A life in the day

Okay, I’ve got an answer to my question.

Last Friday, I had asked

Dr. L told me that I was a diabetic for life. If the diagnosis has nothing to do with my insulin levels, nothing to do with any real symptoms except those that are direct results of high blood sugars, am I still considered diabetic if my blood sugars get to and remain in normal range?

The answer, which I had started to grasp, and which Dr. Lampugnale confirmed this morning is that I am not a diabetic because I have high blood sugar. I have high blood sugar because my body does not process its sugars properly. Many of the symptoms of diabetes will abate when I reduce the blood sugar to a proper level. But others are due strictly to the fact that I don’t and, barring some medical breakthrough, never will, properly process the sugars I eat, at least without the help of medication.

So the most I can ever do is manage the diabetes.

And hope for some gene therapy that might restore normal functioning.

Well, at least I know.

Well, the class I’m supposed to take on diabetes has been scheduled — four days worth of it! Is it just me, or does that seem excessive? I’m trying to imagine the schedule:

• Day 1: “This is your body. In your body, you have blood. Your blood contains hemoglobin. The nice hemoglobin carries oxygen all over your body so that you can have energy. Hemoglobin is a protein. Can you say “protein”? (That’s a teen who’s lost his amateur status. Sorry, just a little attempt at humor, folks.) The food your body uses is converted to sugars…”
• Day 2: “Diabetes is dangerous. You could go blind, have a stroke, lose your kidneys or your toes. Your blood pressure could pop your cork. Fungi might grow on your skin. Take it seriously folks. Here’s six hours of video about the possible results of diabetes.”
• Day 3: “Cut out the sugars. Cut the carbs way down. Cut out the sugars. Cut the carbs way down. Cut out the sugars. Cut the carbs way down. Cut out the sugars. Cut the carbs way down. Cut out the sugars. Cut the carbs way down. Cut out the sugars. Cut the carbs way down…”
• Day 4: “No, when you poke yourself, scream, ‘Oh!’, not ‘Ow!’ Let’s try it again. Remember, this is for your own good…”

Okay, I’ll take it seriously. But four days? What do they do for insulin-dependent diabetics? A month?

Blood sugar: Tuesday pm: 172, Wednesday am: 188.