By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

Rudy May took to Facebook on Friday to warn people about the avails of diabetes.

The former Expos reliever has suffered from diabetes for more than 10 years and said he was going to start taking his disease seriously from this day on.

"I have decided to publish this message to make people aware of the horrific by-products of diabetes,'' May wrote on his Facebook timeline. "The disease ruins your cardiovascular and renal systems. Diabetes is very invasive and destructive to your body, even after treatment, and with medications, your body is still struggling with yourself trying to regulate the spiking and dropping of insulin. It's a very long process. 

"And the drugs, like metformin, that are prescribed, may encourage the onset of dementia. Stay away from diabetes as long as you can. The disease is no joke.''

Through diet and exercise, May, 75, is going to tackle his problem in and around his home in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

"I just let it go but now I realize I need to take care of it,'' May told me in a Facebook exchange. "I will stay close to diet and start a workout regiment today. The doctors can handle the rest. Thank you for your concern.''

The classy May spent the 1978-79 seasons with the Expos, mostly as a reliever, following a trade from the Baltimore Orioles. He was sent to Montreal with Bryn Smith and Randy Miller in exchange for Joe Kerrigan, Gary Roenicke and Don Stanhouse in December, 1977.

In 1978, May went 8-10 with a 3.88 ERA but rebounded with one of his finest seasons in 1979. He was 10-3 with a splendid 2.31 ERA, his second lowest ERA in 16 seasons of major-league work. With May's excellent work in 1979, the Expos almost won the NL East title.

"Love you grandpa and praying for your healing everyday,'' May's grandson Jose Velez wrote in a message.

We hope and pray that May feels better real soon. He can be comforted by the fact that many people are pulling for him.