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.
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.
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.
Please dear god, let it be the porn, let it be the porn.
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.
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.
Congrats mr willis, now you can keep up the power blogging!
Save the cheerleader.
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.
I am apparently on the list.
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.
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!
Check out this idea of gaining superpowers:
http://www.twolumps.net/d/20070126.html
Mountain Dew, good.
Prestone, bad.
Judge for yourself, Oliver.
http://www.rawfor30days.com/
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.
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.
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….
Diabetes can cause a lot of problems so please keep it under control.
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.
congrats on the reacquired vision. And I’ll second (or is it more?) the exercising in front of the TV suggestion.
Dance, Dance Revolucion!
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!