Why I Blog

My dear friend Dawnmarie at "Words From DUG" posted a blog meme yesterday asking her readers why they blog, and told us all why she blogs.

She tagged me in her meme, essentially asking me why I blog.

Since I have two blogs, this one, and Mama Gardener, I will blog on both blogs my "why" for blogging.

For Sugar Free Candyland, my reason for blogging is simple. To educate, advocate, help, learn, and theraputic reasons.

Educate:

I use this blog to hopefully educate others about the truth about Type 1 Diabetes, the differences between Type 1, Type 2, Pre-Diabetes, MODY, Gestational Diabetes, and any other forms of diabetes that I learn about that others may not know about.

Although Type 1 Diabetes is relatively common in our country, with an estimated 1 in every 400 children are living with Type 1 Diabetes according to the American Diabetes Association. That said, despite the fact that it is relatively common, a large portion of the general population does not understand what Type 1 Diabetes is, how it differs from Type 2, etc, etc, etc.

I have had family members, friends, and even strangers come up to me and ask me "will he outgrow it?", "Did he get it because you let him eat too much sugar?",  and make comments like "I thought he couldn't eat cake and ice cream because of his diabetes".

The wonderful media in this country doesn't help matters either. Countless celebrities go on national television, whether it's to promote a new product or service they are offering, or whatever the case may be, and talk about "juvenile diabetes" in the most incorrect ways... making statements like "Obesity causes Juvenile Diabetes".. then it is up to us, the parents of these children with Type 1 (Juvenile) Diabetes, to gather all our resources, and strength, to not only educate the said celebrities on the truth about what Juvenile Diabetes really is... the fact that it is an auto-immune disease and not caused by "obesity", and what our children really go through every day of their lives.. to set the record straight. Granted, most times, said celebrities will go back on the air to make a formal public apology and correct their previous statements... however, in my mind, the damage is already done. Who's to say that everyone who read, saw, listened to their first statements, have also read, heard, saw, their follow-up apologetic, correction statements? Those who do not see those follow-up statements still go through life believing the miscommunicated, misconceptions that they heard earlier in the day... earlier in the week. These type of "oopsie's" set all us Diabetes Advocates back several steps in our efforts to educate and advocate for our children and loved ones living with Type 1. It makes our job, our passion, that much harder.

This is why I blog here on Sugar Free Candyland. To educate others about the truth about Type 1 Diabetes. If I reach even just one other person... if just one other person learns something from my blog posts... then I consider that a job well done.

Advocate:
Along with educating others, I use my blog as an engine to advocate for children with Type 1 Diabetes... children like my son Lenny. I use it to keep my readers, and those who "stumble" across my blog, updated on our efforts to help find a cure. I use it to share information about new technologies, new experiments, new researches being done, that I have come across in my own research across the internet... ones that help our children live more like "normal" children, that give our children the hope for a cure in their lifetime.

To Help:
I use this blog to help other families living the same life we live. I use this blog to help newly diagnosed families feel "not so alone" in the journeys they will travel ahead. I use this blog to help others realize that, we are all fighting the same battles every day, though they may vary in situations, they are all the same at the core.

To Learn:
I use this blog to learn things for myself, and my family. I find that I learn a lot from my readers, commenters, and those "Featured T1-er's" that I interview. I learn a lot about myself through all these things, as well as learn a lot about all of you, how you cope with the everyday challenges that Type 1 present to us all, how you find solice and peace at the end of the day, how you all vent out your frustrations. It allows me to feel close to each and every one of you, even if we are all thousands of miles away, it allows me to hold a very special place for each and every one of you, each and every one of your children, in my heart. It allows me to learn so much about you, the real you. It is something that I find so much comfort in, personally, when I read your comments, your interview answers, knowing that we may all be from a different "blood line" but we are all facing the same battle. All fighting the same fight. All living the same life. You all, everyone I have met here, and across the DOC, are like a second family to me.

Theraputic:
I find it very theraputic to reach out to so many people through my blog. I find that, even though I may be having a "bad day", or a "stressful day", I know I can come here and express these feelings to you all and not be judged, criticized, or humiliated, because I know many of you have had days like these and will be supportive and understanding. Though, I don't post very often about my "bad days" as I do try to keep this blog as educational as I possibly can, I know that when I do come here and make a vent post, you all understand my situation, are willing to help my family come up with a solution, or just be there for us to be that "shoulder to cry on" when we need it. I also know that when our family has those "great days", the days where we just want to jump up and dance all day because of accomplishing an achievement, no matter how big or small, that you all will be here cheering and dancing with me! As I said, I view you all as a second family, and these small things that we share with one another, are the same small things I share with my closest blood family members; are the same reactions we receive from our closest family and friends.

Those are my 5 reasons for why I blog here.

Now, it is your turn! I encourage you to go on your own blog and do a blog meme about this very thing... why do you blog?

Here are the rules that DawnMarie posted on her meme post:

The Rules:

1. Comment below to answer the question with five reasons.

2. Create your own blog entry to continue the meme.

3. Give credit and link back to the original blog post and to the blog where you saw the meme shared.

4. Tag your friends and encourage them to participate.

The friends I would like to tag and encourage to participate are: Jackie, Alexis, Reyna, and Wendy.