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Thank you for taking time to visit my page. My name is Ian Watson and I have been fighting diabetes for 11 years. I was an unfortunate pick by this disease my junior year of high school. I've battled with high and low blood sugars, slower healing time for sickness or injuries, constant carb ratio counting, ketoacidosis, and the many other side effects that come with diabetes. So what exactly is it that I have?
I haven't given much into sports since being diagnosed. I've always been afraid of getting low blood sugars. With a low blood sugar, your body goes weak, your vision gets impaired, your speech gets jumbled, and you can't think clearly. On the other end, if you drink too much sugary sports drinks or eat too many carbs, you can get headaches, dry mouth, muscle cramping, and your body starts to slow down. Finding the right method to stay "normal" was very daunting on top of trying to stay normal in every day activities. Well, I'm breaking through my barriers.
With diabetes comes weight gain. I've decided to manage my weight, eat healthy, and train to do what I love best, ride my bike. Last year I tried out my first ride, a brisk 35 miles. This year I plan to ride 320 miles in charity events such as MS, American Diabetes Association, and JDRF. I believe that there is a cure for this incurable disease and I plan on attacking it in any way I can.
So why do you need to know this?
I need help raising the money for this event. I have a $2,000 goal I'm trying to reach and if I do, I get to (as Queen put it) "GET ON MY BIKE AND RIDE!" I will have the ability to step up to the plate and prove to myself that 100 miles is nothing for me. I have the ability to prove to myself that, as a diabetic, I can do this with hard work, training, and blood monitoring. My motto is this: "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!" I know I have the strength in me, will you help me get there so I can prove myself?
Whether it's a charitable 1 time donation or a pledge to give over a couple of months, I really do need your help. You get the satisfaction of knowing you are helping find a cure for me, and you can write it off on your taxes! 8D
Thank you for your support!
-Ian Watson
My Blog
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When you become diabetic, a normal part of your daily routine becomes checking blood sugar...well, at least it should be. If one were to check blood sugars before and after meals and during highs and lows, a person could be pricking their finger, drawing blood, and testing anywhere from 6-9 times a day. Let's say, someone averaged the minimum of 6 times a day for a whole year. That means that an average diabetic would be pricking their finger with a needle and drawing blood 2,190 times a year!
Then there are the blood samples that need to be taken at the Doctor's office and the pin pricking they do there. On top of that, you have to inject insulin into your body. I do the old fashioned, syringe and vial method. This means if I gave myself insulin for every time I ate a meal or snack I would be averaging close to 2,000 times I would have to stick myself with a syringe a year. Even if it's to get 2 units of insulin....I hate those.
Being a diabetic is basically like being a living pin cushion. The reason that you may not see us doing this all the time is because we don't want to gross people out. Even when I change out my lancet for my blood sugar checks, I offer people who are not diabetics a chance to feel what it's like to prick their finger just once. They never want to do it because it hurts or scares them. It's a funny thing to watch, but it's sad because no one wants to be in this situation. The next time you eat a carb, think about a diabetic. The next time you are about to eat, think about how you would have to check your blood sugar, then inject insulin into your body, eat, then a couple hours later check again. It's easy to forget about unless you are the one who actually has to keep a close eye on things.
I pray there is a cure in the future, I really do. Living like a pin cushion is not fun, especially during the 5,000 or so times I have to go through it a year.
by Ian Watson on Mon, Feb 04, 2013 @ 10:02 AM
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