Although I am relatively new to the blogging scene, I am learning the ropes, and loving it. Many of the other bloggers have been more than accommodating (and, excuse the pun, but quite sweet) as I'm acclimating myself to the standard blogging etiquette. My latest revelation is the annual event, held by the official Diabetes OC website where readers, like you, judge the best blogging sites out there.

This is the 2nd Annual Diabetes O.C. Blog Award. The awards present an opportunity for O.C. members and readers to honor people who are making an extraordinary difference in the diabetes community through their blogs. The awards program feature several categories, including: Best Blog, Best Female Blogger, Best Male Blogger, Best Adult with Type 1 Blog, Best Adult with Type 2 Blog, Best Parent Blog, Best Professional News Blog, and Best Non-Blog Diabetes Resource.

Allison Blass, the can-do cupcake running the show over at the Diabetes OC, notified me that The Diabetes Blog has been nominated for the Best Professional News Blog. Yay!!! So I ask those of you reading The Diabetes Blog, if you like what you've been reading, vote it loud, and vote it proud. Thanks for the heads-up, Allison!

Allison, a vivacious 20-year-old college senior studying journalism, loves reading, coffee, her church family and Indian food. She's also lived with Type 1 diabetes for 12 years, and she loves sharing her diabetes story with teenagers also living with the disease.

A web veteran with a former site (CureNow) and the host of the late Diabetes Portal's Teen Talk chatroom, she re-opened Diabetes Teen Talk independently in late 2005 to continue to provide a teen-focused diabetes website. Through this amazing and inspiring website, friendship, education and inspiration are her mission. The site is true to its word, offering a message board where "D-Teens" can literally talk, links to other teen bloggers, interesting interviews and a calendar of events. It even accepts reader submissions.

Allison has also started her own personal blog, Lemonade Life, which is her outlet to rant and rave about all the challenges connected to living with diabetes. While we may not want to imagine this "ray of light" being dampened, it is ultimately quite connecting to see this side of her, too. Diabetes is just hard, and it's important to see all aspects of it.

Allison is an admirable, empathetic teen advocate who truly understands. As Allison has said, "Living with diabetes as a [teenage woman] can make looking in the mirror unbearable....but [blogging] has also helped with my emotional health. The times when my whole being is the healthiest are when I'm connected with others." Allison, keep up the good work! You're our D-blog hero of the week!

(Diabetes Teen Talk is the sister site to Diabetes Talkfest, a site providing similar services to adults with diabetes.)