<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">This is a short note to let everyone know that I am not missing in action but we are in the final preparation madness for our upcoming Thriveabetes 2019 which takes place on Saturday 19th October in The Red Cow Hotel, Dublin.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">So, Why Would Someone with Diabetes use an Unapproved Device or Software? so much misinformation about DIY Diabetes Devices - lets get some information.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">The Walking Lady of the Tulla Road is back on the beat. I go for a 40 minute walk at around the same time, four mornings a week, during the school year. I normally take a break during the Summer holidays, so each September I get back into my routine of walking and figure out the blood sugar versus 40 minute walk balance again.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">I’m one of those people with diabetes who seems to be susceptible to recurrent urinary tract infections but over the years I’ve learned a couple of things about nipping them in the but.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">The Series of Calamities lead to me spending 26 hours cgm-less and a lot of anxiety when the transmitter component “popped its clogs”. I value this CGM device with my life and I never, ever want to rely on finger sticks alone to manage my diabetes.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Diabetes Ireland published a press release on Monday last 15 July, about the lack of resources in the diabetes service run by University Limerick Hospital. Can you really call it a lack of resources if those resources are only at 12% of what it should be? Would you even call that a service?</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Last month, I shared my journey with a frozen shoulder and how it was affecting my life and my diabetes and I’m happy to report that I am making progress in my recovery. Here’s the latest update</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">dXLisbon took place on June 21-23, with approximately 38 bloggers/advocates from 15 countries where we could exchange ideas within the diabetes blogger community hence, Diabetes Community Exchange or “dX”. This was the fifth European dX</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Finger stick glucose measurement is the most common way to check sugar levels in people with diabetes but did you know there is more than one way to get glucose levels. Here are the choices from finger stick to alternative site testing to sensoring</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">I attended a Diabetes Patient Advocacy Summit last month organised by Novo Nordisk Europe. This event gives diabetes organisations an opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from each other. For me It was also a journey of realisation and huge learning on being a more effective advocate. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">I’ve had a serious of minor musculoskeletal ailments, over recent years, however, my most recent issue has turned me into a desperate zombie who hasn’t slept through the night in over three months: a frozen shoulder combined with inflammation and a partial tendon tear. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Our Local Election Candidates are calling to our doors and it’s time to ask them what they will do to improve my diabetes service locally. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">There aren't many times that diabetes shakes my confidence in my ability to manage it or overwhelm me to the point where I just can’t think. But a couple of weeks ago, I had such an experience and it was quite scary. My blood sugars levels were so high that I could feel the nausea of DKA. </p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">I’m usually the last to finish my dinner even though I’m one of the first to sit to the table. Why? Because of my diabetes meal time ritual. Every time I eat. I sit to the table and then push my plate away from me to make room for checking blood glucose levels and the maths.</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">It’s often left up to us to educate our nearest and dearest about type 1 diabetes and I really struggled with this for a long time. Here is a Cheatsheet you might find useful to explain your new diagnosis.</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">I have quite a bit of anxiety around basal rate testing. Am I the only one? Or is this just a Gráinne-ism-quirk (another one). </p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">What if I was newly diagnosed all over again? If I was 20 year old me again and newly diagnosed what would I want knowing what I know now about what’s out there in diabetes management? What would I want to have in my diabetes care?</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">I had completely run out of patience waiting for my health service to be a current and up to date one. So I’ve joined the #WeAreNotWaiting movement and become a member of the <a href="https://loopkit.github.io/loopdocs/" target="_blank">closed loop</a> crowd. &nbsp;</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">I don’t openly share much about how diabetes has truly impacted my life. I tend to push all that down as a coping mechanism. However, this post has come about from lots of ponderings and conversations with my devoted husband over the last week on how diabetes has impacted my life, his life and questioning my levels of hypo awareness. And I had to write.</p>