Life as an Insulin-Dependant Diabetic

I've always had high blood sugar - almost high enough to become 4F - almost! For the past 20 years I've been diagnosed as a Type II (adult onset), the reality is that I've always been diabetic. There is no such thing as a "borderline" diabetic, either you are - or you aren't. I am! For the past 10 years I've been insulin dependant, befor that, pills alone did the job, then three years of shots, now, I have an insulin pump. Looks like a cell phone, costs $6000! If I had a choice, for the money, I'd rather have a new bike or, be still my heart, a velomobile! Some day! Lucky for me, I am not needle-shy, although the first time I had to give myself an injection before eating, I was 20 minutes late to arrive at the dinner table because I couldn't stick myself. Now, I even want to give myself flu and pneumonia shots in the Dr.s office and want to do the phlebotomist's job when it is time for blood tests. Cooler heads prevail, though.

All in all, I guess I've coped well with my disease. I still have both legs and feet and eyes, I can do everything I want - I ride, hike, walk, travel, and my wife has been supportive of my disease in the extreme. The difficulties in balancing blood glucose levels when riding or hiking has been a challenge. I can't go fast or hard anymore, although my friends still can. For a guy that used to do squats with 600# and was a martial arts instructor, it is frustrating. If I push too hard, down goes the blood glucose level, you learn to love glucose tablets, granola bars and, (shiver) Power Bars! Lucky for me, my friends are tolerant, and now (unfortunately), Jimmy, a riding and hiking friend, has the same problem. Two grumpy (blood glucose fluctuations do that) old men, always feeding their faces.

Latest hiccup in life is "night cramps" - cramps in the calf that can only be alleviated by getting out of bed and standing up, or cramps in a big toe, where the toe is standing up at a 90 degree angle to the other four toes. Now, imagine this pain, compounded by being totally wrapped up in bedding and waking you up from a dead sleep or a really juicy dream! Well, tomorrow, I find out if I have PAD (peripheral artery disease). When will it ever be Spring, so I can start riding?

Life goes on! At least it is interesting!