I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in
2005. There's no telling how long I had it prior to finding out. It
could easily be eight years or so, one of my doctors once told me.
During that time, I smoked and drank and ate whatever I wanted, with
no knowledge of the damage it could easily have been doing to my
organs, particularly the kidneys. That's because of the tiny blood
vessels that feed them. Sugar makes the vessels very brittle. If
they're brittle, they snap. Kidney disease is the one thing that
frightens diabetics the most. With five stages of chronic kidney
disease, one being normal and five being complete failure, I am holding
steady at stage three. Age itself diminishes function, but diabetes
is the silent killer if you're not careful.
Fortunately, I was sensible enough to
quit smoking in 2007. Cold turkey. Just like that! After nearly forty
years, I did it and never looked back. A few years later, I stopped
drinking alcohol. I don't remember the year because I slowly weaned
myself away from it until I simply lost the desire. I wouldn't say
I'd never have another drink; I just don't have an appetite for it
and it's been like this for many years.
When I reflect on all that's happened
in my life since the diagnosis, I sometimes ponder how boring my life
has become. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’m not boring and I’m
never bored with myself, but it’s a far cry from my days of youth.
After all...
It doesn't seem like so many years ago
that, in my 20s, I could stay up partying until 4:00 AM, sleep a
couple of hours and go to work like it was nothing. Heck, I could do
this for the rest of my life, right? Well, not every night.
In my 30s, I could party with the best
of them until 2:00 AM.
In my 40s, it was more like midnight.
In my 50s, I might be able to handle
11:00 PM on a good night, but...
In my 60s? Heck, I'm 64-years-old now,
and I start thinking about going to bed soon after watching Jeopardy!
