diabetesXX

I was just sitting here this evening, trying to get some mental and physical rest while Sarah sleeps. Of course, this was my chance to finally eat some supper, and to just think about something else for a while. I was thinking about how I need these down times to catch up on rest, and how I need to do so to take care of myself. I'm not normal, after all (and understatement of the month goes to....) I not only have diabetes, but also fight a lot of fatigue as a result of my celiac disease, and from my minor heart issues.

I was thinking about all that, when it dawned on me...today, if I recall properly, marks the 20-year anniversary of my diagnosis with diabetes! That means that, for two-thirds of my life, I've been giving myself injections of insulin.

The numbers are staggering, really. Though not fully accurate, based on history and averages, I've...

- given at least 24, 834 insulin injections (shots); but realistically, probably more like 26,000

- taken my blood sugar about the same number of times

Pretty amazing statistics. Most people think back to their "worst" year, and would probably have to note maybe a half-dozen to a dozen shots. Most, it's probably less. In twenty years, maybe 20-30 shots. (I'm not counting blood drawn)

As rough as a quarter of a hundred-thousand shots sounds, I'm so blessed to have had them. Had I been born a little more than a century ago, I would not have lived but a few weeks or months past my diagnosis. So, to be alive in a time when there is a variety of treatment options (including the insulin pump that I now use in lieu of daily shots,) I consider a blessing.

Now, if we can only get that cure. Trust me, it's in the works.

Having diabetes is never easy. It has a lot of challenges, and it means that my life will likely be shortened by a few years. Diabetes is just rough on a human body. It's a fact of the disease. It leads to heart problems, hardening of arteries, blindness, loss of limbs, and plenty of other things. Mind you, these take time. Considering I've now had diabetes for two decades, and have not seen the major side effects yet, I again am truly blessed.

I had a low blood sugar episode yesterday morning, which just goes to remind me that--even after twenty years--I haven't mastered my diabetes. But, it hasn't mastered me, either!

The best thing that's happened in the care for diabetes up to this point has to be the insulin pump--something I began using about six months ago. It looks like a pager; if you see me, you'll probably see it clipped to my belt. The "pager" holds my insulin, and a small tube runs from in to a canula that goes into my skin. I insert this canula into a new location on my abdomen every 3-4 days. The pump provides a constant (basil) amount of insulin to my body...similar to how the human pancreas delivers insulin. Then, when I eat, I tell the pump to give me a booster (bolus) dose of insulin. This is also similar to what the human pancreas does.

What it means for me is increase control, better blood sugar levels, and added freedom. With shots, you are always tied to a schedule...you MUST eat in a certain time frame. With the pump, I can eat more normally...eat more, less, or none at all if I choose.

It has been so great, especially during the past two months as Sarah has battled her cancer. Had I been on shots, I would be in bad shape by now, and would probably had already made my own trip to the hospital. Thanks to the pump, I've been in control, but still been able to care for Sarah.

It's funny. I've been doing this diabetes thing for two decades now. I've given tens of thousands of shots, yet, I can still remember the day I found out what I had...something I had never heard of before, and couldn't yet grasp. I can remember drinking my first Diet Coke and never believing that I would someday prefer them over regular soft drinks. I can recall the week I spent in Kosair Children's Hospital, learning how to give a shot, what was wrong with my body, and what I would need to do to keep myself healthy. I can remember these things like they were yesterday.

Yet, they were twenty years ago. Which leads me to the point of this post.



I'm getting old.

...or, rather, they WILL be posting here...

...my fingers, that is. I do intend on using this page for my own postings--topics that may or may not have something to do with the journey we are now on. But, obviously that is priority right now, so I'll be back to doing something here shortly. In the meantime, thanks for stopping by. Thanks for using fingerposts to keep up with Sarah's story, and thanks for the prayers and support.

My Fingers are Posting Here Now

Well, I finally spent some of my Christmas money, and was able to re-acquire my old web site, 50by30.com. As a result, I'm back online with my blog on this site. I'll continue to post information about Sarah's health and cancer battle on the original site (http://fingerposts.blogspot.com) and will post my own observations and ramblings on this site.