Miracle

7:56 pm EST January 30th, 2007 | Uncategorized | 22 Comments

So I have a family history of diabetes. A strong – in a bad way – history. My mother has it, as do my grandparents on her side, as well as one of my cousins. So it was no surprise when I recently went to the doctor that he said I too was diabetic, and pretty badly so.

I take medicine for it now and after I started taking the pills I realized I was having trouble reading text. I’m nearsighted, so the fact that I was having trouble reading a book just a couple inches away from my face scared me. One of the known side effects of diabetes, of course, is loss of vision. I worried that either that was the case or that my contact lenses needed a change in prescription.

My blood sugar was still too high, according to my doctor, so he increased my dosage of medicine. So yesterday I went to work and when I get there I can’t even read my monitor properly it’s so blurry. I figure I have to go to get my prescription fixed ASAP.

Then it dawns on me. Something weird is going on here. I take out my contacts when I get home.

I can see. In fact, the contacts were having the effect of putting on someone’s way too strong prescription glasses on and distorting everything. I’ve been wearing glasses since I was about 9 years old – 20 years – and for the first time in a long time I can see things properly without them. I can see the tv. I can see the computer monitor. I can read relatively small type over several feet away (it’s not Superman-level telescopic vision but it’s better than looking at letters in blobs).

I realize now that this is a side effect of my now-lowered blood sugar level, and I still need my vision corrected but I’ve had about 70% improvement in my eyesight over a three week or so period.

This, friends, is pretty freaking cool.

Clearly the next step is super powers of some sort. Perhaps I’m having an origin.

Topic: Oliver's World

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22 Responses to “Miracle”

Thom says:

January 30, 2007 at 9:01 pm

Really cool story and I’m glad for you, Oliver. How weird. Have similar stories been documented? With diabetes or the specific drug(s)?

Best of vision to ya.
Bendra says:

January 30, 2007 at 9:37 pm

I, too, have a family history of diabetes.

Now lose some weight, so that you can reduce your dependency on medical science, and tell us more about the improvement in your myopia. I wanna do that, too.
jerry says:

January 30, 2007 at 10:21 pm

Please dear god, let it be the porn, let it be the porn.
August J. Pollak says:

January 30, 2007 at 10:42 pm

I think it’s quite obvious, Dr. Willis (PhD – Bootyology): Jessica Alba is in fact so hot, starting at her long enough adjusts your eyesight. Because you eyes just want to work that badly.
Oliver Willis says:

January 30, 2007 at 11:25 pm

I checked with my friend who’s a doctor (he’s a anesthesioligist) and he’s pretty sure it was the medicine, although there is an unresolved issue: I had my blood sugar tested about 2 years ago because I had vertigo and it was perfectly fine, not elevated or anything so I’m not quite sure how/why my eyes have gotten so much better.

And damn if I didn’t consider the Alba thing when this happened. I will have to away to my lab for further… testing.
anuj says:

January 30, 2007 at 11:40 pm

Congrats mr willis, now you can keep up the power blogging!
michael says:

January 31, 2007 at 12:24 am

Save the cheerleader.
mdhåtter says:

January 31, 2007 at 2:18 am

No, Lara, believe me; Earth is the least of evils. On Earth, his lighter gravity will render him almost weightless – that can’t be helped. But with his denser molecular structure, he will also be strong.

He will be fast, He will be virtually invulnerable.
Oliver Willis says:

January 31, 2007 at 2:41 am

I am apparently on the list.
Danton says:

January 31, 2007 at 9:59 am

I was diagnosed with type 2 about a year ago. Fortunately, my doctor detected it early, which is a good reason to have an annual physical.

I addressed the situation immediately and my response has been so effective that my doctor asked me to give a talk to a group of diabetics. Here’s what I did:

1.) Cut out carbs. They’re addictive. It took me about 3 days to get them out of my system and stop craving them. Find some cuisines you can live with. I shifted to Middle Eastern food and Chinese (I make both at home). These days, I can make a big batch of, say, chicken, peppers, and bok choy in a Hunan sauce and feel satisfied all night.

2.) Look for ways of getting more exercise. I work on the 4th floor of a campus building. I began taking the elevator to the 3rd floor and walking up one flight of stairs, and then a week later I got off the elevator on the 2nd floor, and so forth.

3.) Exercise, but make it fun. I got a bike machine and did a half-hour while watching the PBS News Hour.

4.) If you start a routine in a gym (weights, jogging, swimming), do not push yourself at first. When you begin a program, never exercise past your point of fatigue. Build up to it and take your time.

The good news for me is that I lost 50 pounds in about 3 months and my glucose level averages in the low 90s and I feel better than I’ve felt in years.

Good luck, Oliver. You can do it.
Dr. Anatole Gavage-Huskanoy says:

January 31, 2007 at 10:48 am

I agree, Danton. Oliver, if there’s any way you can keep active when watching tv or movies at home, try to incorporate that in. It definitely helped my mom’s diabetes. Maybe a Wii would help, too. Apparently Nintendo is bringing out a bunch of fitness games this year. Good luck!
Marcus says:

January 31, 2007 at 11:30 am

Check out this idea of gaining superpowers:

http://www.twolumps.net/d/20070126.html
Duros62 says:

January 31, 2007 at 11:55 am

Mountain Dew, good.
Prestone, bad.
Mexchewy says:

January 31, 2007 at 12:39 pm

Judge for yourself, Oliver.

http://www.rawfor30days.com/
Texas Pete says:

January 31, 2007 at 1:50 pm

This is terrific news, Oliver. Although I’ve dodged the bullet so far, there are diabetics in my family, so I’ve learned quite a bit about it over the years. Follow your doc’s advice and take care of yourself.
Jet says:

January 31, 2007 at 3:30 pm

Congrats on the good news. I’ll add my voice to the chorus proposing exercising in front of the TV. It’s a fairly painless way to get your heart rate up, seeing as you’re distracted the whole time. Progressively longer walks with the dog is another good way.
pedromd07 says:

January 31, 2007 at 3:43 pm

His dogs legs are like 3 inches long….it ain’t going to be much of a walk!

But seriously, don’t let the meds act as a crutch against fixing the diet etc. I’ve seen patients who keep up the crappy eating/weight gain and just keep bumping up the meds thinking they are fixing the problem…next thing you know, bam, insulin-dependent…don’t fall into that trap.

Here’s a motivational idea…post weight loss on the blog…that way you will have a whole gang of cheerleaders helping to keep you from sliding…sort of a “Celebrity Weight Loss Challenge” for the blogosphere….
Mike says:

January 31, 2007 at 7:20 pm

Diabetes can cause a lot of problems so please keep it under control.
Duros62 says:

February 1, 2007 at 11:25 am

Pedro, that’s actually a pretty good idea.
We’re all rootin’ for ya, big guy.

Hey, does that medication clear up eyesight for non-diabetics?

Just asking.
Jake says:

February 1, 2007 at 11:55 am

congrats on the reacquired vision. And I’ll second (or is it more?) the exercising in front of the TV suggestion.
Duros62 says:

February 1, 2007 at 12:52 pm

Dance, Dance Revolucion!
Mary says:

February 1, 2007 at 1:25 pm

Have you seen the studies that say drinking coffee helps reduce incidence of diabetes? Go to google and put in “diabetes” and “coffee”….so..have a cup of coffee!