For those that may not know what DSMA stands for, it is Diabetes Social Media Advocacy. This was something that was created just over 8 years ago at this point by Cherise Shockley. For those of you who do not know who Cherise is, she is the most caring and authentic person you will ever meet. Those that doubt that are just idiots and people who wake up every day looking to be negative.
DSMA Weekly Twitter Chat
DSMA grew into a weekly Twitter chat, every Wednesday at 9pm EST. In 8 years, I don’t know if there’s been a week that’s been missed or not. Today, the chat is still here and is still going strong, if not stronger than ever.
DSMA also became just a hashtag to use outside of the Twitter chat hours. It was used to help connect people. If someone had a question or needed help with something, they simply put the hashtag in their tweet and before you know it, that person had more answers than they could even respond to.
DSMA has been so critical in the way that I manage my diabetes. I have met thousands of people online and hundreds of people in person because of DSMA. It has helped me see different perspectives, different management styles and has allowed me to take part in conversations that I wouldn’t normally take part in out in the real world.
Friendships and Connections
DSMA has created lifelong friendships that I will forever cherish. It’s also allowed me to see some people that I would wish to never speak to ever again.
DSMA has been such a critical part of my life for the last 8 years that I really don’t know where I’d be without it. The connections that are made during DSMA are unbelievable. I’ve been able to take management styles from people that have complete opposite views of me in every other aspect of life, but, they have a unique management tidbit that may have helped me out.
Now, as in anything with life, there’s going to be people who wake up every morning looking for a way to knock people down. I will never understand these people, but Twitter has created an opportunity for people to do this much easier. Every tweet or hashtag usage is just negative. That’s how you know that DSMA is making a real impact. These negative people wouldn’t be wasting their time trying to knock DSMA down if it wasn’t such an amazing thing.
Give It a Shot
DSMA has completely changed my life for the better and I think it can for you as well. So, join tonight by going to Twitter with any device or app you want to use and follow along with the hashtag #dsma
Even if you just lurk and read all the responses, that is fine, but it will be worth your while.
Also, don’t forget that you have 5 different ways, and you can enter with all 5 different ways to win a FREE copy of Mike Lawson’s Open Up Your Bag: a diabetes picture book.