- Messages
- 8
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
In 2001 I saw a sign in the hospital inviting people to a diabetes awareness clinic while visiting my mother and I decided on a lark to go and see. Turned out my level that day was 20+ mmol/L. I was subsequently diagnosed by my GP as Type 2 and I've been controlling with meds, diet and physical activity.
In looking back, I have always been fortunate to have an employer with a drug plan so I've been really disciplined about ensuring my stock of meds and taking them at the prescribed times.
As for the diet and physical activity... (to be rigorously honest) not so much discipline.
Spring of 2017 I found my A1C creeping up and my resolve to be more diligent with physical activity (I like jogging) led to a late summer A1C of 6.4 which delighted both myself and my doctor.
Fast forward to January 19th 2018. I'm sitting in my doctor's office and he informs me my latest A1C is 10.4.
He tells me that he isn't the kind of doctor that panics and offers up three options:
Now someone reading this with an experienced eye might notice I haven't mentioned BG monitoring.
Yup. Since the 2001 diagnosis, I have had very brief periods where I monitored, but over the span of years to the present, those monitoring periods have been short and rare. I bow my head in deep contrition to say that.
After the disturbing revelation of a 10.4 A1C, and being a computer programmer, I immediately started a spreadsheet log in which I have recorded my BG correlated to the food I eat. I have booked an appointment with a dietitian also.
In addition to monitoring, I am controlling my carbs (I would say it is now a low-carb diet) and I've begun a regimen of walking at least an hour each day. I make sure to include hills and walk quickly enough to have a sustained elevated heart rate.
My current meds are:
Morning: 2 x gliclazide 30mg and 2 x metform 500mg
Bed time: 2 x metform 500mg and 1 x rosuvastatin (Crestor) 5mg
I'm encouraged that, since January 19th, 2018, my average BG (42 measurements total) is 8.4. I have managed to keep it predominantly between 5 and 10.
This is still not where I want to be.
But it is a start.
Final note, I have my beautiful, knowledgeable wife to thank for helping me eat healthy low-carb meals. She is amazing.
In looking back, I have always been fortunate to have an employer with a drug plan so I've been really disciplined about ensuring my stock of meds and taking them at the prescribed times.
As for the diet and physical activity... (to be rigorously honest) not so much discipline.
Spring of 2017 I found my A1C creeping up and my resolve to be more diligent with physical activity (I like jogging) led to a late summer A1C of 6.4 which delighted both myself and my doctor.
Fast forward to January 19th 2018. I'm sitting in my doctor's office and he informs me my latest A1C is 10.4.
He tells me that he isn't the kind of doctor that panics and offers up three options:
- go on insulin
- "go crazy with the meds" his words
- with a much more diligently carb-controlled diet and regular exercise, see what I can get it down to and go from there
Now someone reading this with an experienced eye might notice I haven't mentioned BG monitoring.
Yup. Since the 2001 diagnosis, I have had very brief periods where I monitored, but over the span of years to the present, those monitoring periods have been short and rare. I bow my head in deep contrition to say that.
After the disturbing revelation of a 10.4 A1C, and being a computer programmer, I immediately started a spreadsheet log in which I have recorded my BG correlated to the food I eat. I have booked an appointment with a dietitian also.
In addition to monitoring, I am controlling my carbs (I would say it is now a low-carb diet) and I've begun a regimen of walking at least an hour each day. I make sure to include hills and walk quickly enough to have a sustained elevated heart rate.
My current meds are:
Morning: 2 x gliclazide 30mg and 2 x metform 500mg
Bed time: 2 x metform 500mg and 1 x rosuvastatin (Crestor) 5mg
I'm encouraged that, since January 19th, 2018, my average BG (42 measurements total) is 8.4. I have managed to keep it predominantly between 5 and 10.
This is still not where I want to be.
But it is a start.
Final note, I have my beautiful, knowledgeable wife to thank for helping me eat healthy low-carb meals. She is amazing.