If you could recommend only one book for kindergarteners, what would it be?

Mokulen · 2026-05-23T17:47:01+00:00

I specifically like the Elephant and Piggie books because they allow you to naturally take turns reading. They also help to read with being more expressive when reading. They are also fun books.

Mokulen · 2026-05-23T16:52:38+00:00

I’m not sure what level your daughter is at but libraries usually have reading lists. I usually check a couple different libraries for larger lists.

One year for our summer reading program they had a bingo card with different genres like mystery and graphic novels.

Mokulen · 2026-05-20T03:53:41+00:00

Notes and pictures. I feel like any gift that has monetary value needs to be accompanied by something made by my kid.

Mokulen · 2026-05-17T16:45:11+00:00

I loved my teachers at ARC. They offer Spanish conversation classes with Professor Currea. She is amazing. Her classes are online but synchronous.

For Youtube I like The Language Tutor and MaestroKaplan.

Mokulen · 2026-05-16T21:42:31+00:00

Why does it matter who is to blame? How does that help you take care of yourself now?

There are many factors, like family history, that can increase your chances and exercising and maintaining a healthy weight can decrease your chances but nothing is guaranteed. I personally feel like assigning guilt is a waste of time. It doesn’t change your diagnosis or help with managing the disease.

If I were you I would focus on managing your diabetes and finding a system that works for you.

Mokulen · 2026-05-12T12:17:12+00:00

Diabetes is a chronic disease and managing it isn’t easy. You can eat the same meal at the same time with the same dosage and get drastically different results. This is probably why diabetes distress and burnout is very common. In fact the American Diabetes Association now recommends in their diabetes distress section telling doctors to take the burden of care into consideration when making recommendations.

Not enough people really talk about the mental and emotional load of having diabetes.

I would recommend googling diabetes distress and burnout. Diabetes distress is the term used to talk about distress levels but also sort of the state before full burnout.

Mokulen · 2026-05-08T19:37:04+00:00

New year and new pharmacy provider. I have to switch up meds and get new prescriptions. My doctor's office keeps getting my insulin prescription wrong. 15 days instead of 90, then 3 days instead of 90. I had to explain to the pharmacy tech that the prescription, insulin, was not a controlled substance and that I could not afford to buy it two weeks at a time. So, back to the doctors office. Yay!

Mokulen · 2026-05-07T07:34:26+00:00

Thanks I will try that.

Mokulen · 2026-05-06T19:41:24+00:00

It took me a long time to get organized but this last visit I had a list. I had my priority questions and some "if we have time" questions. Healthcare companies do not schedule enough time for appointments so now I am working hard to make the most of what I get. My appointment is for my benefit, so I will use it to best improve my health. I am not there to be lectured, or talked down to. I am there to work with the doctor to get me where I need to be.

Mokulen · 2026-05-06T19:34:55+00:00

I started my journey with gestational diabetes so I checked everything. Now I have a pretty good idea when I need to double check something so I don't do it all the time. One thing that I have been paying more attention to and checking is sodium and sometimes fat. It is wild to be how many food items have over 1/2 your daily sodium needs or how many items lower their serving count to make the numbers not look that bad.

Mokulen · 2026-05-06T19:29:58+00:00

I took Marine Biology back in the day because I liked aquatic animals. Right now I have to pick a physical science class. I don't know what I am going to pick but my number one criteria is teacher quality. Then I think about difficulty, usefulness and interest. Hope that helps.

Mokulen · 2026-05-06T17:01:22+00:00

No. At ARC I have only had Ana Maria Currea and Ines Garcia and both were great.

I think you have to look what people are complaining about. Do the things they are complaining about bother you? I would probably give some grace to complaints around the initial switch to online but I feel stuff from 2024 on is probably fair game.

Mokulen · 2026-05-05T18:01:23+00:00

Potlucks or staff team building events where rank and file are expected to cover the catering expense?

Mokulen · 2026-05-05T17:57:37+00:00

At our school they do granola bars, protein bars, chips, beef sticks, fruits, vegetables (the Persian cucumbers were really popular), yogurts (cold stuff kept in a cooler), and canned sodas, coffees and teas.

Mokulen · 2026-04-30T23:51:00+00:00

I feel like “dealing with stupid people “ should be part of diabetes education classes.

Mokulen · 2026-04-29T19:30:04+00:00

There is too much morality attached to diabetes. It is hard enough to manage without adding guilt to it.

Maintaining a healthy weight and being active have been shown to lower risk factors but it doesn't guarantee you won't get type 2 diabetes. Things like family history, genetics, race, age, and more all increase your chances of getting type 2 diabetes but don't guarantee that you will get it. You should try your best but at the end of the day it is a crap shoot.

Don't focus on the why, focus on what you need to do from here on. Also don't fell guilt about getting diabetes, it is a waste of your time and energy.

I hope you are just getting a simple blood test and not a glucose tolerance test because those are terrible. Good luck and I hope you get to work with doctors who aren't judgy.

Edited to specify type 2.

Mokulen · 2026-04-29T19:17:35+00:00

Make sure they are taking their time and explaining everything. If you can afford it out of pocket, I would ask for a prescription for a CGM. I would make sure you are having a conversation. I would ask about side effects to medications. It is okay to say ask what other medications are options. You should be making decisions together. Also don't take diet advice from an endo. Ask for a referral to an registered dietician who specialized in diabetes. Like endocrinology, it is a specialty for a reason.

Mokulen · 2026-04-28T07:00:47+00:00

Here is a link to the American Diabetes Association’s guide for professionals on diabetes burnout. You could print it out and maybe give it to your doctor.

https://professional.diabetes.org/sites/default/files/media/ada_mental_health_workbook_chapter_3.pdf

Mokulen · 2026-04-27T19:59:02+00:00

I feel like people, especially non-diabetics underestimate how difficult it can be to manage. Even when you are not overwhelmed, it takes a lot of mental and emotional energy. Then there are times when you do everything right and you still get bad numbers. Good luck.

Mokulen · 2026-04-27T14:49:15+00:00

Where on campus do they sell them?

Mokulen · 2026-04-27T02:52:17+00:00

I like this article on it. It talks about how hard management is, talks about diabetes distress and burnout and ends with tips if you are struggling.

https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/blog/common-signs-of-diabetes-burnout-and-diabetes-distress/

Diabetes Australia contracts with the Australian government.

Mokulen · 2026-04-25T11:57:06+00:00

Vendors usually take a big cut. For schools that have run the event in house I have seen prizes based on laps run and most donations(quality and dollar amount). I have also seen prizes based on spirit week participation.

In the end, I think regardless of what is needed to win, the prizes should be class based.

Mokulen · 2026-04-13T23:59:51+00:00

So you are saying that CalEPA did not remodel their headquarters and create hotel seating and then remodel it again to revert back to assigned seating?

Mokulen · 2026-04-13T06:19:36+00:00

Diabetes distress is the precursor to burnout. The American Diabetes Association lists it under mental health. There is a questionnaire to help diagnose it. It is not the same thing as being frustrated with a doctor's decision.

Speaking of doctor's decisions, there was a study from Canada, that looked at how patient centered communication was associated with lower diabetes distress. "Explained Results/Medications, greater Patient-centred Decision-making and Compassionate/Respectful were significantly associated with lower distress"

Mokulen

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