Probably the most depressing and heartfelt topic i will make

[Hoth]

I have never in my life felt like a complete a$$. You know when you do something wrong like run into a car or hit someone or hurt someone’s feelings to the point where they no longer wish to be around you. Or when you steal something and then the overwhelming guilt you feel drives you to a state of insanity. Well today I am feeling this way. Not in the sense of stealing or damaging another persons well being, but my own. I have over a year now neglected myself in a medical stand point and it has started to catch up to me. This will require me a complete turn around in my lifestyle as it sits to make myself a healthier person and get back under control. For the people who know me most do not know this but I am a Diabetic. With all the standards and rules that come with I have broken them all.

There is nothing I can ask of you as it is not your problem and this is just some venting to hopefully get myself in the mindset to change, change my entire way of things so that I may live. If I brought anyone down I do apologize for this rather depressive post and for anyone that lives with me or sees me on a daily basis. Please. Knock the crap out of me if I’m doing something I am not supposed to. This is going to be my detox from a life of sugar and not exercising. And hopefully in 3 months ill have turned a 180 and will be back on track, but I know that I am setting an unprecedented level of expectation that for my life sakes cannot be broken.

Wish me luck!

[Andsectoid]

As your roomate, co-worker, and friend I want to be the the first to let you know I will be glad to kick your a$$ when you get off track. ::watches Hoth like a hawk::

Let me know if there is anything I can do. But yes, you will still have to pay rent.

[Shino]

Good luck man.

Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

[kei]

[RivaOni]

good luck hoth, a friend of mines brother is diabetic and NEVER does as hes supposed to, always uses the excuse that hes feeling low and that, my friends always getting on at him for it but he doesnt listen.

my grandads also diabetic and didnt look after himself, its somehow affected his eyes and create a bubble inside it or something, the doctors told him due to this he couldnt drive, but he didnt listen, until he almost ran somebody over, and recently became rather quite ill so now hes watching himself.

and although hes not close to the fmialy, we all know it may be too little too late.

but, at least youve realised now that your gong about your life in the wrong way and are trying to change for your own well being.

again, good luck

[Andsectoid]

Yup. Not keeping up with diabetes can cause blindness, amputation, nerve damage, heart problems, and kidney disease just to name a few problems.

[Hoth]

And to top it all off.. Because of it. My company may not be able to switch insurance providers because the underwriting could make it cost more to have the plan they want.

Thanx for the help and such. Its going to be a sucky road. But it has to be done.

[Blackmage]

At leat you drink diet coke, and have Anna's parents and Andy to take you to the hospital when you are sick since I always have to be at work to make sure I can pay my own share of the bills. And your sugar problems are probibly as bad as my cholesterol count.


P.S. do your feet hurt?

[unastrike]

Few years ago, I went into the doctors office because I had just been feeling "off" for weeks... and I had a nagging stomach pain.

We drew some blood, he asked questions like, "Are you thirsty a lot? Urinate often?" ... Came back 45 minutes later and said, "Well, Jason, I have some life changing news for you."

He told me that I was diabetic, most likely Type 1. While being diabetic is one thing... it is predominant in my family, being Type 1 at a young age is pretty rare... and it also meant that I was insulin dependant. As in, my pancreas was not producing it any more. I had done a number on my pancreas due to heavy drinking. I had quit by then, but it seemed it was too late... damage had really been done. How's that for a kick in the ass?

Denial set in as I saw a specialist. We ran more bloodwork. I had been feeling really good. My blood sugars were doing fine without much if any insulin. Asked the doctor how on earth I could be doing this if I was diagnosed as a Type 1. He told me about a common phenomenon called the "Honeymoon Phase". Crazy stuff... He said it typicially lasts a couple months if even... as did mine. Afterwords, it was back to 4 shots a day, constant monitoring... rinse, repeat.

Now, I can't say that I was the best at keeping on top of it, but at the very least, I made a complete dietary change. The two hardest things after accepting that you have the disease is:

1) Checking your sugars regularly.
2) Changing your diet.

Thankfully, the low-carb craze has changed the lives of tons of diabetics. There are SO many low carb solutions out there now. Carbs are what raise your blood sugar.... not just sugar. There are mixed testimonies in regard to diets such as Atkins or the South Beach diet. Some doctors say it's unhealthy, some praise it... especially in the case of diabetics.

I went on a strict Atkins diet. A lot of people think that you can never have carbs while on Atkins... that's only half true. During the two-week induction phase, it is... no carbs. But after that, they get slowly introduced again. You work out with your doc how many carbs a day you can have... and split that up throughout the day. I could still eat a candy bar... but I would have to miss out on the mashed potatos for dinner. I dropped 80lbs by changing my eating habits... and never felt better. It shocked my system. Almost literally.

After some time, I wasn't just feeling better, I was doing better. All of a sudden my blood sugars started hitting "normal range" before eating. Soon I only needed a couple of ML before each meal. After a while, I didn't need hardly any. I would even checck my sugars after meals and they were coming down naturally. Let me tell you... it baffled the hell out of the specialists I saw. I've been insulin free for well over a year. I still check myself, but mostly out of paranoia. If I'm feeling off, I'll check myself, and lo and behold, I'm in the normal range.

Now, I don't know what type you have, but I'm guessing Type 2. It's the most common anyway. With any luck, you'll be able to control your blood sugar with just a dietary change and pills. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you won't have to use any needles. Cause that's certainly not easy to get used to. Course, after the 100th time of poking yourself, it's nothing... just an annoyance.

...

Hey, man... I know what you're going through and know how hard it is. You need support from friends, but your friends also need to be able to count on you do make the right choices and keep yourself healthy. We'll be there for you.

Get used to Diet Soda and the taste of Splenda... quick. It doesn't take long at all.

[Hoth]

Thanx Una.. I never knew dood. I am actually a type 1. And have been so since the age of 7 when my Pancreas stopped producing insulin. The first 2 years i was in total denial and ate everything in site. After years of getting it back under control and 2 years of strict this and that I was totally under control. Then lately especially over the last year I have not done any blood sugars i take shots through my insulin pump and i ate pretty much what i wanted too. Its like the denial phase stuck it to me again.

Splenda gives me a headache so i tend to stick with nutrasweet items and sweet and low for my sugar. Dood i never thought of the atkins diet stuff. Since I grew up in Wisconsin I am used to a heavy carbbed diet. I may see you about whats all in this diet you are using and see what will work for me. I went shopping last night for {airquote}healty{/airquote} food. Ate my rasin brand this morning and am thinking about a non fast food good way to eat my lunch. Hemoglobin A1C test today to see whats all going to happen and stuff. I know its going to be bad. But I gotta start somewhere.