Confession time…

I know this is going to sound weird…  I am actually relieved to find out I have diabetes.  Why? Because now I know that it wasn’t “just a lack of will power,” there is a real medical reason which explains the way I’ve been feeling.

I wasn’t imagining it:  I really was fighting against my own body in my attempts to improve my fitness.

I will also admit that I’ve arrived at this point, in part, because of some bad lifestyle choices and in part because of a genetic predisposition.  Everyone in my immediate family is large and about half are diabetic.  Except one skinny brother which none of us can quite figure out why he’s the lucky one.  sigh

I’m relieved because now I know that it is going to be easier from this point forward.  Things are going to get better.  As soon as the meds start doing what they are supposed to do, I will be in a better position to move toward a healthier me.

I want a book deal!  And a Speaking Contract!

I tell ya, when I’m all fit and healthy and dancing again, I want to share my story in every possible way!  I want to tell others that it is not hopeless.  That it is possible to go from absolutely on the brink of a “Health Apocalypse” to being a fit, happy healthy person.

I want to be like Jared, the subway guy!  By the way, if you have not read his book, I highly recommend it.  The first time I read it, I cried.  Literally.  Because I could relate to his struggle.  I had to stop reading and wipe away the tears before I could continue.  I hope to meet him one day and get him to autograph my copy of his book.  That would be so cool.

I want to be on Oprah!  I want Ellen and I to be best buds! Light’s, camera, speaking tours with tumultuous applause! Yeah, right, like that’s gonna happen!

I probably won’t get a book deal or end up touring the country talking about my own journey, but it would be nice wouldn’t it?  Uh-oh!  Tony’s doing that “digression” thing again.  Brace yerself loyal readers, this post might get a bit crazeee!

Huge Learning Curve! and a bit of advice from a former Librarian

I’ve got a LOT of learning to do.  Fortunately, my 20+ years as a Librarian has equipped me with the tools I need to do research and to evaluate the information I find.

And, having said that I want to recommend some web sites to anyone looking for medical information.  These sites, in my experience, and in my professional judgement, provide reliable information on fitness, health, and medical conditions:

WebMD – http://www.webmd.com

The Mayo Clinic – http://www.mayoclinic.org

U.S. National Library of Medicine – http://www.nlm.nih.gov

MedLinePlus (a sub-site of the National Library of Medicine) – http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus

CDC – United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – http://www.cdc.gov

Consumer Reports – Most libraries offer free full text access to this magazine online free of charge.  Check with your local library for the logon info.  And pick up a book to read or DVD to watch while you’re there getting your library card.  🙂

When you find information out on the Internet, you MUST be your own critic, evaluator, editor, and judge & jury as to the accuracy of the information.  Never has the old cliche of “buyer beware” ever been more true when you are out there on the wild and wooly web “shopping” for information.

And that holds true for what I type here on this site as well.  Because the info I present here has been absorbed through my eyes and then mixed with my own weird brain chemicals and seasoned with my penchant for drama before it gets blurted out here as the written word.

I’m not a doctor.  I’m just a guy who is trying to get healthy so he can dance again in order to get even healthier BY dancing!  So even though I grab my info from what I believe to be reliable sources, like the ones I listed above, I might mis-read something or mis-understand something or gasp mis-type something.  Do your own research.  And talk to your doctor.

For the record, the sites I’ve listed above have proven to provide quality information.  I’ve been able to verify the information obtained from them on multiple other sites.  And, when asking about specific information with my doctor, she has confirmed the accuracy of what I’ve gotten from those sites.

Diabetes 101

So, I have diabetes.  Now What?

The beginning aka “covering the basics” is always a good place to start.  And I found this nice slideshow on WebMD which concisely covers the basics:

Type 2 Diabetes Overview (http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/ss/slideshow-type-2-diabetes-overview)

Here are some excerpts:

“About 1 out of 3 people with type 2 diabetes don’t know they have it.”

Yeppers.  That was me.  Had not a clue.  Went in for my annual physical, seeing my doctor of 20+ years for the first time in three years, thanks to the ACA.  And she did blood tests.  And in her words “Tony, you are not just ‘diabetic’ you are WAY diabetic!”

“People with type 2 diabetes often have no symptoms…

…When they do appear, one of the first may be being thirsty a lot. Others include dry mouth, bigger appetite, peeing a lot — sometimes as often as every hour — and unusual weight loss or gain.”

Yeppers. Hey that stuff sounds familiar.  Thirsty all the time? Check! — Dry Mouth? Check! — Hungry all the time? Check! — Feeling like the potty and you were developing a special relationship? Check! — Unusual weight loss?  Alas, no.  Unusual weight gain?  Yes, AFIRM-a-tory and Hell yes!

“As your blood sugar levels get higher, you may have other problems like headaches, blurred vision, and fatigue.”

Yeppers. Got that stuff too.  Headaches? Yep, all the time.  — Blurred vision? Yes, but mostly in the morning and honestly I think that has to do more with allergies and with a known side affect of having had Lasik surgery about five years ago.  So this one is a “watch it and if it gets worse then we’ll worrry about it then.” — Fatigue.  Oh yes! Absolutely! Can I have an Amen Brothers and Sisters?  ALL the FRIGGIN time!  Doing even the simplest tasks seems like I’m pushing a loaded semi-truck uphill through mud.  EVERYTHING is an effort.  Definitely a “check mark” by that one.

“Signs of Serious Problems

In many cases, type 2 diabetes isn’t discovered until it takes a serious toll on your health. Some red flags include:

• Cuts or sores that are slow to heal
• Frequent yeast infections or urinary tract infections
• Itchy skin, especially in the groin area”

Yes to all of that, except the urinary tract infections bit.  Thank goodness!  But the other stuff: slow healing sores and cuts, itchy skin rashes and non-stop jock itch, yeppers.  Disgusting to talk about but yeppers.  Been there, done that.  *SIGH*

Check out the rest of the info in the slide show.  It is very well written:

Type 2 Diabetes Overview (http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/ss/slideshow-type-2-diabetes-overview)

Having an Awesome Doctor

This will make no sense mathematically but: having a doctor who is smart, skilled and knowledgeable is 100% of the battles; but having a doctor who genuinely cares is 100% that win the war.

My doctor is one of those special people who just by being here makes the world a better place.  She is an amazing gifted caring person.  It radiates from her like the surface of the sun.

She cares, really cares about her patients; that would include “Moi!”  And she gives hugs.  That so rocks!

I know that this is purely psychological, but knowing that my doctor is in the the fight with me to get me healthy is a huge motivator.

So, my tip to you, my faithful readers is to find a doctor you trust with your life.  Because you are indeed entrusting your life to them; they had better handle it with care.

I will get through this; I will get healthy.

See ya on the dance floor.