I happen to be diabetic and I am for stem cell research. If that makes me a supporter of abortion, or a baby-killer in your eyes, so be it.

I have had this godforsaken disease for 36 years, and let me tell you, I am so sick and tired of it. I stab myself at least twice daily. Insulin injections. Not really being able to enjoy the foods you know you would love. Stabbing my fingers several times daily, too. Spending money every month that could go towards something else.

I’m at a four times higher risk for heart disease and stroke, and that’s just for being a diabetic alone. I also don’t like the thought of a possibility of the end of my life being spent going to dialysis constantly. Maybe losing a limb. And so far, I’m a pretty healthy guy for a diabetic. I don’t have any eye problems, my blood pressure is decent, my blood sugars are decent (but could be a bit better sometimes) and I have great feeling in my limbs. I know I could eat better – I hear it from my fiance once in a while – and get more exercise. I also know I should get back on my kidney meds, which was 20 mg of Accupril daily. Enalapril was another that I’ve tried before.

Maybe your opinion is that I should live with this disease longer until they find a different way to cure diabetes. I have a friend that I’ve known since I was 14 years old who had a pancreatic transplant. Yes, he is cured, but he’ll have to live the rest of his life taking tons of anti-rejection drugs and getting tested over and over to see if he’s still OK. And since he’s getting help from Social Security for it, there goes a steady job for him – which would drive me crazy to not be able to work. Encapsulated Beta Cell transplants have to be done every seven years, and they haven’t been approved by the FDA yet. And you’d probably still have to take anti-reject meds.

I’ve read up on stem cell research, and yes, it would cure diabetes. I’ve read extensively on this. So I am all for the research. I guess I’m just pretty sick of having this disease and knowing there’s a great way to get rid of it once and for all is close at hand. If I’m bumming you out by seeming selfish and being a hideous monster in your eyes – I don’t care. Try having diabetes for a few weeks. You might change your mind. I’m sure that there are some out there in my shoes that don’t feel like I do. You’re entitled to your opinion if you’re one of those people. But I’m sure that there are many more people that feel like I do.

I think I’ve run out of steam on this rant. I’ll remark more on this later on…

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