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.

Finally, I got off my butt

Well, not exactly, but I did do some exercise stuff today. Not a lot, but it;'s a start.

Not a lot going on

Rainy weekend just played havoc with my arthritis, so no exercise for this old man. Just sat on my butt and watched TV.
I have increased my fiber intake which may help control sugar a little. Yeah, I know, no evidence exists, but since our body is a cohesive unit, better health comes from when the parts just work better. Removing toxins through fiber has to be, in the words of Martha Stewart, a good thing.

I need to bring my sugar down

It's been a little high lately, and I need to tighten up my food. I control my sugar through my actions (diet and exercise) but because I've been feeling like crap, I haven't been exercising, and am paying the price. Today, I'll start hitting it a little better.

Lasik is not 100% safe

For quite a few years, Lasik eye surgery has been touted as a quick, efficient way to get rid of glasses. But according to a recent AP article, not all surgeries are successful. Some have made the eyes worse, bringing about new problems such as worse vision, severe dry eye, glare, and inability to drive at night. Add to this severe eye pain, and suddenly what has been touted as a safe, nearly painless procedure is not really one.
On a personallevel, my neighbor had the operation years ago. It was less than successful as her vision continued to worsen. It may or may not have been related to the operation, but she was assured ahead of time that the operation had no risk and would help her.
In the long run, it did nothing.


http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hm4_Y2gN7uuJFU9yGiiiwV0BWDagD9094FIO0

If losing weight helps

and we all know it can for many diabetics, especially type 2, then this man can work wonders.



He was featured on TLC with a show and he has helped me so far, at least with my mindset. I'm so positive the weight loss will follow, that I highly recommend anyone with a weight loss goal check him out.

http://www.mckenna.com

Still struggling

My recovery isn't going so well. I'm using braces to walk, and they are helping, but the wounds are still there.

Holidays are upon us

My blood sugar was 126 this morning. It is a little higher than I wish, and I blame the Holiday season. Cakes and other goodies are around, and while I should simply say no, I am like a worm of the dust. I have no self-control. I see it, and I want it. Party on, big guy.

That is what caused my problems, but I am so weak willed that I just can't say no to the goodies, Holiday or otherday.

But I am working on it. Tomorrow, I'll have better news, I'm sure.

It's been a couple days

I've been doing ok. Doctor said foot is looking better. Still not healed. It seems that every day I resolve to get my food under control, yet I never do as well as I want to do. For now, good enough, but I need better than that.
For tomorrow, I resolve to do it right, and to get in the exercise that I have been avoiding due to laziness.

Today

Today was another good day. I did some minor exercise, and my sugar this morning was 107. I had pasta last night, so that may be why it was higher than it had been running. But I am still happy with the number.

The Mrs. has been running high, so I am pulling out all stops to keep her off insulin. She is taking the Cinnamon 6, along with all the supplements from Sportron. I also have her taking essential oils topically. She is under a lot of stress, so that may be hampering her also. She has been doing well and has been losing weight, which should help.

Another good day

I got up this morning, and my Blood sugar was 95. I'm pretty happy about that. The only real change I have made recently is that I drink Twinings tea. The cinnamon and cherry flavor. It tastes a little srange but since I started my sugar has become even better. It was pretty good before, but this is a new consistent low for me.
I view my journey to getting off drugs as a 3 step process, so far. The first was that I started getting proper supplementation. While I believe the ones I have are the best, similar results can be attained by others.
The second phase was a major dietary change. I eat a vegan diet 6 days a week. I should probably follow through and do it all 7, but why oh why are the foods that are so bad for me so darn tasty?
The third phase has been the tea. This has brought me way down. Before, my sugars were around 100-120 in the morning, but this huge drop makes me happy.

Just catching up

It's been months since I posted here. I've been hospitalized 3 times, including a visit to Ct that landed me in a UCONN Hospital. I've had a bout with a basal cell carcinoma, and my anemia put me in once in June for 2 weeks. I had a colonoscopy, and of course, I'm using that picture as my Christmas card.

But every day, I'm getting better. My most recent a1c was 5.9, and this morning my blood sugar was 95.

I haven't lost a lot of weight, but I am working on it. Once I am able to exercise, the fat will melt away.

I am going to try to post every day to help keep myself on track.

Natural/Alternative Treatments

The word natural has been used so much that it is nearly meaningless. Just because a product is all natural, it does not mean it is healthy. Even herbal remedies must be carefully monitored for two (at least) types exist. Medicinal herbs and food herbs are the most common descriptions. Medicinal herbs can be dangerous, ma huang is the one that immediately comes to mind. This is usually known as ephedra. And while ma huang is safe when used properly, it is easy to abuse. The one property that it has it it gives tremendous energy. That is why so many people have died from it. The herb gets abused because it is easy to build up a tolerance to it, and rather than go off it for a week, people increase the amount to get the desired effect. That is when trouble starts. No one would double up on presciption drugs without careful monitoring by a doctor, yet because a product is an herb, people just assume it is safe and healthy to use too much ma huang. The result, as we all know, is that it was taken off the market because a few foolish people overdid it. At least that is the story everyone was given. Prescription deaths account for thousands of deaths per year, so it is pretty clear that the removal of ephedra was all about the Benjamins.
Back to the topic at hand.

Since type 2 diabetes is a disease brought on by an unhealty lifestyle, it should be obvious that it can be reversed though a healthy lifestyle. I have been adopting some lifestyle changes recommended in Dr Fuhrman's book Eat to Live available at : http://www.drfuhrman.com/weightloss/reviews.aspx
As of today, I am pretty much a vegan. While not perfect, I would estimate that my meals are vegan around 90% of the time. I do take supplements from Sportron International because they make me feel good. I'm keeping my sugar under control with no diabetic medication. This is pretty remarkable because I previously was taking 4 mg of Amaryl, and it was not giving me sufficient control. I am a major proponent of alternative treatments. One caveat does exist, though, one must do a bit of research first. So many products exist that it is important to understand some of the science behind them. I was taking a supplement that helped lower my sugar because it contained the sugar busters that have been used for centuries. These are cinnamon, bitter melon, gymnema sylvestre, nopal cactus, American ginseng, fenugreek, and chromium. The product, Cinnamon 6, was very good, but did not meet all my needs. It is around $40-$50 for a month's supply. It would probably be good for someone who is a newly diagnosed diabetic who hasn't suffered all the complications yet.
Many simple things are available to help diabetics. For example, just a sprinkle of cinnamon on a bowl of oatmeal in the morning has been shown to help control glucose. Since many diabetics suffer from neuropathy, a simple, inexpensive yet very effective treatment is available.
Using a bucket of warm water and one of cold, simply soak feet in one for 5 minutes, then switch to the other. Repeat 3 times. Cost is negligible, yet it helps so much.
Just be cautious and check the water temperature before putting feet in. Many diabetics have reduced sensation and could cause damage if water is too extreme either way. But doing this every night has brought relief to many.
Also, hot peppers are a good thing for reduced circulation so common in us diabetics. I've been eating them at 2 meals a day, and it seems as if I'm getting a benefit. It may be all in my mind, but at least I feel better.