Boosy profile picture

Boosy

I am here for Friends and Networking

About Me

MyGen Profile GeneratorI volunteer with the ADA all year round. I am the event chairperson for America's Walk for Diabetes here in Fort Wayne, IN. I am a type 1 diabetic.

I'm pretty eccentric. I am all about living my life to its fullest. I am definitely not a push-over. I like to help people that want to help themselves. I say the truths that no will, even if it hurts me to say it or you to hear it. I live everyday like it's going to be my last. Which can be a good thing and a bad thing. Although, I have acquired some bad habits through the years like smoking. DON'T SMOKE!!! It's harder to quit, now more than ever, with all my health stresses! I have good days and bad days like most diabetics and am far from PERFECT. I try, the best I can, to keep a healthy lifestyle.

THE HARD PART: I was 10 years old when I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. I developed my first diabetic complication when I was 17 yrs old, Necrobiosis Lipoidica Diabeticorum or NLD. It's a blood vessel disease that breaks down the layers of your skin. I have it on my legs. It's like type 1 where it's caused from an auto immine deficiency disorder and less than 1/2% of type 1 diabetics have it. At 19, I miscarried with my first child due to my diabetes. At 22, I was diagnosed with neuropathy in my feet and legs. At 25 I had my first laser surgery to my right eye to slow down blindness from diabetes. Since then I went blind in my right eye for a couple of months but most of my vision came back after 2 more laser surgeries. I have little peripheral and night vision due to the 7 laser surgeries I have had thus far. At 26 yrs old, I was diagnosed with Pyoderma Gangrenosum, a skin disease that acts out whenever there is trama to the skin (scrape, burn, cut). I also had my tubes tied after the dr's terminated my pregnancy due to my diabetes. I was also diagnosed with high blood pressure and kidney damage. Then at 27 I was diagnosed with gastroperisis. At 28 I had an angiogram (heart catheter) as it appeared that I had blockages to my heart. It turned out to be narrow arteries which is typical of a diabetic heart. Then I had another surgery to try to help with pain (endometriosis & hemmhoragia). Then at 29 yrs old I was diagnosed with Fybromyalgia. In the meantime, I have struggled with OCD, insomnia, and manic depression since I was 15 years old. HHmmmm, imagine that! So to make a long story short (TOO LATE)I have been on an insulin pump for 5 years (FINALLY got a dr to approve me for one after 10 years). I am now ONLY on 11 different medications. Believe or not just a few years ago I was taking 16 different meds and over 30 pills a day.

There are two types of diabetes:

Type 1 Type 2 A flu virus that causes the body to attack itself (auto immune deficiency disorder) and kill off the insulin making cells. Usually develops in childhood. You have to have a specific DNA make up in order for this virus to attack. Since the body does not develop any insulin, daily injections or an insulin pump is the only way to stay alive. About 10% of diabetics are type 1. Insulin resistance or the body's inability to produce enough insulin. It's hereditary and the risks are higher if you are over weight and/or minority. Can usually be managed with proper diet, exercise, and sometimes oral meds. About 90% of diabetics are type 2.
  • Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death by disease in the U.S. Diabetes is a chronic disease that has no cure.
  • Diabetes is the leading cause of BLINDNESS, KIDNEY FAILURE, AND AMPUTATIONSDiabetes is becoming the new American health epidemic of the century.
  • The incidence of diabetes has increased by 61 percent since 1990 and continues to rise at an alarming rate.
  • More than 20.8 million Americans have diabetes — including more than five million who don't even know it.
  • An additional 54 million people have pre-diabetes, putting them at great risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
  • One out of every three Americans born in the year 2000 will develop diabetes.
  • More than $132 billion direct and indirect healthcare costs are attributed to diabetes (2002 statistics).
  • The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation's leading nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy. Powered by a network of more than one million volunteers and a membership representing diabetes patients and their families, physicians, scientists, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists and educators. ADA's mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

    My Interests

    Keeping up on all the latest studies and findings for diabetes and my other complications. POKER, MUSIC, WRITING, MOVIES, NATURE, AND SPIRITUAL STUDIES.

    I'd like to meet:

    Anyone who has questions about diabetes. Anyone who has diabetes or knows someone who does. Anyone who supports diabetes research and/or awareness.

    Music:

    Music is a big part of my life. Sometimes it's the only thing that gets me through another day.....

    Movies:

    LOVE MOVIES; TOO MANY TO NAME.

    Books:

    I'm in the process of writing my own about my life with diabetes.

    Heroes:

    My FAMILY for being strong enough to emotionally deal with me. For sacrificing their sanity, their jobs, and their life to take care of me when I need them.

    My Blog

    DIABULIMIA: Type 1 at risk

    Here is something that I have been battling since about the age of 13. It started when my insulin intake had doubled into puberty and I gained about 30 pounds. Hard for a young teen to have such a not...
    Posted by Boosy on Mon, 18 Jun 2007 01:37:00 PST

    Avandia (diabetes drug) turns deadly!!

    Glaxo's Avandia Said Linked to Heart Risk By MARILYNN MARCHIONE AP (May 21) - The widely prescribed diabetes drug Avandia is linked to a greater risk of heart attack and possibly death, says a new sci...
    Posted by Boosy on Mon, 21 May 2007 01:22:00 PST

    Diabetes School Care Act passed by Governor Daniels

    We fought hard to get this bill to pass. Thanks to all that helped make it happen! Martha   American Diabetes Association: ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smartta...
    Posted by Boosy on Wed, 09 May 2007 10:36:00 PST

    Diabetes Jam-Fest Coming Soon.....

      Diabetes Jam-Fest has set the date!!! Mark your calendar's for Saturday, May 19th at Sunset Hall, Fort Wayne !! Doors open at 6PM, show starts at 7PM. $5 donation gets you in the door. ALL AGE ...
    Posted by Boosy on Sat, 07 Apr 2007 09:56:00 PST