Symbolic win for diabetics

[nm]

For all of us who have family members who have diabetes and for those of us who diabetes, this was a major win. I am a borderline diabetic. I take metformin. My late mother had diabetes and most, if not all, of its complications. Mother had a massive heart attack, and had emergency triple bypass surgery. Later, she had at least one, maybe more (the tests were inconclusive) "minor" heart attack(s). The diabetes closed 2 of the bypass arteries. Mother had to have a leg amputated, and learned to walk on an artificial leg better than I would have. The diabetes affected her eyesight. All the antibiotics and dyes used for testing to see if the arteries are open shut down kidney function. Mother had to go on dialysis. Mother got an infection from the dialysis. All the antibiotics that mother had taken made it much more difficult to fight off the infection: her body was used to the antibiotics. Every time the doctors thought they had the infection stopped, it mutated and came back stronger. We lost mother to the infection.

So, for all of us who have diabetes or loved ones with this disease, this was an important symbolic win.

[JohnMc]

My favorite ballplayer of all-time, Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame third baseman Ron Santo, was also a diabetic and he worked hard at being the best that he could be. Like the "Old Cub," Charlie Kimball works hard at winning and it is terrific to see all of that work pay off. He is a terrific example for diabetics as well as anyone else who has a condition, malady or handicap to overcome.

[Frank Capua]

I have a friend who is type I diabetic since she was 19 and my Dad was type II... I lost 90 pounds because my doctor told me I was on the verge of becoming type II.

My friend was very pleased and excited to see Charlie win... She said; "Maybe people will finally stop believing we are contagious."

[Grizzlor]

Hope Charlie gets some national press on this.

PS: Robin Miller put out a RACER video talking about the late Don Branson, who drove with Type1 Diabetes in the 60's but never told anyone.

[KevinNeely]

Conor Daly is also a type 1 diabetic

[KevinNeely]

I myself am a Type 2 diabetic. I've never thought of it as a disability, but rather something I have to manage. I know it's considered a disease, but I just never think about it like that. I've had some side effect issues, like Stasis ulcers and neuropathy in my feet, but I manage it and live with it pretty well.

[nm]

I just wanted to say one of my best friends on TF lost their father to diabetes. I thought about my friend and their father yesterday.

[WheelerDealer]

Conor Daly is also a type 1 diabetic

Why do they refer to Charlie as the only licensed ....?

I'm diabetic and use product Charlie promotes. Had a front row for the parade a year ago and whipped the pen out (stand back while I whip this thing out) as he passed in his car. One of the 2 women in the car with him saw it and pounded Charlie to turn around to see me. We exchanged thumbs up. Kind of like the Larry David bald brother moment for us.

[sean26]

I love what he is doing, but am I the only one that seemed like he was not excited or emotional enough about his win?

[KevinNeely]

Why do they refer to Charlie as the only licensed ....?

I'm diabetic and use product Charlie promotes. Had a front row for the parade a year ago and whipped the pen out (stand back while I whip this thing out) as he passed in his car. One of the 2 women in the car with him saw it and pounded Charlie to turn around to see me. We exchanged thumbs up. Kind of like the Larry David bald brother moment for us.

I'm currently on Metformin, but if I had to go on an insulin product, I'd pick the FlexPen in a heartbeat. no syringes. No vials. No need to keep things cold. It honestly is the best product on the market. I've had many chats with Charlie about diabetes as well. Novo Nordisk is great for him because you can tell he's not just talking it up because it's his sponsor.... It's a product he uses and honestly believes in.

As for Conor... I think the deal with Charlie is the first licensed Diabetic, not only.

Do you use Novolog or Levemir?

[KevinNeely]

I love what he is doing, but am I the only one that seemed like he was not excited or emotional enough about his win?

Charlie's kinda like Dixon. He's notthe type to get all wound up. Plus, it was incredibly hot and tiring out there. betcha his sugar was a little low.

[retread]

I'm also a Diabetic with Diabetic Neuropathy. I can vouch how difficult it is to remain in a car for many miles and hours, and not have the cold, paralized sensation that your legs and feet go through. When I do need to stop during trips, it is rough to get out of a car since you are so stiff and sore until all the blood flow sensations return to your limbs. My applause goes out to Charlie for making people aware of our condition and the "I can" attitude we all live by.

[Rossfeld]

Conor Daly is also a type 1 diabetic

I thought they were keeping that quiet? Or were they just not trying to trade on it publically?

[KevinNeely]

I thought they were keeping that quiet? Or were they just not trying to trade on it publically?

A little from column A, a little from column B. Conor doesn't let it define who he is, and they're not trying to build a sponsorship opportunity out of it.

[nm]

Charlie's kinda like Dixon. He's notthe type to get all wound up. Plus, it was incredibly hot and tiring out there. betcha his sugar was a little low.

If memory serves, at Indy the crew was able to monitor his sugar level during the race. How are they doing that, and is that for all races?

At one time (around 1999 -2000) 2 companies were experimenting with a device that looked like a watch. The device was supposed to be able to monitor sugar level changes thru the skin, with no penetration with a needle. One company bought the other out. Don't know what happened after that.