Being diabetic

[filkferengi]

When I first became diabetic, over two years ago now, I was freaked out and scared death, so I was fairly careful. After starting out on 4 pills a day, I quickly got down to 3, and then 2 pills a day. I was doing very well on those, with lots of morning readings in the 80s and 90s. My a1c had been in the 5s for several months, getting down as low as 5.5.

I began to wonder if I could reduce the pills further, maybe even eliminating them altogether. At the end of March, I accordingly went down to one pill a day, and continued to have good numbers in the mornings, mostly 90s, with some 80s and 100s. I thought things were going great and was very excited about the whole thing. The catch was, at the next check-up, after a couple of months of one pill, my a1c had jumped to 6.4. Eep!

Although I went back on 2 pills a day instanter, I still have not gotten back where I was earlier in the year. The next time, it was 6.1, and the most recent is 6.2. Thanksgiving and Christmas will do that, I guess. It's not just that, however.

I think it's more that I'm not as scared as I was. Having figured out I'll live, the first panic is over, and, as the third year of being diabetic starts, I've become more complacent. That extra treat won't kill me. It's starting to get scary again. After weighing the same for well over a year, at my first FKO, I put on 3 pounds I haven't been able to shake. [I blame Canada.] Even with doing at least one extra walk a week all year, I've added a few on top of that. Not so bad, if it goes away, but ominous if it stays & brings friends, as such things are all too prone to do. Of course, we had several out-of-town trips this year. There won't be nearly as many next year, so it'll hopefully be easier to lose at-con weightgain, if there's more time between cons.

Comments

[wallace_trust]

Best wishes for your health during the new year! *Hugs*

[filkferengi]

Y'all, too!

[quietann]

I have Type 1 diabetes, which is quite a different animal, but you seem to get that A1C is just one summary number, weighted toward more recent average BG levels. Most Type 1s would be thrilled at a 6.1, but I agree it's disappointing for a Type 2. (My last was 6.8.)

If you possess female reproductive organs, and are post-menopausal, a little weight gain often happens and is normal. E.g. my mom's doctor revised her ideal weight from 120 to 130 pounds when she was through menopause.

But because you are doing things to improve your health, the weight gain and the higher A1C "might" be something. Do you test your BG *after* meals (1-2 hours after)? You may be having spikes in BG. or getting a little insulin resistant.

There are also a variety of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), though they are pricey. It would be wonderful if Tyoe 2s could get a free loaner for a couple of weeks, say once a year, kind of like a Holter monitor for heart patterns. I have a CGM and love it (but it's covered by my insurance to some degree.)

[filkferengi]

To be fair, the last year or so, I've gotten more complacent and eaten lots more ice cream [okay, sherbet, but still--]. The last month or so, I've been especially naughty. I'm convinced it's the walks that held the diabetes off as long as it held off. My mom went diabetic at 40; I made it to 53. Hopefully, in the new year, I can do better, & get the numbers back down. Not as many trips this year will help, too. I'll watch it, though.

How're you? We've not heard much from you lately. Are y'all okay?