I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes at age 35. It began
with the usual signs - thirst, sweats, urge to urinate several times during the
night, and all the time during the day. I am now 49, and I am suffering from
blurred vision, and (as my eye doctor said, the last time I saw him about 3
years ago,) degenerative effects of Diabetes, (Diabetic Retinopathy). I also
have lost feeling in my legs from the knees on down, due to Diabetic
Neuropathy. My legs used to hurt terribly, with pain like sheets of fire
passing along the skin, as the nerves died. I walk with a cane, because I am
unstable on my feet. I need to consciously think about staying upright, because
I cannot "feel" if I am standing on level ground.
I am living "on the edge" and am not to be
considered a model of good diabetes care. I cannot afford to treat my illness,
and I will not ask for help to obtain medicine. I work for the US Federal
government, and I am growing bitter. I cannot afford to pay for the bills, and
have had my electricity cut off twice so far this year. My wife is disabled,
and still we try to hang on.
I am glad to see that there is a forum for information on
diabetes, and I wish that something like it had been available sooner. As to
how I am coping with the disease, I'm just biding my time. I wasn't taught
about the disease. What I learned, was by looking at some information from my
dad, who had a health plan that covered some diabetes education. I sometimes
take medicine, if the doctors have samples to give, but it is not in my nature
to ask for help. I keep mainly to myself, and try to keep ahead of the bill
collectors.
One of my co-workers talks to me of his wife's diabetes;
she is a double amputee, having lost both legs at the knees due to advanced
diabetes.
There is no cure for this disease. So, I look at it as a
case of "live as long as you can, and then just lie back and close your
eyes and take yourself mentally to a better place."
Karl B, 49
Bridgewater, NJ
132557