Let's Celebrate TuDiabetes' 6th birthday! Last Day Tomorrow!

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High blood sugar? Insulin? Huh? Do I have diabetes?

Nope, it's just temporary from the drugs you're taking. Here's a fixed dose, call us if you go over 400.

OK…

That was my first 9 months with 'high blood sugar'. The next couple of years I was taken off insulin, diagnosed with T2, and put on orals. NO control, misery, and no one I knew could give me any input. I knew I was doing something wrong!
Then… I found TuDiabetes when googling for SOME insight into my 'mess'.

Satori is a Zen Buddhist word that means "acquiring of a new point of view in our dealings with life and the world", or simply "enlightenment". It perfectly describes what happened to me when I found the TuDiabetes family. Within an hour of joining, I had messages on my page welcoming me. I explored the discussions and blogs, and discovered that there were people with diabetes who had control, weren't miserable, weren't floundering. People who really got it – I was no longer alone.

With help from the community in many areas (diet, exercise, stories of personal experiences, etc.), I finally achieved better control. A year ago I finally had labs done that determined that I am T1 (LADA). This community literally gave me the tools/information I needed to get my life back with diabetes. The information, compassion, caring and support we find on TuDiabetes doesn't cease to amaze me. We are a truly unique community.

In 2012, TuDiabetes and EsTuDiabetes welcomed 3 million unique visitors from around the world, giving them the opportunity for support from a community where they would not be alone with diabetes. TuDiabetes has grown to over 27,000 members in 6 years.

You might have seen little 'TuD' floating around the site. He's not a PWD, but has family and friends all over the world, with every flavor of diabetes. TuD is 6 years old this month. We are celebrating his birthday with our 6th anniversary fundraising campaign. Our 'family' pays it forward every day on the site by contributing to discussions, writing blogs, and hanging out in the chat room.

It also takes cash to keep Diabetes Hands Foundation,, TuDiabetes and EsTuDiabetes running, and growing. Whether you can afford an ongoing monthly contribution of $20, or a one-time contribution of $10, please consider supporting our 'family' with a donation this month. Let's each do what we can to keep our community thriving and growing so it continues to be available to us and those who will be joining us.

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well said pup
this site has been such a life savor for me and i hope in some small way i can return to ppl some of what tud had done for me. yes we are a family and we will always be so

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Hi jrtpup. Thanks for telling us your story!

I've told my story before and it's similar to many of our members: life-threatening symptoms for too long a time, incorrectly dx'd as a Type 2, finding I was LADA/Type 1 (I was 63 y.o.!), starting insulin, finding TuD and learning how to manage my Diabetes effectively. Before TuD, I was clueless! In fact I learned enough to credit TuD with helping to save my life. One of the happiest results of gaining knowledge here is that I caught the fact that my husband was losing beta cells, and he was able to immediately start treatment.

Jrtpup wrote, "We are a truly unique community", which sums it all up and explains why we who have benefited from TuD so much also need to support it, to help reach out to others. I am well aware that the world's economy is making life difficult for many of us at this moment, especially since the cost of treating Diabetes is so substantial. I am so grateful that TuDiabetes is here for everyone! I am one of those people lucky enough to be able to send a check and I will do so. Thanks, TuDiabetes.

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So many have come to TuDiabetes just like you and I seeking knowledge and support from others that are like us. I think that most find what they are seeking, I see that you did and I know that I did.

The guy in the picture may only be six years old but he and his many friends have helped an untold number. Not bad for a little guy, I think he's worth supporting

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This site is a priceless resource. It provides the two things a PWD needs most: peer support (emotional support, a place to vent, the ability to share with someone who's been there and gets it), and a repository of shared experience and advice to draw on. To paraphrase, "if tuD didn't exist, it would be necessary to invent it."

Happy Birthday!

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Well said David

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A celebration is underway and we are all invited. Cool Beans. Thanks for the heads up

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Thanks for sharing your story Pup! I am so thankful I have found this site.

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Happy Birthday, TuDiabetes!

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such a cute little thing and he's done so much for everyone here!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TuDiabetes!!!!!!

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Glad you found us too Kristi!

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Hi Kids, I was just reading our former admin and (current) board member Melissa Lee's blog about TuD's 6th anniversary. here it is

http://www.sweetlyvoiced.com/

follow Mel on twitter @sweetlyvoiced

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Marie thanks for sharing! Mel, what an awesome blog!

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Thanks to you, we've reached $3,000 USD raised so far. If you look at the top of the home page, you'll see that TuD has another guest at his party! Watch that space for more as we get closer to our goal.

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Make that 4 party guests!

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We're almost at $5,000 raised so far!!!!

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Just to let people know, we're also looking for someone with a Safeway connection so that we can list them on a grant request. I'm working on a grant application for Big Blue Test and Safeway looks more favorably on applications that include an employee.

Please email me directly at corinna@diabeteshf.org if you or a loved one works at Safeway and are willing to help us out.

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their HQ is in Pleasanton CA, perhaps posting in the Northern CA group? Let me know if you need more help, I know somebody who might know a current employee