From: jaymarcy	Date: March 13th, 2008 11:39 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Dammit!
It's not a waste of time. If you keep exercising, and losing weight, you could lower your need for certain medications, and maybe eliminate the need for them altogether.
I know this sucks. My Dad has had Diabetes well on close to thirty years. He doesn't control it well, but if you do, it could mean the world.
This sucks. It really does. But don't give in to your depression about it. You definitely didn't deserve it, and anyone who says so will be looking for a solid ass kicking form e, pally.

	From: ursulahitler	Date: March 14th, 2008 12:48 am (UTC)		(Link)

What Jaymarcy said. It's good you lost the weight, and you should be proud of it. It's hard to do, and good for you!

	From: jaymarcy	Date: March 14th, 2008 02:22 am (UTC)		(Link)

Err, I should specify it's an ass kicking "FROM ME", not "Forme" or For ME. Though I guess if the guy's tough enough, that could happen too.
But I doubt it!!
:D

	From: bougieman	Date: March 14th, 2008 01:03 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Well, I had a feeling. Sorry it was bad news, man.

Chin up. Ed-ja-ma-cate yourself as much as you can about this. Knowledge truly is power, and you're gonna need to feel powerful with this new monkey riding around on your back flinging it's poo everywhere.

I found a few good links online you should check out if you already haven't:
http://www.diabetes.org/type-2-diabetes.jsp
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/type-2-diabetes/DS00585
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2
http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/uvahealth/adult_diabetes/type2.cfm

	From: mr_sadhead	Date: March 14th, 2008 02:34 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Not so bad .. it's inconveniencing but you can cope.

From: (Anonymous)	Date: March 14th, 2008 03:23 pm (UTC)		(Link)

hang in there tough, man!
--craig yoe

From: (Anonymous)	Date: March 14th, 2008 03:51 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Colin, keep your pecker up. You WILL control this, and you WILL look forward to a long, rich life.

Your cartoons are just great. We need you, man.

As some Stoic put it:
"My body is an insolent servant who will not obey; but he shall not command."
Hang in there.
--Alex Buchet

	From: daltonnw	Date: March 14th, 2008 04:01 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Life throws you curveballs and you just keep playing ball. Sitting on the bench is not an option.

We need more comics out of you so keep taking care of yourself. When is a better time to keep exercising and eating right than now?
Take care!

From: (Anonymous)	Date: March 14th, 2008 04:48 pm (UTC)		(Link)
GX here... Hey Colin!

Don't let yourself get down. You're doing the right thing. Keep exercising! Keep that weight down! Otherwise it will get worst. I've had to do the exact same thing myself. It's been a long battle but I feel much better for it!

	From: siskavard	Date: March 14th, 2008 08:22 pm (UTC)		(Link)

hey man hang in there, fight, WIN!

	From: johnhazard	Date: March 14th, 2008 08:56 pm (UTC)		(Link)

I'm pushing a serious deadline for my first children's book- keeping myself company listening to you on Inkstuds, I got curious when I recognized your name, and via google landed here.

No time to talk, but about diabetes- my mom died in December after many decades not taking care of her health. Diabetes can at this point be totally controlled and lived with. If you've lost some weight you've proven to yourself that you can take control, and now is not the time to stop. You weren't wasting your time. Take this opportunity to make some positive changes in your life, as you've already done.

Who gives a shit if you're fat. You need to be happy and healthy.

So, cut down on the sugar, white flour and potatoes, soda and cereal, and move your ass on a daily basis (walk, jog, swim, sex). I lost about 60 lbs doing just that- I still could get diabetes (I don't buy that "obesity" actually causes it), and I'm dealing with clinical depression, but I decided that now that I'm in my 40's it's time to start making changes and doing things to get happy and healthy, and slowly but surly it's working.

You've got a lot of friends, a lot of talent, and one shitty new problem, that you can kick out of your way if you choose to. KICK IT!

	From: sassyfrau	Date: March 15th, 2008 03:33 am (UTC)		(Link)

I've had type II diabetes for a couple years now. I figured there was something wrong when I started being incredibly thirsty plus I was losing weight even though I was eating the same. The final straw was when my eyesight changed and I could see without glasses.

I felt awful when I was first diagnosed - really ripped off genetically. I was mad at my body ya know?

If you're lucky and determined you can control your diabetes without medication by eating a low carb diet. It's kinda hard because you're going against the norm - carbs are everywhere! But it can be done.

Don't listen if your doctor wants you to take glyburide - it pushes your pancreas into overdrive and will burn it out that much faster.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glibenclamide

If you want any advice on eating low carb or whatever, feel free to send me an email. (stefaneechi at g mail) I remember how overwhelmed I felt about having to learn how to look after myself in light of the illness. Good luck eh?

	From: davemerrill	Date: March 15th, 2008 02:53 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Hey, I didn't know you had an LJ!

My brother has Type 2. It's tough but manageable, you can kick its ass. Kick Type 2's ass, Colin!!

	From: stanleylieber	Date: March 15th, 2008 05:43 pm (UTC)		(Link)

soke says: keep going!

	From: alexbot3000	Date: March 15th, 2008 07:12 pm (UTC)		(Link)

A friend of mine was diagnosed about a year ago, and my wife has had type-1 for over fifteen years now.
FUCK DIABETES, MAN!

	From: bmunn1	Date: March 15th, 2008 09:16 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Colin, I'm looking forward to your Townshend comic.

You are in good company:

Walt Kelly, H.G. Wells, Hemingway, Edison, Jack Benny, Dizzy Gillespie, Neil Young and Halle Berry (!), among many other great minds, all had some form of diabetes.

From: b_towle	Date: March 16th, 2008 03:52 am (UTC)		(Link)

I'm no one you've heard of, other than being a regular Inkstuds listener... but sorry to hear the news. There's worse things than diabetes--but, Hell, there's sure as shit better things, so keep that in mind.

From: (Anonymous)	Date: March 16th, 2008 04:38 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Missed seeing your work at the Comic Jam this weekend.

Take care of yourself as best you can and keep making those mini-comics, man!

- JP

	From: 1is_many	Date: March 16th, 2008 06:11 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Dang-I don't really have any advice, which sucks, but at least I got an observation-my Uncle Raymond lived til his very late seventies, with this, and he kept really crap care of himself.

what I can say is, I know the feeling, too well. I felt that, when I was in the hospital, having come way to close to dying, and feeling like now that Im down, this shit happens. No light of spiritual revelation opened up, but through the murk a kind of punk zen emerged. Sure, life is tough. world's just about eight hundred times bigger and nastier than I'll ever be, but dang, when that big ol' dog called life decides to curbstomp me a little, I'm gonna curb stomp right back. Oh sure, that'll show 'em, but at least I know I did something.

And you know what I've been through, Colin, at least, some of the stuff I've told you about. Just sayin' I know the feeling. Haven't worked out exactly how to solve it, but hey, work in progress.

That, and all the people who care about you (even if they don't visit, like I should do once in a blue moon maybe you'd think?), And from someone who's stood for too long on the corner of lonely street, that helps. Talk to people, get advice, get active on this, get help if you need it, all that stuff.

	From: inkboy	Date: March 16th, 2008 08:46 pm (UTC)		(Link)

That is truly discouraging news, man. But let me add my encouragement to the rest here - there are a lot of people living with this and you can too! Take care of yourself, Colin, we like having you around.

From: (Anonymous)	Date: March 16th, 2008 08:59 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Colin--
One point--

BE VERY CAREFUL about SPECIFIC DIETARY ADVICE on this blog.

A lot of deluded cranks think they can conquer diabetes, cancer, etc by controlling diet. WRONG.

Consult a certified, professional dietician before you make any major food decisions, i.e. "No more carbohydrates/sugars/fats/proteins for me!"

Eat a balanced diet, and be sure to include fruit and vegetables with each meal.

Ave atque Vale,

Alex Buchet

From: (Anonymous)	Date: March 19th, 2008 07:51 am (UTC)		(Link)
diabetes

Hi, Colin,
Lynn again. I've just read through these comments and you have a lot of support and sympathy out there! The comments about getting good dietary advice are really important. Let me know what your dietician decides for you. I know I am a long way away but I want to know what is happening as it happens, as it were. You are far from being alone in this so don't let yourself dip into a deep blue funk. You've got a huge amount of friends, fans and well-wishers backing you up! Don't forget that!
love
Lynn

	From: cupton	Date: March 20th, 2008 06:25 am (UTC)		(Link)
	Re: diabetes

I do appretiate the support, although sometimes the advice I have to take with a grain of salt... for example, i was told to stay away from potatoes but there they are, on the meal chart i got from the doc.
I'm still waiting impatiently to hear from a dietian, my diabetes team. I need to talk to someone who will listen and not just hussle me out the door.

	From: elfmaid	Date: March 19th, 2008 03:07 pm (UTC)		(Link)

If anyone ever tries to say "you got what you deserved" re diabetes, get their address and you and I will go visit em with a clue-by-four!

That said dear heart, let me add a heartfelt *HUGZ!*

I've had type 1 diabetes for 17 years (I also have type 2 on TOP of my type 1, go figure eh?), and I SO hear what you're saying in regards to many unspoken things. Before anyone tries to tell you type 2 diabetes 'is not as bad as type 1" I welcome you to tell them to blow it out of their ass... it may not be as DRAMATIC as type 1 in regards to the extreme highs and lows someone on insulin can get, but by golly it's every bit as tricky (sometimes trickier) to manage thank-you-very-much.

No one deserves this stupid and frustrating disease, no matter what their waist size/ dietary habits etc etc. It just IS. It sucks bo-bo, but here you have it. *ANOTHER HUGZ!*

Your efforts at starting to look after yourself may seem like a kick in the nads now that the diagnoses has been made... but really how long have you really had it and not known? In MY mind you are being very brave and were perhaps more in touch with yourself than you know. May be hard to hear or acknowledge at this stage of 'acceptance', but you really need to give yourself credit for SURVIVING first and foremost. I'm hoping you feel relief at FINALLY finding our why you've been feeling so shitty now - and of course I'm hoping that you feel better soonest!

Seriously, if you need someone to just complain to who understands the in's and out's of the whole assembling a diabetes team, surviving the appointments, questions to ask (in plain english when the well meaning docs use medicalese at you) etc, please feel free to give me a call or drop an email. Maybe I'll come out and meet you for tea and share my Splenda! )Only the special buddies get to share my carefully hoarded fav sweetner I assure you)!

Hang in there hun... things can ONLY get better!