Did you catch the Style network's new reality show? The 9 episode series is about a 487 lb Southern belle with type 2 diabetes who's been warned she's a "metabolic time bomb". You can see the first one here, if you missed it.

The show didn't discuss her diabetes in depth, the doctor just mentioned that she wasn't able to control her blood sugars. Ruby repeated something else later that her doctor had said.  It compared high sugars with turning your blood to syrup and how that syrup damages the kidneys, the eyes, et al. That image of blood as syrup has stuck with me.

It's mentioned a couple times that Ruby has weighed over 700 lbs sometime in the past. I'll be interested to hear how she lost 200+ lbs already. She seems very motivated by the numerous threats to her health. I think the series is Tivo-worthy. 

I continue to be very motivated about the gym and my trainer. (nice segue, wasn't it?)  Four times a week since August 1st, except for vacation.  I'm beginning to see functional improvements, like carrying my 5 year old up a flight of stairs piggyback style.  I didn't even wobble!

Unfortunately, the discipline and routine haven't carried over to diabetes management.  I haven't been testing my blood glucose and I've been eating poorly.  It seems I can never have both ends of the diet-exercise see-saw (teeter-totter) in balance. My weight is stable, thanks to the vigorous cardio, but that just tells me I'd be dropping weight if I were eating reasonably. Maybe Ruby will help me get back on track, just one more time.

In happier news, I'm delighted that it looks like our Guantanamo Bay prison is closing in about 66 days. And I'm even more thrilled that stem cell research will be federally funded again.  It's said to be the best hope for curing Type 1 diabetes.  I would so love to see that day soon. "Insulin is NOT a cure".