ijsendoorn

For years I was a smoker. I smoked a pack a day at the very least for 15 years. Addiction is powerful.

I finally kicked that habit but realized that nicotine is not the only drug I am addicted to. The other is much easier to get and I am not sure I want to quit it yet.

Caffeine.

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"I'll have the catfish plate and a small soda please." The corner Mediterranean grocery/restaurant, Vine Ripe Market, always has great food. From gyro and skewered chicken to trout, tilapia, catfish, salmon, shrimp, lamb,all the yummy stuff you can't find at the local burger house.

The bubbly girl at the counter asks, "What kind of drink would you like?" I tell her I will have a diet soda. "Really!?" was the following shocked statement from her lips.

I guess she was expecting the usual call for Pepsi or some other flavored soda. I didn't know what to say. The possibility of explaining about my diabetes flashed into my head, or if I should just play it off as normal. It was a simple interaction, but it weighted on me for several minutes after. Did I react the right way? Should I have explained to her why I chose diet? Was it any of her business? Maybe next time I'll just roll with it and make light of my love for sugar-free drinks. (READ MORE)

These changes I wrote about recentlyare going pretty well. I'm choosing better foods to eat, only having human sized portions, and even cutting back on the soda.

I cannot believe I just typed that.

Soda. Diet soda is a vice I am not ready to give up entirely. I love soda in almost any flavor as long as it's diet odds are I'll like it.

But I drink a lot of soda. Way too much to be honest. And although diet soda doesn't seem to affect my blood glucose levels, the salt in it is not good.

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Are you hooked on caffeine drinks? They are everywhere! Caffeine is littered throughout cups of coffee, doubled up in cans of energy drinks, and even spilling from D-friendly diet sodas, making it hard to get away from. Maybe this is why so many adults, and teenagers, consume the stuff at a heart-pounding rate. But have you noticed the impact on your blood glucose numbers like I have? It can spike my numbers wicked fast if I am not on top of things. Sure doesn't make my employment at Starbucks any easier, the stuff is diffused into my veins with every breath I take!

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Some of you may find this strange, but I typically travel with diet soda.

I should say that I don't load up the car each morning on my way to work (although I do consume one can on the drive in), but whenever we are going to visit a friend or family member, I bring some soda.

What I usually do is stop by the store, pick up several bottles or 12 packs, and take one in with me when I get to the destination. That way, if they all get consumed, I know I have more in the car as backup.  And there are no uncomfortable moments when I am leaving if it's not all consumed - I take the leftovers with me.

I have a few friends who always tell me: "George, I know you are coming so I always get diet for you!" 

To which I reply: "Great! I will drink yours first and take this home!" 

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Dear Michko,

It is with deep regret that I write to you today to tell you that I am resigning effective immediately. 

I have truly enjoyed my time with you. You have kept me employed for many, many years. You have stuck with me when the going got tough. Even when I continued to upset your stomach you still gave me another chance.

I appreciate the fact that you stuck with me -- albeit part-time -- when my stomach upsetting tendencies were at their highest. I truly apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused you. 

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