Diabetic Cookbook

By Adam Garcia

CONSEQUENCES! (Part 1)

It’s amazing what you do not realize can happen to your body until it actually happens. It is also amazing how a small scratch can become quickly infected and inflamed. It happened about two weeks ago after an itching bout with my right shin causing my leg to have a small scratch.

It occurred after I had just learned that I was becoming insulin resistant. It became very infected and after about three days (which I thought was quite sudden), the redness was about three and a half inches across my shin, very inflamed, and was quite hot. I went to my endocrinologist, Dr. Marranzini. After seeing me he immediately sent me to the emergency room to be admitted into the hospital. Instead the ER doctor did an incision, removed the scabbed area, and immediately drained the wound. They also gave me antibiotics and pain medication through my IV. After which he discharged me and also prescribed Bactrim for at home use.

I knew I needed to see Dr. Marranzini as soon as possible, but I wasn’t able to make the appointment that they offered that day. On top of all that, it was Friday and they closed early. Yvonne, the intake nurse, suggested that I go to the Wound Care Center that was below them. So, after giving me the number, I made an appointment with the Wound Care Center. They told me to come in and they would treat me that day. Once there they took me in immediately, after filling out some basic paperwork they took me to a room where I first met Patricia, the nurse who INTERROGATED ME! I’m serious she asked me so many background health questions she left me dizzy. However, she was very pleasant to talk to, very thorough, and kind. I also met Caesar, who was very careful in removing the bandages that the ER nurse had wrapped around my wound. He first cleaned my wound and took pictures to keep track of the infection for Dr. Miranda. Here is how it looked on that fateful day.

Dr. Miranda probed the wound and found some tunneling. He immediately prescribed a daily wound care schedule and daily IV antibiotics, specifically cubicin. They immediately packed it with an antimicrobial packing I believe was called aquacell which has silver in it and then of course wrapped the wound with gauze. As it was explained to me, nothing will grow on silver. So it becomes a very effective when fighting off growing bacteria. They then sent me for my first infusion of antibiotics.

Take another look at the picture, notice the redness, the dead skin area, and the inflamed gaping area of the wound. This is how far the infection had spread in just four to five days.

This is what I meant by consequences; this is also what I meant about how amazing it is that a bacterial infection can grow in a matter of days. The specific bacterium that they found was staphylococcus aureus (I think that is how you spell it), which can eat you alive if not kept in check. In fact, this bacterium is highly resistant to penicillin. In other words, it has no effect on the bacteria, which explains why they prescribed the cubicin.

These are the types of consequences that are in store for you if you do not keep your blood sugars under control. Remember it is your choice…so, if you want to keep on drinking those sugary sodas and eating those high carbohydrate meals. Don’t worry about checking your blood sugar or taking those pills or insulin you were prescribed. One day you will end up just like me, SLOWLY DYING! That’s what diabetes is a slow killer. It first kills your toes, then your feet, then half your leg, then the other half. You find yourself at forty-something and in a wheel chair. OR you can keep track of your glucose levels, take your prescribed medication, and do some daily exercise. Get those levels down and change that lifestyle to a healthy one. It is difficult, but it is possible. And if you need some encouragement, some friendly advice, or just someone to talk to, email us at diabeticcookbook@gmail.com or leave us a comment. Don’t worry we do not share emails with anybody. That’s why we are here…TO HELP YOU!