Who am I?

tatanka · 05-17-2007, 06:45

I am a man 63 years old and live near San Francisco, California, USA. I am a bookseller and previously to this career, I worked wood, worked cement, worked plumbing and all the other crafts needed to build and repair buildings. I liked that life alot. But 7 years ago I was bitten by ticks while working in the Rocky Mountains. Two months after being bitten by three, I was asleep on the bed and either the cat or the dog brought them on the bed, I awoke with them feasting on my back. To make a long story very short, my kidneys collapsed and in treatment, the medications' side effects included type 2 induced diabetes. Not long after starting this treatment, about two months, I collapsed from the treatment and nearly died. So while in the hospital, I told my partner I stopping all medication and please take me back to the boat. (We lived on our boat at the time,) and I'll either make it or not without all the medications. After a number of months I regained my strength through diet and excercise. At the end of March this year I was diagnosed with out of control diabetes. Fortunately, the emergency room people did a quick diagnosis and treated me. A few days later I was handed a meter and told to live with this device and pay attention to it. It will save you life. I am hesistant to say this, but I stopped the metformin and lantus a couple of weeks after leaving the hospital. Returned to my original diet and have narrowed its kind and ingredients. I pay attention to the meter, to the carbs and to the timing of meals and snacks. I am fortunate that I am holding in the 90 to 112 range. However, what about the accuracy of the meters. So many variables. Still I have lost 20 lbs. as the doctor said this would greatly enhance my chances of not having to take insulin and I have increased my level of excercise to encourage the muscles to accept insulin. Although this has altered my eating, my image of myself, my relation to other people concerning food and the discovery: sickness is metaphor. I looked to the symptoms to tell me what I needed to change in my life. Thus this has been and extraordinary journey of learning and discovery. I am grateful to be alive. I try now to honor whatever is before. Such a difficult journey.

otep · 08-16-2007, 09:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by tatanka

I am a man 63 years old and live near San Francisco, California, USA. I am a bookseller and previously to this career, I worked wood, worked cement, worked plumbing and all the other crafts needed to build and repair buildings. I liked that life alot. But 7 years ago I was bitten by ticks while working in the Rocky Mountains. Two months after being bitten by three, I was asleep on the bed and either the cat or the dog brought them on the bed, I awoke with them feasting on my back. To make a long story very short, my kidneys collapsed and in treatment, the medications' side effects included type 2 induced diabetes. Not long after starting this treatment, about two months, I collapsed from the treatment and nearly died. So while in the hospital, I told my partner I stopping all medication and please take me back to the boat. (We lived on our boat at the time,) and I'll either make it or not without all the medications. After a number of months I regained my strength through diet and excercise. At the end of March this year I was diagnosed with out of control diabetes. Fortunately, the emergency room people did a quick diagnosis and treated me. A few days later I was handed a meter and told to live with this device and pay attention to it. It will save you life. I am hesistant to say this, but I stopped the metformin and lantus a couple of weeks after leaving the hospital. Returned to my original diet and have narrowed its kind and ingredients. I pay attention to the meter, to the carbs and to the timing of meals and snacks. I am fortunate that I am holding in the 90 to 112 range. However, what about the accuracy of the meters. So many variables. Still I have lost 20 lbs. as the doctor said this would greatly enhance my chances of not having to take insulin and I have increased my level of excercise to encourage the muscles to accept insulin. Although this has altered my eating, my image of myself, my relation to other people concerning food and the discovery: sickness is metaphor. I looked to the symptoms to tell me what I needed to change in my life. Thus this has been and extraordinary journey of learning and discovery. I am grateful to be alive. I try now to honor whatever is before. Such a difficult journey.

Hello. I guess you are on the right track on being "positive" on living. Do not let your condition beat you down, you will only be miserable if you do. If you really plan on cutting your meds, which I seriously think is not a good move, try to be more active and keep the diet that works for you. see a nutricionist for what food to take. If it helps why don't you try to research on alternative medicine if you are into that and really is hesitant on going without the drugs. Good luck on you journey.

marti · 10-07-2007, 11:47

Welcome i am Martina from BC Canada, i am Type 2 Diabetes

Richard157 · 12-07-2007, 00:09

Hello Tatanka, are you still with us? I see that your original post was made in May and you have made only one other post. You are extremely fortunate to have such good control after quitting your medication. I hope you still have that control. Please let us know how you are doing. That is a very interesting story about the tick bites. A former neighbor of mine took a vacation in the Colorado Rockies and was biten. He developed Rocky Mt. Spotted Fever and almost died. I am glad your case was not as serious as his. Good luck to you.

Richard