Comfortably Numb...

[Dougster]

Hello folks!

Recently I was diagnosed Type II. I hadn't seen a doctor for over a decade and had gone in for my 53,000 mile checkup.

It was amazing to see the doctor's demeanor. His face looked almost like he had told a little child that their puppy was dying. The look was followed by several moments of awkward silence as he searched my face for some visible reaction.

Smiling from behind my "game face" the only thing I could think of to say was, "Doc, you going to be ok?".

Anyway, after calming him down, I assured him I was in great hands (his and all the doctors, nurses, dietitians, researchers) and in great company (all my fellow diabetics, yourself included).

Think about it for a moment, we all have been given an opportunity (a wake up call, if you will) to become extremely pro-active in our lifestyle and health. Thank goodness we have so much going for us, meters (I love gadgets), software, insulin & other drugs, the Internet (and forums like this), millions upon millions in research.

There may never be a cure for diabetes in my lifetime, however in my case, I think that this disease may just have been the wake up call I needed to have a better quality of health in my life.

Oh, and just so you understand how off-beat my humor can be, I thought to myself, why not have a "song" to take my shots with. I came up with Pink Floyd's - Comfortably Numb.

... "O.K.
Just a little pin prick.
There'll be no more aaaaaaaaah!
But you may feel a little sick.
Can you stand up?
I do believe it's working, good.
That'll keep you going through the show
Come on it's time to go."

The tune may be a little "dark" for any of you who are depressed in any way. So I would not prescribe it for everyone, just "old rockers" like myself who are a little "different".

I suppose in the end, it's not what diabetes makes us, but what we make of ourselves with diabetes.

Blessings to Banting, Best, Scott and so many others I will never know.

Be well, and happy!

A comfortably numb,
Dougster

[foxl]

Yup ... PF was referring to psychosis, however. Which to me is far, far more tragic, at least how it gets treated.

But anyhow, welcome, you are gonna be fine, you sound like you know a bit of history of D ... tell us what you DO with your D!?

[princesslinda]

Welcome Dougster! How are you currently treating your diabetes?

Check out a lot of the old posts, there's a lot of great information and support here.

Test often, its the best way to know how different foods affect your blood sugar and it will help you make smarter food choices.

Sounds like you have a great attitude and will do well.

[jps]

Great attitude Doug. Keep it and you will persevere.

[Dougster]

Thank you kindly Linda, Linda, and JPS for the welcomes and replies.

I am not sure what you mean by "do" with my diabetes. If you mean, how I am currently treating, I am taking Lantus via the SoloStar pen (cool gadget). I started shots on 10/29/09 at 10u and am increasing every 2 days by 1u until my morning and evening glucose settles in (lowers). This was preceded by and is used in conjunction with Metformin 2 x 500 MG (twice daily).

I do have a wonderful bottle of Humalog (the '09 vintage... a good year I have heard) chilling in the fridge, waiting for the "word" from my counselor/nurse.

In the meantime, I am using the OneTouch UltraSmart and am needlepointing my fingers 8 times a day. (Working on a pattern that reads "Be it ever some humble, there is no place like within my range".) I have the OneTouch DMS Pro V3.1.1 software and am tracking my glucose like a maniac.

Did I mention my blood pressure is ROCK SOLID? I found my "happy place" long ago!

Like yourself, I have a recumbent cycle (in the livingroom) and acquiesce to it's siren's song for several half-hour TV shows per day. My winter project, once the house renovations are completed, (Are they every really completed?) is to build a wooden kayak and spend the warmer days on the water here. I have started walking more as well.

Need more? Just ask.

A comfortably numb,
Dougster

[moorejames]

Could be worse, you could have picked Godsmack's Voodoo

I'm not the one who's so far away
When I feel the snake bite into my veins
Never did I wanna be here again
And I don't remember why I came

But then again I use Byetta (lizard spit) so it's more appropriate for me....

(how's that for dark humor? :) )

[foxl]

How're your lipids? :D

Despite being a T1.5, I am receiving every metabolic syndrome therapy known to man!

How many g of carb do you eat per day?

[foxl]

Could be worse, you could have picked Godsmack's Voodoo

I'm not the one who's so far away
When I feel the snake bite into my veins
Never did I wanna be here again
And I don't remember why I came

But then again I use Byetta (lizard spit) so it's more appropriate for me....

(how's that for dark humor? :) )

Hey, James, do they kill those lizards, or just give em drool bibs?

[Dougster]

OMG! Godsmack's Voodoo! I am in GOOD COMPANY here! (wicked grin)

A comfortably numb,
Dougster

[Dougster]

Hi again Linda,

I am sorry, I actually left the doctor's office when diagnosed not asking too many more questions. (I didn't want to see the man cry, he was so upset and my diagnosis.)

I will call the office and see if I can pry my tear soaked results results from his trembling fingers.

I am just in the process of figuring out what exactly my daily intake is regarding food. (Been single for almost 24 years now... so I have only "guy answers" regarding food.. E.G. Have you any food? (Grunts once for "Yes")... Have you eaten today (Grunts twice for "No").

I am actually taking some time to look for some diet software that will help with monitoring my intake of food. (Looking perplexed, "what's a carb?") So I have my work cut out for me.

Be well and happy!

A comfortably numb,
Dougster

[foxl]

I have a point-and-grunter at home, myself, Doug! I try to feed him, get farther with that than educating him ...

I would say, definitely look into diet. It has really helped me.

[moorejames]

Hey, James, do they kill those lizards, or just give em drool bibs?

Honestly, I don't want to know :D

Kind of like hot dogs -- it all works together, but you really don't want to know where it came from....

[moorejames]

OMG! Godsmack's Voodoo! I am in GOOD COMPANY here! (wicked grin)

A comfortably numb,
Dougster

:thrasher: It's my kind of music, but I must admit that having a 15yo son helps keep me current.

I took him to a Metallica concert last fall -- it was a bunch of 40 something dudes with their 15 or so year old sons. Great bonding experience :D

[Dis-N-Dat]

Welcome Dougster:

LOVE your humor! Yes, we're very lucky to have the opportunity to smarten up. The only problem as I see it is to find a new vice. Don't/can't drink, smoke partake in gluttony anymore, so I'm looking for a new and fun vice, got any ideas? :D

[Dougster]

Metallica! James, care to adopt me? Can we go see AC/DC for my birthday? You are one cool dad!

[Dougster]

Thank you Dis-N-Dat for your kind words. Hmm, a new vice? (Thinking) I have it! Shopping! I am sure there are gobs of malls in Washington! When I lived in Southern California (for about 30 years, until recently), I used to LOVE the malls there, South Coast Plaza, Fashion Island, etc. I could spend an afternoon in a mall, (and a few paychecks in the same amount of time, lol).

If that wont work, we will think of something else.

Be well and happy!

A comfortably numb,
Dougster

[sridder]

Hey and Welcome, Dougster! Sorry D brought you here but glad to have your attitude and humor around!

[Dougster]

Hi Linda,

Sorry for the delay on your question regarding Lipids. I grabbed my old test results (June 23)from the office today. My cholestrol was 12.06, the HDL was low at 0.85, the LDL was invalid because the triglyceride was greater than 4.52 mmol/L (it's was at 19.80 *eeek*) Sept 8, my fasting glucose was 14.5 and my A1C was 11.8. Hopes that makes sense.

[foxl]

Hi Linda,

Sorry for the delay on your question regarding Lipids. I grabbed my old test results (June 23)from the office today. My cholestrol was 12.06, the HDL was low at 0.85, the LDL was invalid because the triglyceride was greater than 4.52 mmol/L (it's was at 19.80 *eeek*) Sept 8, my fasting glucose was 14.5 and my A1C was 11.8. Hopes that makes sense.

Ooooh, those trigs! It makes perfect sense -- now get to work on em!

[Dougster]

Thank you Sridder. I see you are relatively new to Diabetes as well. As to my humor, I figure that as long as we are all in this together a good attitude and some humor go a long way (combined with treatment).

I am very happy to see that so many of the posts are upbeat and informative.

Be well and happy!

A comfortably numb,
Dougster

[Dougster]

Linda,

"Get to work on them!"? I thought I was?

Be well and happy!

A comfortably numb,
Dougster

[gettingby]

Hi again. It was great chatting with you yesterday. I love your sense of humor. :cool:

[Dougster]

Hi Cin,

Thank you vey kindly! It was fun yammering with you both. I was amazed how much Art and I had in common, music, graphics, astronomy, HAM radio, photography, (diabetes -*doh*)etc. After you left we must have yammered for a few hours or so. You both are excellent company, and I appreciate all the information you both shared.

Once diagnosed it's easy to run into a learning curve that is almost as vertical as a wall and sharing information like you folks here do makes a world of difference!

Last night I went to the Dietitians of Canada website, and ran a few of my "famous" recipes past their "Recipe Analyzer". If for no other reason, but my food, I now know I was destined to become diabetic. I cook(ed) far too often with brown sugar, honey, and sugar. As far as my curry steak recipe (from deepest darkest Africa) goes, I might have just as well set up a sugar IV drip. (Laughing) Perhaps I should call my friends and neighbors who I fed when I lived in California, and suggest they have an A1C test.

Hey, they had Typhoid Mary, why not Diabetes Dougster? (The cook who wrung pancreases dry! I am so bad!)

Hope we can chat again sometime soon.

Be well and happy!

A comfortably numb,
Dougster