It’s been a rough ride since I was diagnosed with diabetes.

First off, a little about the old John. I was the guy who was probably two double bacon cheeseburgers away from a heart attack. I was the guy on the “See Food” diet. I was the laziest SOB there was. I like exercising like I like hitting my face repeatedly with a hammer. I was fat… way too fat and I could feel it every time I went up the stairs in our home. It’s a shame when you are out a breath just from heading upstairs to kiss the kiddo goodnight.

And it wasn’t like I didn’t know I was out of shape and fat. I’d occasionally attempt to fix it. Many of you know how it is… you decide to get with and you’re pumped. You get up early and head to the gym and try to eat right. You’re awesome. You’re really going to do it this time! But alas, life, as it generally does, tends to happen. You head to lunch with the guys and maybe that one hamburger won’t be that bad. Maybe that two pound steak won’t clog the arteries. I think those people that manage to make those drastic changes in their life are bad ass. I couldn’t (more like wouldn’t) do it.

But then the diabetes happened and I started to learn some things. I guess that the majority of what I’ve eaten in the past (when away from home) was so bad that I didn’t notice feeling bad. When all you feel is bad, you don’t know anything else. But with the diabetes thing, and the education I’ve had muddle through since being diagnosed with it, I’ve learned that the opposite is true as well. I can eat correctly and feel good. It’s just as simple as that.

The old Medicaid farm doctor’s only advice for diet was to eat under 1800 calories a day. I’ve managed to stay pretty close, though I’m still a long way off. I’ve dropped around thirty pounds in the last few months and I’m still at it. The blood sugar thing is pretty easy to control, when you get right down to it. Those foods suck, don’t eat them. Those foods are good, eat those. Oh, there’s more to it than that, sure, and I’m learning as I go, but when you get right down to it, it’s fairly simple.

Long story short – I’m going to make it. I’m on the right track to getting this licked. Even beyond that, getting this right is getting the rest of my health right. Maybe the diabetes was a blessing in disguise if it’s opening my eyes the way it has. I guess I have to look for a bright side to it.

The worst part of the entire affair, though, is the Vampire Machine. I can not even begin to describe how much this thing annoys me. That little, simple machine that demands some of my blood several times a day. I despise poking my finger and feeding the evil little device.

I’m ready for Star Trek technology. I’m ready to scan my arm with my cell phone and check my sugar.