My diabetes experience
Back in 2009 while in the hospital for a different reason, it was discovered that I had diabetes. While I was not shocked at learning this, I was quite a bit surprised. Adjusting to having diabetes has proven to be a real challenge. Initially the medicine that I was given made my blood pressure low and eating made me tired as well.

Then one day in December while frustrated with all the medications that I was taking along with costs, I just decided that I wasn't gonna deal with the diabetes anymore. I had diabetes, but it was not gonna affect me was my attitude! So the months went on and my blood glucose meter battery died which I didn't bother to replace either.

Eventually I was feeling sick here and there: my eyesight was getting blurry, trips to the bathroom were becoming more frequent as well as a thirst and dry mouth also. Then on one given Saturday I decided that things were just not right and I bought a new blood glucose meter.

Upon testing myself I got a reading of “hi.” I thought that was unusual and tested myself again, same thing. A third time, again, a 4th... I read the instructions of the meter and it said to seek medical attention. I really did not believe it was that serious!

I also post on web board where they have a diabetes support group. I posted my findings and what the manual said was what it meant when it said “hi.” It was a blood sugar count of 600 plus. I said that I did not want to alarm anyone. Within minutes people were all over the board telling me to go to the hospital!

With the exception of the symptoms mentioned, I felt fine and thought that was rather ludicrous, but thinking that they were right I went right in. I took it so casually that I took public transportation to boot!

Before I left my apartment, I had something to drink. By the time I got to the train station from the bus I was thirsty again. This was about 10 to 20 minutes afterwards. I got another drink and by the time the train had me near the hospital, dry mouth and very thirsty again! Not to mention that I was needing bathroom breaks too! This was yet only another 20 minutes.

By the time I finally made it to the hospital, I was actually starting to feel disoriented. So I went to the ER and told them why I was there, feeling rather foolish like it still wasn't a big deal. They took me right in!

The intake Dr. said you're dehydrated. I said how do you know that while my speech was impaired from my mouth being so dry that my lips were sticking to my teeth. She said can tell just from your dry mouth!

So to urgent care I went. They took me to urgent care where I was tested on my blood sugar, which they said was at least 700. In the end, they admitted me and said that my blood sugar had come back as 800. I was totally surprised by being admitted. I was however shocked at my high blood sugar count!

The next day the team of Dr's came in and discussing my situation as they do with all patients. One Dr's said that I was very fortunate and that I was literally hours from the intensive care unit and going into a coma.
I was discharged a day later. To make a long story short, I keep a close eye on my blood sugar now and take my medicines. While my blood sugar is not where I would like it to be, it is not out of control as it once was. I take precautions and take action when it goes over 300.

To make a long story short, diabetes is nothing to mess with and not take seriously. If you have diabetes, control it, otherwise you could end up just as bad or worse than I have!

Thanks for reading.

Mike

The Job Search

It appears that calls for interviews on my job search have all but dried up. And while I have kicked it up a notch, the phone is not particularly ringing. I received a phone call from one company that left a message for me that I interviewed with before. When I called them back, I got voice mail. I have left them 3 voice mails at this point between yesterday and today, but so far, no avail. I suppose I will call them one more time on Thursday if I do not hear from them at all.

Then there is the retail applications. These are actually much more involved than applying for an office position as they ask you personality questions. Do I answer them right? Am I incriminating myself? What I do know is that I need to be honest on these applications. If that means that I do not get the job as a result, then it was not God's will for me.

I know that the job market is tough, but this is crazy! I heard that employers are actually discriminating against those who have not worked 6 months or more. What happens if you lost a job through no fault of your own, or you just didn't get along well with your last boss? Just doesn't seem fair to me. :(

I will say this, for better or for worse, I am much more likely to just do whatever a boss tells me to do in the future, no matter how unreasonable I might find it to be. The only thing is I've done that before, but only to lose respect of employers, so I dunno.

Fear and Anxiety

Fear and anxiety, why do you trouble me so? The latter part of this afternoon and night I seem to have been having anxiety or fear again. I do not know why, but I just know that its there. It seems common in my life to have it. While I know that I am to cast my fears on God, it is much easier said than done.

I made a commitment to start serving at my church more. It is something that I've been wanting to do for a long time. I've had the desire to do anything there, as simple as helping move chairs, etc. I am also in a good life group right now too. We watched a video last week called Epic by John Elderidge. I never realized how animated and a story teller that he was!

I am still looking for a job and that has been a bit discouraging, but I remain hopeful that something will come up soon! I guess that is all for now, just felt the need to put my thoughts to words.

Blessings Everyone!

Mike