It was an issue of blood -- but not blood only. You see, the diabetes that wracked my friend Dick's body had also damaged his liver and destroyed his kidneys. But it was the issue of blood -- the lack of circulation -- that made Dick's trial most evident to rest of us. This was especially true in the past year when he underwent surgery to amputate his leg. The diabetes that he had fought so valiantly for these many years finally claimed Dick's life on a beautiful day in May.