FSM Client Scripts: Get integer value from db

I’m trying to write a client script to be used in the smart client of FSM 6.5.

In my Client Script SQL I’m returning two columns.

• exp_date: Date saved in the DB
• days_left: Using DATEDIFF(day, GETDATE(), exp_date) AS days_left

When I access these values from my script, days_left is set to type System.String and I need it to be an integer.

I have tried changing the SQL to:
CAST(DATEDIFF(day, GETDATE(), exp_date) AS int) AS days_left

but in my script the variable is still a string so I’m unable compare the value with an integer.

Example: if (days_left <= 0) { doesn’t work. 
The error message will say: The ‘<’ operation cannot be performed between the operands 853 and 0

Here is my script so far
 

// Get information from the screen.
var place_id = getControlValue("request", "place_id_to_bill");
var card_id = getControlValue("request", "user_def24");
var today = new Date();

// Make sure we have both the Place_ID and Card_ID.
if (isNullOrEmptyString(place_id) == false && isNullOrEmptyString(card_id) == false) {
	// Get CC Exp Date
	var dbData = getDBValues("GOS_CREDIT_CARD_EXP_DATE", place_id, card_id);
	if (isNullOrEmptyString(dbData) == false) {
		var exp_date = dbData[0]["exp_date"];
		var days_left = dbData[0]["days_left"];

		// Credit card is expired.
		if (days_left < 1) {
			setControlValue("custom", "cc_exp","EXPIRED");
			alert("The selected credit card is expired");

		// Credit card expires soon.	
		} else if (days_left <= 14) {
			setControlValue("custom", "cc_exp", exp_date);
			alert("The selected credit card is expiring soon.");

		// Credit card is good.	
		} else {
			setControlValue("custom", "cc_exp", exp_date);
		}
	} else {
		alert("Error checking credit card expiration date.");
	}
}

I have tried var days_left = 0; before loading the value from the db hoping it would be forced to be an integer, but it still ends up as a string once the value from the db is loaded.

Any ideas?

Thanks!