Based on the suggestion of my husband, I think this blog is in need of a more positive topic. I apologize if my last several posts have been sort of “downers”.

So on that note, I don’t know about you but I cannot believe that summer is almost over.  Not that I have any real summer-ry activities going on but to think that fall is almost here, school will be back in session and the days will become shorter.  Summer just flew by!  And with a new month just two weeks away, I want to remind everyone that this coming Thursday, September 1st is Diabetes Art Day. If you haven’t heard about it it’s a day started by my friend Lee Ann.  She is an art therapist and does absolutely wonderful things with diabetes related art projects.  From Lee Ann’s site: “Participation is easy. All you have to do is make a piece of art that reflects something about your life with diabetes to share on September 1st. Last year, the submissions were as varied as they could be with participants using everything from traditional art materials like paint and pastels, to digital media like photography and stop-motion animation, to kinetic sculpture, Play-Doh, lots of diabetes supplies, and even cake decorating, and embroidery. On September 1st, upload an image of your work here on the official Diabetes Art Day website. You can use the ‘Description’ text box to add your name, the title of your work, materials used, and your connection to diabetes. If you have a blog, post your work there. You can use Facebook and Twitter (hashtag: #DArtDay) to share your work. You can also share your work on any of the diabetes social networking sites like Diabetes Daily, dLife, and TuDiabetes. Some people like to provide a narrative about what their artwork is about, what it was like to create it, or how the results compare to their initial intention… or, if you prefer, you can let the art speak for itself.”

I am not the most creative person on this planet so I’m going to need the next 2 weeks to put my thinking cap on 😉  But you should put yours on too and join in the fun on September 1st!

There are a couple of diabetes related things (of course!) going on that I think are worth bringing to your attention. 

The first is that I participated in my first ever Skype interview, telling my diabetes story.  Thanks to VJ for offering his time and interest.  Head on over to Diabetic 365 to check it out and watch me say umm a lot 😉  (I need to work on that!)

The second and more important event is the O is for Outrage campaign started by the International Diabetes Federation.

According to the IDF, “we are asking the US President to show the world that he is committed to the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This topic is the subject of  the UN’s second summit on global health issues. Having President Obama attend will inspire other leaders to take this issue seriously because “we do not want the world to sleepwalk into a sick future that is avoidable” (Ann Keeling, IDF CEO)”.  A great post about this campaign was posted by Leighann over at D-Mom Blog today.  Please head over and submit your very own postcard that will be sent to President Obama by the IDF.

And lastly, speaking of the IDF, the president – Professor Jean Claude Mbanya – will be the guest on DSMA Live tonight at 9pm EST.  Be sure to listen in or even call in to ask questions!

When posting the giveaway a few days ago, I had absolutely no idea it was going to get such a huge response!  I’ve been a busy beaver the past few days keeping on top of all the entrees!  I appreciate each and every one of you taking the time to come to my blog and entering the contest.  I honestly wish I was able to give a gift to everyone!

I picked the winner the ol’ fashioned way …. putting the names of each comment-er on a piece of paper, folding them up and putting them in a bowl.  Eyes closed and grabbing that lucky one. 

And the winner is ………….. Gail 🙂

“gail says:

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Please send an email to staceydblog@gmail.com with your contact information so that I can put you in touch with the correct person at Lauren’s Hope in order to claim your prize. 

A huge thank you to Lauren’s Hope for providing the opportunity to host this giveaway.  I really enjoyed working with you and hope that all of my readers will take an interest in the products offered … they are wonderful.  I know I have 🙂

Those of us living with diabetes are part of a group of people who should always wear some sort of alert to their medical condition in the event of any kind of emergency.  In the past few years, lucky for us, there are organizations that are offering better looking and more classy pieces of jewelry that are as good looking as they are important.  On that note, I am very honored to be hosting the very first giveaway here on The Girl with the Portable Pancreas!  One very lucky reader will win one of those great looking medical alert ID’s from one of those great organizations.  All you have to do to enter is submit a comment on this post between now and midnight Thursday, June 23rd.  Then on Friday, June 24th, I will pick a winner out of the entrees and announce it here.  This makes me so happy to be able to do something like this – giving back is one of my goals as a blogger 🙂

Now let me tell you a bit about the great company that is helping me with this giveaway!  Lauren’s Hope specializes in fashionable medical identification jewelry for men, women and children and has been providing life saving medical ID’s for over 10 years.  Their medical ID bracelets are custom engraved with your important medical information in the event of an emergency and are unable to communicate.  Styles ranging from stylish and elegant medical ID bracelets for women, durable medical ID’s for men and fun medical ID’s for kids make wearing your medical alert a joy and not a burden!

The winner of my drawing will get to choose one of the following items (click on the picture to be taken to the Lauren’s Hope item listing):

Be her knight in shining armor – with a modern twist! This handsome medical ID bracelet will compliment your heroic good looks nicely. Black disc beads and sterling silver accents create a daring, contemporary statement on your wrist. Simply attach your custom engraved medical alert tag with our signature lobster clasps to complete the valiant look.

Everyone loves stylish simplicity – especially when it comes to medical ID jewelry. If you want a style that is elegant-yet-modest, you can’t go wrong with this triple strand medical ID bracelet. This sophisticated design features black tubing and gray Swarovski crystals to create a look that is subtly stunning. Simply attach your custom engraved medical ID tag with our signature stainless steel lobster clasps for instant, trouble-free elegance.

This sophisticated design is a crafty one. Its superior design and cutting edge style give it a stealthy look that would make James Bond himself jealous.  Made of durable stainless steel, this sneaky medical alert bracelet is nearly indestructible – which will come in handy when you’re cracking cases and going undercover. Complete the smooth look by custom engraving your bracelet with up to three lines of your important medical information.

You’ll feel like a real princess when you slip into this enchanting medical ID bracelet.  The single bali, clear seed beads, Swarovski gray pearls, metallic gold and wafer crystals will transform you from ordinary to the belle of the ball as if by magic.  Attach your custom engraved medical ID tag to our signature stainless steel lobster clasps and twirl your way into a fairytale.  Your custom engraved medical ID tag can be custom engraved wtih upto 5 lnes of your important medical information.

Now what are you waiting for?  Get commenting and even if you don’t win, head on over to Lauren’s Hope to check out their great items!

A few weeks ago I posted about a project I was a part of that was underway.  Well now, the You Can Do This project is live!  Please visit Kim’s website to view the story behind the project, watch the introductory video along with all the submissions and don’t forget to submit your own story! 

If you’ve ever felt alone living with diabetes, had a hard time coping or just want to share your story of leading a diabetes-filled life, this project is just for you.  We all want to hear from you.  I am not alone.  You are not alone.  Together, we can do this. 

And as for me, I am going to muster some more courage about going before the camera again to shoot my own video!

I wanted to take a moment and share with you an extremely exciting announcement from Kim over at Texting My Pancreas:

The You Can Do This Project is born!!!

You are not alone. 

You can do this. 

Please take a few moments and add your own video and join the community that proves we can do anything.

Thank you Kim for taking a wonderful idea and making it a reality and also for giving me the opportunity to share in it.   Thank you to everyone who participated in the “unveiling” of the project and for making it awesome. 

Well it’s the end of Diabetes Blog Week and I’m ending it with a late post 😉

Topic number 7 = Last year, Wendy of Candy Hearts made a suggestion for this year. She commented “I think Day 7 should be a post about stuff we’ve learned from other blogs or the experience of coming together online…” Today, let’s do just that!! What have you learned from other blogs – either this week or since finding the D-OC? What has your experience of blogging the DBlog Week topics with other participants been like? What has finding the D-OC done for you? If you’d like, you can even look ahead and tell us what you think the future holds!

Today (well yesterday rather) is the end of DBlogWeek.  But it certainly is not the end of the diabetes community.  It is so diffilcult for me to put in words what I have learned over the past couple of years from the DOC.  But what I have certainly learned this past week, is that this community is bigger than ever.  And that is awesome.  Each and every one of our diabetes is different.  Our lifestyles are different.  Our blogging is different.  Our feelings are different.  Yet we all come together with the same goals.  To educate.  To advoate.  To support.  And I don’t know how I have managed all of those years in the past without it.  So thank you Karen for providing the opportunity to reinforce to all of us (and others outside the community even) just what a memorable group of people we are.      

I also have to point you to this video created by Mike … Thank You to Karen.  This is what this community is all about.

Day 5 of Diabetes Blog Week = In February the #dsma blog carnival challenged us to write about the most awesome thing we’d done DESPITE diabetes. Today let’s put a twist on that topic and focus on the good things diabetes has brought us. What awesome thing have you (or your child) done BECAUSE of diabetes? After all, like my blog header says, life with diabetes isn’t all bad!

I’m pretty sure this is going to be a common theme among the blogs today but this was the easiest post for me to put together.  I cannot think of a more awesome thing to come out of having diabetes than being part of the DOC (diabetes online community).  Over the past several years I have found a connection to so many people which is just indescribable and irreplaceable.  I have learned so much and have gained so much from all of you.  You have all become such a big part of my life.  And I certainly would not be where I am today without you.  There are still so many that I have not met in person but below are captures of some of the greatest moments with my diabetes friends.  My awesome friends.  Friends that I know I will have for life.  (please click on the arrow in the below collage to see my slideshow)

Free photo collage personalized with Smilebox