I was at the grocery store today and was going down the frozen food section. This store was having a sale on Smart Ones entrees which I use to keep my diet in line with the recommendations of my medical providers. I had a bunch of them on top of the pile in my cart, and then a somewhat haggard looking fellow asked me, "Are you diabetic?" I kind of wondered how he would even suspect that I was but as never considered it a big secret I said that I was. Seeing the Smart Ones entrees was the clue. He then told me that he was diabetic and he related some of his medical issues that led to his severe diabetes. His grown daughter was with him and from talking with both of them I learned that while he had made some considerable progress in lowering his A1C readings they were still very high. He was using some whiz bang kind of device that reported to their cell phones in tracking his blood sugar but eventually I got the impression that he was feeling alone and overwhelmed in trying to take care of himself going forward.

I told him that I had been diagnosed with full bore diabetes 8 or 9 years ago. I took one day to commiserate and then decided that I had to take care of myself so as not to suffer the consequences that my one aunt had. I'm rather old school in my regimen. I told him how I kept glucometers in each car and in my carryon bag so that wherever I was I could check my blood sugar. And I told them about how I had grid sheets that after checking my sugar throughout the day I could fill the reading in the block for the appropriate day and time of day and have a record that could reviewed for a week or two at a glance. I ended up pulling forward a lot of my experience in having diabetes.

His daughter asked if there was some way I could send them a blank copy of my grid sheets. At first my Ludditeness made me think I couldn't do it, but then I realized that I could take a picture of one with my phone and send the picture. Hopefully they would be able to find some way to print them.

They were impressed that at my age I had been dealing with my diabetes for a number of years. It turned out this gentlemen was several years younger than me and he was looking rather beat. He has a medical appointment coming up and maybe after that he won't feel so overwhelmed.

I think this gentleman was really looking for someone he could talk to and not feel so alone in dealing with his diabetes. We exchanged cell phone numbers so I'll send the picture of my grid sheet and check in on him every so often.

I thought this was going to be a post about gossipers blocking the aisle right where the product you want is located. The biggest offenders usually work at the store!

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Release the Kraken

And I thought it was going to be a post about a group of the dreaded Extreme Egg Checkers.

Rant: Extreme Egg Checkers

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What, me worry?

Diabetes is serious, more so than folks (typically those not dealing with it) think. My wife is diabetic. Her diabetes has been in control and stable with low blood/glucose (BG) levels for a long while. But recently it’s been showing raising BG levels that haven’t responded to increase insulin. Her Endocrinologist, and we, have been scratching our collective heads trying to figure it out. It was good of you to help that gentleman. If nothing else, sometimes it just helps to talk to others and share experiences and concerns. Good luck with your diabetes journey.

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"Your other right........."

There are groups on social media that discuss various illnesses and offer suggestions on dealing with them. I would be surprised if there was not a diabetes group.

You might suggest he look there also.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

True enough...My doctor noticed my blood sugar levels rising over a few routine exams, and decided I needed further tests...Those tests confirmed Type 2 Diabetes...He recommended a better, yet unappetizing diet, which I tried diligently, but unsuccessfully to follow...As a result my glucose levels continued to rise, and I started to feel the effects of failing vision and reduced stamina...

All that occurred in the mid 80's, and I didn't start getting serious treatment until the late 90's when I was added to my now ex-wife's medical insurance...I'm now on my own with only Medicare, and at the age of 77 I've survived nearly 40 years with this accursed disease...I live on the only insulin I can afford, Novolin 70/30, plus the generic pills my doctor prescribes...

Better, more effective drugs are out there, for instance Glyxambi which kept my glucose levels in the low to mid 100's when I could still get samples from my understanding endocrinologist...That source was cut off by the manufacturer, and without it (since costs are over $500 a month at my need level) my daily readings are now over 200 even after increasing my insulin intake 5%...

So at this point I can only offer the warning to those yet unafflicted with this disease to get regular check-ups, follow your doctor's advice and make better plans for your future medical needs than I did...Or just wait like I did, and suffer the consequences......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

My best friend has some device implanted that sends info on his sugar level to his smart phone. When we go out to eat this system has a menu in his phone that he picks which meal and device automatically sends correct amount of insulin. Far better than 40 years ago when remembering him about blacking out at a re enactment and having to cram a whole orange in him….

You're a good man, Golddollar! I appreciate the way you approach life and how you treat others. I wish the world was filled with people of your character.