A Diabetic Dab'll do ya!

Sometimes I feel like Lady MacBeth muttering, "Out, damn spot!" when I see my daughter's laundry.

Spots of blood on her linens.

Dots on her pillowcase.

And lately, smears on her pants.  My daughter has decided that it's acceptable to wipe the blood from a BG check on her pants.

There are so many times we find ourselves without something to wipe her finger with, so I understand why she's using her clothes as a substitute.  I just wish she wouldn't.

Enter Diabetic Dabs.

Created by Liz Sacco when her oldest of four boys was diagnosed with Type 1, Diabetic Dabs were born after two years of searching for a solution of what to do with excess blood from finger pokes. What resulted was a simple, inexpensive and convenient way to keep the clothing of T1s spot free!

I was recently given a chance to try out Diabetic Dabs, AND host a fun giveaway.  Woo hoo!

I wasn't sure what to expect when I received them, but was pleasantly surprised by the softness of the dabs.  And that they were holey (that is; full of holes.  Not consecrated to God or a religious purpose).  They feel a bit like the hypafix tape we use to secure pods and dexcom sensors.  They're very absorbent, non-toxic, and easy to tear off and throw away.

Obligatory size comparison

Now, we may or may not have used the same sheet for more than one finger poke.  Because I'm frugal like that.  If I had my way, each pack of dabs would come with a little piece of cardboard that would sit behind the sheet in use, so the blood doesn't seep through to the next one (sort of like of like how you use that plastic flap in your duplicate chequebook).  

But I understand that this is not how the dabs were meant to be used, so it's not a big deal. I do wish that they were a bit smaller, because I feel a bit wasteful in throwing away such a big square with a tiny blood spot on it.  Just my two cents. 

The dabs come in a pack of 50 (4 packs to a box), and have an adhesive backing so you can stick them in your meter case and always have them with you.

My daughter case with dabs affixed.

Each box has 200 dabs and is $9.49 (shipping included), and can be purchased through their website.  The price goes down the more you buy.  It might sound a bit pricey, but if you add up the cost of using kleenex, paper towels, and clothes ruined from blood spots, and multiply that by the grossness factor of wiping your fingers on unsanitary surfaces like your meter case, then it's a pretty good deal.

Plus, don't forget you're supporting one of our own, as well as the best cause ever!  Diabetic Dabs donates a portion of the proceeds from their sales to Diabetes research.

I love it when a member of our community is able to create something to fill a need we have.  

So... onto the giveaway.  I have two boxes, which means there will be two winners.  To enter, just leave a comment telling me the grossest place you (or your child) has ever wiped their finger after a BG check.  I will randomly (read: have my child pull two numbers out of a hat) pick the winners on Monday.

Good luck, and happy wiping!

Random, but cute shot of my little man trying to destroy the vacuum.
He's the reason I never have time to write anymore.

I was provided samples of Diabetic Dabs as well as two extra packs to give away, but all opinions are my own. Free stuff is great, but nobody tells me what to say!

Meet our pump!

We're leaving MDI behind,
Pumping will soon be our thing.
So we'd like to introduce
Our new pump the...

OMNIPOD!

Did I fool ya? Did I?

I was impressed at how many of you guessed correctly, but like Highlander, there can be only one. Winner that is. And the winner was...

Picking the winner (GO RANGERS!)

Congrats Misty from God is good! You are now the proud owner of a $25 Target gift card. Please email me your mailing address by Wednesday at midnight, or I will be forced to draw again.

Thanks to everybody who took part in the contest. Our first training date is Oct. 31... too bad we won't be pumping by Halloween.

As Elise says, "YAY PUMP!"

Big fan of the pink skin

Mattias in the box o' pods

Mattias wants you to know something...

My idea for this picture was to get a shot of Mattias holding the sign, looking into the camera and smiling in his oh-so-adorable way. I forgot one important detail... my son does not sit still. Ever. He's also a big fan of doing the opposite of what you ask of him.

And please ignore that fact that he's not wearing any clothes. He has a horrid case of the trots rights now and goes through more wardrobe changes than a Lady Gaga concert.

What Mattias wants to tell you is that IT'S HERE! THE PUMP IS HERE! Unfortunately it arrived after Elise left for her camping trip, so the box will remain closed, and the pump choice remain a mystery until she gets back.

The "Guess That Pump" contest is now closed. I had a fun idea for a prize, but due to my sinus-infection-that-wasn't-a-sinus-infection, but rather an inflamed nerve in my face, AND a raging case of pink eye that has super-glued my left eye shut (jealous yet?), the winner will get a rather boring $25 gift card to my mothership... er, favourite store, Target.

I will take all the names of the people who guessed correctly, put them in a hat and have Elise draw a name. The winner will have 48 hours to notify me with their address, otherwise a new name will be picked.

Stay tuned.... winner will be announced Monday!