I fear them.

Strength, sumi. If the tests are positive, you're going to hear lots of horror stories told by people who probably have no idea how scared you are. The person I first talked to about what to expect with diabetes was about 19, rail-thin, rampantly acned, and chewing gum. She couldn't have been more bored when she outlined the worst-case scenarios. I nearly strangled her.

That said, diabetes is serious. However, the horror stories are aimed at people who shrug and say, "I can still have a triple-dip sundae with extra chocolate every day, I'll just take shots later," they're not aimed at people who slip up occasionally but try their best. My pharmacist told me that most diabetics can't keep their blood sugar below 200, when the low 100s are the goal. My biggest struggle--aside from my inveterate potato cravings--is to try and keep the endless lectures from the media in perspective. I'm very tired of "You may have this! You may have that! Don't you realize that if you keep doing X you'll die??!!" The warnings get more and more strident, and people keep plugging their ears harder and harder.

If it's positive, it'll be hard. The cravings will be horrific. You may be one of the lucky folk who can do moderation. Remember, most of the medical information is aimed at dumb people. The trick is to filter out the useful information from the lectures.

{{{juliana}}} The only offense is that I have never had the opportunity to meet you live and in technicolor. But, I'm holding that against the Universe and not against you.

P-C!! So good to see you around these here parts. And, you don't suck.

Timelies, Bitches!

I just took Annabel to daycare and hung out for an hour or so to make sure she'd be OK. I don't work until this afternoon, since the person I'm replacing volunteers at a museum Monday mornings, but I have to run a bunch of errands and shovel down a quick lunch, and I thought it would be best to go ahead and get Annabel into the routine of the place as much as possible.

She's fine. I stayed until they served the kids breakfast, because I was really concerned she wouldn't want to eat different foods in a different place, given how weird she's been about trying new things lately. I shouldn't have worried. She sailed right in to peach slices and cereal with milk, even though her usual breakfast is yogurt, a banana, and cereal without milk. She barely noticed me leaving, she was so involved in her meal.

And having seen what the other kids are like upon arrival, I'm much less worried about her behavior. She may not be used to sitting at a table or lining up to walk to the playground, but she's also calm, happy, and self-contained, and while she throws the occasional tantrum, they're of mercifully short duration.

The Zombie attack killed me.

Go, Fay!

Good luck with the tests, sumi.

{{juliana}}

I survived my library brunch yesterday. The biggest surprise was one of the librarians in Tech Services showed up with his 3 year old daughter, and none of knew he had a daughter.

{{{Juliana}}} You are loved. You are valued. You are not alone.

Sumi, I understand teh scary. About the cake? Diabetics can have some carbs. How much your system can take at any given time will vary with a number of factors. Back in the early 1980s when my dad was diagnosed, he was advised, "Yes, you can have cake, but skip the icing." Nowadays, they'll say, carbs from sugars will affect you the same as carbs from starches, so if you want cake with icing, plan your meal(s) that day around it, have one (smallish) piece, and enjoy. Here is another factor: with the popularity of low-carb dieting, there are many more tasty less-carbtastic dessert options than there were 20 years ago. No matter what the results of your tests are, you can have a future featuring much delicious food that is also what your body needs.

{{{juliana}}}

My favorite co-worker resigned this morning. He is moving to Phoenix.

I have informed him that he is selfish and hateful.

And then made him buy me a bagel.

Wishing you all kinds of good things, juliana.

{{{sumi}}} See what Andi says above -- it's very wise. I have Type II diabetes, and while it is a serious disease, it's easier to have control over it than almost any other kind of illness. You can have cake. You can eat pretty much everything, as long as it's in moderation, which is pretty much what everyone should do anyway.

Happy first day, Susan! I bet Annabel will love daycare. They seem to love being with the other kids. Ben and Jake both rocked daycare when they were in it, and I bet Annabel will, too.

I am coming down with whatever Aimee and Emeline had this weekend.

I am stupid and sluggish. And stupid.

Did I say sluggish? Also stupid.

It is my day off, and I have napped, cleaned both litterboxes, snuggled Harvey, pushed him away from Sammie twice (he keeps biting her neck, the big horn-cat), and had a nutritious lunch.

Damn, that's exhausting. Next up, more napping and a trip to the library.

{{{juliana}}}

I have survived my morning. I am now at work. I just might make it through the day. Go figure!