That title is misleading. Today is actually the one-year anniversary of when I was diagnosed as diabetic. But saying all that isn’t as catchy, so I went with what we have.
So, for those of you who may not have been around last year or may not remember, last year I was diagnosed as having diabetes. Apparently, it runs in both sides of my family. And for the first thirty-one years of my life, I was fine. Well, I didn’t have diabetes; I had other problems. But then some time last summer, I started to rapidly lose weight, even though I wasn’t doing anything differently. I got blood tested, and went about my day. The next morning, my doctor’s office called and told me to get to the emergency room. I had diabetes and my blood sugar was extremely high.
I spent the rest of the day in the ER with a headache, starving myself so my blood sugar could come down. Not my favorite day of last year by a long shot. A few days later, I got my first round of supplies, including medications, and started working on adjusting my lifestyle with a combination of diet, exercise, insulin, and a few other things besides.
A year later, I’ve adjusted. I don’t think I went through the five stages of grief, but I’m definitely at acceptance. And I was definitely a little bummed after I got the diagnosis, though I wouldn’t call it depression. But yeah, I’ve adjusted. For a while, I couldn’t look at something full of sugar without hissing like a cornered cat. Now, I’m able to indulge in the occasional sugary treat, so long as I’m careful. I know the patterns my blood sugar tends to take during the course of a normal day. I’m eating better, and working out more. I know what foods to avoid or limit. I’ve even been able to travel, such as for StokerCon. (Though when I’m finally able to go abroad…that could be challenging.)
That being said, it still sucks. I can’t eat ice cream when the urge hits me. Like I said, when I travel, I have to make special arrangements so my medication and everything else stay functional. Eating out was already a challenge because I keep kosher, but now I got to keep an eye out to make sure there’s nothing that’s not going to put my blood sugar over the edge. Try eating at a multiday convention where most of the food is either out of a food truck or what you’d find at a stadium snack bar!
And this condition still finds ways to surprise me. Just in the past six months, I’ve learned about “dawn phenomena” and “diabetic hypoglycemia.” Fun!
Still, I’ve adjusted. And I’ll keep adjusting. I’ve got way too much living to do. Too many things I want to do with my life (even if the economy and my bank account keep me from doing some of them right this moment). And I have no intention of letting a disease get in the way of that.
Anyway, that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. Putting this out on my blog helps me get my thoughts on this weird occasion out. Not sure I’m going to celebrate it, but I may mark it with sugar free chocolate pudding and sugar free whipped cream tonight after dinner. Sweet, but not going to put my health in danger.
I may have a beer, though. Hey, what’s life without some fun?
Until next time, good night, pleasant nightmares, and 64 days till Halloween. Are you enjoying all the pumpkin spice you can get your hands on?
Rami Ungar The Writer 