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A REPURPOSED DIABETES WORD

Arden's Day Blog

Arden's Day is a type I diabetes care giver blog written by author Scott Benner. Scott has been a stay-at-home dad since 2000, he is the author of the award winning parenting memoir, 'Life Is Short, Laundry Is Eternal'. Arden's Day is an honest and transparent look at life with diabetes - since 2007.

type I diabetes, parent of type I child, diabetes Blog, OmniPod, DexCom, insulin pump, CGM, continuous glucose monitor, Arden, Arden's Day, Scott Benner, JDRF, diabetes, juvenile diabetes, daddy blog, blog, stay at home parent, DOC, twitter, Facebook, @ardensday, 504 plan, Life Is Short, Laundry Is Eternal, Dexcom SHARE, 生命是短暂的,洗衣是永恒的, Shēngmìng shì duǎnzàn de, xǐyī shì yǒnghéng de

A REPURPOSED DIABETES WORD

Scott Benner

Arden got a new puppy in mid-December and that was a huge deal around our house because I had been steadfastly saying no to more pets for years. 

Then one day I softened on the topic but not because I was worn down by constant badgering - though there was constant badgering. I softened because of something Arden said to me during one of her impassioned, "I need a puppy" pleas. I could see in her eyes that she was making more than just an emotional decision when she asked for a pet, something in her had matured. 

it was time for me to say yes and so I relented and the puppy search began, in earnest.

After an exhaustive research process Arden settled on a French Bulldog/Boston Terrier mix that some affectionately refer to as a Faux Frenchie. We found a lovely woman who breeds the mix and awaited his arrival.

After we chose the puppy every waking moment in our home was spent in deep contemplation of a proper name. Arden looked in baby name books and online, we mused around the dinner table, and once seriously considered naming him after a boy that Cole plays baseball with – because of the way that the boy's mother says his name. So much fun to imitate!

I pressed hard for a few days to name the puppy Heisenberg. Though Arden has no knowledge of 'Breaking Bad', I liked the name a lot and tried to explain that if she named him Heisenberg we could also call him Mr. White, The One Who Knocks, The Danger or Walter - she didn't much care for my argument but did actually consider my request for a hot second.

 

One afternoon Arden walked into the house after school and calmly told me that she had chosen a name for her puppy, she was going to call him Basal. 

At first I didn't like the idea because we already hear, say and think diabetes related words so much. One of the things I look most forward to if a cure is ever found, is not saying 'diabetes' ever again. I must say, think, write or speak that damn word hundreds of times a day. But Arden loved the name and so I smiled and said, "GREAT name, we'll call him Basal!".

It's only maybe six weeks since Arden choose the name and I am so happy that she did. Repurposing that word and applying it to something so innocent and adorable has reprogramed my brain. No longer do I clench my teeth at the thought of a high BG that needs more background insulin or contemplate with worry if shutting Arden's basal delivery off for an hour will stop a low blood sugar.

Now Basal means this...

Basal - Almost 5 months old

Basal - Almost 5 months old

The lesson in all of this is simple in my eyes, we CAN teach ourselves not to react to how type 1 diabetes tries to make us feel. 

Following in the spirit of Arden's puppy name choice and what it taught me, I've named my new podcast after another word that I just hate saying in the hopes of repurposing that word as well.

I hope that you can check out and subscribe to The Juicebox Podcast, my new type 1 diabetes parenting show. It is live on iTunes, Stitcher and Soundcloud, please subscribe at www.JuiceboxPodcast.com and give it a try.

I'm off to prep for my first interview for the podcast, you are going to love the guest - Adam Lasher from American Idol!