It’s a day just for me!

And no, the headline is not a reference to my birthday. (that’s a whole week anyway). I’m talking about Nov. 1!

This Tuesday will be the first Type 1 Day! While it seems there’s a day/week/month for everything these days, (Victoria Day is celebrated in Canada on May 24), November is National Diabetes Awareness Month.

To celebrate the month, there are several things planned that you should definitely be a part of! It all starts with Type 1 Day on Nov. 1. So if you have type 1 diabetes, tell someone on Tuesday that the day is in your honor! Share your story with someone new. Educate a co-worker on why you can eat that bowl of ice cream because your blood sugars are managed well and within the acceptable range at ice cream time. It’s all about awareness and advocacy, which is the entire point behind this blog (well, not the entire point as it often provides therapy and support when I least expect it but need it the most).

For myself and so many others, I celebrate the month of November with blue. The blue circle is the symbol for World Diabetes Day (celebrated on Nov. 14), so that’s what I’ll showcase on my twitter avatar as well as my Facebook page. As the month goes on, here are a few other things you can do to celebrate the month and celebrate life with diabetes:

Nov. 1: Type 1 Day kicked off by JDRF (While National Diabetes Month is for all types of diabetes, JDRF promotes research and education geared specifically toward type 1 diabetes).

Every Friday this month: Wear BLUE! If someone notices, it gives you an opportunity to talk about life with diabetes. Thanks to Cherise for the idea!

Postcard Exchange: It’s not too late to join the World Diabetes Day Postcard Exchange. If you want to join in, click here for all the instructions! The idea is for people living with diabetes all over the world to receive postcards from another diabetic somewhere else far, far away! It’s going to be amazing!

Nov. 14: National Diabetes Day (conveniently celebrated on a special birthday, but more on that later). During the day, you can participate in the Big Blue Test and share the results on the social media site of your choice — Facebook, Twitter, Juvenation, TuDiabetes, Tumblr, anywhere you want! Check out the International Diabetes Federation and learn how you can Act on Diabetes NOW.

And if you are local to the Huntsville area, I hope you’ll join me at Huntsville Hospital’s Dowdle Center at 5:30 p.m. for the World Diabetes Day expo! We’ll have food, activities, vendors and even Jerry Willis, a member of Team Type 1! (So freaking excited about meeting him)!

So won’t you join me this November, as we gear up for National Diabetes Awareness Month? Type 1s, type 1.5s, type 2s … even friends and families of diabetics, let’s show the world what we’re made of.

And on a personal note, I don’t want Type 1 Day to overshadow an important celebration. Nov. 1 is also my parents’ 36th wedding anniversary! I love them so much, and I’m so proud to have parents who still love each other after all those years. They are my inspiration. Here’s to 36 more Mom and Dad!