Get Checked Out

So for like the last month I haven’t been feeling good. Nothing major I was just tired, extra thirsty, frequent urination, just not myself. A couple of days ago I started getting blurred vision. It wasn’t enough to keep me from seeing but it was like I was slightly squinting my eyes all the time, even when I wasn’t. This had me nervous a bit as you might imagine. Diabetes and heart disease run in my family on my mother’s side and all my symptoms pointed towards me having it as well. How could this be? I mean I watch what I eat, exercise on a regular basis, why me? Well, it doesn’t matter why, it just matters that it did. Anyway, I go to my doctor and he checks my sugar levels and cholesterol after I tell him what’s going on with me. Comes back and my blood sugar and cholesterol levels are through the roof!!! I mean I was a heart attack waiting to happen. My blood sugar was over 500 and my cholesterol was 413 ( the average Blood sugar level is about 86 and the average cholesterol level is 50-60)!! He gives me 2 medications for the diabetes and one for the cholesterol, tells me to set an appointment with an endocrinologist as well as a nutritionist. I have to test my blood sugar levels before and 2 hrs after ever meal and come back to see him in a week to make further plans. I’m telling you, this was some scary shit. Imagine going to the doctor thinking you’re healthy and you get hit with those numbers. What’s even scarier was that the day before I went to the doctor I felt really bad for a while after I first woke up. Just tired, couldn’t catch my breath, chest heavy. Could that have been the beginning of something major? I’m too young to die, I can’t James Dean (die young, leaving a good looking corpse) my family, they need me.

So today is the day after my diagnosis and I decided to go to work at first. Got there and my boss is looking at me like I”m crazy. I show her my meds because she’s also diabetic and she really looks at me like I’m crazy. Tells me that I should go home for today because my body has to get used to this medication and it’ll make me wonky at first. I didn’t’ believe her. Took the meds and 10 minutes later I’m feeling crazy. So I go home and commence the pity party. You see today is the only day I will have it because I will beat this thing, it will not beat me.

I encourage anyone reading this to get checked out. Especially if it runs in your family. This is not something that I expected to happen to me, but it did and now I must deal with it. don’t be afraid to ask questions and get checked out. If I had done that years ago maybe I wouldn’t be in this situation now. Your health is more important than you think. Being healthy is not just for you, it’s for your family and friends as well.

Another thing, I’m not sure if you noticed or not but medication is expensive as hell!! I have to get Liptitor for my Cholesterol and that is $133.42!!! Yes $133.42!!! both my diabetes meds came up to like $10 but that Lipitor was crazy! Now I understand why people on a fixed income or elderly skip months because they can’t afford it! My punk ass insurance company only paid $21 towards it. $21!!! What the hell!!!

That is all, gotta go check my levels again

Sincere

Blogging While Black, Current Events, Diabetes, Family Matters, Health | Sincere October 21, 2009

8 Comments to “Get Checked Out”

By laughing808, October 21, 2009 @ 1:21 PM

glad you found before it was too late. My employer had a health fair the top of the month and they had screenings for diabetes and cholesterol both readings for me were fine. As I get older, I’ve been noticing alot of things, like cake icing is too sweet and like wise for some drinks when I go out. So I started drinking more water and cutting down on the snacks I eat. I’m sure that helped some.

And yeah this health care industry is serious business…….my employer is a non profit organization is does lobbying for healthcare, so it’s always talk around the office about the various takes on health care and how it effects those with and without. And well the cost of meds these days are just a by product of negotations for the rich to stay rich.

Again glad you caught your health issues.
By Ursula, October 21, 2009 @ 1:56 PM

Sorry to hear this has happened to you! You are so young to be stuck with a chronic disease like this! I don’t use Lipitor. Prefer using Slo-Niacin at Walgreens. I don’t have diabetes yet but I do have Celiac Disease which can lead to diabetes. and I have a genetic marker called Lipoprotein(a) that leds to early stroke and heart attacks. So I need to keep my cholesterol levels under control.
Make sure you use fish oils. Take care, my friend!

BTW, this blog looks nice. What do you use? Word Press?
By ASmith, October 21, 2009 @ 2:32 PM

My ex was a diabetic; Type 1.

I’m glad you got checked out. The black community really should do a better job doing that.
By Sincere, October 21, 2009 @ 8:05 PM

Hey 808:
I thought I was doing all the right things too. I cut down on sodas and started drinking more water. I exercise, but I think Genetics was the downfall. It’s really heavy on my mom’s side. This healthcare issue drives me up the wall!! How can the ‘richest’ country be the only country with crappy healthcare? Like you said it’s how the rich stay rich.
By Sincere, October 21, 2009 @ 8:07 PM

Hey Ursula;
I got my meds from Walgreens too. I’ll have to look into Slo-Niacin when its time for a refill. I’ve heard of Celiac disease but I didn’t know it could lead to Diabetes. Aren’t fish oils pills nasty? lol I need to get some anyway though. This blog is hosted by wordpress. I’m getting it redesigned soon hopefully by the end of next month so it’ll look even more like a notebook ish journal of sorts. lol
By Sincere, October 21, 2009 @ 8:08 PM

Hey Ash!
I think I’m going to use this to help spread the word. I thought I was good because I exercise regularly and watched what I ate but I guess not.
By brran1, October 22, 2009 @ 9:32 AM

Hey Big Bruh,

I’m glad you got everything checked out. The price of those meds are crazy!!
By Sincere, October 22, 2009 @ 12:41 PM

Yeah I’m glad I caught it early. I can’t imagine how people pay this monthly on a fixed income.