Diabetes and Teeth and... Oprah.

I was going to write about how irritated, possibly enraged, I was at Oprah's segment today on Diabetes. I went to several forums and joined in the ranting that was already in full swing. I decided not to and let the professionals keep it, and I'll continue on with what I had originally planned. Kerri did a great job, everyone should head over to her blog and check out her 2¢ on the topic.

I am so Thankful for my resilient body. I have put it through a lot of abuse over the years. Years of poor eating habits, not taking my insulin, over exercising... you know, the eating disorder type of abuse.

As I said earlier, I'm also Thankful for my Husband. He came along just in time. He helped me through the worst of it. I can rely on him SO much to be on my side for my health. He'll go to bat for me whenever I need it.

Some of my misbehavior has caught up with me in the form of my teeth. I never had a cavity until I was 16. I inherited my dad's teeth - which is not a good trait - his teeth are awful. It started when I got braces - when I got them off just in time for my wedding I had a couple cavities which I could no longer get fixed because I was then off my parents' insurance plan.

That was nearly 3 years ago. Fall of 2008 I had the most awful tooth pain I had ever experienced, only thing was that I was 6 months pregnant. I needed a root canal. Being as I was pregnant I couldn't have the normal anesthesia and had to have the dumbed down stuff that wore off after a couple minutes max. They couldn't finish it either, they stuffed a filling in there to wait until after I had baby girl, then I could come back.

Our dental plan changed after she was born. When I finally went back, with more tooth pain and that filling had fallen out - I needed another root-canal in that same tooth, one in another tooth. 2 deep cavities filled and much more done. I've had chronic gingivitis too. We couldn't pay for all that work, it was several thousand dollars and we were struggling to pay bills every month and still have money left over for other necessities.

That's left me with a constant run of tooth aches, and gum infections. Driving my blood sugars crazy all across the board. I'm battling it constantly. My awful blood sugars over the years have helped create awful cavities in my mouth, turned into root canals, turned into constant infections. Which leads to awful blood sugar control.

Infections drive blood sugars up, blood sugars up allow the infection to rage on... and so goes the circle (more information). I'll be able to get rid of the gum infections for a little while without antibiotics, but they always come back.

I've finally got an appointment with a new dentist with our new dental plan that started this new year. It's not until the 26th this month, but I'm excited to finally be able to get my teeth fixed and have it be affordable. I am excited to get off this roller-coaster of poor health and finally be on the mend, I hope. I'm sick of the constant infection and pain in my mouth, I'm sick of the constant extremes for my blood sugars - neither are good for my sanity or continued health.

I'm trying to think of this as a good warning/sign to take care of myself better and better. I want this to be the worst I have to deal with as far as "complications" go. I owe it to my sweet husband and adorable daughter.