A Warning About Type 2 Diabetes

Dr. Janet HoultOP-ED

[Editor’s Note: Today is the American Diabetes Assn.’s Type 2 Diabetes Alert Day. Culver City’s poetess laureate addressed the City Council on the subject last evening.] 

All over the country people will be encouraged to take a one- minute Diabetes Risk Test  to find out if they are at risk for Type 2 Diabetes.

The test is online at www.diabetes.org/alert  I urge everyone to take it to see what your numbers are.

I have had Type 2 diabetes for five years.  During that time, my lifestyle has changed drastically.

I check my blood sugar levels twice a day.

Within the past year I have had to begin insulin shots and oral insulin.

Dietetic adjustments help, but when you get to my age and have had back and knee surgery it is difficult to exercise, even harder to keep yourself in shape.

Please take a minute to find out if you are at risk.

If I had known about the test and taken it, I may have been able to avoid the “needling” that I deal with on a daily basis.

Here’s a parody I wrote that is sung to the tune of Mona Lisa…

Diabetes, diabetes, so they call you

You’re the blood disease that hasn’t any cure

Now I’ve got you, I can’t lose you, diabetes

And I’m stuck with sticking fingers, that’s for sure

When the needle hits my finger, diabetes

And the blood begins to gather at the spot

How I wish I’d not eaten so much sweet stuff

Or carbohydrates

Or cherry phosphates

Now I’ve got you, I can’t lose you, diabetes

Although I’ll stick my finger

You’ll still linger

Here.

Take the risk test.

You may be very glad you did if you find you are at risk.

 

Dr. Hoult may be  contacted at HOULTight@aol.com