Should I Be Ashamed?

I can remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when the awful news of President Kennedy being shot and later the announcement of his death came on TV. The same goes for the assassination of Dr. King, Bobby Kennedy and the attempt on President Reagan. Ditto for when the Eagle landed on the moon.

Try as I might, however, I cannot remember when I was diagnosed as being diabetic. I have noticed that most folks who blog about diabetes know the day, month, year and (in some cases) the time of day. It wasn't that it didn't have a major impact on me, it did. The impact, however, was in reality a positive one. It was a relief to find out why the weird things that my body was going through were happening.

I do know that it was approximately 15 or 16 years ago. Like everyone else I have had my highs and lows. (No pun intended - Well maybe a little) The highs mostly occurring in the first legs of the journey when control was relatively easy; a couple of pills a day and watch what I ate. The lows started happening several years into the trip and could probably be attributed to my taking the disease for granted.

This lack of attention culminated with a week long hospital stay with 4 mega powered antibiotics alternately being pumped into my veins in order to bring under control an infection that started in my lower left leg and that had become, because I ignored it, systemic. My hospitalist MD, also referred to as MY HERO, explained that they were trying to "savey my leg."

They did!

Since that adventure 3 years ago I have been a very good boy.(Almost 69 years old but still a boy) My pancreas has started fading into the sunset and Lantus has taken the place of part of my oral medication. When I look at my condition I can truthfully say that I am in better shape than the majority of my friends that are my age who do not have diabetes.

Diabetes has changed my life but certainly has not ruined it.

And I Didn't Punch Him in the Nose

Scene: Talking to a guy I just met
Guy: Do you always drink diet soda?
Me: Yep
Guy: Do you like 'em?
Me: They're OK
Guy: Trying to lose weight?
Me: Well, yeah but mainly because I'm a diabetic.
Guy: What kind?
(At this point glad that I'm talking to somebody that at least understands there is more than one flavor of diabetes,)
Me: Type 2
Guy: Oh good, you don't have the serious kind.

Result: I didn't punch him in the nose.

Caramba!

Sadly, it seems that I may have to somehow find a way to curtail my love for Mexican food. I had dinner last night at my favorite restaurant Los Rancheros with my 89 year old Dad. The food, as always, was excellent. My BG this morning sucked, (149) not life threatening but certainly above the 90 to 105 that my fasting BG usually is.

I suppose that I will need to have somebody "hog tie" me so I can't reach the basket o' chips that they furnish and put some effort into figuring out the carbs in their dishes and only order those that are the least lethal.

Sometimes I amaze myself that, when confronted by a menu full of things I like, I can somehow justify ordering something that I know deep down in my heart I shouldn't. And this, after 15 years of knowing that I'm diabetic and being cognizant of how to best take care of myself. This may be a factor in why I've "graduated" from just taking oral medication to 25 units of Lantus @ night plus Januvia every morning plus Glimepiride 2 times a day.

I used to have a framed slogan that hung in my office that read:

I'm not totally useless

I can always be used

as a bad example. 

Chillin' and Bored

Not doing much of anything today. I'm not supposed to be in direct sunlight. I have two approximately "dime sized" red spots on the right side of my already not so handsome face. Yesterday had a dermatologist appointment to have two squamous cell carcinomas removed. No big deal, just a in the office procedure. I must admit that the initial diagnosis made me nervous. I know that this type of skin cancer is not really a big deal but it was the first time that I had heard the "C" word used in connection with me.

The truth be known, the "D" word is a lot bigger problem. My BG readings have been behaving themselves a whole lot better lately. Two things involved:
1. A doctor who really knows his business.
2. Finally having enough sense to follow his instructions.
(O.K., I thought of one more.)
3. Having access to inspiring writers on the web, i.e.Kerri Morrone Sparling & Wil Dubois