Books on Diabetes...diabetes books...best diabetes books

Well after a recent google search on books about Living with Diabetes, I am amazed to see how many there are.....thousands at least. It seems that diabetes encompasses so many people that it also creates quite a few diabetic authors. I am happy to see so many books on diabetes that should help make it easy to help people find the Joy of Diabetes in living with the disease. As always, there is a lot of data out there that is not always easy to plow through. I wrote The Joy of Diabetes to try and help the common man or woman who struggles to get through not just the physical side of diabetes, but also the mental/mindset side. Diabetes management is definitely all in your head. You have to develop the right mindset in order to achieve success.

I was honored this weekend to be a speaker at Southeast Georgia Diabetes Fest. I am always excited to meet new folks in the industry and to get positive feedback that says what I presented was helpful. I am always happy when people say that they have renewed their desire to improve their control as they go forward.

Whatever books you can get your hands on, you should read and digest all that you can. It will help you in the long run.

Intense therapy might make things worse....huh?

Recent article from the L.A. times is worth reading. I think every story has to be looked at from many angles....read it and make up your own mind....

Aggressive measures to treat diabetics make many of them worse, studies show
Rigorous treatment to bring down blood pressure and cholesterol is not beneficial and increases side effects, researchers say.
March 15, 2010|By Thomas H. Maugh II

It seemed like a good idea. Diabetics are at an unusually high risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke, so sharply reducing their blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar should be highly beneficial. But a decade of studies of thousands of patients show that is not the case.

Two new reports from a major nationwide trial called ACCORD released Sunday show that lowering either blood pressure or cholesterol below current guidelines does not provide additional benefit and, in fact, increases the risk of side effects. A third arm of the study, released two years ago, shows that excessively lowering blood sugar levels actually increases the risk of heart disease.
Advertisement
Click here to find out more!
Ads by Google

* Do you have diabetes?Being treated for Type 2 Diabetes? Learn about a new research study. www.EarlyDiabetesStudy.com
* I Had High Blood PressureNow it's down to 120/75. Find out how I did it without drugs resperate.com

The results are disappointing, researchers say, because they suggest that clinicians may have reached the limit of what they can do for diabetic patients without developing new therapeutic approaches.

But the good news is, the findings "reduce the cost and potential side effects of drug therapy" and mean that patients will not have to work as hard at reducing blood sugars, lipids and blood pressure, said Dr. Denise Simons-Morton of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, which funded the trial.

"The take-home message is that the standard care approaches are pretty good. If we try to go beyond them, it doesn't provide additional benefit," she said.

Diabetes has become a tremendous problem in the United States, with at least 21 million people afflicted with Type 2 diabetes -- in which cells do not respond properly to insulin produced by the pancreas -- and millions more at risk because of obesity. Most diabetics also have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, factors that raise their risk of heart attack and stroke to the same level as that of people who already have suffered a heart attack.

Many doctors have reasoned that aggressively lowering blood pressure and lipids below nationally recommended levels might decrease the risk of heart disease, and ACCORD, or Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes, was created to study the possibility.

In one arm of the study, Dr. William C. Cushman of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Memphis, Tenn., and his colleagues at 77 medical centers enrolled 4,733 Type 2 diabetics with high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease or a high risk of developing it. They were randomly assigned to treatment regimens to lower their systolic blood pressure -- the top number in a blood pressure measurement -- below 140 mm Hg, the standard treatment goal for diabetics, or below 120 mm Hg, the target goal.
Ads by Google
1 | 2 | Next
Ads by Google

Does drinking coffee raise your bloodsugar levels....?

I have posted on this before, but I think it's important. I used to think that was a crazy question. Now I'm not so sure. Tony at Dsainsights posed that question a while back and I told him I thought he had lost his mind. After paying attention for quite a few months now, Im not positive, but I think he is right. I have noticed that I do tend to trend upward pretty dramatically in the a.m. after drinking coffee. I can't prove it 100% but it sure seems like coffee is the cause of it... Adrenaline and all that......

Keep an eye out and see what you think. Watch it over time and see what your conclusion is....

oh yeah, and chocolate mocha latte doesn't count.... I'm talking coffee coffee....the straight stuff with just cream or sweet and low...
let me know ...................

Does coffee raise your bloodsugar levels....?

I asked this question before, and I used to think that was a crazy question. Now I'm not so sure. Tony at Dsainsights posed that question a while back and I told him I thought he had lost his mind. After paying attention for quite a few months now, Im not positive, but I think he is right. I have noticed that I do tend to trend upward pretty dramatically in the a.m. after drinking coffee. I can't prove it 100% but it sure seems like coffee is the cause of it... Adrenaline and all that......

Keep an eye out and see what you think. Watch it over time and see what your conclusion is....

oh yeah, and chocolate mocha latte doesn't count.... I'm talking coffee coffee....the straight stuff with just cream or sweet and low...
let me know ...................

The Mothers of JDRF..on a mission :)

Small world, I spoke with one of my clients who wanted us to sponsor tshirts for a walk a thon they were having on their property for JDRF. I was given a phone number to call and spoke with the lady in charge who was the mother of little Kaylan who has been diabetic since age 2.
I had to laugh as I always love talking to the Moms at JDRF because they absolutely get things done. High energy and on a mission to find a cure, a solution, or an improvement in their childs life.
You know who they are...they are the one on every committee, getting 5x more stuff done than everyone else.
God Bless the Moms.....

The Diabetes Explosion......

As more and more folks are diagnosed, I have noticed a few things.

1. There are a lot of people now on the Internet who are diabetic and creating sites.
2. Smart people are being diagnosed and you are seeing a lot of diabetic commerce going on on the web.
3. There seems to be a top 20 or 30 diabetic folks who seem to dominate a lot of the net.
4. It takes a lot of net time if you want to be one of the top 20 or 30 on the net...lol
5. There has been a lot of knowledge sharing and I am seeing that a lot of the sites are seeing the same conversations that may have taken place a year ago.
6. The diabetes industry is definitely growing, consolidating, and maturing.
7. I have no idea what is going to happen to the industry if the government gains control of health care but I am sure that it will change dramatically.
8. The internet has been a very positive change for folks who live with diabetes including knowledge sharing, mental support, and friendships.

I look forward to the upcoming years to see how diabetes and the net evolve together....

Off cgms for the last few days, and feeling lost......

Well, I guess it finally had to happen. My Dexcom Seven system cgms got wet and kicked the bucket after a year or so of working 24 hours a day....
I had another one that I bought about a year or so ago as there was a billing mix up so I decided to bring that one to life. Well, older technology and a few mishaps along the way trying to get it updated, and I am currently without since about Sunday. AAAAaaaaaaggghhh!
You don't realize how much you depend on something until it is gone. I can truly say that my numbers have been worse since I have been trying to just manage with my meter. WOW...how did I ever do this before.
I can tell you from experience, if you are thinking about getting a CGMS.....it is a fabulous way to go...even with a few hiccups now and then.

Keep Going............................Peace, Bob

Diabetes Books

As a Diabetic author who wrote The Joy of Diabetes, I have been overwhelmed by a few things.

1. People have been very positive, supportive, and receptive to my diabetes book.
2. Businesses, Suppliers, and People, are genuinely kind when they hear what I have written a
book on diabetes, and do their best to go out of their way to help any way that they can.
3. Diabetics across the world need help dealing with this disease and are typically in various
states or levels of diabetes management. I have been very honored and blessed to have folks
at varying levels of their diabetic walk offer their help, kind words, and support.
4. This has not been a money making venture yet. I guess that because so many folks need help,
I have been a soft heart and often give away things and time to folks who are truly hurting. It
has been my goal to reach out and change folks mindset and their thoughts regarding
living with diabetes.
5. Depression and sadness abound in the world of diabetes. I was not aware before I wrote The
Joy of Diabetes how many, many, many, diabetics were in such mental duress due to this
chronic disease. Diabetes is truly a disease of the mind as much or more as it is a disease of the
physical body.
6. The ups and downs of Living with Diabetes take a toll physically and mentally on the body
and soul....and often the pocket book too. This is an expensive disease that extracts it's costs
from the heart, the wallet, the psyche, and the body.
7. My observations are that Diabetics who stay in the zone of control can live a very, very, long
and happy life, and their mindset is key to their success. Those who accept diabetes have
peace with the disease, and take charge of their spiritual and physical situation, seem to enjoy
life and health at a high level.
8. It has been much harder than I thought to get the word out about The Joy of Diabetes book.
9. This whole thing has taken much more time, money, and effort than I ever imagined it
would.
10. I didn't realize how much I would have to learn about people, the disease, the internet,
diabetes forums, diabetes websites, Amazon, printing, publishing, marketing, and what it
takes to be a diabetic author, a speaker on diabetes, and social networking. Wow, I am getting
tired just looking back on what I have learned and been exposed to over the last year....but
Wow, what an experience!
11. It has been a very educational, exciting, and demanding ride, and I am glad to have had the
opportunity to do it. I wrote this book for diabetics and their loved ones, but I have also
gotten so
much out of the process too. By helping others, I too have been helped more than I would
have ever dreamed. I learned that I love to write.... (didn't see that coming in school).
12. I have learned to accept help from others in the diabetic community. I have learned that I
am frail, and I learned that I am strong. I have always been one
who stood on my own, did what it took, and would never ask for help. Okay, I've gotten over
that. :) At this point, I am willing and asking....any help you can provide to help me get the
word out is much appreciated. If you know anyone who would benefit from The Joy of
Diabetes book, or anyone who can help me in my goal to help others "Take this disease by the
horns and wrestle it to the ground, feel free to send them my way. I truly
appreciate all the new friends I have made all over the diabetes world and look forward to
what the future of diabetes holds.
I also learned that I like the word Cheers....Oh yeah, and that little smiley face thing that I
probably use too much.. :)

Cheers........Bob

Has diabetes ever stopped you from something you wanted to do...?

Has diabetes ever stopped you from something you wanted to do...?

---

Looking back, was there ever a time that you chose to not do something because of how you might have to cope with the D.?
I think that I have pretty much done just about anything I set my mind to during my life and just took the disease in stride.
There are only a few times that I can remember Diabetes getting in the way.
It wasn't that I was worried, but society and employers were......probably rightly so.

1. When I worked at Disney in the late 70's...diabetics were not allowed to operate the rides.
I did want to drive the Jungle Cruise boat ....dangit.

2. When I was younger, I thought I wanted to fly and would have liked to have gotten my pilots license.....but alas, not back then. I understand that now a days, you can fly fixed wing aircraft if you meet certain criteria as a D.

3. I probably would have been in the Coast Guard or the Air Force, but was not accepted for medical reasons (diabetes). I always thought that I would have enjoyed being a military guy. I have a lot of respect for those who serve.

How bout you? Did you ever not do something, or did others stop you from doing something based on your Diabetes?

__________________
Keep Going.........Peace, Bob

Solid Times.......

The past week has been a pretty good one for my numbers. I have been pretty solid even though I haven't been particularly good at exercising or the like. I am always amazed how you do something the same for a long time and get what you expect as a normal result, and 3 days later, you dont seem to do anything right. Nothing seems to have changed, except the outcome...
This is a Houdini disease.....things disappear and then reappear overnight...
The good news is, I'm in the middle of a good run on bloodsugar numbers....

Keep going.............................Peace, Bob

Unexplain-ed-ness

Whoa...what is going on? For the last 3 nights, I have been waking up at 2 to 230 am with a bloodsugar level between 275 and 350. Nothing has been different, nothing has really changed in my life. I have bumped my basal rate in the early am by 1 unit an hour, but HOLY COW!!!! WHAT GIVES?
IT SURE WOULD BE NICE TO SLEEP DURING THE NIGHT SOMETIME SOON. I HOPE IT SLACKS UP A LITTLE.
DO YOU EVER HAVE THE OUT OF THE BLUE HIGHS THAT YOU CAN'T TIE TO ANYTHING...?
LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS.

Dehydrated........?

Dehydrated....?

---

This last weekend, I attended my 2 boys Soccer tournament here in North Florida. 98 degrees and about 98 per cent humidity.
The games were at 2 different complexes....Here's a recap
Game 1 ...set up chair ...grab umbrella..spend 1 hour cheering on my 9 year old..
Game over ...load up ...go drive 25 minutes to other complex.
Game 2 set up chair, grab umbrella ....spend 1 hour cheering on my 16 year old..
Game 3 drive back to first complex and repeat
Game 4 drive back to 2nd complex and repeat

Rinse and repeat.......for 2 days...a total of 8 games.

On labor day, we went to shoot skeet in the hot sun for about 4 hours....

Monday night, I had an incredible headache. I don't normally get headaches and i was trying to figure out what was going on. I remembered that a buddy of mine recently was having horrible headaches and went to the doctor. The doc said he was dehydrated and made him drink a lot of water over the next few days. He recovered and felt much better and his headaches have not returned.
Hmmmm..I really didn't drink almost anything over those 3 days. I'm not sure why, but I didn't really think about it. So, Monday night I drank about 6 glasses of water and after a while started feeling better. Tuesday I continued to drink a lot and ultimately felt much better. I wasnt have blood pressure problems or anything else, so I truly believe I was dehydrated. I know it sounds crazy, but I never really thought about it before.
I am doing much better and have now realized that I truly have to prepare better for the hot outdoors than maybe I have in the past.....

well, the good news is that both my boys swept the tournament and had a great time
Like momma says,......drink lots of water..

You tube videos.....by 1diabetic

Not sure if I put these up but you can see all of my diabetes humor videos at
www.youtube.com/1diabetic

Back to bloggin......:)

I have re immersed myself lately in the blogging world. I hope to stay consistent. You can always find my stuff at Diabetes Daily or at www.joyofdiabetes.ning.com
I am pretty involved at Twitter under joy of diabetes and at Liveoutloudwd.
It is amazing what kind of time it takes to stay involved in all the sites....I gotta admit that I have met a lot of really cool and helpful people though.
Bob

What's that on your waist sir...? Please step over here sir!!!!! Flying while Diabetic!

Ahhhhh, the joys of flying while D.....

Sir you're gonna need to remove your pager.....Ummmm it's an insulin pump. Oh....Ok, take it off please..Ummm, Id really rather not if I don't have to...as I unclip it and show it to him. .Ok, I guess. You need to put everything else including your pager in the xray machine. Ummmm...its a glucose meter....A what? A glucose meter, I'd rather not run it through the xray machine....(I understand you probably can, but as I am gonna be on airplanes for the next 5 hours, I'm not really willing to chance anything....including it happening to alarm while being off my body. I probably would be hog tied and tasered ...lol)
Ok , Sir, Please put it in the basket and come with me..... says the security lady after I walk through the xray machine.)
I am directed to a little holding area off from everyone else right by the xray machine, and told not to touch anything and to keep my hands out of my pockets. A little holding area "fenced in " by ropes....as I stand there with my shoes off and feeling like a square peg in a round hole.

The following is Loudly announced by the female security officer who is not allowing other folks to proceed..... to the other 5 security folks and the 50 people now starting to back up in line....
WHITE MALE...NO ALARM.... No response...
WHITE MALE...NO ALARM.!!!!!....as she holds up my cgms in the basket
WHITE MALE....NO ALARM.!!!!!!...again, no response
For the fourth time....WHITE MALE !!!!!.....NO ALARM.....
Ok, now I'm starting to feel like a suspected terrorist...
WHITE MALE....NO ALARM.....!!!!!!!
At this point I'm starting to think,,,,jeeessshhh , it isn't bad enough that I have to deal with this in my own way 24 hours a day and struggle to stay motivated, regulated, and healthy, ...Now I am being treated like a domestic terrorist....

At that point, a man comes over and and says he wants to wand me.... Sir, I need you to hold your hands out and spread your legs....Ok, fine...go ahead.... I say in my sock feet and assume the crucifixion position...Ok great.....Sir, I'm gonna need to pat you down.....Ok, as he feels anything that could be in any spot on my body. ....now I'm starting to feel like I am being singled out because of my diabetes needs and am starting to take offense.
Sir keep your arms up, don't touch anything, and keep your hands out of your pockets.
Ok, great! he says after he pats me down.
Step over here please sir, and don't touch any of your stuff and keep your hands out of your pockets....Dont touch anything sir....
I now move to the "other" holding cell of ropes...as I slough over in my sock feet.
Sir, I'm gonna have to wipe down your insulin pump and your glucose meter and place it in this chemical reader over here to check for traces of potential chemicals...Please keep your hands out and stand in place...Please don't move and keep your hands out of your pockets....
At this point, I truly was having emotional feelings.....I understand that they have a job to do, but I was really feeling denigrated. I remembered at that point that I had been shooting targets at the gun range the day before, I was hoping I wouldn't have a problem with gunpowder on my cgms or pump.
I imagine I would have been gang tackled if the chemical reader had had a problem...lol

The man wipes down my cgms with a cloth on a set of tongs and then wipes down my insulin pump....He wipes the whole outside of each, front, back, and sides. He puts it in the chemical reader, and we wait.....hmmm hmmm hmmmm
hmmmm hmmm de hmmmm
woo doot doo hmmm de hmmm hmmm

After what seems like a minute.....beeep Ok, sir, you're fine....thanks for your cooperation....Have a nice flight....

No problem I say as I put my shoes on and collect my stuff which has been seperated by itself in it's own area. .................I gather my belongings and try to put everything back as it was......but as I walk away, I really wasn't ok...
I was very offended and upset .....and I'm not the type to feel that way.
Hey thanks for degrading me in public before I get on the plane,.....No problem,,,,just one more thing I will have to accept that goes along with being D.

I sit where I can, put on my shoes....reorganize, regroup, and recover mentally.
I'm not sure why it hit me so hard, I've been through this before...maybe it was just that I was "In a fish bowl" in the middle of the crowd and being singled out.....for something that I don't have a lot of options to control....
The whole process was probably less than 5 or 6 minutes, but it seemed like forever.
Oh well,,,alls well that ends well. After a day of flying, I got to come home to my kids and wife and give them all a hug. I realize that I am very in love with my family...especially when I am separated from them on my business trips.
Life goes on......However, I am guessing I will probably cringe next time I hear.....

Step over here please sir!!!.....

I do not like Green eggs and D'

Posted this on DD awhile ago...thought I'd repost it. Some folks say that they might want to be D again if they had the opportunity to choose.....some not. Heres my thoughts.....

---

Okay, here goes another strange, warped, take on this thing

Would you take this thing called D
If you could start over and avoid or flee

would you stay ...the same as you are
or would you choose to run away far

would it be.. the disease that defines you
or would you choose eating what the others foks do

would you choose this accepted known plight
or would you slink away in the night

could you be happier with no phsical worries
or are you made better ...you be the jury

what is it ...that could possibly make you
choose to stay with this thing wherever it takes you

24-7, forever, no breaks
why would you want this ...for goodness sake

would you, could you, choose this again
Not me, no way, Nada my friends.......


.....just one mans thoughts.......but I respect all others..Cheers...Bob

Peace...............

I often hear of diabetics who are in denial that they have the disease and go through life trying to ignore it. Or often in the online diabetes forums, there are thousands upon thousands of posts by people who are so angry or burned out with diabetes.
I can only offer this advice....you get what you think about. If you ignore the disease, you won't get control over it and it will destroy your sight, your kidneys, your nerves, and or your feet. If you are focused on anger and how ticked off you are that you have this chronic and insidious disease, then you will bring more of that into your life.
I find it easier to have peace with my situation and realize that it just is what it is. I am all about "easy street" and I find acceptance and control are the easiest path. If there were an easier way, I'd be there.
Diabetes might mess with your body, and your head, but don't let it take your spirit...
Keep Going.........Peace, Bob

Florida Times Union newspaper in Jacksonville Florida

Bob Hawkinson Author battles diabetes with a smile



By CHARLIE PATTON, The Times-Union
When Bob Hawkinson was 1 year old, he was diagnosed with diabetes.

The first clue, the Fleming Island resident said, was when he went into a coma caused by low blood sugar.
It was the first of "four or five times I've almost died."
Hawkinson, 45, understands the consequences of his disease, known as type 1 and formerly known as juvenile diabetes.
Living with the disease requires a lifetime of monitoring his blood sugar and regularly injecting himself with the insulin his body doesn't produce. If his blood sugar goes too low, he's in danger of going into a coma and dying. If it goes too high too often, the potential consequences include blindness, amputation and heart disease.
Sounds pretty grim.
But Hawkinson refuses to see it that way.
Which is why he has written and published a book titled The Joy of Diabetes.
As the name indicates, Hawkinson takes a lighthearted approach to a serious subject while conveying the message that "it is important to come to peace with this disease."
"It is," he said. "It just is."
But coming to peace, Hawkinson emphasizes, doesn't mean passively accepting the worst.
"My message?" he said. "Take charge. This is not a passive disease."
Hawkinson decided to create his own publishing imprint, Lifesaver Press, and market the book through his Web site, www.joyofdiabetes.com.
On Diabetes Mine, a blog described as "all things diabetic," a reviewer called Hawkinson "a sraight-talkin' narrator who has walked in our shoes, and offers some very pragmatic diabetes management advice."
Hawkinson grew up in Jacksonville, where he is partner with his brother in TLC Total Lawn Care and The Fresh Mulch Co. They started the business in 1983 with $2,000 they borrowed from their parents. Today they have more than 60 employees, he said.
Hawkinson and his wife, Melissa, to whom he refers as his "hero wife," have four children and a foster daughter. Melissa Hawkinson made national news, including an appearance on Good Morning America, in 2005 after she stopped her car and dove into Doctors Lake so she could pull a 5-year-old boy from an automobile driven into the water by the boy's suicidal father.
Bob Hawkinson likes keeping active. He's involved in martial arts and cycling. He has coached his children in soccer, flag football and basketball, about 30 teams in all, he said. He has been working on his comedy skills with an Orange Park improv group called Out on a Limbprov.
One thing diabetes taught him long ago, he said: "If there's something you want to do, hurry up and do it."

Drumming down low........

This past wednesday, I went to drum practice and had a severe low. It is amazing how your mind cant do the normal stuff when you are down in the upper 30's or low 40's.
I couldn't even find a beat for about 15 minutes into the session. ....not that I am a great drummer anyway. Newbie at best but having a ton of fun.

I have always heard that your higher learning goes first when you are in a low blood sugar situation. Finding and creating a beat must be a part of that..
Which is why I sometimes when I am low, I just stare at folks who are trying to have an indepth or mathematical conversation with me. Your brain just goes ppphhhhhtttt!

Florida Times Union newspaper in Jacksonville Florida

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to be interviewed about The Joy of Diabetes, by Charlie Patten who writes a weekly article called "One of Us". It is typically focused on local folks who are doing things that might be considered interesting and or different.
It was an honor to be even considered to be noteworthy enough to be asked to do an interview. Charlie and his camera man were gentle men and professionals through and through. They tell me the article should print this Tuesday in the Florida Times Union. Look for it soon.....

Keep Going, Peace, Bob

Wanna reduce the cost of health care....

stop taxing it..... The american taxpayer pays tax on medical costs until 11% of gross income...then it becomes non taxed....unless you are in a higher tax bracket and then the deduction starts to disappear.
We can lower the cost of health care dramatically by not taxing it. Between 10% and 40% depending on your tax bracket.

We don't need healthcare reform as much as we need tax reform.....
Keep Going......................Peace, Bob

Psoriasis...

Any other lucky diabetics out there who also battle psoriasis? My dermatologist says that he has a lot of diabetic/psoriasis patients....both autoimmune diseases.
I have been fortunate lately that mine is not flaring up, but when it does, I get cracks and splits on my hands and feet.....just what you want as a diabetic right?

Keep Going.........Peace, Bob

Anyone else have crazy days like this....

I am happy to say that I have returned to normal and that my glucose levels have returned to consistantly good numbers. It drives me crazy when my numbers go whacky for no apparent reason. I know elevated numbers erode my health and wellbeing.
Does anyone else ever just go wacky for unexplained reasons?

Real World...

You would think with outall the buffet lines from the cruise ship tempting me, I would be running great numbers but no such luck. I think I am going for the site change AND the insulin vial change. I'll rule out what I can........

Keep going.......... Peace, Bob

What the.........?

Wow, the last 24 hours has been one of those wierde-o days. My insulin usage is up by about 4 fold and I am still running high numbers. I don't feel sick, I don't feel stressed, and my carb counts have not been any different really. I will continue to keep checking and adjusting, but this is one of those days that I just don't get it....

I may change vials of insulin but my last site was with insulin from a different vial. It was all fine until yesterday afternoon when everything went nuts.....
I will exercise when I get home, maybe that will help straighten this thing out.

I guess it is just one of those strange, non sense making, days. Ahhh the joy of diabetes.....

Keep going , Peace Bob

Check ya later........

I wont be around for about a week, but will return bright eyed and bushy tailed to post away. I hope all are safe and sound until my return. I will do my best to remain at large and in charge as I navigate the cruise ship buffets and free alcohol...Like a week in a torture chamber for a diabetic..right?

I look forward to chatting upon my return.

Keep going.......Peace, Bob

A mindset.....

I have been blessed throughout my entire life. One way I know, is that throughout my life, people have always told me so. I know it sounds kind of strange,but ever since I was a child, people have always mentioned to me that I am truly blessed and that God watches out over me. I don't know if that is odd but I know I have heard it at least 60 or 80 times in my life. I know that it is true as I have always been watched over and guided(not just in my diabetic walk but in all that I have done),
but I am not sure how it is obvious to others....
I will have people come up to me that I barely know or met and they will take me aside and tell me so.....it's kinda cool and kinda peaceful....sometimes kinda surreal.
I am not sure what God wants from me, but I just keep going and doing what seems and feels right. I try to bless others although I don't know that I am too good at that.

I have been truly blessed to see diabetes through a mindset of joy even though it is a chronic and potentially debilitating disease. It has nearly killed me at least 6 or 8 times that I can remember, yet I hold no anger, malice, or hostility.
It just is what it is, and so far, I have been lucky enough to enjoy 45 years of an incredibly exciting, fun, adventurous, and love filled life.
I no longer do things that I have no joy in. I am not willing to waste my minutes of life doing that which I don't believe brings peace or joy to myself or others. I walk away from hostile people if I don't believe I can turn them around. I don't yell at people or try to make them feel less about themselves. There is no long term joy in that for me or them. Typically my only source of frustration is when I am forced to do something that I believe takes me off track of that which I am supposed to achieve or accomplish.

Today is a gift.....tomorrow will come, but you never know if you will be around.

That goes for more than diabetics.....no one knows when or where, but we do know we will all soon pass. What today will be worth my time? I shall pursue that........

Keep Going........Peace, Bob

Much improved glucose levels

This last week or so, I have been eating fewer carbohydrates and less fast acting carbs. I have seen a marked improvement in my glucose levels espescially after 2 or 3 hours after a meal. I have added back exercise the last few days.(I had stopped for a few weeks as I had the upper respiratory infection from he77).

My morning glucose readings are much better and in range since I have dropped the number of carbohydrates I eat at breakfast. Normally I would spike high for 2-4 hours after breakfast and then have to fight all day to get back down, trying not to do the hi-low ping pong thing. I was typically eating around 40 carbs in the morning, and I have dropped to about 20 or 25. Maybe I will even lose a few pounds and regain my svelte figure....ha ha...

I am always amazed at how much better my physical and mental being improves when I exercise regularly. You would think I would have figured that out long ago since I have been lucky enough to have this disease for 44 years. I love my trikke. check it out here www.trikke.com

Breakfast and High glucose levels

Well, for the last week or so, I have been trying a much more low carb beakfast in order to try and minimize High glucose levels 2 or 3 hours after breakfast.
Cereal is tough to overcome in the morning (even cheerios). I have been using a low carb cereal called Hi-Low. High fiber and Low carb. 13grams per serving and very little milk. I am shooting for 20-25 carbs instead of the normal 40 -45. It seems to be working so far, however I am still spiking after breakfast, just not as much.
It helps a lot when i can exercise in the morning as I find that the insulin works better and faster.

Trial and error is a daily thing in the life of a diabetic. Adjust and test, adjust and test, adjust and test, ....and so on......

Keep going, ....Peace, Bob

Presentation on The Joy of Diabetes

I gave my presentation yesterday to the Rotary Club in Orange Park, Florida. With 110 people attending, it was a great group of motivated, positive, civic minded people. It was fun to get up and speak to so many friends and long time business acquaintences.

I thought the presentation went very well and the audience was very willing to participate and engage in the games we played. There was a lot of funny stuff happening.

I guess I got my points across as afterward, as there were a lot of people who came up with questions and positive comments. Afterward, I was approached by quite a few people with their personal stories who said that I had touched their hearts and minds. I am honored and compelled to keep going with my message of hope, accountability, and Joy.

As always, Keep going........Peace, Bob

Diabetes and Adoption

Good news for us today. Our 1 year old foster daughter will come up for adoption hopefully within the next month. We have been so blessed by this little girl. She makes a 45 year old diabetic man see the preciousness and Joy of Life....again. I highly recommend fostering/adoption to any and all who are thinking about it. ....another reason for being....
It has been an emotional process not knowing if you get to keep her, do you fall in love with her and potentially get hurt, will you love her like your own?

I have gotten so much love, peace, joy, and happiness that I know it was the right thing to do.
I encourage you to look into fostering/adoption.

Love Obviously.....
Someone out there needs you.....Peace Bob