thediabeticdiva

• Create awareness of the risks of diabetes and its complications
• Surround them with social support
• Create exercise programs that are sensitive to physical and mental needs (Recommendations are at least 3-4 times a week for 20-30 minutes)

I'm now over half way through my ten years with diabetes. My goal is to spend this full year writing my fourth and final part of the Sugar Free Series with a book that shares the lessons I have learned over the last decade. I have been documenting my experiences as I have continued to learn more, but have taken a break for a while from the writing to let more of this tenth year sink in so that my book will be the best it can be. What's interesting to me is that here I am ten years later, and I'm still learning. My perspective continues to change on my diabetes. I go through phases of feeling confident and on top of the world with amazing blood sugar, and then out of nowhere come those never ending weeks of blood sugar that doesn't seem to know where it should be (even after all this time). But what this shows me is that as I continue to learn, I am given the opportunity to progess, not only as a person with diabetes but a person who loves life and pushes the limits.

I am thankful, I am in a constant state of retrospect and thoughtfullness, and I am excited about my new book! Don't worry, you'll be one of the first to know when it's out. I'm about 1/4 of the way done with it, with 2/4 of the year left to write it...this means I need to stop learning and need to get to work! 

I will add a disclaimer and disclosure as all of the bloggers are before I share my thoughts on the Diabetes Advocate Forum hosted by the diabetes business unit of Medtronic. They didn’t pay my way or my stay because I live 10 minutes away and happen to work there LOL but this blog is as always my own thoughts, and I wasn’t asked or told to do anything otherwise. So this disclaimer isn't really serving a purpose other than to say: I love my job as a diabetes advocate who happens to be a Medtronic employee, or the other way around I'm not quite sure.

This was my second experience with the Diabetes Advocate Forum. I have been a Medtronic employee for both of those years and have been involved behind the scenes prior to the event and part of the special days. But my journey with diabetes started 10 years ago. I became a pumper 9 years ago, author 5 years ago, blogger 3 years ago, and employee for Medtronic soon after as all of my other activities in the community helped to open this door to my career. This year for the forum, I got the honor and opportunity to spend a few hours in the afternoon at the forum as well as dinner that night. In the past, I have often found myself struggling internally over both of the roles that I play in events such as this, as a person with diabetes, blogger and author in the community, as well as an employee of a company that is striving to make genuine relationships with this group of amazing people. But as time goes on, I feel less insecure and unsure of using this voice inside of me in both of these roles, but more certain of that fact that I am absolutely blessed in every way that this voice of mine will not change or conflict in any setting and it is important that I continue to speak up because that is what God has called me to do.

At the forum, with all the conversations and time spent with these 28 people, I thoroughly enjoyed having the rare perspective of truly seeing both sides at the same time. I got to see friendly faces that I have seen before and had the opportunity to meet so many more, adding to my list of friends within this community. It is so nice to have face to face interactions with people that get it, and work to help others do the same. Sometimes hearing a laugh is so much more beautiful and real than an "LOL" and I loved being able to experience that. Each person, unique in their own way, brings such value to our community with their voice and I was honored to be able to listen. 
 
My biggest takeaway was the importance of unity. The importance of using our voices as diabetes advocates to share one message of hope, faith and friendship. There is a way to shine as individuals and to have the ability to share the messages that we hold personally close to our hearts, but we are on the brink of finding a way as a community of how we can take steps forward as individuals forward in the same direction to accomplish the same goal. The goal for a person with diabetes to know that they are never alone, and they can in fact do this. None of us have all of the answers but if we can find a way to push through the vulnerability with openess and honesty to the reality of the disease that we live with, that is when we are true advocates amidst the bittersweetness that surrounds us every single day.

Cherise @Diabetic_Iz_Me and I

So to the advocates that I got to see again, for those I was able to meet for the first time, give hugs to and laugh with; thank you. Thank you for caring to be the voice of those who aren’t heard all of the time, and for spending a large portion of your lives to share the messages each of you feel called to share. DOC, you were represented and you were represented well. Be assured that you have such a great, genuine, and varied unique group of people who will always make sure to hear that your thoughts and feelings are heard. The support this community provides can not be compared to anything else, and is something we need to hold tight to our hearts but open our arms to extend and share even further. To my fellow advocates, keep up the amazing work out there as individuals and as a united force, and I will be forever grateful as I have the opportunity to do the same.