Diabetes Day + 19

Today is an anniversary for me and my family. 19 years ago today I was found on our kitchen floor in a diabetic coma from diabetic ketoasidosis. This sounds like a traumatic event, and it was. It was also the beginning of knowing what was going on with me and therefore a blessing as well.

Over the last 3 months of my freshman year at IU, I has wasting away from 205 pounds to 138 pounds. My buddy Steve will tell you that I wasn't much fun being around. He was even looking for a way to tell me he didn't want to room together our sophomore year. I think the diabetes started sometime in February, and I flat out ignored the symptoms (consistent thirst, constant urination, rapid weight loss).

Being only 19 years old and in good physical condition, my body lasted those 3 months in full blown diabetes mellitus. When my mom found me that May 12th morning in 1990, my body had had enough. Once at the hospital, my blood sugar reading was off the charts, 900+ with normal being around 90. My internal body temperature was 93 degrees! It took them about 10 minutes to diagnose me as a diabetic.

That weekend I don't remember anything. The 12th was a Saturday and I remember hearing the Cubbie game on in the intensive care unit, but I don't ever remember watching it. My memories from that day and the next two are from other people's perspectives, hearing their stories of what was going on at that time.

First memory I have after Friday night is the next Monday afternoon. Two high school friends came to see me and I had a good laugh. If you can believe it, I had smiled or laughed in weeks! It was a good feeling. When my parents called to tell Steve I was in the hospital, he said he felt good. He knew that I was going to be taken care of and get back to being me.

This year's anniversary is a special one for another reason. It's the 50/50 anniversary. I've spent half my life as a diabetic and half not. I always knew this day would come, and from here on I'll have more days with it than without. But that's a good thing...I have good docs and good meds and I plan on having many many days with it.

Happy Diabetes Day Anniversary...so far, so good.