It's My Way Of Life

Thursday, the day that we head back to school and turn in our assignments to the battle-ax super schoolmarm Jenny.  Today's writing assignment is brought to us by the letter

Six years ago, about May 1st, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.  Usually Type 1 happens to young people.  They are seeing an increase in us older folk getting this type.  It has been a constant daily pain in the butt.  A whole new lifestyle has been placed upon me.  

I was introduced to what would become my lifesaver

Insulin.  Its a daily shooting up party with me.  The 24 hour insulin is usually taken once a day.  My doctor has me taking half of it in the morning and the other half at night.  My body was running low and giving me high blood glucose levels by the time I was giving myself the next shot.  The pre-meal insulin is what I take before I eat any meal.  I'm also supposed to take it if I have some kind of snack.  I have to admit, I'm not really good at the snack stuff.  I also have to check my glucose levels before bed and if need be, give myself a pre-bed shot.  So lets count how many times I'm shooting myself in the stomach every day.  Morning, breakfast, lunch, dinner, evening, pre-bed.  That would be 6.   Fun times.

I have to admit, I'm kind of cool with having type 1.  Why you ask?  I'll tell you.  I can still eat one of my favorite things.

Ice Cream.  

In all different ways.  My very favorite is the Starbucks Caramel Macchiato.  Give me a moment........ ok, I'm back.  Now, if you are talking an Ice Cream Sandwich, I have to have the Fat Boy brand.  I like a lot of Ice Cream in that sandwich.  Try it.  You might never go back to a thin ice cream sandwich again.  And yes, if I'm having this as a snack, shoot up baby.  

To put insulin in something for you to understand.  Let's say I'm out to dinner and they don't have Coke Zero.  First of all, the creeps.  But I can not stand the taste of Diet drinks.  (except for Dr. Pepper).  So I will order the regular Coke.  In order for my body to be ok with that, I have to take 7 units of insulin, just for the coke.  That's not counting whatever I'm eating.  

Aren't you amazed that your body is just taking care of that for most of you.  You are lucky in the fact that you just cook, sit down, and dig right in.  Diabetics have to calculate, shoot up (or if they have the pump, increase a smidge for food) and hope for the best.  

Not to mention that Diabetes can affect every organ in your body.  It's a constant keeping everything in good working order situation.

INSULIN, IT DOES MY BODY GOOD!