An introduction

Hello, everyone. My name is Peter, and I'm a diabetic. There. I've finally said it out loud. That's  real progress from a week ago, when I first got that news. On that first day, when I was also dealing with the news that I had high blood pressure, I couldn't even say the word out loud, and I certainly couldn't admit that it had ANYTHING to do with me.
   So, a little about me. I'm 43 years old, and up until last week, life as I knew it was pretty normal. I pretty much ate what I wanted (read, lots of carbs and starches and sugar), and I felt pretty good. Up until last week, there was nothing seriously wrong with me, as far as I knew. Then, in one morning, that all changed.
   I had gone to the doctor for a wellness check -- my first doctor's visit in well over a decade. To be honest, I was only there because my wife had dragged me. I didn't want to be there. If there was something wrong with me, I didn't want to know, I told her. So, of course, in the course of 24 hours, I find out that I have not one, but two, life-changing conditions. How utterly stupid and arrogant my original attitude seems to me now. How very naive.
   In the days since, I think I've experienced every conceivable emotion. First, there was anger. Lots of anger. That first day, I was just mad at the world. I was mad at the unfairness of it all. I was angry at the loss of control, and I was determined to do what I wanted, doctor be damned. Once my anger cooled and common sense reasserted itself, I found I was dealing with some depression. I found myself thinking about all the foods that I love -- things like wings and pasta and desserts -- that I could no longer have. I found myself craving those foods intensely and mourning the fact that I am now officially without vices. I've never been a drinker. I recently gave up smoking. And now, I'm going to have to get my diet in order, whether I want to or not. Sometimes, being an adult really sucks.
   So why am I starting this blog? For a couple of reasons. Writing has always been cathartic for me, and I figured it would be a way to deal with the emotions that have come with this life-changing experience. I also thought that by sharing my own experience, someone else might be helped. And, of  course, it provides a way to share information pertinent to the disease.
   I intend to be very honest in my postings here. I hope that a lot of people find this blog, and that they are helped by it. I also hope that they feel comfortable enough to share their own experiences here. If we can educate each other and support each other -- just make the daily living with diabetes a little easier -- I will consider this blog a success.