outlawdiabetic

This article hit my radar this week and I was astonished.  As a disciplined diabetic, I have had two accidents while driving as a result of low blood sugar.  Total cost or both accidents was $10K.  No small amount.

However, I fail to see the logic of the EU in proposing this legislation.  By taking up to 1M drivers off of the road and limiting their ability to work, I believe the EU is missing the down stream financial implications of this decision.  You have fragile economies as it is.  Please weigh the effect of this before moving forward.

Further, by mandating insulin dependent diabetics to avoid low blood sugar episodes to keep their driver’s license would have the unintended effect of raising blood sugar of 1M Europeans.  Over time this would lead to increased rates of diabetic complications, increase medical expense and death as a result of diabetes.  I see this legislation as short sighted, un-informed banter.  The effect of which if put in place will begin a domino effect that could impact the US economy as well.

To read this article please click the attached link:

www.dailymail.co.uk

The saying goes leaders talk about solutions and followers talk about the problems.

I personally appreciate all the people that participate in runs, walks, bike rides, volley ball tournaments and galas to raise money for diabetes research.  These are simply every day good folks.  The funds these volunteers raise go toward research for treatment and cures to diabetes.  A cure for diabetes is the ultimate, yet illusive solution.  Normally, at events like these someone will speak about someone they know or have known that had diabetes and where strickened in some way by the disease. If in attendance, I am quietly sitting at a table knowing what is about to come.  People are asked to contribute their or money to  help raise funds for research.

At these moments, the speaker dramatically describes how the person they know is held back by diabetes and what a horrible impact the disease has on their life.  I am personally sickened by this approach.  I want to run to the mic and tell the audience to keep their hard earned dollars.  The simple solution that the whole audience seems to miss is that the diabetic being described has every chance in the world to control their diabetes.  Diabetes doesn’t come into your body like cancer and cannot be treated.  Diabetes comes into your body and builds a home in the decisions we as its enablers allow it.  If diabetics across the world took a stand against the disease and simply made decisions in their lives that put diabetes at the center of every decision these events to raise money for a cure could become  thought leadership events.  Not pandering the poor decisions of an individual.

Lead of follow on diabetes, the choice is yours..

My mom always said I was precocious as a child.  I was obedient to a fault.  I once stopped service in a New York restaurant as a 4 year old because I pulled out a chair for my mom.  In being transparent, I do not recall this scene.  But, even Outlaws have mothers that love them no matter what.

My mom is one  of a few central figures in my diabetic life.  My hope is that many of the diabetics reading this blog have the same feeling and appreciation to the people in their life that keep them safe.  Much like my mom did and does so many years ago and to this day.  She is the leader of the Outlaw Posse.  For all you lone wolves out there, of which I consider myself one, get used to the fact that as a diabetic no matter how good you think you are, the disease will find the weak link.  It will slip in the back door when you think you have it beat.  Expect this and surround yourself with trusted advocates (i.e a posse).

When the books are written about the team that took down Osoma bin Ladin, you will find what I have researched and studied since my childhood. Teams can accomplish unbelievable things.  Individuals that act alone are egoist.  Build a team and work together to beat a disease that kills more of us than AIDS and breast cancer each year.

In reality the only thing we can control in this life is our attitude toward it.  I choose to take responsibility for my actions and also the result of these actions.  This seems to be a dying belief in a world of 15 minute heroes.

The simple reality is that diabetes beats more of us than beat it.  I will not deny I like being one of the 1% of diabetics that have the control I maintain.  Make no mistake, it doesn’t happen by accident.  But, as I’ve said, I am precocious…

My dinner was late last night, but I’m not complaining, mama.

It was made with love and care.  Jus’ took an hour longer than expected…

So, I was wobbling while eating.  Felt like lizard legs on a large boat. I was bobbing on the ocean, while seated at my dinner table. Almost passed out in my plate.

Got my food down, but had to go lay down .  10 hours latter I wake up and still have a sugar hangover headache.

The irony is, most guys don’t get dinner made for them anymore.  I can deal with the headache.  It will pass.  Love soothes all wounds…even the blood sugar blues…

I am normally a very disciplined diabetic.  Years of rigor around blood sugar testing, eating and exercise at this point in my life come very naturally to me.  I realize this is abnormal for most diabetics, but that is why I am different, i.e. Outlaw Diabetic.

My thoughts this morning are to distractions in life that end in diabetic disaster. These could be text, twitter or facebook messages.  A crying child, barking dog, needy husband or wining wife.  All of which demand a diabetics attention.  This is life…

My belief has always been that it is necessary to pay the above distractions their due while at the same instance holding diabetes in a higher mental place above the distractions and mental noise.  Not easily accomplished, but the benefit of which has resulted in 40 years of unencumbered diabetic life for me.