You may remember Richard Jewell, wrongfully accused of the '96 Atlanta Olympics bombing and basically convicted by the media for some time before Eric Rudolph was accused. He has died at 44.
Jewell was diagnosed earlier this year with diabetes, already had had toes amputated and was on dialysis. Given his age, I assume it was a Type 2 diagnosis. How bad did it have to be to have already lost toes to this disease? And then to die the same year as diagnosis? I am his age and reading this first thing today really brought home the seriousness of my condition.

The first type 1 diabetic I ever knew, we met at age 13, is already dead. She died 3 years ago of complications from the disease. She was a good friend, played basketball and soccer and never seemed to let her disease get in the way. We went our separate ways after high school, but re-connected at our 20th class reunion and via e-mail after that. She gave birth to 2 boys with disabilities and had a lot of challenges in life. I have no idea how well or poorly she treated her condition.

I need to respect the seriousness and potentially deadly aspects of this disease, but I won't let it paralyze me. Diabetes has had numerous victims. I can focus on the next right food choice and where I'm going to fit in exercise today, but I can't sit around and worry about kidney complications that may or may not happen in 5, 10, or 15 years. I can also give a thought to how lucky I am and be thankful - my disease was diagnosed very early, due to the gestational diabetes that preceded it. I have decent insurance that makes my doctor visits and medications affordable. I have a lot of say in how healthy I live the rest of my life.

Stories like the one about Richard Jewell or the coverage of Luther Vandross' death should only serve to keep me motivated about my health goals.