This story caught my eye.

A recycling company owner plead guilty in federal court in South Bend, Indiana, yesterday for selling defective test strips.

Bayer paid the recycling company $8,000 to dispose of the test strips, which were part of a 2007 recall. Dispose of the test strips he did; On the Internet. Well, he attempted to. I guess the eight grand wasn't enough. I'm not sure if any of the test strips were purchased before they were removed from the Internet, but think of the harm he could have caused. What a scumbag!

I don't know the avenue in which one takes to sell defective test strips on the Internet (shocking as that may be), but I might be a little leery if I came across Crazy Kenny's Recycling, Pool Cleaning and Test Strip Hut while on the Internet. Maybe I'm just naïve. Perhaps it's a much more sophisticated racket than that.

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In anticipation of my end of the month endo appointment, I have to go for fasting blood work this week. I'm dreading it. To me, this one of the most inconvenient things in the world for several reasons.

First off, it has taken years for me to get into the habit of eating breakfast. Now that I'm a regular at the breakfast table, I'm completely hooked on the most important meal of the day. I can't leave home without it.

Second, I don't think its safe for me to drive on an empty stomach. It's kind of like not drinking liquor on an empty stomach. It's just a bad idea. I'm low, I'm shakey, I can't see straight. I'm liable to curse at anyone who crosses my path, even if they do have the right of way. Granted, the doctors office is down the hill and around the bend, literally 3 minutes away. But still, I'm not fond of driving before eating. (READ MORE)

bigevil600

Since becoming a "Weight Watcher," I have noticed the amount of stress in my life has increased. Having diabetes means I carry around a bunch of stuff with me where ever I go. I have my Glucose testing machine, strips, lancets, glucose tabs, and not to mention my carb counting book.

And now I have to add my Dining Out Guide which gives me the point values to restaurant food, my sliding scale for figuring point values, my tracker which I log my points in, and the Food Guide that has point values for all kinds of foods. So you see, I have more stuff to remember these days then I did before. (READ MORE)

Since getting my hands on a review copy of Jenny Ruhl's new book, "Blood Sugar 101: What they don't tell you about diabetes" (Technion Books), I haven't been able to put it down.

Finally, an intellegent book about type 2 diabetes that tells it like it is and offers practical advice without talking down to me or engaging in quackery. Reading it, I feel like I did when met best friend Sue in middle school or when first found Diabetic Mommy. There's someone else who gets it! (READ MORE)

There. I said it. I have been saying that a lot lately. When The Mr. wants to know what's wrong I can often sum it up by saying, "I hate diabetes."

I'm having trouble dealing lately. I know people want to help. I know that when someone says, "It's a way of life," that they're trying to help. I know that when someone suggests I take a walk that they have my best interests at heart.

So why does it just make me want to cry? Why does it make me want to put my head through a wall? Why does it make me want to ignore diabetes and curl up in a ball in a corner? Why can I accept help from people some times and not others?

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Matthias Gelinski

12.5? 10.0? 7.8? 8.2?

That is what my last four hemoglobin A1c tests have been. I just got the results for my latest blood work this week.

When my nurse gave me the results I was not surprised. My carb intake has been a lot more then usual and my blood sugars have been high often. Since I switched to the Weight Watchers Core Plan like so many of you suggested, my BG has been very good this week. I am hopeful that I can get that A1c down next time. But are those numbers bad? (READ MORE)