Diabetes

Diabetes symptoms may include:

• high levels of sugar in the blood when tested
• high levels of sugar in the urine when tested
• unusual thirst
• frequent urination
• extreme hunger but loss of weight
• blurred vision
• nausea and vomiting
• extreme weakness and fatigue
• irritability and mood changes

I was unaware of my own diabetes until I saw this list after I was unable to buy life insurance because of "preexisting untreated diabetes". That was in 1996. Once I did see my doctor and go over the list, the bolded ones were the ones I was most familar with. Doing this blog made me look up some of the records i have, and I realize I have known I was diabetic for 12 years. It has not been easy, but once i dealt with the facts, and took ownership of the disease, things have been better. Like many people, i remember thinking exercise and a modified diet would do the trick. It will if you know what you are doing, but unfortunately I did not, and got conflicting advice when i sought it. So eventually I was put on a medication, and then as the medical community did more research, it became apparent that as a preventive, people like me need to have rigid control on blood pressure, lipid levels, manage stress, modify diet and exercise. So today I am taking 4 prescription and two over the counter (vitamin and lo dose aspirin) pills .

But the effects can be reversed. my doctor told me that if I continue to lose weight( a very difficult and conscious effort) I could start back down and eventualy be off my prescriptons, at least for the diabetes. But I would still need to control my diet.

I thought of this subject today,because last night I was really upset about something, and as bedtime neared, I foolishly went online and wrote a scorcher of an email to one of my friends, which was heavily influenced by a high blood glucose level induced lack of cognitive control. I apologized for that, and hope my friends will understand.

I have asked my doctor about this, and he is unaware of any substantial research, but says my complaint is something he has heard before.

I wish all of you good health, and take care of yourself.