Food Deserts Mar the Land of Plenty

(Originally published in the September 2013 issue of Diabetes Forecast.)

Steph Larsen knows about farming. As a small farmer, assistant director of organizing at the Center for Rural Affairs, and a former columnist at Grist, an environmental newsmagazine, she’s had her hands in the soil and has harvested healthy food. And yet, despite living out in the farm fields from Wisconsin to Montana, she can’t necessarily go pick her dinner every night, and neither can her neighbors. Read the rest at Diabetes Forecast.

David Sedaris on Health Care

(Originally published online on April 23, 2013, for Diabetes Forecast.)

David Sedaris is king of the humorous essay. Even if you’ve never read one of his books (Me Talk Pretty One Day, When You Are Engulfed in Flames), you’ve probably heard his “SantaLand Diaries” on public radio at Christmastime. For nearly 20 years, he’s hooked readers with his stories about growing up in the South, quitting smoking, traveling, searching for the perfect skeleton to give to his partner-you know, day-to-day stuff that leaves you hooting with laughter.

Read the rest at Diabetes Forecast.

My Super Shitty Life — I Have Irritable Bowel Syndrome

(originally published on Dec. 27, 2012, at xoJane.com)

It will never get worse than this.

I’m thinking that to myself as I rock back and forth on a toilet in a noisy bar. It’s Saturday night, a table full of my friends is wondering where I ran off to, and I have a potential date/booty call in a couple of hours. I’m sweating, I’m shaking and I’m trying to figure out what did it this time.

Read the rest on xoJane.com. 

Re-published on Jan. 2, 2013, at The Frisky.

Making Peace with the Food Police

(Originally published in the November 2012 issue of Diabetes Forecast.)

We know about the “diabetes police”—those folks who, while trying to be helpful, can come across as bossy and even hurtful when addressing other people’s health issues. Then there are the food police—the people who can’t help but ask, “Should you be eating that?”

The holidays can be a particularly tricky time for anyone to navigate food situations: You’re more likely to be surrounded by treats and large meals laden with fat and carbohydrate, as well as family members and loved ones with good intentions and a long history of commenting on other people’s plates. We’ve all encountered them—and maybe even been a member of the food police at one point or another.

Read the rest at Diabetes Forecast.

Feature: Tennis Ace Elizabeth Profit Aims to Go Pro

(Originally published July 2012, Diabetes Forecast magazine.)

I interviewed young tennis player and type 1 diabetic Elizabeth Profit for the July issue of Diabetes Forecast magazine. You can read the full story here.

xojane.com: It Happened To Me: I Looked Fat in a Picture (and I’m Getting the F*%k Over It)

(originally published May 8, 2012 on xojane.com)

I did a little bit of blogging about body image for xojane.com. I was only slightly terrified to write for my teenage hero, Jane Pratt. Read the full story (with swears and the offending fat picture) here.

Rodeo hero Boyd Bush

(Originally published in the April 2012 issue of Diabetes Forecast.)

My first cover story for Diabetes Forecast has arrived, a year to the day after I started working there! To read the complete story, click here.

When I visited Austin for SXSW, I was able to deliver a few copies of the magazine to Boyd in person. Here we are, post-barbecue. I’m not sure who’s prouder, honestly.

Sincerely, Lee Ann

(Originally published in the March 2012 issue of Diabetes Forecast.)

I interviewed Lee Ann Thill, an art therapist and diabetes advocate, for the latest issue of Diabetes Forecast. Read it all here!

New Q-and-A up on Diabetes Forecast site

I spoke with Amy Stockwell Mercer, author of The Smart Woman’s Guide to Diabetes, for the online edition of Diabetes Forecast. You can read the interview here.

Back-to-school piece published in Diabetes Forecast

In addition to writing and editing the Your ADA section of Diabetes Forecast, I occasionally will write a longer piece. My back-to-school feature is in the August issue, and available right here.