I recently tried Apidra for about 2 weeks as my endo thought it might be helpful. I really looked forward to what i hoped would be faster absorption rates that I had heard about.   Sadly to say, after 2 weeks, I am back on Humalog as I didn’t respond well to Apidra.   My wife finally convinced me to go back on the Humalog after about the third or fourth extreme low that she had to resurrect me from. As one who is hypoglycemic unaware most of the times, I dialed back my basal rates and I took less insulin, but the lows hit me really hard and without any warning….rather reminescent of NPH.

I also definitely found myself to be moody and morose and felt my overall mindset was suffering. I dont know if it was from all the lows or what, but it was not a good experience for me.  I am sure others have had positive results with Apidra, and I recommend they continue with what works for them .  For me however, it was not an improvement in my control…..more of a liability.   Sadly, I had hoped it would be an improvement regarding absorption rates….ie improved control, but it didn’t work out for me….

Keep Going,..................................Peace,    Bob

Ok, so yesterday after 20 plus units of insulin, I was reminded why I don’t and havent eaten a Big Mac and fries for probably over 5 years. I think I figured out this 57 million people with Pre-diabetes thing…Wow

One of those, I’m low I better eat big kinda brain sequences..A brain starving for sugar deciding what I should eat….whoops. At least I am consistent, I usually get the same wrong result under those circumstances.   Holy cow, will ya look at that glucose meter…lt looks like a straight line…...UP!

If only my investments followed the same trajectory…

I wanted to wish everyone a Healthy, Happy, and Prosperous 2009. I know 08 was a tough one, but the future is ours to make what we will of it. I believe that there is a lot of opportunity out there right now and in the upcoming year if we only choose to find it. There will be a lot of millionaires made this year…I’m thinking we should all be one of them.

The older I get, I realize what is truly important to me…..My God, My wife, My family, My friends, My health, My belief in myself and others, Good Mentors, Passion for whatever I am doing, Humor, Teaching/helping others to be more, Learning new things, and the understanding not to take myself too seriously.  I know that when any of these are not going right, my life is not going right.

 As most of you know, I wrote The Joy of Diabetes and published it in 2008. It has been a true blessing to be involved with and work with so many great and interesting people in every aspect of Diabetes-publishing-marketing-internet-sales-P.R.-Development and the like. What an amazing industry…and a truly helpful group of diabetics who care.

Sometimes folks look at me funny when they hear Joy, and Diabetes in the same sentence.  I believe they are thinking “excitement and elation”…that’s more like Happiness…

Joy is about Peace and Confidence…..That is what I strive for and what I strive to help others find also.  I think it is safe to say that I have found Joy in my situation.

 I wanted to thank everyone whom I have worked with, been friends with (hopefully both), been helped by, and who have intersected my life in 2008.

 I look forward to finding Joy in this year of 2009. I look forward to you being Joyful in 2009 too…..

 I hope that you, your family, your work, your business, your finances, and your health, are all that you hope for this year. Best wishes………Keep going…………Peace,   Bob

 Ok…I gotta include a couple of my favorite Jim Rohn quotes again here.

 “We must wage an intense, lifelong battle against the downward pull. If we relax, the bugs and weeds of negativity will move into the garden and take away everything of value.”

“Don’t take the casual approach to life. Casualness leads to casualties.”

 “America is unique because it offers you an economic ladder to climb. And here’s what’s exciting: It is the bottom of the ladder that is crowded, not the top”

Wow, who woulda thought….?  I recently was lucky enough to celebrate my 46th Birthday and have been a Diabetic for almost 45 of those 46 years. I think back to how lucky I have been to be born to parents who were so totally involved and who told me I could do or achieve anything I wanted to…..I just had to work with my Diabetes and not against it.

When I was younger, I wondered if I would survive until 30!....But as my mindset and technology and knowledge of the disease improves, I truly believe that it is up to me to set my own course. I will or I won’t win,  based on the decisions and efforts I make every day to set myself up to be successful.

My mindset and approach to this disease will either help me or hurt me. I choose Joy because it’s not about elation  and excitement,...that’s Happiness. Joy is about Confidence and Peace. I have been blessed to have that!

Diabetes, a chronic disease   

Chronic.............7 little letters, but it’s a really, really,  realllllyy looooooonnngggg word!  Hopefully!!!!

Keep going,..................Peace,     Bob

I recently read on the ADA website that they believe there to be 57 million americans with Pre-diabetes.

Holy cow! That would mean with 24 million Diabetics, and 57 million Pre-diabetics, there are 81 MILLION Americans who are basically some kind of diabetic. With a U.S. population of about 300 million, that means that about 1 in 3.7 people are affected by some sort of Diabetes.    Wow!!!  I am afraid the healthcare system is about to be taxed , or maybe overrun…...   I hope that by managing my disease well, I won’t have to be a burden to the system. I think that if managed well, we can all have a positive impact on the health care system by working towards better control.  I guess that is why there is so much interest recently in Diabetes as the numbers of D’s are growing dramatically.

I feel pretty confident that technology will continue to improve the Diabetic’s life over the next few years and maybe even help to slow down the growth of the disease. ....or maybe even that “cure thing” would be nice…It is a matter of time. In the meantime, stay in control and keep the damage to a minimum….

Which is why I really like my cgms….

Wishing you “well”    Bob

The Misadventures of Lil’ Johnny…..Here is my most recent video….Its pretty funny,   feel free to blast it around the net if you like it…..

I will be sending out 1 a week for the next 3 weeks, so stay tuned for more misadventures of Lil’ Johnny…

I hope you like it…...............Bob

I posted this today on my new site at www.joyofdiabetes.ning.com    It kinda sums up how D’ life and it’s rhythm just get better with practice.

As I played drums last night , I noticed how I have improved at carrying some simple rhythms consistently during the songs. I used to struggle a lot more to carry the basic rhythms but now am doing much better having had a lot more practice and time spent playing with the other folks. I have improved as I have had others around me who have helped me and encouraged me to keep going and keep playing. The support of the group has been a very positive experience for me. If I had just been playing drums by myself, I don’t think I would have kept going or gotten much better.
I think it is very similar to the support forums that I have found and am trying to create here. More folks having fun and being encouraging improves us all…..We are all in this together and can have a positive impact on each other….so it has been with me…Now if I can just master the flippin fills…..LOL Bob

Passionate…...expressing passion or strong feeling. Capable or characterized by passion or intense feeling. Vehement…..

A word that I think has always described my approach to my diabetes. It is also how I feel about trying to motivate existing diabetics who are not taking care of themselves or are in denial .
This last week, I had 2 stories from 2 different peole of how someone’s loved one was not taking care of themselves, and the terrible impact that lack of action was causing in their lives. Not just the Diabetic, but espescially the loved one. It was once again, incredibly sad and troubling to me.
Why oh Why, oh Why, don’t people “get it”. It just is what it is, You got the D!....now is the time to take charge and deal with it. The good news is that when you do, life improves for you and your loved ones, and so does your health. If not…....well, we all kinda know how that works out.    

Diabetes….......oh the Joy!......

Keep going,..................................Peace, Bob