Clinics 'R Us

I am pathetically depressed and overwhelmingly disenchanted with the medical establishment.

Today's visit to the Endocrine clinic was akin to going to a drive-thru staffed by drooling, paraplegic six-year-olds and one dyslexic nanny. The blood test I had done a week ago was lost, as was my medical file. And to top it off I am still pending for Medicaid. But that doesn't stop the bills from coming. They now top $40K. I think it would be cheeper for me to have some cotton candy, a hot fudge sundae and a Snickers bar. (<-- Check 'em out. They're fun links.)

I have been working for the last six weeks toward some hope of improvement. I have poked, prodded & stabbed every inch of virgin flesh. I have recored 210 test strips, logged 672 items of nutritional data and wasted countless hours on the net looking for answers. In the end, they couldn't tell me squat. So I did what I do. I went to a book store and here's what I found out:

I'm Type I - period. Late onset, yes. Uncharacteristic, yes. Unlike 90% of people with diabetes, yes. Unlike 90% of the people with Type I diabetes, yes. But I am Type I nonetheless. It seems that in extremely rare cases someone can actually "trigger" the disease by way of "free radicals" in the system or by a virus that has weakened the system. When this happens the immune system kicks in and starts attacking things it thinks are foreign. In my case it was my pancreas and my immune system started producing antibodies to attack it. What I didn't know, but learned while book shopping, is that once you start producing those antibodies you don't stop. That's it. Stick a fork in him. The best that I can hope for is a long Honeymoon phase but that's not too likely. Instead, I will just have to start dealing with the fact that I am now and due in large part to a poorly chosen diet, insulin dependent.

On a brighter side, I did find a book I liked called Natural Treatments for Diabetes.

Quote: "Although people with Type I diabetes must take insulin injections for life, with natural therapies it is possible to reduce insulin requirements." [source].

I'm not sure how this will effect me as I am on a relatively low insulin regimen as it is - maybe 18 to 20 units a day when eating a full diet. For comparison, the typical diabetic (if there is such a thing) needs approximately 40 to 60 units a day. Although I must be realistic and question if I'm not already in the Honeymoon phase. Either way, I plan on making good use of this book and its offerings.