Diabetes, life and all that - personal diary

I took my camera along to the village hoping to take some interesting shots of the Good Friday service and procession.







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

But nothing man made could hold a candle to the celestial fireworks on show at sunset today









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

From last night's Good Friday procession in our village



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

Cape Kormakitis is the northwestern most tip of Cyprus.

A seemingly barren, windswept and weather beaten rocky outcrop, it is hard to imagine a more inhospitable or more isolated landscape.


One can only imagine what life must have been like for the the old lighthouse keepers who resided here in years gone by


Yet look closer and there is plenty to admire even here.



Life and beauty it seems will find a way to adapt to and survive in the most extreme of conditions.

And, almost impossibly, the surf here actually crashes in from both ends of the horizon, facing off and canceling each other out in a perpetual yet futile struggle for dominance.



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

More pictures from yesterday.

As far north as one can go without leaving Cyprus.


Beautiful scenery on the way to Cape Kormakitis





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

Unlike Saturday, which was rainy, grey and overcast, we had bright sunshine on Easter Sunday with crystal clear skies offering great visibility and causing landscapes to expand in all directions and take on a different hue and feel.

What only a day before looked cloaked in mist and slightly melancholic mood



Turned into something a lot less closed in only a day later



In fact, although still in the middle of spring, there is a distinctly summery feel about the countryside with the golden hues of harvest prevalent everywhere.




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

Traditionally eggs are dyed red at Easter time, to symbolize the spilled blood of Christ, and cracked open on Easter Day to symbolize the tomb of Christ that has been cracked open following the resurrection.



In fact the practice pre dates Christianity, dying eggs being part of existing pagan fertility and spring celebrations that were gradually assimilated into Christian tradition.


Great grandfather challenges great grandson in the egg cracking competition on Easter Day. 101 year old against 11 year old but both equally keen to prevail.

Guess who won?






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

I must admit that my father-in-law is doing a great job with the farm in the village.

Since I was there last he has added a pond



and we are now the proud owners of about twenty chickens, a handful of ducks





A pair of geese




And these two that I admit I do not know what they are


My son is loving it there now and is getting quite good at collecting eggs. Just wish he would hurry up and also master the skill of carrying these eggs home in one piece.



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

I was at 151mg/dl this morning, which is way too high - combination of stress at work and a more relaxed attitude towards my diet over the Easter holiday.

Still plenty of pressure at work but with Easter now been and gone time to get down to getting things under control again.

On a happier note, the first water lilies have appeared in my garden pond.







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

Relieved to see blood sugar down to 121mg/dl this morning. Still on the high side but an improvement on yesterday's 151.

It seems that maintaining good glycemic control is not something that comes easy or naturally to me. It requires focus and concentrated effort.

When distracted because of pressure at work my sugar control suffers as I seem to turn to carbs for a boost in concentration and energy - i do not know if this is a physiological or psychological reaction, but I need to acknowledge it and fight against it.

I took my first morning walk for about a week this morning - just under 6km.

I needed it for reasons that extend beyond the obvious glycemic benefits. An hour's walk listening to music is a great way to start the day and wonderful stress relief.

Here are some pictures of Amaryllis looking stunning in a friends garden - must remember to plant some in my own.





Happy St George's day to everyone St George, in addition to patron saint of England, is also the patron saint of our village as the local church is dedicated to him. There will be a festival there in his honor this weekend.




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

Blood sugar at 118mg/dl this morning. A small if unspectacular improvement on yesterday. Still , every little bid counts.

Just came back from my morning walk, where this honeysuckle plant took my attention.


It is a shame that we do not see this wonderfully old fashioned plant in our gardens more often these days. It's sight and particularly it's sweet smell took me back to summers spent in my grandmother's yard as a child.

While on the subject of old fashioned plants not often encountered in gardens these days, here is a picture of Acanthus mollis, an endemic Mediterranean plant, in bloom in my garden this morning.



In classical antiquity the capitals of columns of the Corinthian order were richly decorated with acanthus leave designs.




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 sugar - 106mg/dl
Morning walk - 6km in just under an hour.

Weather beginning to get too warm, expected to reach 32 degrees centigrade today.

Son had a dip in the pool yesterday. A bit too soon for me but I should be able to start swimming for my exercise before too long. Perhaps I can combine early morning walks with evening swims in the pool.

Of course, swimming in the sea is what I am really looking forward to but that takes a bid longer to warm up. Although looking at some old photographs this was taken on 22 April last year



So I should really give it a try.


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