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Who didn't know that traveling with Diabetes is a bitch?? But at least now we've got a CNN Vid to back us up!!!

Who didn't know that traveling with Diabetes is a bitch?? But at least now we've got a CNN Vid to back us up!!!
Everyone of us out here in "Diabetes Land" knows that traveling with Diabetes can be a challenge.....Ok it's a bitch.

Technically, we should at least be allowed an extra carry-on for all of our Diabetes crap we have to lug around.
We need our pump and the insulin to put in it; our pump supplies,batteries, test strips, our blood sugar machine, ice packs for the insulin, RX's for all our meds, and backups of absolutely everything I've just mentioned. We also need to bring extra food for the plane, train, boat, and or automobile that will take us to our vacation destination.

Mentally, we have to prepare ourselves to deal with the mess that is airport security, and in the back of our minds, we always have the fear that someone (I'm not pointing fingers here, BUT they usually operate the x-ray machine) will want to take away our Diabetes accoutrement. Or worse - they feel the need to say, "You must have Diabetes real bad to take insulin. My Grand-Ma has Diabetes and she lost three toes! Have a nice day!" Thanks Trixie, that's just the visual I needed.

Well, someone must have told the good folks at CNN about our "Diabetic Lament" and they actually did a little video segment on the subject. I would have shot it differently, but my style is a bit more Film Noir meets "Old School." But hey, I'm just happy that CNN is helping to spread the word. Yes....it is a a bit ironic that the next story is about "Cookies helping kids with cancer," but that story is important to.

Anywho...Check-out the video link listed below.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2007/11/26/body.of.knowledge.diabetes.travel.cnn?iref=videosearch

"Call Me Ishmael....."

Kelly K

I was named after a baby that my parents saw in a restaurant/bar. My mom was pregnant with yours truly and my parents and 5 siblings were on a rare family night out.

Apparently, there was a baby in the restaurant and my father asked what it's name was.
When he found out it was Kelly, he made a decision that has lasted my lifetime.
"I don't care if this baby's a boy or a girl - we're calling it Kelly, Kelly Kunik." And of course - they did.

My mother had been leaning towards Heather for a girl and Roy for a boy, so I guess I'm grateful for Kelly.


Growing up, I went to school with 3 other Kelly’s and I always wondered if one of them had been that baby in the bar/restaurant from so long ago.

First, there was Kelly M, but who allways went by KellyAnn.

KellyAnn was my friend. When I finally got home from the hospital after being diagnosed with Diabetes, Kelly Ann and her sister Lynn went with me to see Star Wars - I still remember that event vividly - even what clothes I wore (an argyle sweater, blue cords, and a locket - all gifts from my next door neighbor for being in the hospital) and how I fixed my hair - pony tails of course!

KellyAnn was also the girl who got a concussion while playing on the metal Monkey bars and who missed a week of school in first grade. Kelly M would also pass out in Art class whenever we used cement glue. Because of her, kids in our school were banned from using cement glue in the 1st grade. Ironically, metal Monkey Bars were not outlawed until about 12 years ago. Go figure?


Kelly C entered my world in 6th grade. She was the Kelly who was “stacked” and dated High School boys in middle school. She always looked older than the rest of us, and I envied her.
I was skinny, wore thick glasses, and I was quite the late bloomer.
Kelly C and I attended the same high school and I can honestly say, it was during those years that I hated having the name Kelly.

Kelly C didn't like me very much and was not very nice to me for reasons that I'm still not sure of. But today, I don't really care why she wasn't nice to me and I love my name - I guess I've grown. So ya know,...I got that going for me ;)


Kelly G was a boy and was 3 years older than I was. We didn’t talk until I was a Senior in high school, when started dating one of his friends. Believe it or not, I was always somewhat shy when it came to talking with older boys (boys in general actually,) regardless of whether or not we shared the same name.

And finally there was me, Kelly K, the girl with Diabetes who could shoot up through her clothes and got to eat in class whenever she wanted. The same girl who spent her time on the playground convincing her friends the they couldn't catch Diabetes via her Rosanna Rosanna Dana impersonations. Yeah, I watched a lot of TV - but it actually helped as far as "The Big D" was concerned.

I would have preferred being the Kelly K with the big boobs,(at least I didn't crack my head open on the Monkey bars) but I didn’t have a choice in the matter.

So Kelly with Diabetes it was...and still is.

Music Is A Visible Thing. Close Your Eyes. You Will See.

Music Is A Visible Thing. Close Your Eyes. You Will See.

Our Strength grows out of our weakness ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson