After coming home from Connected In Motion’s 2011 Winter Slipstream, it took a while to let everything I had been a part of this past 
weekend soak in (being my first Slipstream and all). So many words to describe this weekend come to mind; inspiration, fun, connection, amazement, motivation, gratitude, and that’s among few. One thing in particular did ‘hit me’ however, and that’s the fact that not once over this weekend jam-packed with phenomenal activities and people did I ever hear anything along the lines of, “You shouldn’t do that”, “You’re low? Are you going to be ok?”, “You need to take better care of yourself, your blood sugars are high”. Now don’t get me wrong, I do appreciate constructive criticism, but to be able to learn the amount that I did this weekend without hearing these words as I have so often have when being taught new ways to help control my diabetes, was such a great feeling.
To be able to talk about my diabetes and have everyone around me truly understand on a personal level what I meant/was going through was priceless to me. To pull out my blood monitor at lunch and not have it be a “show” for those sitting around me to watch was relieving. To take my pump out to bolus for dinner and not have people wonder why I haven’t stepped out of 1992 and ditched my pager was great. To be surrounded by 46 other type 1 diabetics who shared stories, gave advice, lent a hand, and didn’t judge was indescribable.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who attended for making it the best weekend I’ve had in many, many months. I can’t wait until we all meet again!
By: Amy Burrows
