Lost a Friend

[Littlebit63_99]

This is a sad, sad post.

Last night life support was pulled from a friend of mine who had diabetes.

Shelley is the fourth diabetic friend/relative that I have lost to this disease, and I have to say.......It is VERY hard to take.

Death is hard at any time.......however, I seem to really take this rough.....

What I need from any of you out there are some insights into my seemingly over-reacting to their deaths........

It's hard to look at a scenario and see your future.

Hugs to all.......FOR GOD'S SAKE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES!!!!!

Liz

[HeatherP]

I'm so sorry, Liz.

I can imagine it must be awful to see that happen to someone you know and realize that you have the possibility of being in the same position at some point.

I don't have any great advice, other than to echo your own - take care of yourself.

Condolences,
HeatherP

[Littlebit63_99]

Thank you

[lgvincent]

I'm very sorry for your loss.

[mg_2204]

Liz... I'm so sorry for your loss. My heart sank when I read your message. As Heather said, the best option is to take care of yourself... and have faith.

A great big compassionate hug to you...

Marie

'Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith.' - Henry Ward Beecher

[Musqua]

Littlebit63_99

My condolonces on your loss. :( I echo your message, please everyone take care of yourself. If you don't take care of yourself first no one else will.

Heather W. ( Your Canadian friend)

[Littlebit63_99]

Thank you to all who responded to my post.
Today was a tough day......and it helps some to know that there are others out there, who care, feel and know.

Take care all!!!
Liz

[Linda57]

Hi Liz,
We havent talked before, but I was extremely saddened by your loss.

I am still learning about Diabetes, and I have this great fear at the back of my mind about it.

My healthcare team always give me the same talk whenever I see them, about taking care and everything will be well.

But then I hear stories like this, and the fear returns, (yours is not the only story) my friend who has been Diabetic since the age of 9 - lost a cousin back in the Summer due to Diabetes, he was 37.

I guess it will take a good while for me to get this straight in my head.

Love MM

[Littlebit63_99]

Linda,

I did not mean to frighten anyone. I have had diabetes for 33 years, and am in pretty good shape. It can be lived with.

Yes, I have complications.......but, nothing life threatening,so far......and stay active.

Follow your health care prof's advice.......eat well, exercise, stay active......

oh, by the way, women have poorer circulation than men....and tend to get cold feet and hands.

[mg_2204]

Hello!

My mother had diabetes but it's cancer who took her away from us. Her mother, my grand-mother, had diabetes too... and died from what they call today Alzheimer's... at the age of 89. And let me tell you, until she reached 85 or so she was hard to follow! Uncommon energy. Always smiled and sang. It IS possible to live WITH diabetes. And my grand-father lived to be 87 with a serious heart condition... Since I was this high I was told : 'Enjoy your grand-father's company this Christmas, it may be well his last!' ... I was told the very same thing for... 20 years!!!

Sometimes the outlook seems bleak... but you never know, do you?

I don't think your post frightened anyone Liz. Well at least it didn't frightened me. Isn't death very much part of life after all?

I've done a bit of accompanying... people in the final stage of cancer... and from both this and personal experiences I find it sad that when someone loses a loved one... well everyone seem to flee. As if grieving, being upset, (being affraid too!) is obscene. Quite normal I think to have all those feelings when we lose someone close, especially when we have a disease in common. It shakes me to the core too! But such is life... and since we don't know how much time we have left nor how much quality there will be to that time left... better enjoy it as much as we can. And I believe that our loved ones wouldn't want us to do anything less.

Take care Liz,

Marie

[zookeeper671]

Liz~ ((((Hugs)))) Wish I could help take your pain away.

So sorry,
Angie

[Littlebit63_99]

Angie,
Thank you,

Marie,
That was beautiful!!!! I sing all the time :) And WILL keep singing for a heck of a long time to come. Thanks soooo much!!

Liz

[rzrbks]

Liz,

I'm sorry to read of your loss. I know how hard it is to lose someone close.

The things I reflect on are those parts of them I want to keep with me always. It helps me, when I start missing them, to recall the qualities and events that made them a special part of my life. This usually brings smiles and happiness to my heart and makes the pain more bearable.

[WiseWords]

Originally posted by Littlebit63_99
What I need from any of you out there are some insights into
my seemingly over-reacting to their deaths...
I do not believe that you are over-reacting to their deaths.
Death is not an event that anyone looks forward to,
diabetic or not, and it is indeed very hard to take,
especially with knowing four people who were all diabetic.

There is indeed a feeling of loss when someone who was
a part of your life is no longer around.
Although, in a very real sense, those people will
live on through you, by whatever you learned from
knowing them, and the memories you have of their friendship.

If there is any afterlife, that may be a seperate issue,
but their memories and contributions to life are a part of
who you are, and in that sense, they will be around, and
passed on to those who you come in contact with in your
daily course of events.

Certainly, one bit of advice is to take care of one's self.
Some diabetics express the idea that it is a
hopeless situation with no resolve. I am not at all
convinced about the truth of that with regard to diabetes.
It may be true with regard to life, but not as a direct
cause of diabetes, if one does their best.
As people age, problems of old age present themselves.
It may be do more to age itself, rather than diabetes.
The cause of death may very well be birth !
But the time in between is what counts.

One cannot help but take note of the fact that
problems of old age are do to the years passing by,
and not to diabetes. Diabetes does not cause old age.
There is a scenario for the future which can be positive.
That may be from raising children, from sharing events
with others, both good times and bad, and passing some
good memories on to those who are a part of one's life.
It sounds to me like those are the things that were
passed on to you from those who were near & dear to you.
If you do that for those in your life, then that will be
a good scenario for your future.


I had an aunt who passed away this week at the age of 93.
She needed open heart surgery, but it was not offered
because she was too old to survive such an operation.
No matter what one's age is, the end is always too soon.
If you had diabetes a hundred years ago,
you would not have survived. Be thankful for the time in
which you live, and by all means, Take care.