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

I think that I shall never see

a sight as beautiful as a 93

...on my glucose meter     after lunch today…....

It’s always a battle        to keep the ball in play….

For as I fight this chronic disease        my glucose levels oft’ do as they please…..

But Aha,,,,I’m the winner…today I have won -I look toward tomorrow for more Diabetes fun…

Keep going…......Love obviously! Those who are dear to you -should know it…...

Peace,   Bob

Here is one that I always liked that helps show the power of our minds….It is true of our diabetes management also….your mind and your thoughts have a huge impact on your diabetes control.

“Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.”

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