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Meet Doris. Doris is one of the 200 advocates whom I joined in Washington D.C. last week who shared our stories with members of Congress, urging them to support the American Diabetes Association’s request to increase 2012 federal funding for diabetes research and prevention programs.

It has taken me such a long time to write this post because I’ve started it over and over again, not sure how I can do the experience justice. So instead of debriefing with all of you the legislative issues, the visits, etc., I’ve decided to focus on the relationships I built and the amazing people I met.

So back to Doris. Doris is 74 years old and a real ball of fire. She came to Capitol Hill to honor the legacy of her daughter, Laurie, who died at the age of 29 from complications due to her diabetes. Laurie battled diabetes for 25 years before succumbing to this chronic disease, and her untimely passing inspired her mother to pursue a degree in nursing and become a seasoned veteran to Capitol Hill. Doris was diagnosed with type 1 herself at the age of 57, and it hasn’t hindered her in one bit. Active as ever, she takes it in stride on her quest to stop diabetes. Doris is a true Diabetty, and I was honored to meet her.

At the other end of the age spectrum is sweet Sarah. Sarah is in the middle, and her fabulous mom, Michelle is on the right. Sarah was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes a year ago, at the age of 10. Sarah bravely shared her story in our visit with Senator Feinstein’s office, and my heart went out to her when she said shyly,

“When the doctors told me I had diabetes, I thought I was going to die right then. But I didn’t…”

In a conversation later that evening, her mom told me that Sarah has been having so much fun doing all these amazing things in the diabetic community, that she kind of likes having diabetes - which of course embarrassed Sarah to no end. I told Sarah that one day, we’d find a cure, and she wouldn’t have to live with diabetes anymore, but she could keep doing this work and helping people prevent it. After all, 79 million Americans live with pre-diabetes. She smiled. Sarah is a Diabetty, and I’m so impressed by her courage and love for life.

And this is Vida, my partner in crime. Vida and I were paired to meet with members of Congress and we made an awesome team. Vida is a nurse, and she sees first hand the difficulties her patients have managing their diabetes or simply accessing the education and care they need to prevent the development of complications. Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable blindness, kidney disease, and amputations.

These are just a handful of the amazing people I met during my first Call to Congress. I know that it won’t be my last.

It’s been nearly a week since I’ve returned from Washington D.C. where I participated in my first Call to Congress with the American Diabetes Association. It was a profound, empowering, and thrilling experience, and I’m eager to share it with all of you. Bear with me, as I organize my thoughts so that I may do the experience justice.

It is the night before I leave for Washington D.C on the first of what I hope to be many Call to Congress visits on behalf of the American Diabetes Association. I have to admit - I feel a little bit like I did before the first day of school. Over 200 advocates from across the country have been selected, and I have a feeling that I will eat, drink, sleep diabetes for the next few days.
The ADA has been great in prepping us with what to expect, but I have yet to figure out exactly what I want to say. I just know that it will come from the heart. (Or maybe my pancreas!)
I look forward to sharing my story with members of Congress and with all of you.

I’ve never been very good about doing this, but I think this trip will be an especially good opportunity to “tweet”. So if you feel so inclined or are curious about what I’m up to in D.C., feel free to follow me on Twitter. Just a disclaimer - I don’t always “tweet” about diabetes, after all, it doesn’t rule my life.

Although I announced in December that I was selected to participate in the American Diabetes Association’s Call to Congress, it didn’t seem real until I booked my flight. And boy did I wait until the last minute.

So last week, I read the email from the ADA closely land realized that the deadline for assistance to book a flight had come and gone. By this time, the ADA also started a Google Group with all the diabetes advocates exchanging hello’s, and sharing how much they are looking forward to meeting everyone… the excitement was beginning to build and that’s when I started to panic.

You see, I need to be in DC by noon on Wednesday, March 8. I was desperate to find a red eye flight on Tuesday night that would get me to DC by noon so I didn’t have to pay for another hotel night. I couldn’t find a thing! Thankfully, Thelma from Liberty Travel came to my rescue.

So NOW it’s official. I’m going to DC to educate our members of Congress about diabetes issues and their responsibility to fund research and prevention and to finally find a cure for diabetes.

I plan to document this process for you, to share the advocacy training, experiences, and the stories of some of the advocates that I meet. Diabetes doesn’t just affect nearly 26 million in the US - it affects nearly 26 million PEOPLE and their FAMILIES, and that’s what matters most.

A few months ago, I received the American Diabetes Association’s Call to Congress email. On a whim, I took ten minutes to apply, thinking back to my first experience doing legislative visits in Sacramento earlier this year as part of ENACT Day. I’ve always felt that I could and should be doing more to advocate for diabetes rights, and I am so pleased to share that I’ve been selected to go!

Next March, I’ll be meeting with members of Congress and their staff to improve the lives of the millions of Americans living with diabetes. I’m super excited and look forward to sharing the experience with all of my readers!

Our voices will be heard.