My diabetic life (a primer)

I thought I'd blog about myself, and my life with diabetes.

I'm a Type 2 diabetic. This used to be known as adult onset. I became diagnosed about 20 years ago, maybe a little more. I wasn't surprised, as I have a family history of it.

But I treated my body like an amusement park for so long, it is more my fault than anything genetic. Being overweight is probably the most significant contributing factor. Of course, I never ate very well, but that is less than the amount that caused the weight issues. I'm sure it didn't help that I drank a lot, also.

Once I was diagnosed, I did the dumbest thing possible--I ignored it. Doctors told me I wouldn't live to age 30, and definately not 40, so rather than prove the doctors wrong, I thought, "F it, party on, Big Guy."

To be continued.

Feeling pretty good today

The Cipro must be working. I know it won't clear up an infection that fast, but it appears not to be any worse. No odor, and the pain is lessening. All good signs.

I won't be out of the woods until the wound heals.

My sugar has been a little high lately. Not out of control, just a little higher than I like it. This morning it was 126.

Went to the doctor last night

It was my monthly foot whacking.

He takes a scalpel, and slices and dices (without Ron Popeil's Veg-O-Matic) and squeezes. Last night it hurt more than usual because my foot is starting to get infected. So now I'm on Cipro. It appears we caught it just in time. If it happens too late, it's off to the hospital for heavy duty antibiotics and surgery.

I've been keeping pretty good control of my sugar, so I'm hopeful.



OUCH

Vaccine-autism link on trial

NY Times May 13, 2008
WASHINGTON — The United States Court of Federal Claims began another hearing on Monday to decide whether a vaccine additive led thousands of children to become autistic.

The hearing is the second in a series of three in which the court is considering whether the government should pay millions of dollars to the parents of some 4,800 autistic children. In this hearing, parents are claiming that thimerosal, a preservative that contains mercury, damaged their children’s brains. Thimerosal was removed from all routinely administered childhood vaccines by 2001.

Every major study and scientific organization to examine the issue has found no link between vaccination and autism, but the parents and their advocates have persisted.

The claims are being heard in a special court set up by Congress 20 years ago when a series of scares nearly crippled the vaccine industry. The hearing is expected to last two to three weeks, and a decision is not expected until next year.

Almost absent from this hearing and the others in the series is any discussion of the case of Hannah Poling, an autistic 9-year-old from Athens, Ga., who the government conceded last year might have been injured by vaccines. Vaccine critics say the concession gives strong evidence that vaccines cause autism, but government officials say the case proves nothing regarding the safety of vaccines.

The experiences of two 10-year-old boys from Portland, Ore., are at the center of the latest hearing. The boys, William Mead and Jordan King, were developing normally until they were vaccinated, said Thomas Powers, a lawyer representing them.

But a buildup of mercury in their brains from vaccines containing thimerosal led the boys to regress, Mr. Powers contended.

The claims for the two boys are test cases being heard to determine whether parents in thousands of similar cases should receive compensation. Last summer, Mr. Powers presented before the special court the test case of Michelle Cedillo, who Mr. Powers claimed was injured by both vaccines containing thimerosal and the vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella, which did not contain thimerosal.

Next summer, the court will hear a test case in which lawyers will argue that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine was the sole cause of autism.

Plaintiffs and their lawyers have sought for years to delay hearings on their vaccine claims, hoping new research or government data would bolster their arguments. But with each passing year, the claim that thimerosal had an important effect on children has become harder to sustain. Its removal has appeared to have no effect on autism rates.

My diabetic foot (nasty photo)

I've stated that diabetes destroys our bodies.

I decided to post a picture of my foot. It's hard to get a good angle because in my last operation (toe amputation) tendons were cut and I can't straighten out my foot.

This is one ugly disease.

Got some work to do

I'm approaching today with a positive attitude. Ready to work out, and make good choices. Some days I'm kicking the snot out of diabetes, some days it's beating me down.

Today, I choose to kick its ass.

Sunday, May 3

I have been doing more, but not enough, I guess. I had to go out yesterday, and I was so exhausted when I got home, I was asleep by 10. I took a catnap at 8, so I should have been ok. Factor in my Rita's frozen coffee drink (Ritaccino) and I should have been climbing the walls.

Today, I will do some more exercise than I have been doing. One day at a time.

Getting it Done

I was thinking of titling this "get r done," but didn't want to rip off Larry the Cable Guy.

I've started exercising this week. This morning made me realize how bad it's gotten. I was watching sit down exercise (a show to keep geriatics flexible) and after 5 minutes, I turned it off. It was wearing me out. The mellow music made me sleepy, too, so I just gave up. Plus the one ancient guy on the show put me to shame.

I suck.