DOC

What The #DOC Means to Me

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I joined in a fantastic conversation the other day, regarding whether involvement in the Diabetes Online Community (DOC) benefits or harms patients. Some recent findings by Dr Michelle Litchman suggested that involvement in the DOC was associated with better glycemic control, self care behaviour and quality of life. You can read more about that on Brian’s blog here.

It’s a topic that’s no doubt questioned by diabetes professionals. Last week, for instance, I asked my endo whether she has heard much about what people with diabetes are doing online. Her response was “I can imagine.” She clearly had no idea what I meant, but told me that it was fine to do so.

Outside of this blog and outside of the Diabetes Online Community, I don’t actually know many people with diabetes. I have two extended family members who have type 2 diabetes. My great grandmother, who passed away before I was born, had some form of diabetes in her old age that she treated with insulin. There were two people who I went to school with, before I was diagnosed, who had type 1 diabetes. And there is someone at work who I know of, but don’t really know, who has type 1 diabetes.

That’s about it. I don’t really have anyone in real life who I can talk to about diabetes. Well, I do, of course. But I don’t have anyone who actually “gets” it. And that’s where the Diabetes Online Community comes in handy.

I absolutely love the fact that I can pick up my phone and I’m instantly connected with people on the other side of the world who have diabetes. I love that I can ask my Twitter friend Aaron how his pump is going. I love that I can read moving pieces of writing that I instantly just “get,” like this blog post I Don’t Want Anyone To Know from my #doc friend Malina (seriously, you MUST read this). I love that there are people like Lala, Marian and Aaron who reach out to me with words of encouragement and advice after reading my blog posts. And I love that I have my wonderful OzDOC friends who I can chat and laugh with every Tuesday night.

It saddens me to think that I have lived with type 1 diabetes for 5 long years without knowing that this wonderful community exists. It saddens me to think about how unwise and unenthusiastic I was about diabetes before I started this blog a few months ago. And it saddens me to think about day to day life without the support of this community.

As for the science of it all, it doesn’t matter to me in the slightest whether it’s proven or not.

I know that I instantly feel better by being able to connect with this community of positive, inspirational, supportive and non judgemental people. I know that I’m inspired by this community to live my very best each and every day. I know that this community has opened my eyes and ignited a passion for the very disease that I live with every day. A passion that drives me to write and to share so much, so often. I know that this community has provided me with a cushion of support to fall back on at times. And I know that this community has a positive influence that will motivate me to manage my diabetes in the best way I can.

I get all of that from people who are complete strangers to me. People who I’ve never met. People who I could walk past on the street without even giving a second glance. I think that is bloody amazing.

Some Inspiration from the #DOC

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Okay, full disclosure here, I’ve stolen this idea from Diabetes Mine. Sorry guys! The Diabetes Online Community (#doc) inspires me every day, and here’s what’s caught my attention lately.

Two heads are better than one? In the case of Twice Diabetes, I couldn’t agree more. I’ve really enjoyed interacting with Kate and Melinda on Twitter this month @TwiceDiabetes. Beyond their great sense of humour, there’s also some really well thought out opinions on their blog relating to diabetes advocacy issues here in Australia.

I’m really stoked to see my blogger friend Mum of Type 1 finding her feet in the Twitterverse so quickly. You can follow her @mumoftype1. Her blog initially caught my attention for her raw honesty conveying her feelings about her son’s newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. Last week she wrote an excellent analogy likening her son’s diabetes to looking after an egg.

My other blogger friend Kyle at Training T1D will be cycling 160km through the Barossa Valley in Adelaide next year in the JRDF Ride To Cure Diabetes. Check out Kyle’s story and fundraising page here. I really admire his determination, considering that exercise is not my sport of choice!

Another person you have got to follow on Twitter is Ally, better known as @verylightnosuga. She may be busy with her studies, but she doesn’t let it stop her from sharing her very honest opinions about almost anything related to diabetes and beyond.

One blog (and person) that I take a lot of inspiration from is Renza at Diabetogenic. Renza’s recent post knocked everyone’s National Diabetes Week complaints right out of the park (mine included) when she told us that living with ALL types of diabetes is crap, and that we would be far more powerful uniting and advocating together for ALL types of diabetes.

I related so much to Kelly’s post last week at Diabetesaliciousness, and how she found support from the #doc during a hypo. 

My #doc friend Laddie at Test Guess and Go wrote a heartfelt letter to her daughters in law earlier this month, in relation to the two infants who recently passed away from undiagnosed diabetes.

I read a hilarious post about type 1 diabetes misconceptions by parenting blogger Stevie at A Cornish Mum during UK Diabetes Week last month. I laughed the whole way through!

My #doc friend Rick over at RADiabetes shares some heartfelt stories about living with both Diabetes and Rheumatoid Arthiritis (hence, the RAD). He’s given me a fair bit of encouragement, wise words and laughs since I connected with him during Diabetes Blog Week. Thanks, Rick.

Well done to all of my #OzDOC friends who participated in Run Melbourne last weekend. We even have a fancy new mission statement. Join in every Tuesday night from 8.30pm AEST (GMT+10) by following #OzDOC/@OzDiabetesOC on Twitter.

I know that’s probably just a fraction of what’s out there. What else should I be reading/following out there in the #doc?

Thanks, #DOC

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I wasn’t feeling my best towards the end of last week, and I just wanted to say a huge thankyou to all of my DOC friends who reached out to me here and on Twitter. Your support meant the world, and is a huge testament to the Diabetes Online Community. It truly is one of the most positive, supportive, non judgy environments I’ve ever found. Its nice to know during times like those that I am not alone.

I also want to apologise if my posts sounded a little too depressing. I know that I don’t always enjoy reading blog posts that talk about the darker aspects of diabetes. But that is a harsh reality. There are good stretches as well as bad stretches. And chances are, there are others out there right now going through exactly the same thing I was. Others who can benefit from reading this, others who can make a connection and realise they are not alone.

I like to think that I strike a good balance between the positives and the negatives of diabetic life in this blog. I also choose to share these experiences for myself. Writing really helps me to process and better understand what I’m going through. Sometimes I use this space as a way to reflect on a situation or to simply clear my head. Sometimes its almost therapeudic. But, its not for everyone.

I’m happy to report that I am in a better headspace today (if only I didn’t have to go to work!). I finished binging on Better Call Saul and Fresh off the Boat, went for a few sunny walks and also woke up to an exciting opportunity in my e-mail inbox on Saturday morning.

And I can’t believe that its almost July. I can’t believe that I’ve kept at this blog for the better part of 6 months. Its hard to believe that six months ago, I knew nothing about diabetes (well, compared to what I know now, it feels like nothing). Six months ago, I had no idea that the DOC existed. And six months ago I didn’t really have much of a passion or a goal beyond my day job.

I’m pretty excited for what’s on the horizon this month. Wimbledon starts tonight. Horray for some long nights rugged up in front of the telly. Fingers crossed those over hyped Aussies will get knocked out quickly so we can see some good matches (where’s my Australian spirit, right?). Under the Dome is back. At the end of the week I’m setting off on a much needed holiday. And hopefully blogging will help me to be a little more sensible with my travel choices this time around (I’m not making any promises, though…). I’ll be joining the National Diabetes Week campaign here in Oz soon, and there are a couple of other exciting things that I have planned for this space.

I just wanted to say a huge thanks for your continued support of this blog, and beyond. It means the world. And finally, a few memes to remind us that we are not alone with diabetes (and to have a laugh, too!).

Thanks, #DOC.

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I’m So Glad I Found the Diabetes Online Community

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A few months ago when I was still finding my feet in the blogosphere, I joined a Facebook group for bloggers in my city. And for weeks and weeks and weeks I’d seen post upon post upon post pop up in my newsfeed with blogger questions, requests and promo opportunities. And lets not forget all those pesky notifications telling me that Claire and 7 others commented on a top post in that group.

A lot of these groups (quite rightly) don’t want you selflessly promoting yourself and every blog post. And being a new blogger, I didn’t really feel comfortable sharing anything there until I felt I had found my feet and had some confidence in my blog. This particular group recently started a ‘Sharsie Friday’ kinda thing, where everyone is invited to share their latest and greatest posts for everyone to read over the weekend. So, last Friday, I finally plucked up the courage to share a link to my blog.

When I got home, I sat down to read some of the blog links that were posted. I was hoping to make connections with some of the other blogs, and was also expecting a little traffic to come my way too. But neither of those things happened.

The majority of blog links there seemed to be from people blogging about beauty, fashion and shopping (absolutely nothing wrong with that). But to be honest, they just weren’t really blogs that I could relate to. I didn’t feel that I could add anything of value by commenting on a blog that was trying to help me find my style for under $49. Just as I’m sure the beauty blogger telling me about that must have mascara brush wouldn’t be interested in reading about my diabetes.

And judging by the activity in that Facebook group, it seemed that their blogging goals were the complete opposite of mine. They seemed to be seeking instant fame and monetisation from their blogs, with talk of building media kits and contacting companies for promo/product opportunities. I, meanwhile, am here to share my story and hopefully make a connection with you. I want to read about your stories and be inspired too. I do selfishly hope to build a strong brand for myself and this blog over time. But its not the sole reason that motivates me to write week after week.

So what does?

Its the Diabetes Online Community. And all of you that are a part of it and make it so strong. I’m so glad that I found it. So glad that it exists. Every day I’m inspired by all of the stories, tweets, blog posts, links and diabetes trends I discover. I’ll read something and instantly come up with three new ideas to write about. Its the first thing I look at when I’m having my morning coffee. At night its sometimes a struggle to look away from Twitter and go to sleep. But better yet, I’m always inspired to push myself one step further. To be healthier. Stronger. More resilient to the ups and downs of life with diabetes. To be the very best version of myself that I can be.

So, I guess the morale of this story is just how important is it to write for a clearly defined niche audience, rather than the masses. And networking with the right people. Because exposure means absolutely nothing if the audience isn’t interested in your work. Can’t connect to it. Can’t relate to it. And a blog means nothing if you don’t give back and be a part of that community.

And as for that Facebook group? Well, I’m now open to suggestions of any good diabetes related ones…

Diabetes Blog Week…And That’s a Wrap!

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Shameless plug: If you like what I’ve had to say this week, you can find me on Twitter @FrankSita.

I must say that I’m pretty overwhelmed at the response to my first Diabetes Blog Week. I was pretty daunted at the prospect of writing 7 posts in 7 days, but was also up for the challenge. To stretch myself creatively. Over the past 7 days I’ve had very little sleep, instead being tempted to stay up way past my bedtime to read and comment on as many of the 100+ blog posts that my eyes will let me. Of course, it didn’t help that while you dBloggers in the UK and US were waking up and posting, I was yawning and fighting the urge to go to bed.

It really has been a fantastic experience for me, as a fairly new blogger. Its really connected me with the Diabetes Online Community, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading and discovering many great blogs/bloggers that I never even knew existed! And even though this event has been running for 6 years, I really think Karen Graffeo of Bitter Sweet Diabetes deserves a massive thankyou. Thank you for all your hard work in organising the event and for allowing me to participate in this experience.

Last night as I was telling my parents about dBlogWeek at the dinner table, my Mum asked me what I had learned over the course of this week. Well, a lot actually…

Firstly, type 1 in young children. I was fortunate to be diagnosed at 17, but there are so many who are diagnosed as young children. I could not even imagine. I read some really touching youth stories (thanks Very Light No Sugar). Of d-parents who get up in the middle of the night to test their little one (thanks Diabetes Advocacy). Of d-kids who are taking control of their disease (thanks Understudy Pancreas). I admire you all.

Secondly, Pumps and Continuous Glucose Monitoring devices. I’m on Multiple Daily Injections, but I’ve read so many stories about people’s lives that have changed for the better thanks to pumping. You’ve definitely motivated me to go and find out more.

Thirdly, those of you who have been living with diabetes for a long time. It really made me realise how lucky I am that I live with diabetes in 2015. Like the fact that we never had Lantus (long acting insulin) to keep our BGLs stable overnight (thanks Test, Guess and Go). Like the fact that we weren’t able to check our Blood Sugar Levels at home back then. That insulin wasn’t always safe or readily available. And that diabetes was once a life sentence (thanks RADiabetes). Today, we have inspiring people like the Type 1 Diabeater who are travelling the world and having all sorts of incredible adventures. With Diabetes no less.

And then there were the funnies. I read a Pancreas Eulogy (thanks Just Normalash). There were posts mocking all those “diabetes cures” (thanks Running Without Sugar). And all those fad diets (thanks Carb Counting Kids). A hilarious timeline of what diabetes status updates would look like (thanks Lazy Pancreas). I was fascinated at how many people were hoarding diabetes supplies (I won’t single you out!). And there were memes.

Like this one (thanks Coffee and Insulin).

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And this one (thanks Grumpy Pumper).

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And this one (thanks One Sweet Cookie).

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Thanks to everyone who has participated in Diabetes Blog Week. I just love the way its really brought the Diabetes Online Community together in a positive way. Thanks for sharing all of your stories, your advice, for inspiring me and for making me laugh. I only wish I could have read them all! Thanks for reading and commenting and for all the positive feedback. If anything, I feel even more passionate about diabetes. I feel even more empowered to write and to advocate. To read more great blog posts and make more connections going forward.

But right now, I feel absolutely burnt out (which I never thought I’d say about blogging!). And I’m dying for a good night’s sleep. See you again next year.

I’ve written this post as a participant in Diabetes Blog Week 2015. Follow #dBlogWeek on Twitter for the latest on the event and its participants.