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Doughnuts or diabetes? Your choice.

Doughnuts or diabetes? Your choice.

This is such a disappointment. America's Type 2 diabetes problem just keeps getting worse, according to a new study from the CDC. Despite a constant deluge of articles and studies on the dangers of—and the contributing factors to—diabetes, it appears people aren't paying attention.

The study actually looks at the rocketing rates by stte and in several states, including right here in Maine, the rates more than doubled. Guess we Yanks should stop pointing our formerly-slim fingers at Mississippi and saying, "put down the fried chicken."

Do people really not understand the risks? The dangers? Do they just not care? November is American Diabetes Month, which seeks to raise awareness of diabetes. Take the Type 2 risk test from the American Diabetes Association.

I cannot tell you how frustrating it is to see people basically eat themselves toward an early grave. Nothing tastes as good as being healthy feels. That's a mantra I picked up somewhere over the years. Don't even get me started on the cash it would free up to be diabetes-free.

As a person with Type 1, I can assure that I would do whatever it took to avoid a self-inflicted disease. (dad, if you are reading this, you'd better not be smoking). I woke up at 3:30 this morning, as I do every morning thanks to my shoulder problems. I was thirsty so checked my sugar. Yikes! It was 300. I took  3 units of insulin which should have knocked it down around 150 points (still high, but nightime management is a tricky thing). Reawoke at about 5:45, as I do most mornings. After a few minutes, realized I was feeling a little nauseous. Yikes! My blood sugar was 34. In case you are wondering if that's low, it's beyond low. If you doubled that number it would still be low. I chugged 8 ounces of juice and crawled back to bed.

Obviously, I rallied and made it into the office.

Stay healthy out there.

Theresa Flaherty
Type 1, 13 years

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