Back by popular demand, let’s revisit this prompt from last year! Tell us what your fantasy diabetes device would be? Think of your dream blood glucose checker, delivery system for insulin or other meds, magic carb counter, etc etc etc. The sky is the limit – what would you love to see?

My dream diabetes device would be a device as compact as an iPhone. It would receive BG readings wireless from small sensors embedded in my skin. The device would allow me to record all my BG readings in real time and provide graphing and analysis via an app. The app would have a scanner — maybe using the device camera — to use for scanning a bar code so that I don’t have to enter nutritional. The app would use nutritional information and BG readings for trending analysis and to provide guidance on how my pre-meal bolus or basal insulin should adjusted to meet my diabetes management goals. The app would suggest the bolus and then prompt me to send that information to my insulin pump. All my data — BG, nutritional information, insulin — would be kept in my personal health record (PHR) and easily shared with my diabetes care team.

I don’t think this is a dream. I think this could be done today.

As another Diabetes Blog Week draws to a close, let’s reflect on some of the great bloggers we’ve found this week. Give some love to three blog posts you’ve read and loved during Diabetes Blog Week, and tell us why they’re worth reading. Or share three blogs you’ve found this week that are new to you. D-Blog Week

There were a lot of great posts from people throughout the week and I don’t recall them all. However, two post did stand out to me. These are my personal picks but two bloggers that I’ve never read before. These are the ones that I bookmarked for later reading and want to share with you.

Carlyn took us down memory lane writing about how she found the love of her life. Someone willing to look past her disease and see her for a person. I found the story quite touching.

He’s been by my side ever since, cheering me on, helping me out of bad lows (while helping himself to glucose tablet ‘candy’), changing my pump sets and soothing my fears. He’s a huge reason I’m in such good control today. He’s knowledgeable, patient and compassionate. He gets more excited about seeing a PWD in the wild than I do sometimes. He has become my biggest supporter and my best friend. He helps me laugh about this disease, and he lets me cry.Carlyn

Suzi wrote that her greatest accomplishment was in changing here attitude toward diabetes.

Because, well, there isn’t anything I can do other than deal with it, otherwise I’d be dead. That’s not an exaggeration, it’s the truth. Diabetes could kill me. Some days it’s hard to remain positive about it but that is why I have thrown myself so hard into natural health and healing. I will try and do whatever it takes to ensure I’m healthy to prevent long term complications.Suzi

This year Diabetes Art moves up from the Wildcard choices as we all channel our creativity with art in the broadest sense. Do some “traditional” art like drawing, painting, collage or any other craft you enjoy. Or look to the literary arts and perhaps write a d-poem or share and discuss a favorite quote. Groove to some musical arts by sharing a song that inspires you diabetes-wise, reworking some song lyrics with a d-twist, or even writing your own song. Don’t forget dramatic arts too, perhaps you can create a diabetes reality show or play. These are just a starting point today – there are no right or wrong ways to get creative!

I took a photo of my finger while testing my BG. I ran the iPhone 5 photo through two apps. One is called Tiny Planets. The other is called Picturesque.

I had hoped to create something more profound but this is all I had the energy to produce.

Just like in the movie, today we’re doing a swap. If you could switch chronic diseases, which one would you choose to deal with instead of diabetes? And while we’re considering other chronic conditions, do you think your participation in the DOC has affected how you treat friends and acquaintances with other medical conditions?D-Blog Week

Nope. I don’t want a different disease. Diabetes is mine. I own this. I’ve had 6 years to become intimate with diabetes. The high and lows of our relationship together have brought character to my life. I don’t want to go though that with a new disease. Nope.

We don’t always realize it, but each one of us had come a long way since diabetes first came into our life. It doesn’t matter if it’s been 5 weeks, 5 years or 50 years, you’ve done something outstanding diabetes-wise. So today let’s share the greatest accomplishment you’ve made in terms of dealing with your (or your loved one’s) diabetes. No accomplishment is too big or too small – think about self-acceptance, something you’ve mastered (pump / exercise / diet / etc.), making a tough care decision (finding a new endo or support group / choosing to use or not use a technology / etc.).D-Blog Week

This will be short and sweet. Shortly after I was diagnosed I was taught how to read labels and adjust by insulin dosage. I was taught to add up the total amount of carbohydrate in my meal and calculate the insulin I needed based on a ratio. I was also taught to adjust the insulin dosage if m BG was too high or too low.

It was a bit tough at first. I often adjusted in the wrong direction and nutritional information wasn’t always available. I bought myself the Calorie King book and software and started learning what a cup of rice looked like and how many carbs were involved.

I learned that ( for me ) one unit of Novolog would reduce my BG by 30. I learned that I needed one unit of Novolog for every 10 grams of carbohydrate. I learned not to use that ratio if my pre-prandial BG was below 70.

I’ve become quite accomplished at managing my BG and keeping things within a desired range. Kudos to me on my accomplishment.