Best of Betes Blogs From 2014

Best of Betes is from Sara Nicastro and it is wonderful!

from Best of Betes Blog: Best 2014

"It’s that time of year again – we’re wrapping up the Best of the ‘Betes Blogs of 2014. I’ve visited the posts for all of this year’s hosts and compiled their lists of the best posts for this year. It was really interesting to look back at all the posts that have been written over this past year and see all the changes we have experienced.

[If I told you it actually took me HOURS to look up all the posts and write the code for all the links in all the categories, would that make you more likely to vote? Please vote!]

From now until 12:59:59 PM PST on December 31, 2014 visit the links below (all links open in a new window so you won’t lose your place!) to select your favorite posts from 2014. Then after the first of the year, we can see the Best of the ‘Betes Blogs of 2014 as we begin sharing about our meet-ups, d-mistakes, vlogs, advocacy, humor, and all the other best moments of the diabetes community in 2015."

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If you want to read some of the best diabetes blog posts from 2014, this is the link for you. While you're there you can even vote for one in each category and help to decide the winners for 2014. No prizes go with the distinction... just a bit of bragging rights.

Psst... I won way back in March for a post by a Type Awesome (That's a D parent) for my blog titled 'Pitstop Fail' -- just saying ;)

But seriously, there is a ton of great writing and advocacy at this link, you'll be happy that you took the time to check them out here

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Contest: Guess Arden's New Puppy's Name

Arden has been asking for a puppy forever and today she got her wish when her Christmas present arrived at the airport. 

Arden spent the past weeks thinking of names for her new best friend, she took suggestions from family and friends, looked through baby name books, but in the end she decided on a name all on her own - and it's a diabetes centric name.

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So the first person who can guess what Arden named her new puppy wins three pairs of blue circle shoe laces. The contest runs until someone gets the name correct. If more than one person guesses correctly I'll give three pairs to the first correct guess and one pair to each of the others but the contest will be shutdown twelve hours after the initial correct guess is made.

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Puppy is three months old. He's a mix of French Bulldog and Boston Terrier. They call him a Faux French, he's such a cutie!

Okay, I'm exhausted from driving to the airport at four in the morning (he missed a connecting flight) so I'm going to take it easy while you try to figure out his name. Remember, it's diabetes related... good luck!

Only two rules: All guesses must be made in the comments of this post. Open to US and Canadian residents only for shipping cost reasons.

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Arden named her new puppy Basal...

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Guest Post: I wrote a piece for WEGO Health about the Power of Communication

From the WEGO Health Blog

WEGO Health is proud to announce the recent publication of Scott Benner’s first book: Life is Short, Laundry is Eternal: Confessions of a Stay-at-Home Dad. Scott is the 2011 winner of the WEGO Health Activist Advocating for Another Award, and an amazingly engaged member of the WEGO Health network. In honor of this outstanding accomplishment, WEGO Health is giving away three copies of the book to members of our community. Today is the last day to enter the contest, so head on over to our Facebook page and share today’s post about Scott’s new book for your last chance to win a copy.  Not a big Facebook fan? You can also retweet WEGO Health to enter!

I hope that you can take a few moments today to read my guest post over on WEGO Health's blog. Here's a snippet of what I wrote:

It’s possible to face your challenges alone; I know that because I tried. But eventually the burden becomes too heavy and it can begin to drag you down. Alone you are one person pulling a mountain, but together, together we are unstoppable. On the days that are too much for me, I look to others to find the strength to carry on. Those people, those sometimes faceless friends that I have found online, they hold me up until I can stand again. Before I know it, I’m fine and ready to help them during their tough times.

WEGO is giving away three copies of my book today when you retweet or share their blog entry - good luck! Hey, even if you don't win today there is still time to enter my GiveAway for a signed copy of 'Life Is Short'.

Sanofi Data Design Diabetes Q&A

I was fortunate to be able to ask Michele Polz, Head of Patient Solutions for Sanofi US Diabetes a few questions about Sanofi's Data Design Diabetes Innovation Challenge. The diabetes group at Sanofi has been putting so much good stuff out into the diabetes community since they arrived. When I say 'good stuff' I mean that I've never met a group of people who aren't diabetic that are so dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of the people who are. 

The support that the DOC receives from Discuss Diabetes and Sanofi is immense and they aren't showing any signs of slowing down. I believe that the direction Sanofi has taken when it comes to creating better outcomes for patients is one of the more encouraging things that I've seen in some time. There was a time that if I saw a pharma company getting involved with patients I immediately thought, "hmm, what's their angle... what do they want?". While I can't speak to every pharma or device manufacturer out there, I can tell you that I've met the people at Sanofi and they may be the most dedicated diabetes advocates that I've ever encountered.

After you check out the Q&A take a moment to watch the video and then get your design idea entered! The prizes are substantial! 5 semi-finalists receive, $20,000 for development of the concept prototype, intensive mentorship from industry leaders to hone the concept and participation in a design boot camp. 2 finalists get $10,000 to create a community-based proof-of-concept program and the winner (1) received $100,000 to develop their solution.

1. What is Data Design Diabetes™?

Data Design Diabetes™ is a next-generation challenge that brings together the richness of open data sets, the values of human-centered design, and the leading-edge methodology of the top innovation accelerators, to find the next breakthrough to help millions of Americans living with diabetes.

2. Why is the Data Design Diabetes Innovation Challenge important to Sanofi?
Sanofi is casting a wide net to meet and help accelerate all of the incredible entrepreneurs who seek to improve diabetes care, by providing them with resources, mentorship, and direct insight from people living with diabetes. The Innovation Challenge is an innovative approach, with unique potential to foster the best solutions, while helping entrepreneurs grow scalable businesses that meaningfully impact healthcare. 

3. Is this year's challenge different than last year's Challenge?
Yes! To kick off this year's Data Design Diabetes Innovation Challenge and help shape the focus of the challenge, we crowdsourced feedback from people living with diabetes in the U.S. We are also adding a four-day Design & Prototyping Bootcamp where the five semi-finalists will learn about human-centered design, user experience, and rapid prototyping from industry experts. In addition, we are partnering with Startup America to connect the semi-finalists with valuable entrepreneurial resources. These new additions will help drive creative solutions to improve diabetes care, while enabling innovators to develop their concepts into businesses

4. How did you choose the theme for this year's Innovation Challenge?
The crowdsourcing phase of this year’s Innovation Challenge represents an exciting change in this year’s approach – a direct dialogue between people living with diabetes and the Innovation Challenge, to help shape the guidelines for innovators. The results are in! Respondents spoke up to ask that this year’s Innovation Challenge address the following criteria: 

• Create tools to help us feel in control. 
• Understand that diabetes affects families, not just individuals. 
• We want to be well. 

5. Why should I enter my idea to improve diabetes care?

Whether you’re a designer, a data wizard or a developer, regardless of your background and interests, the work you do on this challenge has the potential to improve the quality of life for millions of Americans. Your idea may spur new approaches that help us change the landscape of diabetes care in the U.S. We urge you to submit an idea to help people living with diabetes and their families. 

6. When does the challenge officially open for submissions?

On February 23, 2012, the Innovation Challenge opened for entries. Innovators can submit their concepts now through March 23, 2012, at http://www.datadesigndiabetes.com/enter/.

2012 Data Design Diabetes Innovation Challenge from Data Design Diabetes on Vimeo.

sanofi-aventis U.S. Innovation Challenge: Data Design Diabetes from Data Design Diabetes on Vimeo.

Update on 2012-03-30 15:49 by Scott Benner

The semi-finalist have been announced, learn more their innovation ideas at the link. 

Win a $50 Amazon gift card!

I am giving away one $50 Amazon gift card to a lucky reader!

Not just any gift card, the exact card that I was awarded for winning CBS Philly's 2011 Most Valuable Blogger contest. If it wasn't for all of you Arden's Day wouldn't be a blog. I could write until my little fingers couldn't go anymore but if no one read what I wrote... well, I'd just have the world's most public diary. It's all of you that make my words meaningful, you do that when you read them and I appreciate it more then you can imagine!

There are a few ways to enter:

1. Subscribe to the "Arden's Day RSS" feed (link on the righthand sidebar) 

After you subscribe you will be entered once for each comment that you leave on Arden's Day from now until November 15, 2011 at 12:00pm*

2. Like Arden's Day on FaceBook 

After you 'like' the page you will be entered once for each comment that you leave on our FaceBook page from now until November 15, 2011 at 12:00pm*. - https://www.facebook.com/ArdensDay

3. Follow Arden's Day on Twitter

After you 'follow' you will be entered once for each retweet of an @ArdensDay tweet from now until November 15, 2011 at 12:00pm*

4. Vote for Arden's Day in the Parents.com 'Best Kids Health Blog' contest.

After you vote, Tweet - " I voted for @ArdensDay http://blog-awards.parents.com/blog-awards/mom_blogs/448-arden-s-day". You will be entered once for voting ***Voting for Parents.com contest has closed. 10/18/11***

*Contest is open to all but the gift card can/will only be mailed inside the United States. I reserve the right to eliminate comments for content, spam ect. You must include your email address when you comment to be entered. Enter as often as you want, no limit, with the exception of the fact that you can only vote at the Parents.com contest once. 

If you already like us on FaceBook, follow on Twitter or subscribe to our RSS feed your comments will automatically entered.

The winner will be drawn at random by Arden herself and announced on November 21, 2011, good luck!

Update on 2011-10-18 14:20 by Scott Benner

Voting for Parents.com contest has closed. 10/18/11