MAMMA MIA!

The view out of the studio

DXStockholm - Day 2 and 3

Just over a month ago I wrote about the first day in Stockholm but in pictures. We learnt whilst in Stockholm that Twitter images receive 18% more clicks, 150% more retweets and 89% more likes than twitter statuses. So it got me wondering if blogging in pictures would reach a wider audience. It did by 30%. A PLOG (picture blog).

The first thing I learnt.

The second is that I will never be able to frown as well as the Grumpy Pumper. 

I literally cannot frown!

The third. I was surrounded by some fantastic people.

Day 2 in Stockholm started in a quirky building where we had talks from lots of different creators.

I mean how tumblr! (love love love!)

The day started with a synchronised bg test from Pippa and myself - it was some spooky diabetes voodoo magic!

Same line for 12 hours!

We had many different talks from Marie Ennis- O’Connor who spoke about her powerful journey through breast cancer and her journey as a digital health advocate to Rudy de Waele who predicts the future of technology!

The Snapchat class taught us how to engage with a different type of audience with Geeohsnap, showing us the creative content he creates to a massive following. The session on Snapchat, which I already use, was a really fun and engaging session testing out the snapchat filters and it was amazing to hear how Geeohsnaps snaps create a positive platform which inspires lots of people. 

And of course we had to try out all the filters!

But seriously Grumpy - how is it still possible to frown with a flower crown?! ;P 

We had to have a snapchat picture on snapchat! - Geeohsnap

In the technology and body hacking session we met Hannes Sjoblad, where we learnt how to make our own DNA, we wore bunny ears that moved depending on our concentration and used Visual Reality - showing just how quickly technology can move forwards.

Testing out the brainwave bunny ears with Bente! 

Making my own DNA

The result

Later on in the day using Geeohsnaps idea of transforming people doing everyday things into something different and exciting we made #DXStockholm postcards showing people that Type 1 Diabetics can do whatever they want, eat what they like and travel till their hearts content. Reinforcing the message that Type 1 Diabetes doesn't hold us back.

How much does it look like Bente is trying to hit me on the head!? haha

Day 3 started with learning about Abbotts ‘in the vault’ projects - one of which has recently been launched the ‘LibreLink’ (see my last blog post). It was fantastic to hear about how diabetes technology is moving forward and the LibreLink shows us that! 

After saying our goodbyes to the friends we’d made Adrian (a fellow friend and GBDOC blogger) and I along with Fiona,Ollie and Chris from Abbott headed to the ABBA Museum. At this point I knew Adrian was a massive fan but I dont think id prepared myself for singing on the stage with the virtual ABBA band and recording Mamma Mia in a recording studio! Later we were joined by Phillipa (another GBDOC blogger, her husband James (the creator of #DXFringe - a hashtag which caused much amusement) and Baby G. It was such a laugh and a brilliant afternoon not only getting to know my fellow bloggers a little more but also getting to know the lovely bunch who work for Abbott. 

Mamma Mia - here we go again

The new 'Abbott' 

After heading back to the airport and meeting Jen again we boarded our flight. This time Adrian and myself couldn't sit next to each other - we sat across the aisle. Only adding to the 2 hour blog war that commenced to see who could blog about our amazing trip first! 

The trip to #DXStockholm was an amazing experience! Id never met bloggers from other countries who blogged about diabetes despite being Facebook and Instagram friends with most. Learning about new blogging ideas, and the next ‘in the vault’ projects that Abbott are developing was a fantastic experience - one that I will definitely not forget anytime soon! One of the most amazing parts for me was talking to new friends - who by the end of the trip felt like old friends - learning about their diagnosis, their diabetes and of course them as a person. The friendships that last a lifetime. This week Ive been on holiday in Germany where Finn and myself found time to meet each other to catchup after meeting at #DXStockholm. Its lovely how diabetes itself can be such a negative yet it can be turned into such a positive.

Lots of love The Backpacker and the Pod xxx

#Iwishpeopleknewthatdiabetes - type1

My A Level art mood board about Type 1. Including pictures of only diabetic friends, old omnipod insulin pods and my favourite inspirational quotes

Once upon a time a 12 year old girl was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Nearly 7 years on there is a few things I wish people knew...

#Iwishpeopleknewthatdiabetes 

• Is 24/7 - there are no days off (not even Christmas!)
• T1D affects around 400,000 people in the UK
• Is a roller coaster of emotions and blood sugar readings
• but somehow we keep positive - most of the time!
• as no two days are the same and it can be frustrating
• no we didn't get it from eating too much sugar
• there are two main types of diabetes
• is nothing to do with lack of exercise
• …or poor diet
• and does not always come from elderly people
• and diabetics don't want to hear how a distant relative have their foot chopped off
• we have to carry around life saving equipment every every da

#Iwishpeopleknewthatdiabetes

• is not a death sentence if managed
• but it nearly killed my best friend so it is very downplayed in seriousness 
• and sometimes there is no explanation why
• it is emotionally hard to deal with
• and there is no such thing as a perfect diabetic
• it causes 40% of diabetics to have an eating disorder
• and burnout is common - it needs to be talked about
• and its OK to ask for help
• even though we aren't alone sometimes we feel it
• if we have a low blood sugar it is not because we did something wrong and we DO have to have sugar to bring our bloods back up
• it is not cured by cinnamon or other herbal diets - not even by a low carb diet
• it makes any common illness you get ten times worse
• but makes us 10 times stronger
• has given me the best friends 
• has allowed me to be part of an amazing community
• … who feel like my family - some of whom i haven't even met yet

#Iwishpeopleknewthatdiabetes

• if seen in a positive light has allows you to conquer and do some amazing things
• but has led to struggles during exams and stressful times
• but at the same time we forget everyone struggles 
• its a hard job - theres no sugar coating it
• and we SHOULD NOT be defined by our Hba1c
• it affects the whole family not just the sufferer
• and although we may not always say it were so thankful

#Iwishpeopleknewthatdiabetes

• my insulin pump doesn't magically ‘do’ my diabetes for me - its not a pancreas!
• and some devices we have to pay for… 
• we have to calculate all carbs in our head
• … but we don't get a maths degree (boo)
• we can eat ANYTHING (in proportion obvs) as long as we inject for it
• diabetes doesn't stop me from doing anything… i just need to be more prepared (good job i used to be a girlguide and scout!)
• and it DEFINITELY does not define me
• but to those who feel defined by it at the moment - one of my nurses called Sarah from my old team in Doncaster once told me ‘Life always has its ups and downs. Sometimes it feels like your entering a black tunnel with no light is sight - but you will come out the other side’ - that stuck with me and I hope it will stick we you too - keep going x

Finally…

#Iwishpeopleknewthatdiabetes - makes me part superhuman (well thats what I used to tell the Beaver Scouts anyway ;) 

Lots of love The Backpacker and the Pod xxx