Well, get tough and stop feeling sorry for myself! Pick my ego off the ground and take care of my body! Wow! What a way to begin the fall season!



I know other people have this dreaded label "diabetes", and live long and happy lives. I want to live this long and happy life! Jarred into this reality, I began thinking of others who are living great and prosperous lives.

Adam Morrison, who plays basketball for the National Basketball Association's Charlotte Bobcats, is a bull blown diabetic. He is a gifted athlete with a vast determination to not let the disease drag him under! When he is taken from the game for rest, he is seen checking his blood sugar. He does this for the world to see! Adam illustrates how being fit helps him succeed, not only on the court, but also in life. He is a superstar, because he refuses to give in to his diabetes!

Years ago, I was coaching seventh grade football. I had a player who checked his blood sugar before, during and after practice. He would keep his blood checking devices in his locker along with his snacks. He had such a positive attitude, never complaining of his situation. I never heard a chorus of "whoa is me". He controlled his diabetes and went on with his life. He was a tough and phenomenal child. I admired him for his resilience and grittiness.

Sherilynn Cotten is a principal in the Hurst, Euless, and Bedford ISD outside Fort Worth, Texas. Her loving husband Don and I coached together many seasons past and I treasure our friendship. Sherilynn developed diabetes to many years ago to remember and began checking her blood sugar when you used a lancet to prick your finger. Compared with today's methods, this was the "dark ages"! She and Don have raised three precious children with Sherilynn risking her life to go through three pregnancies. Sherilynn keeps giving of her life helping junior high school students, loving her husband and fighting diabetes. What a woman!

Another diabetes fighter is Laura Hailey. She and husband Robert are also dear loved ones in my life. Laura, is such a wonderful lady, and has a beautiful singing voice. Laura taught kindergarten, and just kept going despite her diabetes. When one meets Laura, no one would suspect that she has health problems since she is so cheerful. She does not want to burden others with her problems. What a wonderful lady!

Since remembering these champions of life, I need to face this devil and snap into the realization that I need to take charge of my life! What is David going to do now? In sports, I was taught to get up and keep going! I know denial is very much in the picture, but I am going to take this sports advice seriously!

Susan, my beautiful wife was at the Doctor's office when I learned the rotten news. She has heard bad news before! She is a survivor of breast cancer! She immediately affirmed her love for me and proclaimed we would be successful fighting this diabetes. Susan is so positive about our future together and will not accept a bad outcome in our lives.

My children are all for Dad taking care to be healthier. They are giving me some of the grief I gave them for eating an inappropriate diet. Let me say to my kids that you were right and I was wrong, and I apologize.

Knowing all the champions that I referred to earlier in my writing, understanding the support from Susan and my family, and putting into action a fighting plan for a full life with diabetes, I am "getting over it" and marching on to a healthier body! As the Nike commercial stated for us to "just do it", I now am changing this to "I will do it"!