DIABETES KICKS MY BUTT. AGAIN.

Once again, my Type-2 diabetes sneaked up on me and kicked my butt. I can usually keep my condition under control with meds, eating somewhat responsibly, and exercising often-to-daily, if my feet and ankles will allow.

Several times since being diagnosed and beginning Glyburide-Micro I have had episodes of hypoglycemia - low blood sugar; even with the same breakfast and mid-morning snack routine. I say mid-morning because that's when they always happen. The episodes are as if someone flipped a switch. I have very little recognizable bodily warning; the hypoglycemia is on me in a few heartbeats. My blood-sugar level then is at about 90, which, for me, is too low. I can quickly get it back up, but the damage is already done. The results are confusion, headache, bodyache, extreme tiredness, hunger, et al. The rest of the day is shot, as well as the next day. I'm not good for anything except sleeping and eating a bit more. The episodes are lots of emotions all rolled into one hell of a bad day. Scary sums it up.

The most recent episode began INSTANTLY! just as I was about to eat a tasty, charcoal-grilled burger. Just moments before I was chatting with the friend doing the grilling. I did get the burger eaten, though.

DIABETES. IT'S NOT A GOOD THING.

A Taste of Apple History

I never met a fruit I didn’t like. Unfortunately, many of my favorites are the high-sugar content fruits like orchard-fresh apples, plantation-picked pineapple and bananas, juicy grapes and cherries, and many more. Additional favorites include the so-called low carbohydrate fruits such as melons (except watermelons), all fresh berries, apricots, peaches, plums, and citrus. Whether the fruits in question are either high or low in fruit sugars seems to depend upon whose list I look at. Today I had the pleasure of sampling a taste of history; specifically an Arkansas Black Apple. I’d never even heard of this variety. A friend who knows I enjoy apples brought one for me from his dad’s private orchard in Russellville. It was not one bushel, not one bucket or bagful, just one apple. I appreciated his thoughtfulness just the same, though. Its appearance was not as handsome as the photo example, but it certainly was a good apple. Of course I immediately began researching. The Arkansas Black Apple is a special one, a favorite in the south, I read. Maybe so, but I will wager that not many southerners have heard of it. It is classed as a heritage variety, an heirloom in modern times. Mine was not a perfect esthetic specimen of the variety, but did have the notable very dark red to black skin with a nice coat of natural wax. The bloom end was, indeed, almost black. I have read that Arkansas Black was probably a seedling of Winesap discovered in Benton County, Arkansas around 1870. Apparently it is also known as Arkansas Black Twig, another name I’ve never heard. My most favorite apple is the well liked Golden Delicious with its honey sweetness and smooth texture. But, if I ever get the opportunity again, I won’t hesitate to step back in time to the heritage that is the Arkansas Black. -#-