For my speech class i am supposedgive a persuasive presenation to get my class to donate time or money to an organization. i thought it would be cool to persuade them to promote awareness. i was looking through our site and i came across the beautiful “World Is in your Hand” video…i thought i could pass around a magic marker after my presentation and have each of them write a word on their hands about how they felt after hearing my story. I am going to ask them to post our link as their facebook status, for one hour and tell 5 people each about what they learned from my presentation. While raising money for JDRF might be nice…i often feel that the money my family and friends have been donating for years has not made a personal impact as much as the relationships and information i have gained from this site. I know most of my classmates do not have diabetes, but according to the survey i passed out, every single one of them knows at least one person with D.
In my presentation i would like to include some words from you guys if its okay. so i’m going to post 2 questions and you guys can respond with your answers if you have time. thanks.
Q - What do you see for us as diabetics in the near future?
Q- What is the most important thing you have learned from this site?
I think that it’s do or die time about test strips and, very likely, other modalities of treatment if insurers realize the short term gains/ management bonuses they hope to realize from limiting test strips absurdly. I could perhaps figure out a way to get you the “the FDA says 200 test strips/ month is what you need” letter I got from BCBS recently if you’d like a visual aid? I haven’t called them as they likely rec’d the “letter of medical necessity” from my doctor stating “he is very active and needs up to 17 strips/ day” but that’s on my addenda for tomorrow. It may sound petty, MrsAcidRock is like “just buy them out of pocket” but the principle of it sends me over the edge with blind rage.
I think that the most important things have been facts, many of which support my “seat of the pants” theories.
The Diabetes Hands Foundation has through this site and so many of its projects done so much to promote diabetes awareness and advocacy. I agree with you about the importance of the relationships built here. So I think having them donate to Diabetes Hands Foundation is a fabulous idea! As for your questions:
Q - What do you see for us as diabetics in the near future? Diabetes is a 24/7 thing. There is never a day off. And health care system being in crisis in the country makes it so hard for far too many people to get the supplies they need to manage diabetes. I’m hopeful that the health reform will make care affordable and assessable to people with diabetes.
Q- What is the most important thing you have learned from this site? That support of people who understand the disease is instrumental to my own management of diabetes. That together through advancement of advocacy and awareness we may be able to correct a lot of the misinformation that is in the mainstream about diabetes.
Q - What is your biggest fear related to D? Complications – loss of vision, neuropathy, physical restrictions, heart disease, kidney disease, etc.
Q - What do you see for us as diabetics in the near future?
additional tools for control, better ways to communicate with doctors, etc concerning the results of our tests, trends, etc, in real time through the use of iphone apps, etc. I also see a closed-loop system becoming closer to being reliable as well as available to more people. hmm, guess I’m an optimist ha ha
Q- What is the most important thing you have learned from this site?
communication, community, tolerance, and understanding that while we are all different and the way d effects us is different, we are all in it together. Sharing is key
Q - What is your biggest fear related to D?
a stroke that might leave me unable to function/care for myself
having said that, and somewhat related to Q. 1, I try to live each day to the full, choosing not to dwell on the possible negatives, yet not ignoring them either. I try to live in the moment, laugh as often as possible and have fun while still working hard at the goals I’ve set, being positive about where I am and where I am headed, 'cuz it only gets better and better!
Q - What do you see for us as diabetics in the near future?
Increasingly better technology; pumps, continuous glucose monitors etc., and increasing resistance from insurance companies to pay for it. They seem willing to pay big money to amputate your feet, but not trivial amounts of money to prevent it.
Q- What is the most important thing you have learned from this site?
That I’m not alone. My problems are not unique, and that makes it easier somehow.
Q - What is your biggest fear related to D?
Amputation, blindness, dialysis. Anything that renders me helpless and dependent on others.
