Pre Diagnosis
I was diagnosed today with Type 2 Diabetes, it wasn't a big surprise as I had just ticked off the last of the symptoms from my mental list (frequent urination) and couldn't ignore them anymore.
Maybe I should have visited the GP when that mosquito bite took 6 weeks to heal?
Maybe I should have known, when I simply couldn't get any heat into my extremities?
Maybe those unusual little headaches should have told a tale.
The weight? the hunger? the tiredness? the dry mouth? the unquenchable thirst? And on and on ......
I knew.
Diagnosis
I walked the five minutes up to my GP, a futile attempt at starting my assumed new lifestyle and a reminder of how little exercise has played a part in my life lately.
"It's a long time since I've seen you here, Roy, a good sign?"
"hmmm, more of a Doctor phobia, I reckon."
Then the standard question was asked, "what seems to be the problem then"
I explained how I'd heard the advertisements on the radio and had mentally checked every box, I then took the leaflet that I'd been reading in his waiting room from my pocket, I handed it to him and told him I had all the symptoms, "maybe it's "time I was checked for Diabetes?"
"Family history?"
"Yeah I think my uncle Mick who died when I was a kid, had it"
My blood pressure was checked and then checked again, "nothing too unusual there" ,was the judgement.
I began to hope .......
He assembled his thumb prick gadget and stuck a slide into what I now know was a glucometer, he then grabbed hold of my thumb, applied the instrument and clicked.....
"Was that supposed to hurt?"
Five times more he assembled his machine and I awaited the pain, he eventually gave up.
"Stupid gadgets" he murmered as he placed the thumb pricker in a drawer to be replaced by an old fashioned needle, my thumb was grabbed as before, stabbed and some of the blood deposited on the aforementioned glucometer.
As he handed me a little surgical swab for my bleeding thumb he exclaimed,
"Heuston we have a problem" (seriously that's what he said)
"Glucose is 22.5 it should be in single figures"
"What do I tell the wife?"
"you have type 2 Diabetes, we won't know how complicated until further tests are carried out"
Ah well .......
The "Friendly Chat"
After the Diagnosis I asked "What did it mean?", "What were the consequences?", Diet?, Medication?, Insulin?, Exersise?
I was told it would be dealt with via medication, he "my doctor" did not foresee the need for insulin and I'd be doing myself a huge favour to lose the exsess weight.
I am to return on Monday morning at 9am, having fasted, to have my bloods checked, then I've to go home and have breakfast before returning back again to have all that repeated. Then I will play courier and deliver the various samples to St. James hospital in order to discover the extent of the problem.
I somehow get the feeling that I'll be having quite a number of "friendly chats" and that my lifestyle is about to change fairly radically .......
Discrimination!
I really wasn't expecting this crap!
I'll now be loaded or refused if I want to increase my life cover or for various other insurance cover such as travel etc.
I am barred from being a Garda, Bus driver. Heavy goods vehicle driver!
As soon as I begin taking drugs to alleviate the symptoms of Diabetes I must inform the Driving Licence Authority, who will request two new photos and issue me with a new licence containing a proviso that I must obtain medical clearance before getting my renewal.
I am aware of one of the so called Taxi Stakeholder group insisting that drivers should be checked and if found defective "health wise " be removed from the fleet ....... I wonder did they mean me?
I know they'd be happy to be rid of me ........
A Quick Browse of The internet
Link: http://irishtaxi.org/adiabetictaxi/blog3.php
The initial overview is poor, I'm sure I will find some trustworthy sites in time?
It's full of contradictory reccomendations!
Don't eat fruit!.... Eat loads of Fruit! ....Eat Fruit in Moderation! ???
Same goes for many food stuffs!
My life expectancy has been reduced by ten years in just 2 days!
If I don't look after my feet they'll be removed for me!
Sadly, there's not a lt of good news .......... hopefully that'll change a little!
XML Feeds