Eye checkup

I had to get an eye exam today. Actually I had to get one a year ago today - but i didn't, and that's the problem, and this blog entry. I hadn't had one in over a year and a half. I know, I know, we (those of us who are insulin challenged) are supposed to get then yearly. But at the last exam the MD had told me something I had never heard before at a check up and it really freaked me out; he told me I was showing some signs of disease.

Now I've had diabetes for 28 years and I've had good control for almost all of them. Exercise (specifically running) has been a blessing to me because without it i never would have gotten the level of control I've had. What began as a competitive kick has became a lifelong passion. Without it I wouldn't have worked out so much, wouldn't have cared what I ate, and wouldn't have checked as many times as I have without it. It's lead to 28 years of complication free living with diabetes...

Until now. Last year at my annual checkup the MD advised that i had early stages of eye disease, and because of it I needed to start scheduling my appointments every 6 months instead of every year. Yea, that's pretty much how he said it. He didn't even look at me when he said it (pretty callous if you asked me). He didn't explain what it was, or how we could prevent it.

So yes, you would think i would have the appointment right away, but hearing what he said (and the way he said it) freaked me out. I mean really freaked me out. I had been so proud of myself to go that long without showing any signs of disease; it was something I had been very proud of. After losing some of my competitiveness in running I guess the competitiveness had transferred to the diabetes - and i had decided i was going to win. I would not get complications.

So i did what most of us have done. I ignored it. I was a no show for my 6 month appointment, and then my yearly. I was so afraid of what the MD would say I thought if i just didn't hear the news that would make it ok. It's funny that I've spoken to probably thousands of people with diabetes who have done this with one MD appointment or another. Counseled them through the understanding that ignoring the problem would not make it go away. Then I go and do it. Great example, huh?

This last trip to the CWD conference though was inspiring. I had to go to the MD, if not for me, then for them. The role model that I want to be wouldn't sit down and take this, so i made the appointment an went.

And as far as the outcome? Well for now I'm not showing any signs of glaucoma, which was wonderful news. But I am still showing signs of eye disease. At this visit though, i was more prepared I asked how much had it progressed and what else could i do to try and prevent it. The signs had not progressed at all (yes, wondeful news!) and the MD said he would forward the info to talk to my endo more in depth. For more info on eye disease you can click here.

Lessons learned? Well if i can be greatful for any of this it is that it gives me a new perspective. I do undestand the fear that those of us with diabetes have when we're faced with results we don't want to know. And i hope that that helps me reach others with diabetes that i have not in the past. Only time will tell, but I like to think that i can see forward and know this will happen.

I still had the cough, but oh was it ever better. After two days of the prescription I was taking, (that I fondly named ‘god’s little helper’ I finally felt half way alive. My breathing had cleared up a great deal, and when I coughed I actually brought stuff up (I know, kind of yuck, but at least I was getting it out.) Sill no exercise, unless you count getting the mail and taking out the trash (hey I gott start getting back in to it somewhere).

And I guess I can make it official now…..i have a new job! I’m the new territory manager for upstate New York I knew I was in the running for a week or so, but I really didn’t want to mention it in the blog and start getting excited about it if it wasn’t going to happen. I start in just a few short weeks, so the wife and I are going to have to get the hose ready to hopefully sell it, buy another and up and move. That along with learning a new job is going to make training for this triathlon difficult, but not impossible. That’s what this documentary was supposed to show. People with diabetes living their lives while training for this race. Yes, the training schedule will have to change (again) but that’s training for you.

And the hits just keep on coming...

Thank god, at least some level of success on my BGs, but I couldn’t believe how much insulin it was taking: a 130% basal increase and cutting my I:CHO and my ISF in half finally brought my BGs in the 100s. It was more then double what I usually took for insulin, it was scary to think I was taking naps with that much insulin in my system but I never went low. I was really beginning to worry about the coughing. I would cough in such spasms that I’d almost choke when I was done – the congestions was cutting off my air supply. I was scared to go to bed. I slept Sunday night sitting up thinking it would make it easier to breath (it didn’t). I had already spoke to my boss and had been told not to expect to come to work for a tl least a week.

Death Warmed Over

Sorry for the lack of blogging, I've been hit with a bad cold. And not just hit, but knocked down, tied up, flogged, and finally left for dead. I haven't been this sick in a while. The throat feels like i swallowed glass, my head feels like it's got a vice around it, and I'm coughing as if I was trying to start my first car during the middle of winter. (No, not good.)

My sugars are just all over the place. Take your pick at what it's from; hormones flying around fighting off the infection, sugar in the medicine that I'm taking (why don't they have carbs listed in my halls cough drops?) And not to mention the lack of activity that I'm getting (I haven't biked since Thursday).

I hate being sick, and if there's anything else I hate more then being sick is having a high blood sugar when I'm feeling sick. I'm sitting here at home on a Saturday when I could be out training. The whole thing just makes me sick (wait a minute, I'm already sick).

I'm going to sign off now, feeling like I'm gonna be sick. Later.

My Java Bottle

So last week I was dragging through my morning bike rides. And it wasn’t just last week. I can always seem to get up and run without a problem, but the bike is completely different, the inside workouts are an absolute chore. You would think just the opposite; nice and warm inside, light instead of complete darkness, the boob tube – what more could ya want? But I always seem to struggle….

That was up until this morning. Last night before bed I decided I’d set the coffee maker to be ready when I woke up, figuring I’d have just a little before I got on my bike. Then I had the absolute, fantastic, stupendous, idea of having my coffee while riding. Awesome! I set up a little table next to my bike and sat my big fat mug (that’s the thing that holds the coffee) on it and helped myself to that caffeine charged elixir whenever I needed a fix. It worked out great.

Don’t get me wrong. Water and Gatorade still have their place at my training table – but not at 5 in the morning. From now on when the alarm clock goes off for an early morning ride - it’s not go time – it’s Joe time!