pavlosn
Well-Known Member
Hallo everybody,
My name is Pavlos, I am a 44 year old Cypriot, married with a six year old son.
On 5 August 2009, I was diagnosed as suffering from Type II Diabetes Melitus.
On first diagnosis, my fasting blood sugar level was 330 mg/dl (18.33 mmol), which I understand corresponds to a HbA1C of at least 12%.
To make matters worse, I have known for a while now that I suffer from high cholesterol and blood pressure levels but, despite medical advice to the contrary, have not been taking the prescribed medication nor have I been looking after my diet or taking much physical exercise. Having set up my own business, in the last two years all of my focus was concentrated on this to the criminal neglect of my own health. Talk of building on sand!
On 5 August 2009, I was a walking heart attack waiting to happen. In addition to a fasting blood glucose level of 330 mg/dl (18.33 mmol), my total cholesterol was 502mg/dl (12.98 mmol), LDL 393mg/dl (10.16 mmol), HDL 57mg/dl (1.47mmol) and triglycerides 261 mg/dl (2.98 mmol).
After the initial shock of the diagnosis, which to be honest was not that much of a shock, as for months I had been fooling myself into ignoring the usual diabetes tell tale signs of insatiable thirst and frequent urination, followed guilt as I realised that my troubles were to a large degree self inflicted. Had I taken better care of myself and followed medical advice for my existing high cholesterol condition, taken my medication, exercised more and ate less and better, I probably never would have developed diabetes.
However I soon realised that feeling sorry for myself would not achieve anything and became determined that this time I would do anything in my power to if not cure then at list manage my condition better.
I saw my doctor and the diabetis specialist he referred me to and have since been following religiously all advice given:
I have been taking without miss all the medication prescribed to me:
- 20 mg Crestor for the Cholesterol
- 40 mg Diovan for the High Blood pressure (reduced from an initial prescription of 80mg)
- 1500 mg Glucophage for the Diabetis
I have started exercising, mainly walking, concentrating on walking a little bid more every day. Currently, I walk about 7 km (4 miles) a day, which takes me about an hour to do.
I have adopted a much healthier diet, giving up all the fast food and sweets that previously formed the main part of my diet, and substituting it with home cooked meals. I have taken to keeping an electronic diary of what I it, in an effort to monitor/control my nutrient intake. On average I have been taking in 1500 calories daily, which is made up of 50% carbohydrate (180-200g), 25% protein and 25% fats (of which, saturates limited to 7%). I have also changed the pattern of my eating. Before I used two have only two large meals a day: lunch and dinner. Now I have breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as three snacks (usually a fruit) midmorning, midafternoon and before going to bed. As a result, each meal is now smaller, which I understand helps keep blood glucose levels steadier over the day.
As a result of the above, I have lost 9 Kg (about 20 pounds) in the last 2 months, and paradoxically I am now feeling healthier and firtter than I can remember.
My last blood analysis on 11 September 2009, confirmed that both my diabetes and my lipid levels are under control: my fasting blood glucose level was down to 85mg/dl (4.72 mmol), my total cholesterol down to 168mg/dl (4.34 mmol), LDL down to 125mg/dl (3.23mmol), HDL 19mg/dl (0.49mmol) and triglycerides down to 118mg/dl (1.35 mmol). An HbA1C test carried out on the same date came back with 5.7%.
Although my doctor's initial advice was not to self monitor blood glucose levels, I felt that for my own piece of mind, I needed to do this and have been testing regularly 3 or four times a day. I therefore know that my glucose levels have been improving steadily and I expect my next HbA1C test to be lower still. In fact, for during the last seven days my average blood glucose level over 30 readings was 94.1mg/dl (5.23 mmol) with the average pre breakfast reading being 92.9mg/dl (5.16 mmol) and average reading taken after a meal 98 mg/dl - the highest reading taken in this period was 120mg/dl (6.67 mmol)taken two hours after a meal.
It has not all been plain sailing, a test revealed the begining of atherosclerotic plaque in one of my carodit arteries, however so far my experience with diabetes has been a positive. I have found that the self discipline that the condition demands has considerably increased my own sef esteem,while the increased realisation of my own mortality it has brought about has made me more appreciative of the many things I have to be thankful in my life: the love of my wife, the joy of my child a, the care of my parents, the support of my friends.
I know diabetes, is a very serious degenerative condition with a high risk of long term complications such as stroke and heart disease. I know that it is very early days for me and my experience with diabetes is probably still in a honeymoon period, with much harder days to come. I know that my struggle with diabetes will be more of a marathon than a sprint. I know that ultimately it may even be a fight I will lose, however I am detrmined that it is a fight that will not be lost for the luck of effort and I am equally determined to appreciate all the small victories that might come my way.
Given my other preexisting medical conditions, being diagnosed with diabetes has been a very timely wake upcall that I can not affort to leave unanswered.
Thank you for providing me with a forum on which to express my thoughts and feelings on the matter.
Regards
Pavlos
My name is Pavlos, I am a 44 year old Cypriot, married with a six year old son.
On 5 August 2009, I was diagnosed as suffering from Type II Diabetes Melitus.
On first diagnosis, my fasting blood sugar level was 330 mg/dl (18.33 mmol), which I understand corresponds to a HbA1C of at least 12%.
To make matters worse, I have known for a while now that I suffer from high cholesterol and blood pressure levels but, despite medical advice to the contrary, have not been taking the prescribed medication nor have I been looking after my diet or taking much physical exercise. Having set up my own business, in the last two years all of my focus was concentrated on this to the criminal neglect of my own health. Talk of building on sand!
On 5 August 2009, I was a walking heart attack waiting to happen. In addition to a fasting blood glucose level of 330 mg/dl (18.33 mmol), my total cholesterol was 502mg/dl (12.98 mmol), LDL 393mg/dl (10.16 mmol), HDL 57mg/dl (1.47mmol) and triglycerides 261 mg/dl (2.98 mmol).
After the initial shock of the diagnosis, which to be honest was not that much of a shock, as for months I had been fooling myself into ignoring the usual diabetes tell tale signs of insatiable thirst and frequent urination, followed guilt as I realised that my troubles were to a large degree self inflicted. Had I taken better care of myself and followed medical advice for my existing high cholesterol condition, taken my medication, exercised more and ate less and better, I probably never would have developed diabetes.
However I soon realised that feeling sorry for myself would not achieve anything and became determined that this time I would do anything in my power to if not cure then at list manage my condition better.
I saw my doctor and the diabetis specialist he referred me to and have since been following religiously all advice given:
I have been taking without miss all the medication prescribed to me:
- 20 mg Crestor for the Cholesterol
- 40 mg Diovan for the High Blood pressure (reduced from an initial prescription of 80mg)
- 1500 mg Glucophage for the Diabetis
I have started exercising, mainly walking, concentrating on walking a little bid more every day. Currently, I walk about 7 km (4 miles) a day, which takes me about an hour to do.
I have adopted a much healthier diet, giving up all the fast food and sweets that previously formed the main part of my diet, and substituting it with home cooked meals. I have taken to keeping an electronic diary of what I it, in an effort to monitor/control my nutrient intake. On average I have been taking in 1500 calories daily, which is made up of 50% carbohydrate (180-200g), 25% protein and 25% fats (of which, saturates limited to 7%). I have also changed the pattern of my eating. Before I used two have only two large meals a day: lunch and dinner. Now I have breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as three snacks (usually a fruit) midmorning, midafternoon and before going to bed. As a result, each meal is now smaller, which I understand helps keep blood glucose levels steadier over the day.
As a result of the above, I have lost 9 Kg (about 20 pounds) in the last 2 months, and paradoxically I am now feeling healthier and firtter than I can remember.
My last blood analysis on 11 September 2009, confirmed that both my diabetes and my lipid levels are under control: my fasting blood glucose level was down to 85mg/dl (4.72 mmol), my total cholesterol down to 168mg/dl (4.34 mmol), LDL down to 125mg/dl (3.23mmol), HDL 19mg/dl (0.49mmol) and triglycerides down to 118mg/dl (1.35 mmol). An HbA1C test carried out on the same date came back with 5.7%.
Although my doctor's initial advice was not to self monitor blood glucose levels, I felt that for my own piece of mind, I needed to do this and have been testing regularly 3 or four times a day. I therefore know that my glucose levels have been improving steadily and I expect my next HbA1C test to be lower still. In fact, for during the last seven days my average blood glucose level over 30 readings was 94.1mg/dl (5.23 mmol) with the average pre breakfast reading being 92.9mg/dl (5.16 mmol) and average reading taken after a meal 98 mg/dl - the highest reading taken in this period was 120mg/dl (6.67 mmol)taken two hours after a meal.
It has not all been plain sailing, a test revealed the begining of atherosclerotic plaque in one of my carodit arteries, however so far my experience with diabetes has been a positive. I have found that the self discipline that the condition demands has considerably increased my own sef esteem,while the increased realisation of my own mortality it has brought about has made me more appreciative of the many things I have to be thankful in my life: the love of my wife, the joy of my child a, the care of my parents, the support of my friends.
I know diabetes, is a very serious degenerative condition with a high risk of long term complications such as stroke and heart disease. I know that it is very early days for me and my experience with diabetes is probably still in a honeymoon period, with much harder days to come. I know that my struggle with diabetes will be more of a marathon than a sprint. I know that ultimately it may even be a fight I will lose, however I am detrmined that it is a fight that will not be lost for the luck of effort and I am equally determined to appreciate all the small victories that might come my way.
Given my other preexisting medical conditions, being diagnosed with diabetes has been a very timely wake upcall that I can not affort to leave unanswered.
Thank you for providing me with a forum on which to express my thoughts and feelings on the matter.
Regards
Pavlos
