A very frank and helpful article, Jet. Though I don't often rear my ugly head on BC these days (long stories, longer days, multiple weirdnesses)I do keep you in my thoughts and prayers. If this article helps one person to recognize and address symptoms that they didn't understand, then you've done a very wonderful deed. Thanks for your honesty and sincerity in writing it.

Jet,
Thank you so much for your frank discussion on this. It has done more than made me think.

Thank You Che, I'm very nervous about the reaction here, but it was something I thought needed expressing in a way that's help.

Jet

Your welcome Brad. I'm trying (bound and determined) to save as many people as I can from the fate I'm suffering.

I appreciate your comment.
Jet

Jet...your willingness and openness to discuss your health problems so frankly is truly inspirational. Many of us are continue to pray for you, and hold you close in our thought.

This is a terrible thing you have to endure, but consider the many lives you could possibly be saving by bringing light to a problem far too many people remain in the dark about.

Tell your story, shout it from the rooftops if you have to...and your pain will not be in vain.

Jet, thanks for laying it all right out there. Unvarnished and unadorned. I hope the folks out there, especially the guys, are paying attention.

Restored health to you, my friend!

I can only echo what others have already said here, Jet. If the whole story, coming straight from someone who's lived it and told with such frankness, gets even one person to the doctor in time, you will have done a great service. Thank you for sharing this with the BC community.

We all wish you nothing but the best on your road to recovery.

Jet - the title scared the hell out of me! I thought you were gonna tell me that you were actually losing your sight because you didn't listen to your parents when they told you stop or you'll go blind...at least I'm somewhat relieved that wasn't what caused your sight loss.

Glad to see you're back to writing and I hope they're at least giving you some good meds for the pain...

Not sure what else to say to you on this...I guess we can all hope it doesn't get any worse for you...hang in there buddy...

I'm going to ask a stupid question, Jet. If one suspects that one might have diabetes, what does one do to find out?

For what it's worth, I think she's crazy, seeing symptoms that don't exist. Your article is actually slightly reassuring, because she has none of the symptoms you describe. Still, if it's a simple test, she could then know for sure, and I'd stop hearing about it.

And also: great article. Thank you for sharing from your own life.

You make many excellent points here, Jet, and I'd like to amplify one of them.

My grandfather had diabetes that probably started in his forties or fifties, but he refused to admit it until it was far too late. As a veteran of World War II, he could have received good medical care for the symptoms throughout the 1970s and 1980s, at little or no cost. Sadly he preferred to avoid doctors, much as you describe.

The denial and avoidance in his case led to the loss of both legs below the knee. I suspect the complications from diabetes were also the underlying cause of his premature death, but the doctors were quite clear that diabetes was the reason his legs had to be amputated.

Even though I'm aware this family background increases my own risk of adult-onset diabetes, it has been a constant struggle to improve my habits and reduce the refined sugars in my diet. Your reminder of the risks will help me continue that struggle against temptation, and I'm sure it will help many others too.

Thank you.

Phillip #9. THAT IS NOT A STUPID QUESTION. with this problem there are no stupid questions...

The best test for type 2 diabetes is called the fasting plasma glucose test. A blood sample is taken by a nurse for a reading.

You'll need to fast (don't eat) before taking a blood sugar test because it can affect blood sugar levels. Medicines can also affect your blood sugar.

In a fasting blood sugar test, a result of 80 to 110 is normal, while results between 110 and 125 puts you at risk of developing diabetes in the future. Levels higher than 125 means you've got it, and the test must be repeated later to confirm it... mine was 320. EVERY point above 125 can do damage and getting it down even one point helps. My personal fight is to keep mine below 150 because emotional stress causes your levels to go up and right now I'm living the life of Job.

Another test is the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test this shows your blood sugar levels over a period of time, You need to take this test too because the other one is just for that particular day, where this one shows a backwards through time result.

The HbA1c test measures how much glucose in your blood stream has peermanently attached itself to your cells. Since blood cells last for about 90 days, the test shows how much of it has been in the blood stream for the past one to three months.

People who don't have diabetes should have HbA1c levels of about 3 percent to 6.5 percent. If you have diabetes, you should aim for HbA1c levels of about 8 percent.

This is the kind of "medicaleze gibbersh" that turned me off from reading these kinds of articles.

I hope this helps
Jet

Thanks to Chantal, Roberta, Lisa and Andy. Victor the worse thing anyone can do is think "this can't happen to me"

It was my downfall

I also thought that by controlling my sugar intake it'd stave off the disease.

the problem is if you don't take in sugar, your body produces it itself!!!!!!!

I found this out the hard way when I would take insulin and not eat anything thinking I could make my levels go down and my nex reading was higher!!!

Your body can't bee fooled. The insulin you use is balanced against what you take in.

Fascinating personal account, Jet. And nice to see you back despite all the travails.

It all makes me wonder why the level of diabetes in our society has risen so high. When I was a kid it was a fairly rare disease, but today it seems like everyone has it. Is it just a case of improved diagnostics, or has the disease become more prevalent for some reason?

BTW, are you aware of the recent situation with blogcritic writer John Mudd AKA Mr. Real Estate? He recently died from diabetes.

Dave

Jet - "get up eight"

know that even though my Words may not be with you for a while... my Thoughts and best Wishes are

knowing that you, Mark, Shark, troll and duane are around makes me feel just that much less guilty for lurking but not *talking* for a while so i can sort things out

be Well

Excelsior?

Dave, no I didn't know about Mr. Real Estate's death. We lost a family member.


The fact that America has gained too many pounds of fat due to fast-food diets, refined sugars in everything, and hydroginated oils is part of it.

The other part is indeed better diagnosis because a lot of deaths and illnesses were blamed for other "natural causes".

Diabetes effects your blood vessels by clogging them with unregulated sugars and is a major cause of heart disease.

Thank you for this Jet. As a matter of fact, my personal hero is dying from diabetes. It really makes me anxious to get tested.

Gonzo, my favorite quote from John Wayne's "Rooster Cogburn" comes to me yet again...

Katherine Hepburn...
"A wise old owl sat in an oak,
the more he heard the less he spoke,
The less he spoke the more he heard,
Now wasn't that a wise old bird?"

Miss you, and thanks for the kind thoughts
Jet

Michael West-DON'T THINK ABOUT IT-DO IT-NOW. If you don't-I'll find you and kiss you right on the lips

Put down that pop bottle, folks, and skip the dessert. We now get 60% of our calories from the fructose added to almost every ready-made product in the store. You're killing yourselves trying to satisfy the longings and desires planted in your brains by advertising. And it's a long miserable death as you lose your limbs and eyesight and become ever more painful and miserable. Even worse than lung cancer. Most of us were able to quit smoking when we discovered how horrible it was, diabetes is even worse.

My mother, z"l, told me about my grandmother, z"l, the woman for whom I'm named. She contracted diabetes before they had developed insulin treatments and her leg began to rot. The rot did not stay in her leg, and even after the doctors amputated the leg, the rot had reached her brain, and she'd scream from pain from a leg that was no longer there.

My mother was a spinster until her forties and by then she too had developed diabetes - a fact she kept from everybody until it could no longer be hidden in the 1970's. Because she had diabetes, she could not have any more children after I was born. I really could have used a younger sister!

But my own selfishness aside, another side to this was that after she was widowed, after she began having small strokes, after she could no longer go out easily, she stopped really caring.

In 1984, I remember taking her out to breakfast on Kings Highway in Brooklyn. She ordered bacon and eggs. I looked at the bacon and the eggs - cholesterol and fat (therefore sugar) city - and told here this would kill her.

"So I'll die," she said and dug, into the meal. Three years later, she was dead, and dug into the ground.

PS. My wife has type 2 diabetes and watches it like a hawk. I'll have to start checking my blood sugar...

Bliffle #20 Well put...

Ruvy 21, thanks for sharing that my friend. It's something we all fear and almost none of us are prepared for.

Blessings
Jet

Jet,

This is a real public service, in the best and most admirable meaning of the phrase.

Diabetes is a terrible disease; all the more because of the insidious way it attacks and injures those it afflicts.

If you help one person recognize and take steps to deal with a diabetic condition, you'll have done more to help another human than most people accomplish in a lifetime.

Well done. I know your courage will work for you in your fight to win out over your own illnesses.

Thanks Clavos, I'm thinking now that I should've added the word Diabetes to the title so it'd get picked up by a few services or indexes.

This is one I really want to get out, because I've never seen an article on the subject that talked to the commone man who didn't know shit about the subject, like I did when this whole ordeal began.

Thanks again
Jet

I would like everyone to take note of the tecnnical information in comment 12-it's important

Thanks
Jet

Jet, this is a superby written and riveting account of your struggle. When one has a devastating health issue or other personal tragedy, the suffering it entails can often seem random and meaningless. But you have managed to cull something positive from the negative by sharing this info with us. Bless you, Jet, and my best wishes for your recovery.

My doc told me I was 'pre-diabetic' after my last tests about a year ago and instructed me on some steps to take. So I have no sugar in the house, never buy sodas, and seldom eat out, never at fast foods places. But, from the diet standpoint, the most important thing is that I never buy packaged foods in boxes or cans. I start in the produce section and plan my next few meals there, in some detail, which helps me avoid the error of stocking up on general groceries which may not result in complete meals.

After not using sugar in my tea for a few days, even the need for artificial sweetener dropped off and now I only occasionally use a half packet of Splenda.

Thanks Elvira, I'm just trying to find a format that'll get the maximum amount of attention to this problem.

In the coming days/weeks I'm hoping to read reports written here of people who were moved to go see their doctors and found out in time to not suffer the same fate at mine.

Jet

There are two symptoms I want to emphasize here, one I forgot and one important one.

1. During all hours of the day or evening, especially after eating, if I were to lay down on the couch I'd find myself in one hell of a fight just to stay awake, even though I'd just woken up.

sitting up would sometimes help but not offten.
This is sugar-thickened blood slowing down brain function.

2. The part about being "cranky" or easy-tempered is very real. I find myself snapping at people for no reason... one of the reasons I stay at home a lot.

Remember these symptoms and beware...

and see a doctor

Jet

Bliffle-You're scaring me friend. If you know a friend who's a diabetic, go let them test your blood with a finger prick test (10-15 seconds). if it's above 125 before eating or above 175 after eating get yourself back to the doctor.

I AM GOING TO REPEAT THIS REPEATEDLY... THERE IS SO FUCKING SUCH THING AS A PRE-DIABETIC, A PARTIAL DIABETIC, OR A "BORDERLINE" DIABETIC"

I've had to give up All of my favorite fruits and most of my favorite fresh vegetables. You're looking not only at flat-out sugar content, but carbohydrate content that your body turns into sugar.

Veggies like especially carrots, onions, etc. Get yourself a sugar/carb chart, or look it up on line. "Natural" foods are just as dangerous.

For godsakes also remember that brands like "Healthy Choice" are neither healthy or a choice for diabetics. Bread is out too unless you're on insulin to counter the sugar NO MATTER WHAT THE BRAND. I used to think I was safe with natural stone-ground wheat.... uh uh.

I mean it Bliffle. go back to the top of this comment and read it again, then go back and read the article again and get yourself to a doctor or a friend with a self-test. The little finger prick doesn't hurt that much and it may save your life.

Jet

Jet,

I apologize for taking this long to weigh in on this, but here goes. I'm coming out of the closet so to speak (and no, I don't mean "that" you silly guy...)

Two years ago, I was diagnosed as a Type II Diabetic. Thats right, me too Jet.

After experiencing a few symptoms (including, without going into all of the details a mild variation of some of the "downstairs" issues you mentioned which definitely will get a guys attention), I went in for a routine physical.

My triglyceride count as as well as bad cholesterol counts were both real high and some tests were run. And I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes.

The reason it is so important that people read and heed your article is two-fold. One, we are on the verge of a diabetes epidemic here in America because of obesity and because of our eating habits. I was never big on sweets myself...but I loved my junk food, my coca-cola, and my Budweiser beer. Years of this type of diet, along with never exercising, most likely were what contributed to my eventually developing the disease.

Which in my case had double (actually triple if you figure in my smoking habit) the potential for bad ramifications. You see I was already blind in one eye, having lost one of my eyes in a bicycling accident in 1996.

I've worn a glass eye since about 1998. For my first two years after losing my eye, I wore a patch and heard "arrrr matey" and the like enough times to last a lifetime.

So the ties between diabetes and blindness were of twice the concern they would have been anyway for myself.

But the other reason people should read and heed your words is because Type II can be controlled.

What it takes are a couple of basic things.

Daily Testing is paramount so you always know where you are at. Yes, its painful (and I'm a wuss when it comes to either pain or the sight of my own blood), but you get used to it. And the alternative of being tied to insulin and daily hyperdermics is enough to make most people adapt quickly.

Another issue is exercise. This one was tough for me as the only thing I've ever exercised is my elbow, usually with a beer at the other end of it. But I've learned to walk daily and find I actually really enjoy and look forward to it now.

Changing the diet was another tough issue. But with the help of a dietician, not as tough as I thought I would be.

I eat pretty much the same as I always did, but the portions are smaller and the Big Macs are pretty much history. Lean Cuisines have replaced Swansons. Diet Cokes have replaced Cokes. I used to love Gatorade but no longer drink it. All of these things weren't as tough an adjustment as I thought they'd be...and I've lost a ton of weight in the bargain, which means girls are actually looking at me again.

The beer though? That was tough.

Actually I still drink beer occasionally...I'll treat myself on a weekend from time to time. But only as long as my "numbers" are good. And what used to be several nights a week though is now maybe one night if that. The six packs and twelve packs I used to down without blinking are now more like one beer here and one beer there.

Now the medication part? That one can be tough too. The drug I have to take, Metformin which comes in pill form, can have a very nasty side effect in the form of some nasty stomach problems (and I wont bother painting the rest of that picture, but I would guess you already know what Im talking about Jet).

But this also has an effect of keeping you honest as far as the diet goes, which is a good thing.



So yeah, you make a few changes. But the bottom line is none of them are really earth-shattering and they can save your life. The key is controlling it.

My numbers, which my doctor also checks along with the twice yearly blood tests have been flawless for two years. My doctor essentially tells me that as long as I continue what I'm doing, I never should have to worry about my diabetes progressing to any of the possible side effects or the dreaded level 1 form of the disease.

So it can be controlled.

The key here is detection. Most people dont even know they have it...I sure as hell didnt.

But if you get checked and it turns out you do, you not only can control it and live a normal life but you have probably just saved your life.

And that normal life...remember those "downstairs issues" I mentioned...can and does include sex. Roughly half of all men over 50 will experience some form of "ED" anyway. So far it hasn't really been an issue with me...everything does still work (maybe not like it did when I was 18 or even 30, but it does still work). And if there ever is a problem, I've got a supply of little blue pills on my nightstand for emergencies.

Jet, you are a popular writer here on BC (more than I am to be sure...LOL...they didnt even give me the pick of the week I kind of expected I might get for my Dylan review. Ouch!). So Hopefully that alone will draw people to this article.

So from a fellow diabetic, thank you very much for writing it.

And welcome back.

-Glen

Sorry if that turned out be a book. I probably should've just wrote an article of my own...but yours is so good I would only be repeating it.

It did feel good to come out and say to this group that I'm also a diabetic though. Theres certainly no shame in it or anything. But I sure hope that people read your article my friend. Thanks again for writing it.
_Glen

Thanks for the education, Jet. As one who is "borderline" diabetic and--the doctors keep telling me that--I've been largely un-alarmed, only changing my diet a bit and putting the problem on the back burner while more immediate neurological problems get treated (and while conflicting conditions keep delaying the most pressing surgical need).

In any case, in recognizing some of the afflictions and symptoms you discuss (e.g., healing problems/numbness/infection in leg led to an operation a few years ago) your article serves as a wake-up call to the extent that I'll give as much priority to diabetes, juggle that with the other concerns, and hope to give fuller attention to it sooner than later.

Dave, no I didn't know about Mr. Real Estate's death. We lost a family member.

He was a diabetes awareness activist and I think he'd be very pleased with the way you're picking up the torch here.

Dave

Thank you Glen. Since I seem to have my privates out for the world to see anyway I'll expand on it hoping someone will recognize it and get help here.

I'm on the pills called Glucotrol or it's generic Glipazide. I've been avoiding all this because people hear it and "Change Channels". Who wants to watch a show in a different language.

My doctor started me out on Glucotrol pills which worked for a while but I'd started it too late in the game. Now I'm on a combination of pills and injections.

The pills cause your body to make more insulin-the side effects are a lot of farting while laying down, some diharea at times and a lessoned ability to get an erection.
The problem with the pills is that they only stimulate a lazy pancreas, once it goes on strike you have to start injecting yourself. Why the dreaded needle? Insulin is a protien, if you took it orally your stomach would break it down and it'd be useless, so it has to go directly into the blood stream.

My doctor gave me a "pen" that comes with disposible needles. This is called Lantis Insulin and is injected less often. These pens use needles that are very thin and only about a 1/4 inch long. You barely feel them going in. I have to inject myself 2-4 times a day, and test myself 4 times a day.

Hear this guys, and this is no lie, ignoring the symptoms effects you sexually. The desire is there, but like all the "ED" commercials gracefully say, I'll say point blank. Getting it up without some kind of drug is out of the question, cumming has the same feel, but nothing comes out, which means no kids. It effects the fine blood vessels of your body by clogging them with sticky guey sugar your body can't process (think of half-evaporated Coke or Pepsi in your system)

That means in your prostate and your balls boys. The capalaries in your cock don't fill completely or are blocked so you can't get hard.

Heed my warning and get checked if you've been having trouble "getting it up" or keeping it up. If you masturbate (don't lie we all do) and it starts cumming out clear or not at all after it feels like it has-bingo.

You've had the muscle spasms that cause the pleasure but not the end result. That's why it's dangerous to married men, they think they shot a load that they didn't, only it felt like they did.
One more reason to be depressed...

Dave Gordon and Glen-read what I just posted before you wander off... I'll get to you each in a sec.

Glen, I'm honored you did it here, and that I've embarrassed myself enough to allow others enough comfort to discuss it themselves.

The big thing is admitting you have it.

Gordon, thanks for your contribution. A borderline case means you're going to get it, just not yet-BUT YOU WILL GET IT.

Cutting down on sugar is good, but the damage is already started and you can't just put it in reverse and back back up the exit ramp you took by mistake.

Start treating now with the pills.

Don't make the same mistake I did.

Dave I don't want to pick up the torch. It's killing me how much damage I've done to myself with denying there was anything wrong until it was way too late for me.

I HATE THAT I CAN'T GO BACK AND THAT I'M DOOMED TO BE A NEEDLE JUNKY THE REST OF MY LIFE"

If I can help someone else avoid the depression, the hopelessness and the thoughts of suicide that I still have, that's all that counts.

I don't want to be a "shining example" I just want my life back... and I know I'll never get it.

They tell me the fight to save my vision may turn into a lifelong thing, and they keep reminding me that we may have won this current battle but by no means the war.

I have to face that every day.
I don't want anyone else to, if I can say anything about it.

Jet,

Damn!

I must've caught it like just on time or something. I just kind of noticed that my own hard-on wasn't quite as, umm.."hard" as before which made me take notice so I went in thinking it was "ED", which would have been bad enough. But it turned out to be Type 2.

Anyway, my doc perscribed Metformin which is also an "insulin facilitator' though I think its more mild than what you are taking, and it can be ingested with pills only (no injections). The side effects are similiar though. The diarhhea can be downright severe, but I've found it really only gets bad if you arent eating right, meaning your numbers probably suck anyway, or if you've drank alcohol (a "Metformin" cocktail is not one I'd recommend).

But as far as the other "downstairs" stuff? So far, so good (knock "wood", and pardon the pun...). I still produce the liquid in all its white gooey glory. The only thing I really notice is that without the aid of something like the "blue pill", the erection is just not as hard as it used to be. But still quite servicable (I hope I didnt just blow my already slim chances at getting laid by admitting to that much).

I apologize for all my eupehemisms and quips here too. If it sounds like I'm making fun of this...I'm not. I'm just less comfortable talking about it.

The truth is I feel my dick got smaller because of this. What guy on earth is comfortable saying he thinks he has a small dick? Especially when it wasn't always true?

I admire your courage Jet. Hell, I liked ya to begin with...being the guy who came to my rescue over at my Neil Young thread and all.

But I loved your article.

And I'll tell ya what? If it takes what I've heard described as "pimping it" to get people to read it (you know what I'm talking about here), I'll be the first to watch over your particular corner for any Vice cops disguised as writers.

Deal? LOL...

-Glen

One more thing Jet. I just re-read what I wrote and apologize if that came off sounding like "me..me..me" (thats a really bad habit of mine I've been told).

No. What I want to say is my heart goes out to you. The "me" part comes from you inspiring me to talk about this myself. But I relate to and empathize with your depression.

I will tell you this though.

That torch that Dave was talking about with the late "Mr. Real Estate" being an activist? I believe you have the potential to pick up that torch and you may have done so already without even realizing it.

No one is saying you have to be one of those loudmouth "issue whores" that you probably loathe watching or reading as much as I do. But you can make a difference in your own comparitively quiet way.

You may have already done so Jet.

In my book, thats a good thing and something you can take no small ammount of pride in.

-Glen

ME ME ME Keep it coming folks. The more someone recognizes 'ME" in themselves the better, because they'll get help.

Thanks
Jet

Matt Sussman asked me on another forum why I don't just e-mail people. THIS IS WHY someone monitoring this conversation may recongize something they didn't pay attention to or was too embarrassed to think about and will go get help because I kept this in a PUBLIC forum for all to see.

That made me feel better.
Love
Jet the Pimp

Amen Brother. And I hope I (oh shit, theres that "me" again...LOL)....

But I hope I made you feel a little better by empathizing with your situation, which mirrors mine in some respects (though obviously you got the worst of it).

To everyone else who sees this...any of this...

READ....AND HEED!

Thanx!
-Glen

From now on they better start calling you Huggy Bear or this diabetic may have to go Starsky on their ass Jet!

-Glen

Thanks Jet--the trouble with getting the appropriate meds now, let alone any newer ones, in a nutshell: meeting the $650 a month worth of nine different prescriptions. In addition, I am limited to a maximum of six a month of the nine medications I need.

It means,then, that I sparingly skimp or go without (which delays my pre-operation schedule again and again).

What I will do, though, is hopefully soon go through the tests and hit the doctor up for some samples of the meds. But this might be more later than sooner. Glad to have specific into on the names of the meds--Thanks, G

Gordon-IMPORTANT. my 30 day supply of Blucotrol is only $10.21 a month. Since it's not a narcotic, my doctor can call the prescritpion into my pharmacist without charging me for a doctor's visit.

Gordon, sorry about the typo, that's Glucotrol. it's generic is Glypozide.

Gordon,

The stuff I use (Metformin, in pill form) is about $60. a bottle and it typically lasts me about 4-6 months.

Once prescribed, re-filling the scrip is automatic. Its a "life-long" prescription. Not sure, but I do believe you actually have to be "diagnosed" to get it prescribed though.

-Glen

Thanks for the info, Jet and Glen. When (if?) I get cleared for surgery in a few weeks, things should move pretty fast, with me getting my spinal surgery soon after. And then, when I can cast off a few then-unneeded meds I can focus on the diabetes more and replace some of those displaced prescriptions appropriately.

Dont know your whole medical history or needs Gordo and I'm no expert anyway. But diabetes is not something to be wait on when it can be easily controlled once diagnosed. But the key is definitely early detection as Jet's piece points out. Good luck with everything though Gordon.

Speaking of luck, I'm off to bed. Got a BIG job interview thing tommorrow...so wish me a little okay?

Niters Gordo, Jet and everyone...

-Glen

Break a leg, Glen

I have another tale for you. One of our neighboring families in the village both have diabetes - both husband and wife.

The husband went to a clinic in the village and the doctor wrote out a diet for him to follow. He looked at the diet, and realized that barely half of the items on the list could be obtained at the neighborhood grocery, the only one in the village (going to Jerusalem or Ariel, which costs NIS 20 and which can take a lot of time, is not a very good option unless you plan to in advance).

He said to her, "Why don't you come with me and look at what is sold in the makólet (local grocery) and write up a diet based on that? It's about a hundred meters from here."

The clician got angry, accusing him of attacking her. Some doctors here tend to think they are gods.

So, anyone with diabetes will have to be aggressive in treating it and pushing dieticians and the like to give appropriate treatment, rather than something designed to shove them out of the office so that they can take the next patient. This is especially true in the United States, where patient "turnover" is important.

Diabetes is one of the great scourges of "modern" times and one that seems to combine all sorts of cruel effects with a hard to believe symptomology.

I often help out many of the local English immigrants in this part of Spain with translation duties when they need to go to the doctor or stuff like that.

I've seen several deaths and other medical tragedies along the way but nothing matches the stupidity of one guy who was diagnosed as having Diabetes before he even left England.

That didn't stop him driving a large heavy manual gearbox RV all the way to Southern Spain, with all the concomitant strain on his feet and toes from all the gearchanging. Naturally he got a nasty infection in the toes and eventually was nagged by his long suffering wife into seeng the local doctors.

They confirmed his Diabetes and began intensive treatment on his now fairly severly blackened toes, which included daily trips to the health centre for treatment.

The guy was so stubborn and pigheaded that he didn't take the medical teams advice and continued to overuse his infected foot for walking and driving.

One thing led to another and, over the space of about eight months this arrogant dumbass had to be admitted to hospital a total of five times.

The first time, they removed his toes; the second visit cost him a foot; the third his leg to below the knee; the fourth his leg to above the knee and the last what remained of his leg! Talk about arrogant stupidity!

The entire medical team that worked so hard to help him were genuinely very distressed by the whole incident and his profound refusal to take the treatment seriously.

This was neither the first time nor the last that I have seen Spanish medical professionals moved to tears by the mindless tragedy of a case involving British people and their "cavalier" attitude to personal health care...


On a more positive note, Jet and other sufferers may find it helpful to learn more about Ray Kurzweil, to my mind, one of the most gifted and important Americans of our time.

Ray Kurzweil, in addition to being a brilliant scientist, also works in the fields of health care and life extension.

He too contracted Diabetes (Type II) and, after reading up the literature on the subject, devised a diet for himself which has apparently left him completely free of the disease. This guy has been doing outstanding unselfish work since the 1960s, as this biography from one of his many fascinating websites reveals...

Thank you Jet for a great article. One point I am not clear about, perhaps someone can pick it up - here in the UK we constantly hear that Type 2 Diabetes is associated with obesity. You do not appear to be overweight so now I am not sure how true that is.

Jet, this is a terrific article: not only superbly written & presented, but way high in public service, as well. Nothing is more terrifying that hearing it first hand and in plain English from someone you like & trust. This article deserves an award, and I hope the editors are reading this & pick up my recommendation.

As for your personal situation, you know you are ever in my prayers & hopes that things will start looking up for you, and I doubt there is anybody on this site that doesn't likewise wish you well. You're pretty widely held in affection and esteem here, you know. For your own sake.

Glen-as you go to the hospital, mention this to that to them, and make sure they don't do what happened to me with medicines disolved in glucose solution. It'll hasten the onset of diabetis.

They'll also monitor your blood sugar levels for you and tell you the results.

DON'T PUT IT OFF
Don't deny it...
Jet

Sorry, the above was supposed to be addressed to Gordon....

Jet,,Very good article.
I have diabetes, the timing on your article just blew me away. I was diagnosed type 2 about 5 yrs ago and it was a rough go round. Before I was diagnosed, I had all the same problems you described except I was constantly vomiting , always night sweats and I plain looked dead.

I thought (as did my DR.) that I may have aids. when the tests came back I got one of those good news/bad news responses. No, not aids, it was Hepatitis C (I used to play with sharp toys when I was young). I had a pretty high viral load so it was decided I'd do the Interferon treatments which lasts about 11 months. ( something I should point out , I can't remember for sure, but I believe something like nine million people in America have it but don't know they have it.(DO NOT take my word on any figures here, I recommend if you fit the profile, look it up and SEE A DR. It doesn't always show right away. But if you ever shared needles, got tatoos, are a gay man practicing unprotected sex, to some extent, straight but much less likely or even tuted coke with a shared straw you should see your dr and tell him you want the test, at the same time ,test for aids)

Anyway, the treatment,I shot interfero 3 times a week with 6 anti-viral pills, it almost killed me, sometimes I wished it would. (I should re-itterate, there is no cure,you can knock the virus down but it is always possible to return.)
I liked puking, dry heaves, shaking and shivering under 5 blankets, losing my job, so much I stayed on for another 6 mos. It was like going through heroin withdrawal for a year and a half. When I finally finished the treatments I felt a bit better for a while. I was on lots of meds and narcotics but I still was having bouts of puking and pain and on top of it I suddenly dropped about 20 lbs for no apparent reason (which I didn't mind, I needed to lose it. When doc saw me he wanted mo tests,,now it's type 2 diabetes. Great.

Just like the Hep, I read up on everything I could. I controlled it for several years with metformin and glucofage plus low carb diet.
Six monthsa ago I fell on some steps and banged my shin, I thought it was just a scrape, no big deal. A month later I was at my pain dr.s and told him my leg was kind of sore so I lifted my jeans to my shin and what I saw (for some reason like it was the first time) was my shin, swollen, bright red and hot to touch, with a good size hole about 3 in. long and a pretty blue line traveling up the inside of my leg into my crotch. Doc say's "Woa",I say "what"? It's about one of the worst infections he'd seen. It made my heart jump. He gave me shots, a script for some potent antibiotics and told me to see my internist, she said "Woa" I said "yea, I know".

At around 6 mos and because my leg is still red (the cut has finally healed) and she set me up for an mri to see if it was in my bone. Good/bad again, it's not in my bone, bad; it's still infected. Tomorrow I'm seeing her again as she is consulting with another doc. Aside from all of that my feet look like someone elses, broken capillaries, bruised, swollen.
The point to all this is, if you do have any weird symptoms and you've lived your life like I did (recklessly)or even tatoo's and blood transfusions before 1989, Get checked for aids ,Hepatitis, and diabetes. Sometimes they share symptoms and sometimes there are no symptoms.

Now I'm on insulin, I see my doc and her associate tomorrow to decide what to do with my leg. Fortunately, I haven't developed any severe side effects on my vision aside for I need strong glasses to read.

If you never listened to anything in your whole life , listen to Jet! If you catch these in early stages it may not be quite as bad dealing.

Jet, you got big balls man, Thanks
You will be in my thoughts
Peter

Ruvy #55 A good point. Many of us get the disease because good food is more expensive and hard to find. A rule of thumb is the less expensive it is the worse it is for you... unfortunately.

I exist on a diet of chicken breasts-SKINLESS, and salad greens, or a bunless hamburger, diet colas or crystal light.

Ugh

Chris Rose #56, Thanks for your contribution, it reminds me that I was told that my amputation would take place if we couldn't get the infection under control (fortuntely we did) because I was told that it'd kill me in the time it took for my blood to circulate, which really put the fear into me.

Several times I was told about "Sharko foot" which makes the bones brittle and easily breakable because they're being eaten from within.

I lost count of how many times I've almost lost my foot or my leg, and may still yet.

I always wondered what part of the world you were in.

Thanks again for your two cents.
you still have 98 coming to you.

Jet

John #57 a sign of the onset is a sudden weight loss. I lost 55 pounds in two months, then in the next four gained it all back. My ideal weight is 175 and I weigh about 240 right now and have been about 30 lbs overweight all my life.

Yes the scourge of diabetes is because of being overweight. The stored fat is what you body uses to make it's own sugar when you need it the least that your pancreas can't handle.

GO GET CHECKED

Jet

Jet, please don't forget to check out the Ray Kurzweil links above, he could change your life around in many different ways... ;-)

I'm usually to be found in one of two places, Jet, either here in Antequera, where I am right now or there in Torrox Costa, where I'm going tomorrow.

As it happens I see my Dr. next week and I'll brace her about this 'pre-diabetes' thing. Since she mentioned it last year I've cut out all potatoes, noodles, bread, etc., as instructed.

Peter J#61... I got hepatitus back in 1980 working as a janitor at McDonald's. I had a cut on my hand and got it cleaning toilets. I covered the AIDS scare part in the body of my article.

You know the bitch about having bottles and bottles of Vicodin and Percocet from all of my surgeries is that when you really need it, it doesn't do anything for you except what it's supposed to do... drat.

I've seriously considered selling them because of how desparate I am finanically, but I'm to paranoid and I'd get caught. Besides every time I get ready to dump them in the toilet to ease teh temptation, I need them again, like just recently with my eye. I needed percocet for the pain or I couldn't fall asleep.

Thank god I'm not addicted and only needed a total of three and haven't needed any more since tuesday.

I know what you're going through with your leg Peter, That infection can spread, and diabetes numbs you to the pain. Check it daily.

By the way
NEVER go around barefoot if you think you have it, and check the bottoms of your feet DAILY!!!

Also when you go to the doctor, take your shoes and socks off to remind yourself to have him check them. Foot amputations are very common because people like you don't feel anything and a severe infection sets in.

Be well my friend
Jet

Chris-I bet there's lots of pretty girls there for you to see isn't there? I promise when I get more time-I wlll check out the links... as should everyone.

Thanks
Jet

Bliffle, as I told Peter. When you go to the doctor take your shoes and socks off so that she can see your feet. Your doctor can detect things that you can't.

Jet

Isn't this whole thing just a big lesson in common sense, which is go to the doctor when you don't feel well?

Matthew 70
As hard as this is for you to apparently imagine...
1. Many people don't have health insurance-myself included and can't afford a basic office visit fi they don't feel well. I'll see a commercial for health insurance for "only" $80 a month and gasp that they think that's a bargain!! That's the equivelent of a month's phone bill and part of the electric bill. When you're rolling pennies for gas money, a $75 basic doctor's visit is out of the question.
Many times those of us that aren't insured, just take cough medicine or wait it out and usually we get better, then are relieved when we didn't have the expense of a hospital emergency room visit or a doctor/prescription expense. After a few times of chastizing yourself for almost risking that mone you couldn't afford, it's an automatic response to just try to treat yourself out of economics-not your common sense.

People like you on the other side of the coin can't apparently see or understand that.

2. Knowing or suspecting that you might be about to go through what I am currently going through, would you want to know that that's the way the rest of your life looks like?

It's like I said in the article... Denial is deadly, if you don't know you don't have it, you rationalize that you don't... until it's too late.

That's why I want as many people to read this and not make the same mistake I did.

Your chastizing people for not using common sense is a perfect example of 20-20 hindsight and you're not seeing that some would take it as an attempt to make them feel stupid. That's the kind of attitude that got me into this mess in the first place...

I already feel like and know I'm a fool, please don't emphasize it for all to read.

JET, I want to add my Bravo! to the accolades. Good, timely stuff. Thanks to soft drinks, etc, we're in the middle of an epidemic. Diabetes is very insidious because it often sorta creeps up on on a person.

========

Misc. comments:

1) see, pigs, I'm not ALWAYS nasty around here.
2) One of the few articles hereabouts that shows BC can actually have some positive effects.
3) Gonzo, I love you too, man! xxoo!
4) Sussman (being either stupid, simplistic, or profound): "...Isn't this whole thing just a big lesson in common sense, which is go to the doctor when you don't feel well?"

The point is: diabetes has many subtle, slowly-developing symptoms.

Besides, we're men. We don't do doctors.

Thanks Shark, one more important point so EVERYONE PAY ATTENTION. All those blood sugar meters being sold and given away are for a very good reason.

I nor anyone else can tell when my blood sugar is too high, too low or normal. I'll take a reading feeling perfectly fine and gasp at a reading of 210!!!

Matt, you can't "feel" when your blood sugar is off. Diabetes also deadens your body to pain, so like so many have pointed out, unluss you physically look at it, you could days with a lower leg infection and not know it because you didn't FEEL it!...

Regardless of how much common sense you have or don't have.

I'm sorry to bitch you out like this Matt, but this is why so many people have surcumbed to this... 1 out of 3 people don't even know they have it because there's no feeling of not being well!!!

I'll repeat that...

1 out of 3 people don't even know they have it because there's no feeling of not being well!!!

I'll repeat that...
1 out of 3 people don't even know they have it because there's no feeling of not being well!!!

I'll repeat that...
1 out of 3 people don't even know they have it because there's no feeling of not being well!!!

"1. Many people don't have health insurance-myself included and can't afford a basic office visit fi they don't feel well. I'll see a commercial for health insurance for "only" $80 a month and gasp that they think that's a bargain!! That's the equivelent of a month's phone bill and part of the electric bill. When you're rolling pennies for gas money, a $75 basic doctor's visit is out of the question."

But you're saying it's definitely within the question, because you waited until you landed in the hospital. So you're saying money shouldn't be an issue when it comes to one's health. And that's true.

"Many times those of us that aren't insured, just take cough medicine or wait it out and usually we get better, then are relieved when we didn't have the expense of a hospital emergency room visit or a doctor/prescription expense. After a few times of chastizing yourself for almost risking that mone you couldn't afford, it's an automatic response to just try to treat yourself out of economics-not your common sense."

So the lesson is "If you're not right, call the doctor," right?

"People like you on the other side of the coin can't apparently see or understand that."

The fuck "we" don't. Whoever "we" are.

"2. Knowing or suspecting that you might be about to go through what I am currently going through, would you want to know that that's the way the rest of your life looks like?"

If we all worry about what our life might be like 30 years from now, that makes today rather depressing. But it's true that we all need to take precautions about everything, not just diabetes.

"It's like I said in the article... Denial is deadly, if you don't know you don't have it, you rationalize that you don't... until it's too late.

That's why I want as many people to read this and not make the same mistake I did."

But it's not just about diabetes, Jet. If this is about what everyone should do, then it's not about what happened to you. There are lots of forms of disease and cancers that need to be detected early. If your car has that engine light on, you need to have it taken into the shop to see what's wrong, or else your car's gonna make that THUDTHUDTHUDTHUD sound for the next 50,000 miles.

"Your chastizing people for not using common sense is a perfect example of 20-20 hindsight and you're not seeing that some would take it as an attempt to make them feel stupid. That's the kind of attitude that got me into this mess in the first place..."

I simply tried to broaden the perspective, and you consider that chastizing. So allow me an Inigo Montoya moment: "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

"I already feel like and know I'm a fool, please don't emphasize it for all to read."

And here I thought you were open to comments of all sorts.

"Sussman (being either stupid, simplistic, or profound)"

Those are, like an oscillating fan, my only three settings.

Matt, I've yet to ever perceive a positive comment from you regarding any of my articles, if I seem pre-defensive the moment I see your name, sometimes I feel it's justified. Most of the time maybe I'm wrong, and I apologize.

Apparently others have the same idea that there's some sort of personality conflict between you and I.

.......I wonder why?

You know what Matthew,
I happen to be fortunate enough to have a wife with ins through work. Without that my first visit to the dr would have been a death sentence. The meds for hep c alone was (without ins.) $1200. a month
If it weren't for her I wouldn't have even gone to the dr in the first place.

Everything Jet is saying is on the button. My heart goes out to him big time. On top of feeling the way he does and has been, having sight problems (that concept scares the shit out of me) I find he has NO insurance. I don't know how he's making it!

He's been and is still going through a hell which would crush most people, they're not strong enough to survive the symptoms including the pain, then throw in a major vision problem and no fucking money to boot?

It took a lot of balls for him to write that article and the point he was making wasn't based on insurance (of which he has none) or himself, it was a message to help other people recognize a desease which is not always easy to spot, take it or leave it.

He's not talking as a rich man with a disease, he's not talking of a man with insurance with a disease. He's talking as a man who has the cards stacked against him trying to say if your house is on fire don't just stand there because it's freezing cold outside.

If you do't wan't to listen to him and you have nothing constuctive to add, let him be.
Then pray if anything like this happens to you that you've got balls as big as his because if you don't you're gonna find yourself in a crumpled crying heap in a corner.

Peter, I wholly appreciate you making it sound like I'm taking the pro-haha-Jet-has-diabetes angle. All I really did was say that common sense advise which is applicable to every life-debilitating malady. Well, that and chastise him* for waiting so long to get checked up.

Everything I need to know in life I learned from Navin Johnson's parents: God loves a workin' man, don't trust Whitey, see a doctor and get rid of it.

And if I do come down with something, and I find out that you or anyone else feels sorry for me, I will have the nurse personally empty my bedpan in your cereal bowl.

* - This may or may not be true, depending on who you ask.

Matthew,
I'm sorry man, I guess it did come out that way, that wasn't too cool.
I just imagine, a lot over the past ten years, where I would be if I had no insurance. I would litterally, no exaggeration, be dead.

When I read Jet's story not only did I empathize, I almost cried. I couldn't imagine going through all of that and have to pay the toll also.

One DR visit without insurance is around $90.
Here's the real rub. My interferon ,on the first month and the insurance hadn't picked up yet ,cost to me was twelve hundred to the pharmacy. I found ot the next month that the pharmacy only charges the insurance co. nine hundred dollars. So the ins co gets a break on costs but consumers with no insurance get charged almost 35% more. How's that for a kick in the balls.

So, now, on top of broke, no ins, he has to pay more than the ins co would be charged.
He's gone through and is going through his own private hell. If he wrote that for no other reason than to vent I'd read all night. From what I've heard fro Jet in the short time I've been writing in BC he is a humanitarian who would really like to turn someones head around.

Sorry I came down too hard on ya , apology?

Sorry Matt, I just seem to get the impression that when I write something you seem to take joy in emptying your bedpan on it... and me.

Paranoid delusional

Peter J, because of my lack of insurance, my savings went from around $24,000 to a little over $800 since November of 2004.

I can barely afford anything.
With the letter I got from the IRS today, it's harder and harder to stay away from my balcony.

I appreciate your support
Jet

If anyone has noticed there hasn't been a single "in my opinion" or "My god what have I started?" out of me, that's how seriously I want people to take me on this.

Jet... Matt... can't you two see what's really going on here? Do I really have to spell it out?

Well, maybe I do. Maybe when two people are too close to something too big, it's too hard for them to see it's all too obvious to everybody else.

Don't you kids see you're in love with each other?

Ah Victor, you ol romantic you... I sort of suspected that but I didn't want to break his heart. Maybe that's why he's so hostile, he's trying to cover?

Victor, did you read the article?

Your comment in #81, Don't make me fuckin come down there!!

Of course I read the article! Either that, or I used my psychic powers to learn its contents before posting comment #11.

Most likely I actually read it, though. My psychic powers usually only reveal the events of the past.

Sorry Victor, I knew I shouldn't have taken that vicodin with the percocet yesterday.
(Sigh)

No worries! And no need to apologize, Jet. If I'd been offended, you would have received my reply in the form of my registered agent arriving at your doorstep with a set of matched dueling-pistols.

Or, if you were to prefer, swords.

Fortunately I'm feeling magnanimous today, so we needn't concern ourselves with any call to meet upon the field of honour.

(And then of course there's also the fact that I'm entirely joking, so that's yet another level of safety built in to this discussion.)

Wearing leather I hope?

Alas, I lack the discretionary income to employ agents of that, er, caliber.

Victor #89... Oh dear. What cliber agents DO you have discretionary income to employ?

"So the lesson is "If you're not right, call the doctor," right?"

What doctor? Most doctors around here won't take Medicare people, many doctors won't take ANY kind of insurance patients. I know that the 12:00 appointment I have with my doctor next week won't really occur until 6PM because she is one of few that takes medicare patients (I'm loyal to her because I think she saved my life). Many people self-insure, as I will since I've screwed enough $$$$ out of this absurd system to cover it.

American medicine is becoming a gated community embedded in a neighborhood of slum public housing. It is NOT operated for the benefit of the patients, but for the benefit of the insurance companies who take 30-40% of the premiums and increasingly pay out less in claims and cover fewer people.

The HMOs were started (and heavily sold to the gullible public) with the idea that while you'd have to cover more of your catastrophic costs, they would provide cheap or free checkups and early detection to help prevent catastrophies. Thus, it was claimed, the prudent person would benefit.

Then they called checkups and early detection "nuisances" and defunded them. Bait and switch, some would say.

Bliffle, you bring up a good point. When the hospital revealed my condition it was nearly impossible for me to find a personal physician here in Ohio simply because their insurance had gone so through the roof to the point that almost no one was taking new patients, much less one who might not be able to pay his bills.

My personal doctor took me after I agreed to pay cash or credit card up front. After we got to know eachother, he's actually given me free visits and called in prescriptions and refills without charging me for a dr's visit because he knows my situation.

What's pathetic is with my combined Social Security disability and Workman's comp I only get around %1200 which is "making too much" to be eligible for a county/state health card.

Social Security Disablity won't let me get on medicare/medicade until 20 months after I'd been on Disability because I'm under 65!

Jet

Jet,

I'm reading Dr. Richard Bernsteins books on diabetes. Are you familiar with them?

Bliffle 93-No I'm not, unfortunately if it's not published on line, I have trouble reading anything with my eyes. Is he good?

Health care, which 6 years ago (pre 9/11) was a major concern and could have made enourmous strides had Hilary held on to the ball and Bush concentrated efforts on something other than terrorism may very well have been addressed or at the very least on the road toward a program to aid the great people of this nation (the working class).

I'm not going to shift blame back to the Clinton Administration since every other thing in the world, including 9/11, has already become Clinton's responsibility as he was too busy addressing his blow job scandal, which was shoved down his throat (absolutely no pun intended, there's nothing funny here) every fucking day!

It's amazing that the man accomplished as much as he did with 'other' parties continuosly goading and harrassing him to defend himself.
It's a fucking shame that Clinton could not have served a third term with no one up his ass and allowed to do his job. I believe 9/11 would only be the day before 9/12 had he been in office. Bush wouldn't be so much as a pimple on that man's ass.

With every minute of this guy's term having been dedicated to the so called 'war on terror', fighting them over there (and fucking up other peoples countries) so we won't have to fight'em over here, dwelling on 9/11. No disrespect, but I'd venture that another 2700 people who had nothing to do with those attacks died in this country on that day and never got a moment's air time or public displays of loss. They went to work and died in a horrible tragedy but not any more horrible than a sixteen year old girl killed by a drunk driver. If someone called those people that morning and said that planes were going to hit those buildings the only people to die would have been on those planes.

Looking at the progress that this administration has made outside of 'making this world a safer place' I see a large void with health care making up 3/4 of that void.

We should be concentrating on health care issues yet, I've not heard a single candidate from either party vowing, VOWING, to devoting a minimum of 50% of their efforts to the problem.
If we can afford to throw billions upon billions to a third world country in a civil war crisis then why can we not dedicate at least that much money and energy at our own working people's problems (it IS working people, not poor enough for assistance, not rich enough to handle the cost).
Get a Fucking grip!

Peter J, the reason Clinton accomplished as much as he did is simple-unlike Bush; HE HARDLY EVER LEFT THE WHITE HOUSE and almost never tiij a vacation! That seems to be all Bush does!

Clinton was one of the few presidents who didn't have a "White House" somewhere else like Kennebunct Port, or Texas or Palm Springs.

As for Clinton not gettin bin Laden, every time the man tried the Republicans screamed that he was just trying to divert attention from Monica.

Health care was diverting attention away from Monica.

Thanks as always for the contributions
Jet

Jet,

I think Bernstein is pretty good. He was diagnosed with D1 when 12 and expected to die about 30, but did his own research, bought his own blood sugar tester many years ago, studied his blood sugar responses, contrived a good diet, etc. In middle age he went to med school and became a doctor. He's 70-something now, and healthy.

I'm only partway thru the books, but so far I've discovered several good rules, like:

-all powdered sweeteners except stevia contain some sugar - use liquid form.

-avoid all potatoes, crackers, breads and cereals, even oatmeal. The only OK cereal is true 100% bran, which is hard to find.

-fruits are just natural candy bars

-tomatoes and onions are full of sugar

-cream is better than skim milk in your coffee

-only leafy veggies are OK

-most 'health foods' aren't healthy

-balsamic vinegar contains sugar, use wine or white vinegar

etc.

I'm impressed. I'm already throwing stuff out and planning my next grocery trip. Guess I'll be making more meals with eggplant and bok choy! And avacados, of all things.

Thanks Bliffle, This is an extreemly important discussion that I'd like to keep in everyone's sight for a while, however much I'm being discouraged not to.

I too have discovered "safe" food, none of which are what I used to love (and whimper) still do. I've only recently been able to ween myself off of tomatoes in my salads.

Jet

Yeah, tomatoes and onions were a big part of my diet, but, alas!

I'm sensitive to this because D is a stealth disease. At least with cigarettes and booze you KNOW you're poisoning yourself and how to stop. Also, as people get older they are more susceptible to D.

The real trick is to have good tasting recipes with the healthy produce, and Dr. Bernstein provides those.

I'm going to have to look into that. thanks Bliff and maybe buy a magnifying glass.

Go to the pharmacy and invest $20. on 3.5x reading glasses and make sure you have plent of light.

Thanks Peter, I've tried that, unfortunately each eye has a different problem and generic glasses aren't going to help, and I can't afford a custom pair because my vision changes after each surgery. I spent an hour at Wal-mart last week trying to find a pair.

Because the pressure in my eyes effects how distorted they are, my vision depends on my sugar level and my blood pressure.

I'm glad you cared to suggest though
Jet

jet, best thing you can do is monitor your sugar keep your blood pressure below 130, check kidney function and protein in urine have cholesterol below 100, go to podiatry to cut nails and go to ophtalmology, yearly, take aspirin and you will be ok

BTW, Jet - how is it going with your IRS thing? Did you call them & get it worked out?

Mike 103... Oh if only it were that easy!

9:30AM on a Monday morning-on 9/11 no less-and Nancy wants to know if I called the IRS yet!



...And people still have the nerve to wonder why I'm gay?

Well you SAID they only gave you 10 days; I figured you'd get right on it. And I was concerned about you getting all tied up in knots over it.

Thanks to Lisa McKay/et al for making this an editor's pick. I appreciate the acknowledgement.

Right back atcha!
Jet

Has everyone read this article? because I'm going to pester you until you do!!!! It's personally important to me that everyone here get checked.

Love
The phantom article pimp and crusader

So, Jet - what's the upshot, if any, on the IRS thing?

Nancy, I'd rather people keep learning about diabetes ehre, so I'll answer you on my "golden umbrella string"

In my role as "article pimp" I want to be sure all newcomers have read this. Forgive the intrusion

Jet, read it mate .... very good, raw journalism. Makes you think, too. I'm about the same vintage. I am having some problems at the moment with my ears from being in the water (the body's natural protection to constant immersion is to close off the ear canal, so my hearing is lousy and I sometimes have scary attacks of vertigo. My nose has been broken too many times so I struggle to breathe through it, and despite a desire to exercise more on dry land, my joints are buggered as well, both from getting smacked around playing sport. We are all like old cars, with the bits slowly wearing out. The story is good stuff though.

Thanks STM, much appreciated for the input

Weekly public service announcement in case anyone hasn't read this important article yet...

Wow , this is intense. My husband lives in denial about his diabetes every day. I have finally realized that I can't do anything to stop him. I love him but it makes me very angry that I will be caring for him when he is blind, in a wheelchair, or be left alone when he is dead because he won't take care of himself. Some people walk though life with blinders on and it is not just them that suffer when this stuff happens. Their whole family suffers. Loving them is all we can do, we can't make them take care of themselves, it is very sad! He is on medication and they keep increasing it as he does nothing about his diet and exercise. He still eats tubs of popcorn at the movies, can polish off a pizza in one sitting and enjoys candy bars and ice cream. He thinks because e is on medication he is ok, and when his blood sugar reads 300+ he will attribute it to testing too soon after he eats. What can I do? I have made myself sick worrying and he gets angry when I "NAG" him. ugh!

dear Married, make him sit down and read this and the accompanying comments. If that doesn't put the fear in him, I don't know what will.

take care
Jet

Just wanted to thank you for your article. It was enough to convince me to go to the doctor and get a blood test. Thankfully my blood sugar level is normal, but I needed a kick in the pants to force me to work on changing my diet. Thank you!!

Rebecca, it's people like you that made me glad I risked embarrasing the hell out of myself. Be well, and get to a doctor...


...or i'll find you.......



....blood curdling scream!

It's important to me to remind everyone who hasn't read this to do so every so often. Sorry if I'm boring the rest of you....

the article pimp

It's Monday, that means it's time to remind anyone who hasn't read this article to read this...

If you're new to this site, it's important to me that you read this, even if you don't leave a comment

Thanks
Jet

Jet,

Thank you for this. I know it must have been tough to write, much less live.
Better days for you, my friend, I hope they come soon.

Donnie, Thanks. If you have any of the symptoms I've described get yourself to a doctor now. It is my mission to make sure everyone who visit this site reads this...

Notice - if you know anyone Blind that takes the Drugs Actos or Avandia Please spread the word
THESE DRUGS CAN CAUSE YOU TO GO BLIND

In Jan 2000 I was prescribed 15 mil per day Actos in a few months it was raised to 25 mil per day in Oct 01 it was raised to 35 mil in Aug 01 I had a light stroke in NOV 01-vision got very blurry.
My Dr sent me to a Dr of Ophthalmology, Tulsa, OK-the Dr stated, we can fix this, you got to me in time. We started Lasers, 3 treatments in left eye & one treatment in right eye, vision got worse. Now I had Cystoids Macular Edema. Shots in the eyes 2 in right & 4 in left of Kenalog.

About July 03 my medication was changed from Actos to Avandia. Since Kenalog can worsen cataracts, I had cataract surgery on left eye Dec 24th 03-it was wonderful I could hardly waite to get right eye done. Jan 04 we done cataract surgery on right eye--My vision was 20-20-BUT-only for a few days!! The swelling had come back.
On Jan 6th of this year I was watching the local evening news-they stated the F D A has put out a warning on the drug Avandia-in research, Actos & Avandia have some of the same ingredients --Could my problem be the medication?

I stopped taking Avandia on Jan 7th-I watch my blood sugar well & it is better since I stopped taking Avandia All the things that were being done to my eyes was all in vain as the drug was causing such swelling.

My vision is getting better by the day since I stopped taking, Avandia. Now my problem is all the lasers, shots & work that has been done to my eyes in trying to fix a problem I did not have.

Pat Kelly

[Personal contact info deleted]
If you feel you have been harmed by these drugs Contact Norman & Edem
Oklahoma City, [Personal contact info deleted]

This is an extreemly serious subject Pat, the fact that you've mentioned the product repeatedly leads me to believe this is spam for some ambulance chacer in Oklahoma...

Jet, I want to ditto what Donnie says in #123; and I'm glad you're making a point of keeping it where the newcomers will see it.
Who knows how many people you have/will have saved?
We have a saying generally to the effect that whoever saves a single life, it's accounted to him as if he saved an entire world.

Thanks Moaz, I just don't want anyone to fall into the trap I have. HAS EVERYONE READ THIS YET?

Carrying two copies of a common variant of a particular gene doubles your chances of developing diabetes and puts you in a similar risk category to being clinically obese, according to a collaborative study led by UCL (University College London) researchers.

The collaborative team led by UCL Professor Steve Humphries studied the TCF7L2 gene, which was discovered to be implicated in diabetes earlier this year by a group working in Iceland. The new study followed healthy middle-aged men in the UK for 15 years, and found that carrying a common variant of the gene increased their risk of developing diabetes by 50 per cent. Carrying two copies of the variant gene increased the risk two-fold, to nearly 100 per cent. In the population as a whole, the impact of this gene on the risk of developing diabetes is as big as the problem of being clinically obese (having a body mass index over 30).
For the rest of this SCIENCE DAILY article click anywhere in the colored section

If you are new to this site, I humbly request that you read this article-for your own sake. Thanks

Jet

Time to ask those new to this magazine to read this article... Thank you

Just a friendly reminder to ask newcomers to this magazine to read this important article...

My Amigo Jet. So many friends you have that sincerely care. God bless you. This sr is not the evil person BC portrays me as.

Thank you SR and thanks for going to the effort to dig this up to leave a nice message on. Things have taken a turn for the worse and that's why I haven't been on lately.

I'm trying to work it out.

Thanks
Jet

URGENT help needed...I've contacted several pharmacies and no one knows of a cough or cold medicine that doesn't have corn syrup, sugar or alcohol in it. I'm a diabetic, and can't believe no one has developed an off the shelf non-prescription remedy for for this.

If any of you have SERIOUS suggestions or home remedies, please let me know.

I'm miserable.

Jet

You should look into Zicam.

Contacted pharmacist already, she said there aren't many products that are sugar free/cornsyrup free. She could mix me up something but it wouldn't last long and wasn't very effective against the cold symptoms.

The problem is something can be sugar-free and still be loaded with carbohydrates which your body converts to sugar.

Also as a diabetic, I can't have anything in an alcohol base, because it could cause hypoglycemia. Most cold remedies are based on an alcohol solution.

Thanks to all.

As for finding something on the web, I feel like I'd be dead by the time it got here. It's one of those colds you're convinced you'll never get over.


ugh.
Thanks
Jet

Dear Sr, thanks for asking on the other string. I've been experimenting with my Lantis dosages. You're only supposed to take it once a day, but I've discovered that it falls off after about 15 hours, so I've been experimenting with taking half in the morning and half in the evening.

it's in an acidic base which the body breaks down slowly so it'll last all day, or so they say. It burns like hell when I inject it, but I know it's worth it, so I grin and bare it.

I used to have highs in the low 200s, and lows in the low 100s and now that I'm doing it this way, it's staying around 120-170. Still too high, but better.

The drugs are slowing my metabolism and I'm gaining weight, even though I'm excersizing regularly.

I'm on bland salads now and using the treadmill and stationary bike, but my injured knee stops me after only about half an hour. The lack of progress is discouraging. It's also causing deep depression, and I can't get a psychiatrist appointment to adjust my meds until the 22nd, so I'm suffering with it.

I've discovered other problems too, like getting the severe cold I now have, because most cold medicines designed for diabetics are hard to find, and ording them on the web means they get there long after you need them, and their limited shelf life makes them useless.

Most medicines for colds and sore throats contain corn syrup and are based in alcohol, neither of which are good for diabetics, so I'm suffering with it even more.

Some great people are giving home-remedy suggestions that I'm going to try to find over at wal-mart tomorrow.

It's supposed to go down into the 0-10 degree cold range tomorrow, so I'm going to have to find something effective or only make things worse.

Many people don't realize that just because an item doesn't have sugar in it, that it's still bad for diabetics. Carbohydrates turn into sugars, so we have to look at the carbs and ingrediants.

Cough and sore throat medications don't have sugar/carb info on them, so I took some nyquil last night and nearly passed out from it.

I hope this helps people by learning from my mistakes. That's why I write this stuff down, not to elicit sympathy, but to help others from following in my ill-chosen footsteps.

Thanks again for asking
Jet

It's been a while since I've