to our state. Please visit your local chapter for an application. Only about 90 more are needed, then the state will begin selling the plates. The JDRF will receive $10.00 for every license plate sold (In the neighboring state of Virginia, that totaled over $11k for last year!)

Meet other D-Moms and D-Dads each Monday.

Meet a D-Mom and a D-Dad: Franca and Steve of Without Envy is a post from: D-Mom Blog

The information provided here is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please read the disclaimer, disclosure, and privacy policy statements.

You’ve met a few D-Moms here each Monday, but today I am excited to get to know a D-Dad a little better.

Mike LeBlanc’s blog is one of the few written by dads that I have found. And it’s a must read for his perspective.

I invite you to read about Mike and his daughter Adele and then visit his blog The Type 1 Game.

I’d like to introduce you to Mike of The Type 1 Game.

Tell me something about your child.

Adele is almost 10 years old and in grade 4. She loves swimming, playing Wii, riding her bike, playing with her many friends, her Webkinz, her hamsters and nice clothes.

She always works hard and does really well in school. She wants to be either a teacher or a doctor when she grows up. She also dreams of getting married someday, owning a big house and having 2 kids and a dog.

She is and always will be my special princess.

Mike with his daughter Adele at the start of day 2 of the 2009 Cyclebetes relay.

How old was your child when diagnosed?

She was 2.5 years old.

How was your child diagnosed?

Adele was first diagnosed with Celiac Disease after being quite sick for 6 months. Upon researching this disease which was totally unknown to us, we came across a list of other auto-immune diseases include Type 1 and recognized the symptoms – insatiable thirst and frequent urination (she would soak diapers in a matter of hours).

How has your child’s life changed since diagnosis?

Adele is socially less mature than other kids her age. She rarely (almost never) goes to sleepovers because of her T1.  She doesn’t remember what it was like before T1, she was too young.

On the other hand, she’s much braver than me because of her T1 and all of the nurses are amazed at how good she is at getting blood tests. She’s had lots of practice

How has your family’s life changed since diagnosis?

Either myself or my wife are always on call and the cupboard beside the sink in the kitchen is a mini pharmacy. We can wake up, check her blood sugar in the middle of the night and go right back to sleep (we practice this every single night).

The thing that my wife misses the most is that we can’t get away overnight just the 2 of us. We’re working on sending Adele to camp next summer to fix this. It is comforting to hear of families that are going through the same thing.

How has connecting online helped you cope with diabetes? What online resources do you use?

Initially, I started my blog to educate friends and family about what it’s really like to live with T1.  But I’ve since discovered so many other D-bloggers out there.

TuDiabetes has lots of useful information, but I need to filter through the information and only read the positive stuff.  The complaining and complications just make me depressed.

How do you manage diabetes?

We’ve been pumping for the past 6 years. We started using the CGM in May, 2009.  In my opinion, the CGM technology isn’t quite there yet, but it’s still a very useful tool.

What would you tell parents of a newly diagnosed child?

It’s a lot of work, but manageable. You’re much stronger than you think you are, don’t get too caught up in the number and remember to laugh once in a while.  Oh yeah, and ride your bike

Self-pity is useless. Get involved in JDRF fundraising and be part of the race for a cure.

What do you know now that you wish you had known at diagnosis?

That your life will eventually return to normal. It’ll be a different normal, but still normal.

Do you do any fundraising?

I am involved in our local outreach program, we participate in the Walk to Cure Type 1 every year and I’ve organized charity bike rides the past 3 years for JDRF.

I’ve also ridden as part of a provincial bike relay across Canada called Cyclebetes in 2009 and will again be part of Cyclebetes in 2010 and beyond.

The Maritimes team of the 2009 Cyclebetes relay before leaving from Halifax, Nova Scotia in the wake of Hurricane Bill. The tandem bike in the photo made it's way from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Vancouver, British Columbia in 3 weeks.

Meet other D-Moms and D-Dads each Monday.

D-Dad: Mike of The Type 1 Game is a post from: D-Mom Blog

The information provided here is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please read the disclaimer, disclosure, and privacy policy statements.