http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005 by the authors Mon, 13 Sep 2004 21:13:25 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/11/01/122534.php#comment-84926 diabetic: Thanks for the comment. I didn't expect one after so long. You are absolutely right, of course. What I didn't mention in my post is that my friend was also a quite good athlete while we were in high school. Given the medical technology of the time, it may have been difficult for him to compete in intense, long-duration sporting events (like long distance running), but he was a pole-vaulter, swam and did lots of different sports. So if my post implied that diabetics couldn't live active lives, I gave the wrong impression. Diabetics - the ones I've known, anyway - certainly can and do live very active lives when they choose to, just like anyone else. Your example points out that diabetics are able to compete at an extremely high level in any sport that they choose, provided they have the talent and desire. There is no difference between diabetics and non-diabetics in that regard. 84926@blogcritics.org Mon, 13 Sep 2004 21:13:25 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/11/01/122534.php#comment-84798 Its worth remembering that Steve Redgrave - 5 times Olympic Gold Medal winner in rowing - is diabetic. Diabetes is a problem, but it doesn't need to prevent you leading a full and athletic life. 84798@blogcritics.org Mon, 13 Sep 2004 03:38:37 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/11/01/122534.php#comment-26401 A very nice post. I also have Type I diabetes, and I give himself an insulin shot twice a day. For quite some time, as I wrestled with this disease, I dreaded the day when I might have to start injecting myself. But when the time came, learning how to do it (and do it comfortably) was relatively simple. The first shot was really really difficult, but once I steeled myself to push the needle into my stomach and push the plunger, I found it was not nearly as bad, or as painful, as I had feared. Sometime, when I am careless or rush myself too much, I can give myself a very entertaining bruise, but the vast majority of the shots I take are simple, painless, and quick. Not only that, but the technology for administering insulin makes it easy and comfortable too. I use insulin pens with screw-on caplike needles, which make it very easy to measure the dosage and deliver it with no pain, provided you it right. Thanks for this post. Very nice. 26401@blogcritics.org Sat, 1 Nov 2003 19:52:08 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/11/01/122534.php#comment-26378 thanks Pete, excellent and moving - it's an insidious disease 26378@blogcritics.org Sat, 1 Nov 2003 13:06:18 EST