Over the next 5 years his kidneys and heart got worse, his legs were beyond a mess despite dozens of surgeries. He couldn’t walk and most days he didn’t know that the year wasn’t sometime in the 1950’s.

In November of 2016 he was admitted to hospital for the last time. His Kidneys and his heart were failing. He no longer recognized myself or my sister until he was (prodded) for 10 or 15 minutes.

He went between ICU and Critical Care until April of 2018 – his last 17 months spent in hospital, waiting for respite care, before his heart finally won the race and he died of congestive failure probably no more than a week before his kidneys would have taken him out.

In the last lucid conversation I had with him he still believed that he was going to get out of hospital and get control of his diabetes.

He didn’t die from lack of will power; he died from stubbornness and the belief that he knew it all.

Ok, he made it to life expectancy (almost) – died a few months before his 82nd birthday. But he lost all quality of life over 15 years earlier. Constantly in pain, couldn’t walk, couldn’t think and couldn’t really see.

Diabetes is not kind. It eats you slowly if you let it.

At least I learned something from him.

I learned that I am not going to go out like that and that “control at all costs” is the only way to go…

My Father was a good man.

Always involved with the youth groups, spent countless hours driving supplies for the food banks and church organizations.

In his more mobile days he volunteered at nursing homes all this while raising us and keeping a full time job as a mechanic.

He would help anyone with anything and freely of himself.

And Diabetes Doesn't Care - you don't get a pass because you go to Church or save Baby Seals or Feed the Homeless.

You control it or it controls you and if you think dealing with it is HARD I can tell you dying from it is way harder....

Did this have to happen?? Really tugged at my heart strings. Reminded me a lot of my loving caring Father and his battle with the beast. He passed young at 57. Almost 37 years now and I still think of him daily. I vividly remember the phone call with Mom that day when she said "I just lost my best friend" It was from this day forward that I was very stronly motivated to seriously look after my health. Thanks again Graham!

Thanks Graham. I had a similar experience with my Mother in the early 80's. She did not have all the information that I have available now. She died at age 70. My aim is to control the disease and have a good quality of life as long as possible.

Thanks Graham. I had a rough day and vented about my personal experience. It gives me hope that i can do this. If i get stubborn and mad it won't do a bit a good. I gotta trust my Doc and my diet and see how things play out. Fasting 134, after breakfast 139 and after dinner 149 but i know i over ate we finally celeberated Christmas with family after Covid hit us Christmas week. I partaked in too much broasted chicken.

Thank you, Graham. Very poignant.