How great is it that we live in an age where when being diagnosed as a diabetic, we are no longer being diagnosed with a death sentence, but a life sentence. A life full of laughter, love, and good health, if we just do the work that is required. Is it a pain in the ass? Sometimes - both literally and figuratively. Is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY.
How great is it that we live in an age where blood sugar machines take less then 5 seconds from start to finish to work, and are no longer the size of a cassette player from 1985. Of course the whole test strip issue ( we find them everywhere) still exists, but hey, this too shall pass.
How great is it that type 1's can now walk around with an insulin pump - which is basically an electronic pancreas. In a sense (and for those of you robot geeks out there) we "pumpers"are cyborgs of sorts. Or in my case, A CHICK ROBOT. Which was more of a turn-on for the ex boyfriend then one would think, but I digress.
The cyborg part of us blinks and beeps, requires a battery, and the tubing occasionally gets caught on the door knob - which I've been told is VERY funny to watch when it happens. Everything electronic has a few flaws, but unlike ipods, our pumps do not just stop working one day for no good reason.
OK - this is my favorite. How great is it that now we can actually have our cake and eat too. GUILT FREE. And our ice cream, peanut butter cups, and banana pancakes. Of course like
non- diabetic, non-cyborgs, we can't make a daily habit of those treats, or we'd be the size of a linebacker. But isn't it great to know that when we do get the occasional craving, we can give in to it.
Just a few observations that I thought I'd share with you all. Please feel free to post your "How great is it" thoughts.
Dirty Medicine and Martin J Walker
Martin J Walker's book, Dirty Medicine, first awakened me to the full horrors of ConMed. It was first published in 1993. Since that time, Martin has published many more books that delve into the indescribably dirty world of conventional medicine.
If you want fully to open your eyes to the lengths ConMed will go to deceive governments, national health services, and millions of patients, Martin's books should be your first port of call. It took me months to find a copy of Dirty Medicine. Fortunately, they are now more easily available through Martin's website, where his books are listed. Go to:
http://www.slingshotpublications.com/books1.html
If you want fully to open your eyes to the lengths ConMed will go to deceive governments, national health services, and millions of patients, Martin's books should be your first port of call. It took me months to find a copy of Dirty Medicine. Fortunately, they are now more easily available through Martin's website, where his books are listed. Go to:
http://www.slingshotpublications.com/books1.html
How spin takes the science out of medicine
ConMed prides itself on being an "evidence-based" science. Yet most studies on which doctors rely have been created by marketing companies, who are working for Big Pharma.
So says the Magazine 'What doctors don't tell you', usually shortened to WDDTY, is excellent for doing just that - it tells you what you GP does not usually, or willingly tell you. This particular piece can be found at WDDTY Vol 21 No 8. Page 7-8, and examines why it is that for decades we have been led to believe in conventional medicine, and its ability to cure disease.
"Around 90,000 so-called 'scientific' drug trials, published over the past 10 years in journals, have been nothing more than public relations (PR) dressed up as research".
WDDTY calls this a scam, that makes a mockery of the idea that conventional medicine is 'scientific', and describes principally the activities of the drug company, Wyeth. Wyeth is being sued by 14,000 women who developed breast cancer after taking its HRT drug, Prempro. They have been forced to reveal 'secret' documents that have shown just how 'scientific' ConMed is.
Yet, as the report says, the Wyeth documents are "but the tip of the iceberg of a practice carried out by most drug companies".
I have written about this before, at The Failure of Conventional Medicine, or more specifically at Medical Science. The failure to protect, where the use of 'cheque-book science', 'ghost' writing, and much more, is described in some detail.
The fact is that ConMed drugs are no more than a confidence trick, a massive deception on patients who are not told the truth, but Government, the NHS, our doctors, and the mainstream media. The dangerous failure of a succession of ConMed drugs, over the last 50-60 years in particular, demonstrates they have no 'evidence base' whatsoever.
The evidence that patients look for is that treatment is effective, and safe. Medical Science has proven itself to be totally ineffective in safeguarding our health; indeed, it has contributed to our ill-health. It is outcomes that are important:
So says the Magazine 'What doctors don't tell you', usually shortened to WDDTY, is excellent for doing just that - it tells you what you GP does not usually, or willingly tell you. This particular piece can be found at WDDTY Vol 21 No 8. Page 7-8, and examines why it is that for decades we have been led to believe in conventional medicine, and its ability to cure disease.
"Around 90,000 so-called 'scientific' drug trials, published over the past 10 years in journals, have been nothing more than public relations (PR) dressed up as research".
WDDTY calls this a scam, that makes a mockery of the idea that conventional medicine is 'scientific', and describes principally the activities of the drug company, Wyeth. Wyeth is being sued by 14,000 women who developed breast cancer after taking its HRT drug, Prempro. They have been forced to reveal 'secret' documents that have shown just how 'scientific' ConMed is.
Yet, as the report says, the Wyeth documents are "but the tip of the iceberg of a practice carried out by most drug companies".
I have written about this before, at The Failure of Conventional Medicine, or more specifically at Medical Science. The failure to protect, where the use of 'cheque-book science', 'ghost' writing, and much more, is described in some detail.
The fact is that ConMed drugs are no more than a confidence trick, a massive deception on patients who are not told the truth, but Government, the NHS, our doctors, and the mainstream media. The dangerous failure of a succession of ConMed drugs, over the last 50-60 years in particular, demonstrates they have no 'evidence base' whatsoever.
The evidence that patients look for is that treatment is effective, and safe. Medical Science has proven itself to be totally ineffective in safeguarding our health; indeed, it has contributed to our ill-health. It is outcomes that are important:
I am ill; I am treated; I get better
It is homeopathy, and other natural CAM therapies, that have provided patients with good outcomes - and this is why so many people are turning to medical therapies that have such an evidence base.
Dear Diabetes Orgs & Society As A Whole
Yes indeed we grow up- CHEERS to that!
Dear Diabetes Orgs & Society As A Whole:
Well, its official (especially after my last few birthdays) I’ve been a grown up for quite some time and in some circles, I'm considered a bona fide lady - and I use that term with a wink and a smile.
I am no longer considered a cute & fuzzy child with type 1 Diabetes.
Here's the thing; while I still have a child like wonderment when it comes to cupcakes and manatees, and actually uttered the term “Ohhh, look at the Bunny!!” when I saw one running across the street the other night in an urban area, this former child with type 1 has grown up, like MILLIONS of my type 1 compatriots.
And on a side note: Growing up with Type 1 Diabetes is never a cake walk (no pun intended,) but for those of us 35 and over, it was quite the challenge.
We survived the archaic time in history (occurring after the Diabetes Ice & Prehistoric Ages) known as the Diabetes Dark Ages.
A time when “checking your sugar” meant urine testing, which required fizzy blue pills and test tubes that burned our fingers. When we needed to test on the road, Urine Test Tape was slightly less messy and definitely more portable, but just as inaccurate.
Only three types of insulin existed, Regular, Lente, and NPH, and there was no such thing as sliding scale o insulin.
Carb counting was unheard of and EVERYTHING super delicious was off limits.
It wasn’t easy, and many suffered complications from living in those dark times.
But I digress...
We, ALL the former children with Type 1 Diabetes, managed to grow up, and that’s a wonderful thing!
It's also a testament to not just "us", as people with diabetes, but to our parents and their never ending devotion to us- their children with Type 1 Diabetes.
We’ve transformed from children with type 1, into adolescents, and then to teens, and in what seemed like a New York minute, we have morphed into adulthood, just like the rest of the society.
We find jobs; we find (or our looking) for significant others. Many get married and have families.
We work the 9 to 5 daily grind and bitch about taxes, and the cost of our diabetes health care. We take care children and aging parents, while juggling all that life throws our way, including managing our diabetes 24X7.
We exist and are productive members of society.
So why don’t you remember us more?
Bottom line, we’ve done a great job managing not only life, but life with diabetes.
If we hadn’t, we wouldn’t be here.
Kids with diabetes grow up and become adults with diabetes.
Don’t forget that fact, or us.
We exist, and will continue to do so.
Thanks for hearing me out!
Your friend,
Kelly Kunik
P.S. Inspired by all those type 1's who have grown up; like Leeann & Hannah.
Those who didn't have the opportunity,
and those who are are still cute & fuzzy~
So I'm Guest Host, I mean Guest Blogger at The Diabetes O.C. this week.....
So, I'm the Guest Host ( I mean Guest Blogger) over at The Diabetes O.C. this week.
Be sure to stop on over there take a look! I'll be blogging both here and there - it should be interesting and it will definitely be hectic, that's for sure! A big Diabetesaliciousness Shout Out to Gina for believing in me -THANKS GINA!
Also, Thanks to all the kind wishes regarding my Mom. She has a long road ahead of her in the next few months with several tough surgeries and a long recovery. All your thoughts and prayers are not only appreciated, but also mean the world to me and my family.
The DRI Foundation @ Tibi (And A few DOC Fashionistas) in Soho
Designer Amy Smilovic & Act1Diabetes Lindsey Inserra
Four Diazon Fashionistas
From left to right: Yours Truly, Tibi Mannequin wearing Alfred Shaheen inspired shirt created by Tibi owner Amy Smilovic, Stacey Divone & Allison Blass
Photo courtesy of Stacey Divone~
Last night I ventured into the city that never sleeps( for the second time in four days) and had the opportunity to attend a champagne reception hosted by the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation at Tibi in Soho.
Tibi Owner & Designer Amy Smilovic offered those in attendance a 20% discount from 6 to 8 p.m. (not to mention champagne and goodies) and unveiled her new fashion creation, inspired by Alfred Shaheen, the creator of the classic Hawaiian shirt, who passed away from diabetes.
Amy also lost her 12 year old nephew to type 1 diabetes almost 8 years ago, so finding a cure for diabetes is very near to her heart.
I found Amy to be not only a wonderful & talented designer, but incredibly down to earth & easy to talk with.
Amy is so serious about finding a diabetes cure, that $100 of every shirt sold will go to the DRI Foundation to help them find one~
The event also gave me the opportunity to meet several members of the DRI Foundation in IRL (in real life) and the chance to see some beautiful clothes!
I met up with Alison Blass and FINALLY had the chance to meet Stacey Divone (a.ka. Cupcakes Divone) face to face for the very first time- And yes, she's fantastical in every sense of the word!
If your interested in purchasing the Tibi Top for yourself or as a Christmas gift for a friend (hint, hint),visit: http://www.diabetesresearch.org/TibiTop or click HERE.
