Diabetes is an Asshole

Dec13

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I don’t know if I have an eating disorder, but my eating is most certainly disordered. If it is a disorder, I’ve not found a name to give it.

I don’t like to eat, I don’t even like food sometimes. Not all the time, mind you, if there is bread I want it. Cake? I like cake. I typically eat the same foods for long stretches of time, I’m never excited about, nor do I often try new things.

Sometimes I treat food like my enemy, because it kind of is, it’s also the thing that could be my biggest ally.

I’m diabetic.

An uncontrolled diabetic. My average blood sugar is around 250. That isn’t good. I take meds, oral as well as injected. I don’t overeat, unless there is bread and cake, but that’s rare, and for me, overeating is usually the normal amount most folks eat. I’m 5’3 and weigh 130 pounds. I’ve been fighting this disease for 20 years, at least that’s how long ago I was diagnosed.

I’m tired. I don’t feel good. It’s beginning to take a toll. Has been for a while now. To tell you the truth, I’m slightly terrified and a little lost. I have tried to do everything the docs have asked me to do. I take every medication they give me. I’ve always had issues with food, but I have tried. So hard.

I eat the right foods, I have high blood sugar. I eat the wrong foods, high blood sugar. I exercise, I don’t exercise . . . high blood sugar.

Except when it drops.

I’ve been as low as 23. I had no idea my blood sugar was even falling. It’s happened too many times. I have something called hypoglycemic unawareness. Yep. That’s a thing. I can’t typically feel a low blood sugar until it’s dangerously low. I usually only realize I’m having a high when my vision craps out on me and the world blurs.

I don’t fit type 1. I don’t completely fit type 2, and nothing seems to work. If something doesn’t change soon I’ll lose my eyesight to diabetic retinopathy. My nerve pain will only worsen. I’m showing signs of stomach neuropathy. I could end up on dialysis. It will kill me.

I don’t talk about this much. Today is different. Today my father is fighting what may be a life and death battle, laying in a hospital bed. Diabetes is an asshole.

My diabetes mimics his. Super. We have mutant fricking diabetes and no one seems to know what to do about it. The thing that really gets me though, is we are constantly blamed for it. I’m not gonna lie, sometimes I eat that cake. Not often and not much. Sometimes I sit and read all day, exercising my mind and not my body. Sometimes I don’t eat when I know I should. I usually drink a nutritional shake when I can’t deal with food.

I don’t know what to do.

Diabetes is such an asshole.

10 thoughts on “Diabetes is an Asshole”

  1. I am currently frustrated with my diabetes and just was bawling and googled “diabetes is an asshole” in the hopes that someone out there thought the same thing as me.
    Ha. Funny. Here you are. Diabetes IS AN EPIC ASSHOLE.
    This post is from 3 years ago. Doubtful you’ll even see or get this.
    But I’m responding.
    I do everything perfect in regards to my diagnosis and still suffer epic asshole side effects. I HATE diabetes.

    I’m sorry you’re suffering as well.
    Take care.

    Angela

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  5. Have you ever thought about staying away from gluten? I only ask because I swore I would never stay away but later found i have food sensitivities. It was actually causing health problems and doctors could never figure it out but they got better after staying away from gluten. I have heard Oh people improving diabetes after staying away from it. Just thought I’d share. I’ll shut up now 😀

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  9. I feel for your struggles with that asshole disease. I have a good bit of family history of it – my mother and her father, and my Dad, but for him it came very late, when he was 90 and he did OK on the oral meds, even his last dog became diabetic (Insulin twice a day). So far, at 71 I’ve escaped, but am advised to keep an eye on it and I go easy on the sweets and carbs. I hope you can find some way to get it under better control, especially the crashes (23?!? Wow, that’s well into the danger zone.) And, I hope your Dad pulls through. ❤

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  10. So so sorry Crystal. Yes it absolutely is an asshole 😦 I wish I knew anyone who could help you but my professional connections are limited to this side of the pond (or Kansas – I know an excellent diabetic nurse in Kansas) *HUGS* Prayers for your father xoxox

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