Flying headlong back into lab rat territory.

Part of the reason I started this blog...or what it evolved into was my progression through the wonderful world of being a diabetic and hypertension.  In this volume in 2010 you read about my journey that took me from being JUST a type II diabetic with the infrequent visits to the doctor to present them with gifts of blood and urine on to visits to a vascular specialist, had my first pharmacological stress test, laser eye surgery, and of course a visit to a urologist for the ever popular confirmation of one's old age, the prostate exam.

My journey through being a full blown diabetic began dramatically enough, with the infection that claimed my foot, but while the disease did indeed contribute to the reason for the amputation it did not CAUSE said amputation.  What claimed my foot was not diabetes itself but what is termed as "wet" gangrene, which caused a sepsis of my blood and a deep infection of the tissues of my foot, which essentially "died".  As for being a diabetic itself I did not have symptoms...or if I did, I denied them as happening.  

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After my illness from the foot was cured and my leg healed from surgery I embarked upon my new life as a diabetic.  Sure, as a common disorder in the world my story isn't unique, but one of the bigger fears I had to conquer was the fact that I was going to have to inject myself with insulin, and for a fellow who had a dread fear of hypodermic needles, that was a daunting task.  I did it, and over time I went from type I to type II diabetes.  Pride is not one of the things I am really good at, so I became very prideful and admittedly a bit arrogant.  Thus, in time I became arrogant and I fell off the wagon.

Later today, I get back on.  All I can say is that...thanks to my almost year long sabbatical from the rigors of a regular paycheck...thank God for free (or nearly free) medical clinics.  This I will go back to the clinic where my odyssey of diabetic care and maintenance began.  I'm hopeful that it won't be too bad but it's been a while.  The way I look at it, I need to get a grip on this before I wind up fearing for my life again and/or losing a limb. 

 I like my left foot, and coming within the other foot of checking out is close enough, thank you very much.