I've been a diabetic since I was 2 and there are tons of great reasons to train for and do this Ironman. Most of those reasons involve the people that have helped me deal with this disease.
I am opening up this blog for comments. How has living with a diabetic affected all of you?
How would it change us if we could build an artificial pancrease? Isn't that what this is all about?
I love all of you thanks for being here for me.
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5 comments:
Dave,
I can definately say that you having diabetes has made life more exciting at times (more lowboy stories to come). For those of you who don't know me, I am Dave's younger brother, Nate. Dave is 18 or so months older than me and was diagnosed shortly after I was born. So for me, diabetes has always been a part of my life. I can remember Dave hiding under the table when he was four years old to prolong the giving of his nightly shot. Back then managing the disease was very diffrent, no digital blood sugar testers, no pumps, a very poor understanding of how to eat to control blood sugar based more on food group servings than carb intake. I can remember checking the ingrediants on cereal to see if "sugar" was in the top 3. If it was we couldn't get it. Sugar cubes where used to counter act insulin reactions (which ocured frequently) and so on. Compared to what is considered normal today it was archeac. It has been great to see the vast advancement in understanding of how to control the disease and the use of technology to do so.
Dave having diabetes shaped my childhood. I was constantly watching for him to get "shaky" aka low. It was scary for me as a little boy. I remember listing to every little sound at night ready to jump out of bed and run for Mom if Dave was having a reaction. And he had them fairly often. Not that our parents weren't doing a good job but the sugar testing methods were vague at best and it's hard for small child to tell that he's low before it's too late.
Dave was angry at the disease from a young age. At about the age of 8 he rightly renamed it diadoodoo. He attitude and management continued to digress thru high school and college was just plain scary. If you don't believe in God consider the fact that Dave is still alive as evidence. I'm sure more stories will be told later. So to answer the orginal question...Diabetes has affected my life in every way. It has made me feel fear, anger, heart ache, I think also it helped me develope responsibility, caring, diligence, self-sacrifice. And now, reading thru these blogs and seeing the fire in my brother's eyes and hearing him talk and knowing that he is rising up to do battle against this disease, apathy, self pitty and resestment has made me happier than can be explained here. It is answered prayer, it is a miracle. I almost cry every time I read his comments b/c I know where he is comming from, I know where he has been and what he as been thru. Dave, you are a warrior...I love you.
U R Awesome! Go Dave.
Uncle Dave feels so much better these days. Mommy says that his butt doesn't stick out as far as it used to. I think that is good. I like playing with Uncle Dave and cousin Elias now that they don't have to take so many naps.
Dave's Brother (aka - Nate) - Dave said I would cry, but I thought that because I was so incredibly manly, no short prose could touch my steely constitution... well, I was just about convulsing here. Dave has told many lowboy stories involving you but never from this angle. You are one heck of a brother...and I want to beat Dave to the finish for one reason...to see you cross that line with him. (OK maybe there are more reasons, but that one is huge!)
Nate has been an amazing motivator and life saver. Our son Elias wants a story before bed every night and it has to be one that he has never heard before. Dave has yet to fail him on Uncle Nate saved Daddy's life stories. They seem to be endless. I have a couple running through my head right now that I will use at bedtime the next few nights that he has yet to hear. GO NATE and DAVE!
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