Diabetes, life and all that - personal diary

No exercise this morning as I had to be at my son's school's for an 8:00am show/celebration of Greece's Independence Day ( it will be a public holiday tomorrow in Greece and here in Cyprus).

Here he is in our garden all dressed up in garments from the period of the Greek war of independence from the Ottomans (1821ad)





In fact we are entering a period over the next few days when there will be far too much celebrating for my liking. My wife's birthday is on the twenty seventh of March and my son's on the 29th. No doubt two occasions which will not only put a dent in my bank balance but also present me with lots of all too sweet temptations!

If that was not enough, my mom and I then share a birthday on the 5th of April. Luckily, this will be a more low key affair, as by then everyone is sick and tired of birthday parties!

Morning blood sugar today was 110mg/dl (6mmol/l)






Pavlos
Type 2 - Diagnosed 2009; Latest HbA1c 5,8%; Diabetes Medication: metformin 2x850mg; Other medication: Aspirin 75mg, Valsartan 80mg, Rosuvostatin 20mg, Ezetimibe 10mg; Exercise: One hour walk daily, tennis weekly, swimming when warm enough

Just finished my morning walk - 6,2 kilometers today.

Decided to try a slightly different route today, one that took me past the church of the Virgin Mary the Makedonitissa.



I am not sure why it is called that.

The main reason I decided to come this way is that there used to be a children's playground next to the church that my dad used to bring me to, when I was little and I wanted to see if it was still around.

Not surprisingly given the number of years since then, I found no sign of a playground.

This child's toy bike abandoned by the side of the road made for an odd and slightly sad sight. Made me wonder how long it had been there and what happened to its owner.



The sight of some furry friends




And some pretty flowers (sweat peas and freesias)







Soon put me in a more cheery mood.

Morning bloods at 106mg/dl. Breakfast was a banana (120g of which 28g carbs) just before setting out on my walk) - two hours later 127mg. Slightly higher than my usual 120mg target but not a disaster...... and it was a very tasty banana!




Pavlos
Type 2 - Diagnosed 2009; Latest HbA1c 5,8%; Diabetes Medication: metformin 2x850mg; Other medication: Aspirin 75mg, Valsartan 80mg, Rosuvostatin 20mg, Ezetimibe 10mg; Exercise: One hour walk daily, tennis weekly, swimming when warm enough

The Judas tree, Cercis siliquastrum from which Judas Iscariot is reputed to have hanged himself, is one of the most attractive flowering trees in bloom in Cyprus and the rest of Southern Europe round about Easter time.


The tree produces bright pink flowers in prolific abundance.

The flowers often appear before the leaves and unusually often grow directly from the tree's trunk.









Pavlos
Type 2 - Diagnosed 2009; Latest HbA1c 5,8%; Diabetes Medication: metformin 2x850mg; Other medication: Aspirin 75mg, Valsartan 80mg, Rosuvostatin 20mg, Ezetimibe 10mg; Exercise: One hour walk daily, tennis weekly, swimming when warm enough

Good morning from Nicosia

Snapdragons making a colorful display in a nearby round about.



Morning blood sugar 112mg/dl, which is a bid high but nothing to get too excited about. Not for Ginger anyway!



Just had poached eggs and grilled bacon with a cup tea for breakfast



Pavlos
Type 2 - Diagnosed 2009; Latest HbA1c 5,8%; Diabetes Medication: metformin 2x850mg; Other medication: Aspirin 75mg, Valsartan 80mg, Rosuvostatin 20mg, Ezetimibe 10mg; Exercise: One hour walk daily, tennis weekly, swimming when warm enough

It's my wife's birthday today so woke up in a a good mood and looking forward to the day. No firm plans yet( my son made sure both his parents are concentrating on preparations for his birthday on Saturday) but I am sure we will think of a nice way to celebrate!

A fasting glucose level of 93mg/dl (5,1mmol/l) put me in an even better mood as did the nice six kilometer walk I just completed.

Only thing that could improve matters is if I could take the day of work but unfortunately have too many deadlines to do that.

Probably not my wife's idea of fun but what I would really like to do is go on a photography day trip to shoot the wild Cyprus tulips now in bloom. They are a protected endemic species, very beautiful and extremely rare; they only grow in two remote areas in the west of Cyprus, one of which happens to be the village my family originates from.



This photograph posted by a Facebook friend really does not do the justice.

Weather permitting I will be able to take some of my own this Sunday.


Pavlos
Type 2 - Diagnosed 2009; Latest HbA1c 5,8%; Diabetes Medication: metformin 2x850mg; Other medication: Aspirin 75mg, Valsartan 80mg, Rosuvostatin 20mg, Ezetimibe 10mg; Exercise: One hour walk daily, tennis weekly, swimming when warm enough

Birthday bouquet for the wife!




Pavlos
Type 2 - Diagnosed 2009; Latest HbA1c 5,8%; Diabetes Medication: metformin 2x850mg; Other medication: Aspirin 75mg, Valsartan 80mg, Rosuvostatin 20mg, Ezetimibe 10mg; Exercise: One hour walk daily, tennis weekly, swimming when warm enough

My floral birthday offering looking even better as our dinner table centerpiece.

But I guess I was not the only one who thought that saying it with flowers was the best way to wish my wife "happy birthday"

This came from colleagues at work


And this from her dad


One should stay well clear of our house if suffering from hay fever!

Ended up having a few friends over for an informal dinner/ birthday celebration last might.

I did have a very small piece of birthday cake!

I did not dare test last night but was at 108mg/dl (6mmol/l) this morning.

Now preparations begin for tomorrow's big event.



Pavlos
Type 2 - Diagnosed 2009; Latest HbA1c 5,8%; Diabetes Medication: metformin 2x850mg; Other medication: Aspirin 75mg, Valsartan 80mg, Rosuvostatin 20mg, Ezetimibe 10mg; Exercise: One hour walk daily, tennis weekly, swimming when warm enough

Having a great time celebrating son's eleventh birthday!

To be honest too busy refereeing the football competition, playing table tennis and generally enjoying myself to worry to much about diabetes.

Son seems to be enjoying himself as well!








Pavlos
Type 2 - Diagnosed 2009; Latest HbA1c 5,8%; Diabetes Medication: metformin 2x850mg; Other medication: Aspirin 75mg, Valsartan 80mg, Rosuvostatin 20mg, Ezetimibe 10mg; Exercise: One hour walk daily, tennis weekly, swimming when warm enough

A very full, very tiring but very satisfying weekend.

Yesterday was take up with celebrating son's eleventh birthday.

My son invited ten of his friends who spent the whole of the day with us,

while we had a second celebration in the evening with grandparents, godparents, uncles etc who joined us for dinner;most of which I had to cook in-between keeping an eye on what the boys were up to



And trying to keep them entertained

Ended up too tired to be much of a host to the family, so I left most of that to the wife.

Sunday was spent at the village, where I had a chance to photograph what I believe is the most beautiful of our endemic species of flowers: Tulipa cypria is a very rare and protected species of tulip growing only in two remote areas of Cyprus














Pavlos
Type 2 - Diagnosed 2009; Latest HbA1c 5,8%; Diabetes Medication: metformin 2x850mg; Other medication: Aspirin 75mg, Valsartan 80mg, Rosuvostatin 20mg, Ezetimibe 10mg; Exercise: One hour walk daily, tennis weekly, swimming when warm enough

There was a lot more to admire besides the tulips in today's visit to the countryside. One of the most striking sights were the "anathrikes" or giant fennels.












Ferula communis, the giant fennel, is a tall herbaceous perennial. It is found in Mediterranean woodlands and shrublands. It was known in antiquity as narthex.

In Greek mythology, Prometheus steals fire from the gods to give to man by hiding it in one of its stalks.


Pavlos
Type 2 - Diagnosed 2009; Latest HbA1c 5,8%; Diabetes Medication: metformin 2x850mg; Other medication: Aspirin 75mg, Valsartan 80mg, Rosuvostatin 20mg, Ezetimibe 10mg; Exercise: One hour walk daily, tennis weekly, swimming when warm enough

Morning fasting level 120mg/dl (6,7mmol/l); my highest such reading since the beginning of last December!

In a way, I am glad!

I know I took liberties with my diet over the weekend and at least now I know that I can not get away with that.


Pavlos
Type 2 - Diagnosed 2009; Latest HbA1c 5,8%; Diabetes Medication: metformin 2x850mg; Other medication: Aspirin 75mg, Valsartan 80mg, Rosuvostatin 20mg, Ezetimibe 10mg; Exercise: One hour walk daily, tennis weekly, swimming when warm enough

Beshlie said:

Looks like you all had a great weekend, Pavlos . I think it's lovely when families come together, like it seems yours do. I miss that.

Click to expand...

Family is still very important in Cyprus. We do not so much come together as more or less live together, being in and out of each other's houses at the drop of a hat.

It is a wonderful support network but it can feel a little bit claustrophobic too.

That is why going away on holiday can be so good.


Pavlos
Type 2 - Diagnosed 2009; Latest HbA1c 5,8%; Diabetes Medication: metformin 2x850mg; Other medication: Aspirin 75mg, Valsartan 80mg, Rosuvostatin 20mg, Ezetimibe 10mg; Exercise: One hour walk daily, tennis weekly, swimming when warm enough