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Fighting With Grape Juice In The Wee Hours

BEEEEEEEEEP!

Reaching for the alarm, but it’s not the clock.  Check the cell phone, but it’s not a text message.  Grope for the cat, but she’s not beeping, either.

BEEEEEEEEEP!

Oh yeah, how could I forget?

52 mg/dl.  Not too low, but apparently I’ve over-corrected with those basal changes I made two days ago, and I need to retweak just a little bit.

Wandered out to the kitchen, leaving the BEEEEEEP!ing behind in the bedroom, and also leaving the tube of glucose tabs resting on the bedside table untouched.  Make a beeline for the bottle of grape juice that sat, unopened, in the fridge. Read more »

*This blog post was originally published at Six Until Me.*

Diabetes: Just Like The Rest Of Them

Today, I’m revisiting a post from 2006 (writing that makes me realize I’ve been blogging for a while now!), when I met a little boy at a Rhode Island JDRF event who warmed my heart – which I needed on this snowy, New England morning. 😉

*   *   *

I’d guess about ten years old.  Spikey blonde hair, pale blue eyes, chubby little kid face.

His mother stopped by the table we were manning at the School Health Fair, mussing with the pamphlets strewn about the blue plastic tablecloth.  The tri-fold cardboard display announced “Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation” in bright blue letters.  Myself and another volunteer from the RI JDRF stood vigil at the table, handing out trinkets and informational packets, answering questions, and enjoying the sights.

“Hey buddy.  Would you like a t-shirt?”  My fellow volunteer leaned in towards the little blonde boy. Read more »

*This blog post was originally published at Six Until Me.*

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When I was in medical school I read Samuel Shem s House Of God as a right of passage. At the time I found it to be a cynical yet eerily accurate portrayal of the underbelly of academic medicine. I gained comfort from its gallows humor and it made me…

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