Thanks to all of you for the encouragement. One person wrote: > I have slightly elevated glucose.....not spilling any sugar, and not taking > any medicines......but do have a slightly high glucose levels.....? type 2? > > I have been trying to loose some weight and do some exercise, but also find > it hard to do...denial.... > > Haven't any any symptons, except lazy....and that may, in fact be a symptom. > My family doctor suggests loosing weight and doing a little exercise will > probably bring the glucose in line. AME sees no problem at this time.
Here's my history: >From 1979 on, I've exercised. For the first five or seven years, I did it seven days a week. Then as I got older and lazier I got to skipping days, then more days. Then I sometimes skipped a month or two. Then I got to the point when I would see a jogger and say to myself, "I used to do that," and that would reinvigorate me for a while. By my 1991 medical, my AME warned me I had diabetes and should get immediate treatment. I was right at the FAA's borderline, he said. But I thought that if I ran a little more and ate a little better, it would be OK. I didn't get any treatment. I just felt terrible because I had lost my flying medical. By 1992 I had full blown type II diabetes. In the 1992-1993 winter, I couldn't pass a drinking fountain or a rest room without stopping. Wouldn't you know it, I flunked my 1993 medical. If you have slightly elevated glucose already, you are getting close to losing your medical. As I did, you could not do regular exercise and lose weight, then get medicines to bring the glucose in line. You'll have some medium medical expenses getting your medical packet ready for the FAA. Then, you'll have a delay of some months while they lose your paperwork and finally give you approval with oral medication only. But type II usually progresses to needing insulin which is where the FAA quite rightly gets MUCH more restrictive. By last summer, I just barely met the FAA guidelines on the average blood glucose level with a gazillion medications and supplemental insulin. But I did meet the published requirements, passed the stress EKG, etc., and sent in my packet. Now they've bounced it because two of the medicines, used together, aren't acceptable. As many as I'm taking, that didn't surprise me. Two weeks ago I got a series of exercise tapes (Tae Bo) for the days when I can't go speed walking. I've hit 11 out of the last 14 days for exercise. Since getting the rejection letter this week, I've cut way back on eating so I can lose weight AND do without the insulin at the same time and it's going pretty well. So far. If you're one of us who has been 40-80 lb. overweight you'll understand what it means to commit to all this. Could one of you, every once in a while, encourage me a bit. I've learned that, for those of us who are aging, overweight and under exercised, it'll be a lot better to do the diet and exercise NOW. It's better to not wait till you lose your medical, have to take a soup of medicines, have a greatly elevated risk of heart attack, blindness, stroke, amputation, and more, more, more. Now the denial had better end. I really need to exercise REGULARLY. I really need to lose 50-70 lb. I can do it. I can. Good luck to us all. Till later, -- Ed Burkhead Peoria, Ill. Ercoupe N3802H, 415-D __________________________________________________________________________ ______ To unsubscribe from this list please send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________________________ Check out the new and improved Topica site! http://www.topica.com/t/13
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