Halle Berry

I do not love to work out,
but if I stick to exercising every day
and put the right things in my mouth,
then my diabetes just stays in check.

~ Halle Berry
American – Actress Born: August 14, 1968

Porte Ponderings:

Like Halle Berry, I’m also not fond of working out or dieting as a lifestyle, but for health reasons as we age more and more of us need to do exactly that to stay alive and feel well.

Diabetes is a life altering disease and a continual balancing act. Exercise, diet, medications all effecting sugar levels, mood and ability to think with a constant fear of extreme lows and highs.

One day recently we were getting ready to take the motorcycles for a ride. A young man in a hoody stumbled around and onto our neighbour’s front step frantically looking for something. Our neighbour called 911 thinking the unknown young man wanted to rob him. My husband called 911 thinking the young man may have overdosed and in need of naloxone. Luckily an ambulance arrived.

The young man had fallen between our two houses and quickly fading. The ambulance attendants quickly realized he was having a diabetic low. Our neighbour got a coke for the young man. He was revived and taken to hospital for follow-up. The ambulance attendant said the young man was moments away from death and by dialing 911 his life had been saved. A tragedy involving diabetic lows had been averted.

Unfortunately diabetic highs can also have devastating effects. My son having a diabetic high became belligerent and aggressive with a grocery cashier because they don’t give out grocery bags anymore. The police were called and did an unnecessary physical take down, even though my son told the police he was having a diabetic high and needed medication. Eventually he was taken to the hospital where the Emergency Doctor incorrectly said a diabetic high wouldn’t make a person violent. My son was given insulin, calmed down and was released. Our Diabetic Educator had a discussion with the Emergency Doctor to explain that yes a diabetic high can make a person violent and aggressive. It’s bad enough that police aren’t trained to handle medical and mental emergencies, but even some Doctors lack the appropriate knowledge. Again if the treatment isn’t appropriate diabetic coma can occur and death.

Most diabetics are lucky enough to keep their medical condition under control, but it is a constant balancing act of exercise, diet and medication with the fear of extremes.

Medications are only a treatment for diabetes, not a cure. To help find a cure or for more information contact Diabetes Canada.