There was a time when my diabetes had me in a very bad place. My diagnosis was not pretty and it did not come with any rah rah call to action, or a motivated somewhat euphoric determination to fight the disease to the corners of the planet. In fact I found myself in a a very depressing place. The reason was not just the news that I had an incurable disease but that I had no choice but to take Insulin which was to be injected three or four times a day.

I have a phobia for needles so coming to term with the fact that I had to plunge that needle in my body three times a day or maybe more still brings nightmarish images to my mind to this day. Imagine then my first few days I had to face this disease head on, my phobia for diabetes was actually at its inception.

Now my circumstances might be unique and each one of us in this diabetic journey have their own stories and reactions that instant of diagnosis and I might catch some flak for this but to me at that particular time there was a strong correlation between my diabetes habits and needs to a drug addition.

• We as type 2 diabetics are told everyday that our disease is a consequence of choice, poor eating habits and an increasing sedimentary lifestyle are major contributors to diabetes. Obesity is a growing epidemic and the leading cause of diabetes.
• Our lifestyle choices lead us down a path to obesity and diabetes and yes same is to be said of drug addiction and a change in lifestyles will lead us out of both.
• Both are diseases that will change every single aspect of your life, the decisions you make on a daily basis are heavily slanted towards getting your next fix and at that time nothing else matters.
  Those needles and injectors need no explanations on my part. I just thank God that I do not have to go back to that.
• Both will have profound effects on our environment and our families as they try to cope and help us through the trying times.
• Personal responsibility plays a major role in getting out of this state, yes diabetes is incurable but to fight it means taking a personal responsibility for ones actions and choosing to fight it.
• The fight is not a personal one however, there are thousands of resources in our community to help us fight the disease and a call to action need only be made to the right people.

Without the help of my community, of family, friends, Google and other service, I would not be where I am today diabetes continues to be a major driving force in my life but I have managed to lick it.

Drug addiction like diabetes can have devastating effects on on ones life and environment, yes it takes a personal responsibility and a call to action but there are people and community groups that are there to help in the drug rehab arena.

This is a paid posting