Obat Diabetes

Thursday night there was a Diabetes Meet up, Philly style.

Kerri over at SUM was in town for a conference regarding social media, pharmaceutical companies, and patient bloggers working together to help patients & their communities.

Kerri had mentioned on her blog that she was looking to for Philly Dfolk to meet up on Thursday night.

After a flurry of emails amoungst a group who had some names I both recognized & didn't, it was decided we’d meet up at Monks, a Belgian Beer Bar in the City.

Cut to Thursday, evening and me furiously trying to secure a parking spot near the bar. After finally finding a spot on Latimar Street, I was fanatically scrounging for quarters when I received a call from Kerri.

I picked up the receiver and said: I’m on my way, just scrounging for quarters to park!
Kerri: What? Is this Kelly?

Me: Yep! I’ll be right there, just trying to find quarters.
Kerri: The location been changed. Our party is too big; we’re going to The Black Sheep around the corner.

Me: Great-I’ll see you in a few!

I knew where The Sheep was and thankfully, it was literally two blocks up from where I’d parked.

I walked in the crowed bar and immediately spied LeeAnn from the Butter Compartment.
We hugged and she introduced me to her husband Jason, who I’d already felt like I’d known since I’d read so much about him over these many months.

We walked towards the back of the bar where I recognized Kerri.
We gave one another a hug and later I would find out that we both were eerily similar when it came to math, reading maps, and all things related to directional skills and the likes there of.
Kerri introduced me to Faye from Sugar Bump and her t3 counterpart Chris.
And then we were introduced to Zack and Karen, two t1’s who I’d conversed with over the groups emails.

And SURPRISE, SURPRISE-GUESS who was sitting at the end of the table? None other than Manny, A.K.A Mr. Tu Diabetes, who was also attending the same conference Kerri was.

We grabbed another table and the conversations started. We chatted away about all things diabetes and not. All of us commented on the fact that the bar was literally a sweat lodge, and all were saddened regarding Farrah’s passing, and shocked that Michael J had passed away earlier in the day. No wonder The Sheep was blasting Thriller!

We ordered our food, and LeeAnn and I made a bargain D style. I needed change for two dollars because I needed quarters for the meter. LeeAnn had forgotten her test strips in the rush to catch her train to the city.

LeeAnn: Do you have a One Touch meter? Because I’ll give you the quarters if you can give me some test strips- I forgot mine!

Me: YES, and you don’t have to give me the quarters-Lets just do an even exchange. After fumbling around at the bottom of my bag, I found my strips (whose code # was 17) and gave her 4, and told her the code.

LeeAnn: OMG, my meter is already calibrated for number 17!

Me: Then it’s kismet!

Then I cashed in my chips so to speak and felt relieved that my parking situation was under control.

My friend Emily walked in and was followed by Katelyn- a newly diagnosed t1 and Miss Hannah M from Dorkabetic!

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

It was a Diabetes frenzy of laughter and understanding. There’s nothing quite like being with a bunch of Diabetics- it’s an amazing experience to sit with a group who absolutely gets not only where your going, but where you’ve been.

We were a group of type 1’s-loud, proud, and all grown up!

Type 1 Diabetics are not just children. While it’s true that many of us at the table were diagnosed as a child, we’ve grown up to become adults, productive members of society and our communities. Some have married and had children; others are still looking for Mr. or Mrs. Right. All of us struggle not just with our diabetes, but to be seen and heard by a society who continually lumps PWD’s into two groups.

Small children and over weight adults.

All people living with Diabetes (t1, t1.5, t2, etc) are so much more than that.

We are a tenacious group who work hard to live good lives.
We are articulate because we have to constantly dispel any all rumors associated with our disease.

We continually educate ourselves and others regarding Diabetes because we must.

And when we get together as a group, we laugh from our bellies and appreciate those who we are laughing with us, because they get “it” on every level.

A wonderful time was had by all!

Saturday morning came to soon for me as I my taxi made it’s way from The Hard Rock Hotel To San Diego’s Airport. It had been an amazing and jam packed three days at The 2011 Roche Social Media Summit and I didn’t want to leave.

Plus, I was tired, and the very thought of an almost 6 hour flight made me queasy - As did the thought of traveling with diabetes & previous TSA encounters.

I checked my bags and received my boarding pass at curbside check-in, and then I dragged my feet and carry-on over to security and mentally tried to prepare myself for the whole insulin pump TSA interrogation that would most certainly occur.

Just one day earlier on Friday, as the Roche Social Media Summit was in it’s last hour, I re-tweeted the following tweet:

@diabetesalic SHAMEFUL RT @hrana Elderly woman asked 2remove adult diaper during #TSA search bit.ly/lufLsr - Absolutely unacceptable behavior by TSA

The story of that poor woman, whose only crimes were her advanced age & declining health had me sick to my stomach. It made me think about my mother's fragile health and my own “insulin pump/TSA issues.”

And it made me angry! As I stood in line preparing myself mentally to be interrogated, it was that poor woman I was thinking of.

I was surprised how quick my turn came up and I put my shoes, laptop, carry-on, etc .in bins & then onto a conveyor belt. Then I walked through the security gate thing, and was immediately pulled over.

TSA Dude: IS that an insulin pump

Me: Yes it is.

TSA Dude: Well, you know I’m going to have to get a female security to give you a pat-down.

Me: Um, no you’re not. My pump (a 512 medtronic minimed - yes, you read right, a 512- YES, I suffer from Insulin Pump Purchase Anxiety ) has no metal parts so there’s no reason for a pat down. And even if it did have metal parts, it's still ridiculous & goes against my civil rights under the American With Disabilities Act.

Feel free to swab the pump and my hands, like they do at every other airport in the country, but you’re not patting me down.

TSA Dude then began to have a series of powwows with 3 different TSA employees regarding the best way to handle my insulin- pump contraband.

TSA Dude: Well...... You can have the female security pat you down.....or you can walk through the full body scanner.

Me: She's not patting me down and I’m not walking through the full metal body scanner.

1. If it damages my pump in anyway - I’m screwed.
2. I don’t need to give a free peep show. If you’re going to see all my lucky charms - so to speak, then you can buy me dinner first!

TSA Dude: You can’t see anything. FYI, he sounded both annoyed & hurt at that accusation.

Me: Yeah, actually you can.

God, I only wish I’d read THIS article before our exchange, because then I could have mentioned TSA Dude's co-worker’s unfortunate genitalia size and the fact that yes, you can indeed see EVERYTHING.

Then TSA Dude had me go over to the side, and then TSA Dude proceeded to swab my hands & my insulin pump, and then he told me I could retrieve my things.

Me: So, we’re done, then?

TSA Dude: Yeah, it’s just next time you should really just go through the full body scanner - It's easier for everyone.

Me: It's not easier for me!

At that point, I could either continue arguing my point & continue to prove him wrong, (but as far as I was concerned, I'd won) or I could get my things and grab a much needed cup of coffee.

I walked away and started to retrieve my things from the conveyor belt - Then, I noticed the woman who had been behind me in line had been pulled aside for her medical device. This woman, a breast cancer survivor who no longer had any lymph-nodes on her right side, was wearing a compression device so her arm wouldn’t swell up.

This was apparently the first time she’d ever experienced the TSA welcome wagon & she was scared & annoyed.

I heard her say to the TSA Chick: Look, I’m not going through the full body scanner with this and you’re not patting me down.

I’m going to assume that there was no metal parts, because TSA Chick ended up swabbing the device & the woman it was attached to.

When Survivor Woman’s ordeal was done, she and I looked at one another as we put our shoes on and said: You deal with this every time you travel?

Me: Yep, 9 times out of 10 - And it’s bullshit! My guy didn’t even know the rules and he was literally making them up as he was going along!

Survivor Woman: They have to figure this out!

Me: Agreed & no shit - This is ridiculous! I’m all for safety, but I’m also for respecting the person who medically needs assistance. Making an elderly woman remove her diaper & giving those of us with medical devices so much crap is WRONG.

Seriously TSA, if you want your jobs to be easier, respect the people who you are both protecting and interrogating - We are one in the same after all! And for god-sakes TSA, know the rules of engagement!

Today kicks of the Roche Social Media Summit & I can't wait ! I've already caught up with many old friends & new last night & this morning, more on that to follow! :)

My questions for you are: What would you like Roche to know? Or what would you like to ask them? I'll be checking for comments throughout the summit & will forward your questions to the folks at Roche !