[jps]

I posted this on another forum here, it should have been posted here in the first place. Hope somebody here can use it.

I want to give a timeline of some things that happened along the way to becoming T2. I figured if there are people here who are prediabetic or possibly heading towards prediabetes, some warning signs might be helpful to them. I've been a chemist in a hospital lab since 1996, so I had tools at my disposal.

1997 FBS 75
1998 FBS 73
1999 FBS 79
2000 FBS 82
2001 FBS 88
2002 FBS 85
2003 FBS 92
2004 FBS 95
2005 FBS 98
2006 FBS 105
2007 FBS 106
1st week of January of 2008, FBS 108
Third week of January 2008, FBS 114, A1C 5.8
Early September 2008, FBS 299, A1c 10.2

Suffice it to say, I knew T2 was coming. But I figured it would be more gradual between prediabetic and full blown. I kick myself for not doing something about it sooner. I knew better, but I ignored it.

I realize hindsight is 20/20, but there were other signs along the way that should have prompted me to do something sooner (I had enough info at my disposal, just ignored it). But thinking back, I think being armed with the data I had, I should have definitely recognized it sooner. Hopefully this will help somebody on here.

December '07 to May '08: I had four bouts of strep throat. I've had strep throat before that, but it only came during times of high stress and it was usually limited to once every two years. I finished my course of antibiotics each time and I was "cured" so to speak. I'm not so sure that the diabetes/prediabetes, whatever, didn't lower my immunity.

December '07 to May '08: Took a new, temporary position at the hospital to help out my boss. I despised every day at work. I hated the people, I hated the position, I was extremely stressed and tense, always in a bad mood, affected my homelife and general attitude. I figured the above mentioned strep was related to the stress level. Now I'm not so sure it wasn't possibly high glucose.

January '08 September '08: The big guy didn't respond as he normally does, much to the chagrin of my girlfriend. It wasn't nonfunctional or anything like that. The firmness just wasn't what it used to be and he didn't want to cross the finish line. It was taking way, way, way too long. It didn't help that I hated being touched because I just felt lousy (lethargic and agitated) all the time anyway. I attributed it to the aforementioned stress and hitting the big 4-0. Everything is fine now and while the stress may have played a part, I know it was the high sugar.

April/June '08: Vegas is always hot. But I was dying. I'm used to the Vegas heat having lived here for 35+ years. But I couldn't keep cool enough. I also noticed that after meals, no matter what it was that I ate, I felt like most people do after a huge Thanksgiving dinner. I wanted to sleep, I didn't want to be touched, I was hot and bloated. Just very uncomfortable.

July of '08: Now this one is gross and strange. One day I noticed a growth in my toilet. It disgusted me. I'd never seen it before. And I regularly cleaned my toilets so I was perplexed. So I cleaned it good. A week later, it was back. WTF? Now in looking back, I realize the sugar in the urine facilitated bacterial growth at an alarming rate.

Last day August '08. I was out fishing with my brother on the Colorado River. It was warm, but I couldn't get enough fluid. I was peeing like a racehorse. I must have drank 15 gatorades. And everytime I drank one or peed, I'd scream f@#$. My brother finally asked what the heck I was swearing about (he thought I was maybe missing some fish). I told him I was screwed, that I know I have diabetes. I tested my fasting the next morning and it was 299. I was in to see my physician an hour later and I took a shot of lantus in his office. At that very moment, I made up my mind that I will not let this thing kill me. Since that time I've learned everything I've learned about T2 here on these forums.

The good news: I've dropped 57 pounds now and am off meds (fingers crossed). Weight is getting close to my optimal weight. All my lab values have returned to the normal range (chart below - my most recent numbers are even better). I feel at least 20 years younger. None of the above problems exist. It took a ton of dedication and education to get there, but it can be done for some people. I know I'm not "cured" of T2 and I'll always be T2. I'll always have to watch what I eat and exercise to stay off meds - and that may not even do the trick. But I'll always do everything I can to keep this thing at bay.

I really hope this helps even one person out there so they can take immediate action instead of being an ignorant SOB.