In my current phase of diabetes control I am wrestling with two numbers: Calories and carbohydrates. You may get bored with “organ recitals” in all their glory, but bear with me.
These two numbers are my focus right now but each number has a different significance. Calories are concerned with weight control. This has a long term effect on diabetes but is not significant moment by moment. An average is good enough. If I keep under my goal for the day, or even a good average for the week, then all is well. The body requires a certain amount to operate each moment and either stores or withdraws as needed. If you take in more, you gain weight; less, you lose.
Carbohydrates on the other hand are an ongoing, immediate issue. They turn into glucose and your body uses them for energy. For normal people the body regulates this like it does calories, it stores and withdraws. For diabetics this goes haywire. Your body needs a steady source and cannot deal with feast or famine. Too low means weakness and one set of immediate issues. Too much means long term damage being done to your body.
Each need is addressed differently.
In our daily, non-diabetic lives we have the same types of issues. Some things in life can work as averages. Generally speaking, if your income at the end of the month is in balance you are okay. You might use credit cards or have a monthly billing. It is your ability to match resources and needs that are important.
Some areas are more moment by moment. Our relationships with other people fit into this category. You really can’t ignore your children for 29 days and then take them to Disneyland. I guess you can, but the long term damage will not be pleasant. You can’t ignore your wife all year and then buy her a diamond on your anniversary and figure you have balanced it out. People try. It does not work.
Spiritually we have the same issues. In many areas God cuts us some slack. If you miss church on a Sunday, it will not send you to hell. If you decide to shack up with your secretary for a one night stand, it could ruin your life and your eternity.
Think about it. Act on it. Life, and eternity, will be better for it.
homo unius libri
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Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.