Ok, I am afflicted with diabetes...I was wondering if I am the only person who not only hates watching what I eat but having to struggle with keeping my weight down...not to mention I hardly check my sugar, it freaks me out when its up and I become disoriented when its low..I have had spells off and on for a decade...it is ok when I get it checked but I am on meds, and well I know how to keep it down when its time for my check-up. My cheating does not benefit me I know, but I am still trying to accept the reality of being afflicted...sigh...who's with me anyone?

Sherri

Chronic conditions suck in general when it comes down to it. I don't have diabetes but have been dealing with epilepsy for almost 30 years now.

Not strictly diabetic but my pancreas is weak enough that I could be one with very little work if I so chose.

I have thus far chosen not to be.

I dont know whats lesser of the two evils, per say, diabetes or epilepsy..and a weak pancreas is quite alarming too...I tell you I dont know when all of this came on but it surely made a path into my existence early on, I am sure from birth and genetics...I long for the strength my younger years held..funny how that comes and goes..but..still kicking, AAAHHH!!! I think thats a good thing. I would like to say...glad I am not alone but I would rather be alone if I could fix both of you Kevin and Iandefor...yes I would rather be alone. When I see those elderly folks in their late 80's and have the spunk of a 30 year old I know they were born with good genes..I see little hope of a cure, the medical community would lose to much money in certain cures..

Sherri

Epilepsy varies a lot from person to person in how it presents - its actually a very broad term. For me, I have always figured at least I am lucky that mine, while it is grand mal seizures, they are 100% nocturnal only, so:
a) I can drive
b) I get to have them in bed, which reduces the incidental injuries

I've also been mostly med-controlled for some years now, with only occasional seizures, so I ain't complainin' at all

I'd actually rather be on the edge. It makes staying healthy a much more attractive enterprise than if my pancreas were fit as a fiddle.

I was diagnosed with the disease 2 years ago this coming June.

Was told that my glucose levgel was a little bit too high, then it was becoming too low.

Had the symtoms a few years before, but wasn't sure. Then one of my younger brothers told me that HE was diagnosed with it! I began to ask my doc, but he said that the glucose level was normal.

Then in June '06, the doc told me that there is evidence of diabetes. Later that year, I started having SOB (shortness of breath) attacks. Had to got to the emergency room. Was then diagnosed with heart failure! Three weeks later, I was back in the ER!! Went back to woork after the holidays.

In October last year, I applied for disability. Was approved this past February. My rehabilitation counselor told me that I can no longer do any more strenuous hard core labor. Only light duty work, which I do.

I no longer have the strength that I had three years ago. I can't even jog any more because my heart won't let me! I get too tired too soon. Can only walk slow or fast.

But thank God that I'm receiving SSDI payments every month now, because I was struggling so bad. Couldn't even pay the rent because all I had to live off of for 5 months was only $540 a month from my small pension!!

I feel now, that a big heavy burden has been lifted!! No more financial strains!! Now I have to look for another apt because I can barely climb 3 flights of stairs to the apt.

Hey Daquan

WOW!! this is bad... I had a serious attack yesterday at work...thought I was dying...by the grace of God I made it through another horrendous attack...dont know why...I keep thinking its because of my family I still exist. Hemoglobin was 7.5...so its insulin time...I ask the doc if I could try another 6 months so he is allowing it..if I cant get sugar down and just stay on the pills then its insulin time...been coming for many years now...as I had viral pnuemonia and was suppose to expire then...I made it...that was back in 1990...so I continue this adventure called life...but with these attacks...and unless you are a diabetic and understnad these attacks...it makes you wonder how many more minutes you have to live when going through one...it gets that bad. Wow...it will be to late for a cure more than likely at my age,,,since the bodily funtions are affected already...hopefully for the up-coming generation there will be a cure...I'm there with all of you living with this diabetes...many have it and arent aware of it even...that too is bad.

Sherri

Thank you for sharing that.

I even have trouble walking up a street that's even slightly inclined!

The saddest part of this sometimes devistating disease is that one of my brothers had it, and he did not follow his doc's orders, loved to party and drink and still ate unhealthy He was taking his meds, but the alcohol consumption that he enduldged in had caught up with him.

He had a stroke and died several days later on Chistmas morning, '04 from a cardiac arrest. It was very sad, painful and devistating to have to lose him!! He was my closest brother. He would always want me to go to SC and visit him, which I always happily did.

My last trip there was the sad one. Watching him lie in that casket, I just couldn't deal with that, broke down and cried for a few days. Even today, I still cry if I think about him hard enough.

Hey Daquan...and thank you for sharing also..

This disease too took my father from me...now I know exactly what woes he experienced...the physical and the mental anguish from this debilitating disease. I too had my battles with alcohol..been working on sobriety for many years now...as they say one day at a time. I am certainly sorry to hear of your loss with your brother..how devastating..it serves to remind us how short life truly can be when physical problems attach themselves to us. Remember Daquan if you have chosen to eat well and take care of yourself then you are taking preventive measures for your very future..its the first step...food can be the enemy or aid in the hopeful cure..keeping the mind triggered to do the right thing and not fall to despair is an on-going task in a walk disturbed by sickness. When family is taken from us with sickness its un-fathomable..and we bare the burden to go on and carry the pain..it gets better with time and whatever spiritual aid we allow in our lives to help..and eventually we find peace by letting go and trusting a higher power that will bring us to a better understanding in our search for peace.

Sherri

Thank you.

My brother knew that he was going to die soon. He told his 2nd wife and two sons that he wanted to be cremated if he does. He knew that the end was near because he wouldn't stop drinking so heavily.

He worked and all, took care of his wife and helped financially.
But he just couldn't stop drinking. I wish he had taken better care of himself. He helped and gave kind advice to everyone but himself.

He was the sweetest person that you'd ever want to meet. I still wish that he was still around! We nicknamed him the Grillmaster because he always loved to cookout! His specialty was deep-fried turkey.

Hi Daquan my pleasure...

my brother loves to do the deep fried turkey thing...YUM...well bless your brothers, heart he went the extra mile the only way he knew how...but he did that...and even so it is commendable. I understand the alcohol disease..I am still dealing with it and always will..had 13 full years sobriety and dropped the ball for a little over a year...depressing blowing sobriety after such a long haul...ya I knew it too was decaying my insides and kept my sugar at soring figures...boy could I feel the affects...didnt care...had to practically become horizontal before I gave it up again...its crazy isnt it? alcohol is cunning and baffling just like they say...rapes your soul and hooks you for a lifetime...I am back on my feet...with high hopes to make it till the end without the stuff...just wish one could do the same with diabetes...just rid yourself of it. One doctor told me if I went back down to 116 I probably would not have diabetes...I said ya but I did not want to look as though I am dying on top of living...that is way to small and I will never see that again, although I manage my weight accordingly..

Sherri

Yeah, it was my dear late brother who first introduced me to it. I never heard of it before until I visited him and his wife for the first time in Columbia, SC. He was so excited to have me down there!

His eldest son was getting married that Memorial Day weekend in '03. Once I tried the deep fried turkey,
I liked it right away!! Then every time I went down there, he would deep fry a turkey for me to enjoy!
He was the kind of person who liked everything and everybody!

I stil drink, but only occasionally. Not like I used to.

I was never addicted to alcohol. All of my other brothers drink as well, but a few of them don't know how to act once they get some "venom" in they're system.

Too much alcohol isn't good for ANYONE! And those who have or do
enduldge in it, it CAN be a hard habit to break.

Hey Daquan...wanted to drop off this site for you in case you would like to join..I did..its for people with diabetes...ways to get your numbers down and its basically a diabetic forum..so it makes me not feel so alone..wow so many have this too.

Tu Diabetes - A Community for People Touched by Diabetes

hope to see you there...I just joined so I dont know exactly how busy it is,,but if you have diabetic questions you can lay them down here and people afflicted will answer..COOL!!!

Sherri

Thanx!

I'll look into it.

Hey Daquan..your very welcomed,,I am really getting my readings down and for once it is coming together for me..finally...whewww..but staying fit as a diabetic is a lifetime challenge..

Sherri