Why is diabetes an imperfect science? The last 22 years of my life with diabetes have disproved as much (or more) than it has confirmed in conventional diabetes wisdom. The facts were in the studies - but researchers didn't know what to do with them, at the time. Here's where the mysteries will unfold..

The last year blogging with The Diabetes Blog has been an in your face demonstration of the imperfect science of diabetes. Many undisclosed details of studies from days gone by have proven to be a reason why diabetes has been an imperfect science. Since when has science been imperfect? When you don't complete your homework. Don't get wrong - science has done the homework, but you - the diabetic - have not been privy to every fact found in these studies. Nowadays, there's no excuse. The dog doesn't eat my homework.

It's time these facts made it to the light of day. I am taking my investigative curiosity and hanging a shingle over LoveDiabetes.com - because that's who I am: Allison Love Beatty! Let's buddy-up with the researchers and their homework. It's about time we solved the universal mysteries of diabetes. The facts are available. With combined knowledge, existential and pathological, we can make more of these studies from yesteryear and the days to come.

Someday soon we will see the trend of diabetes reverse - less diagnosis, less complications, and reduced costs. I've got Internet access, unlimited long-distance, and plenty of time. The fun is just getting started! This is my invitation to you - what's your diabetes mystery? Leave me a comment on LoveDiabetes.com so I know what's on your mind. Together we will prove there is no such a thing as an imperfect science.

Love always,
Allie B

Dr. Bernstein, a world leading authority in diabetes, is hosting a live internet broadcasts to answer your questions on diabetes. Diabetes 911 is setup to stop the complications of diabetes before it's an emergency. Here's a link to the page where you can submit your questions, to be answered on his next broadcast -- September 19, 2007.

Just a heads-up for The Diabetes Blog reading community - AOL has announced they will be retiring The Diabetes Blog on September 14, 2007. So this is a preemptive blog to get your calendar out, send yourself a reminder email titled: OPEN ON SEPTEMBER 19th!!!!

This will not be my last blog shared with you, all mighty readers of the blogosphere. I'm working to get my proverbial welcome mat in place to continue unfolding the mysteries of diabetes on LoveDiabetes.com. More to come...

My recent blog on interlopers offering advice about controlling diabetes upset a good friend of mine. He asked a question that gave me one of those What if...dream sequences. The reality check warrants a new blog.

He asked -- what if an interloper talked your doctor into reconsidering the use of natural animal insulins because they read the research and figured out that it was the better choice? Would you still think interlopers have no value in diabetes control?

Touché` - you sunk my battleship. I had to confer with a fellow diabetes OC blogger to get the he said / she said feedback. She made a very good point, too. In her words, there is a special group of non-diabetics who have an acute understanding of the disease, and who may have a somewhat intuitive understanding of how it works, but most of the time there is a silent acknowledgement that their opinion can at any given time be dismissed in favor of the diabetics'. Words of wisdom typed from the sorceress of Lemonade Life.

Today's lesson for Allie: listen without prejudice. Learn from all who are willing to share their experiences. Prosperity in life comes from the gifts we share with each other. My friends have shared valuable insight to teach me how to gain from every experience in life. I now see that the advice others have to share is the gift we have yet to receive. Denying the gift before we ever receive it is ungrateful. Graciously humbled - Allie B

A woman wrote in to The Diabetes Blog about an unusual call she received from an American Diabetes Association telemarketer. Her reflection on the phone call was not a traditional feel good response. Has anybody else received a phone call like this one?

The comment came in under the title: Why do people apologize? The woman explains the nature of the call: A telemarketer called us Saturday. The man thanked us for our support to the ADA and asked if they could send us stuff we could pass on to our friends and family and if they gave us any money to pass it back to the ADA. I said that would be fine. He went on and on about how big of a problem diabetes is. He asked if I knew anyone with diabetes. I said I do. We sat in silence for the next 10 seconds and then the man said "I am so sorry" I said don't be, its fine. I don't mind. He started rambling on about something and sounded very uncomfortable. I said thank you and hung up. Why do people apologize? It's not their fault. I'm not dying or in pain or anything like that. I take medicine when I eat, done, end of story. It's so uncomfortable and coming from someone representing the ADA, just unprofessional.

It's a fair question: why would a telemarketer apologize? Perhaps the telemarketer should have thanked you for your time and gone on with his calls. He must've been writing a book! That's it - he's writing a book on the people who are continuing to contribute to the ADA mission to prevent and cure diabetes. Savvy telemarketers with interpersonal skills are hard to come by. We know one thing: the ADA isn't wasting any money on training their telemarketers. Nobody said telemarketing was an easy job but I guess the preventing and curing diabetes is the mission: impossible.

It is with great pleasure that I have the opportunity to blog about someone I consider to be a first string player in the sport of diabetes. Her name is Kerri, and her position is all over the place! Yes, you read that correctly. Kerri is a trifecta of talent. She currently works as an editorial assistant for dLife, where she writes a monthly column, "Generation D." She also finds time to contribute as a co-editor for EXIST Magazine, an online resource of CNN news with an MTV voice. You might recognize her co-editor (who is also her ever-supportive boyfriend) Chris Sparling. But the main event that drew my attention to Kerri was her blog, Six Until Me.

She started SUM in May of 2005 after Googling "diabetes" and finding not much more than a list of complications and the American Diabetes Association website. She was one of the pioneering blogs in the diabetes community. When she first set it up, SUM was one of 5. Nowadays you'll find more than 150 diabetes blogs out there in cyberspace. SUM has become reassurance for Kerri that she is not alone in dealing with diabetes. Having that kind of reassurance means the world to her, as I'm sure it does for those of us reading. Kerri puts her heart and soul into SUM and I invite any of you who spend a few minutes there to prove me wrong.

Throughout her twenty-something years of experience as a type 1 diabetic, Kerri insightfully shares her tricks of the trade in diabetes management. Grab a pen because this girl knows what she's talking about! First, she says to test often. Yes ma'am. You can't argue logic and that seems to be the only avenue open these days to tight control. Her second suggestion is just as important, but far more effective: personal forgiveness. Kerri says: diabetes is a very psychological disease... There is no such thing as a perfect diabetic. But you can be one that tries your best. Don't do yourself the disservice of calling certain foods "bad," because you don't deserve that. If your management takes a tumble, dust yourself off, forgive yourself, and move on. Life is too short to be saddled with guilt. Kerri, your words epitomize the emotional exuberance we all need to withstand diabetes. You inspire me. You share your wisdom in ways that make me proud to have you along for the ride on the D-train. That alone, should win you the Diabetes OC Awards, for which you have been nominated. Good Luck and congratulations on your ever-growing success!

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!