What was your fasting blood glucose? (full on chat)

[jjraak]

May the 1st be with you - yes it is three days early but some classes take things in more slowly. Swipey reckons 6.1 was my fbg today. For T2 control that is seriously awful but in context possibly a pretty good effort. Thanks for the art @dunelm and I hope the BBQ goes well.. @gennepher another wonderful Bungalow Wildlife Tale and kaleidoscope - thank you. @jjraak a week of ups and downs but overall very successful. Yesterday I ate out with JKP at the cafe attached to the farm shop/butchers (over the border in Cambs) we like. I resent paying £10 for a salad (warm chicken breast and bacon - .5 drop @ 2 hrs) but ho hum. An elderly couple at the next table gave me so much on which to ponder. The woman clearly suffers from Alzheimer's or similar. Frequently repeating questions such as have we paid, have we been to Ely before (they were going home via Ely)? The man was so patient and loving. God was so obviously working in and through him despite the seeming awfulness of the situation. The staff seemed to know them as regulars and were so kind. Not water into wine, not Lazarus like but from initial attraction as a couple to that scene absolutely miraculous. @Krystyna23040 I hope there are bluebells for you. Today is pork shoulder day from the farm shop butcher (the lockdown 1 half pig from there was so good so well worth the new freezer) - 92 YO MIL will be with us. On Friday we delivered our grandson to stage school in Newmarket, usually just me and he, no other children to mind so JKP came. Returning home we stopped at the roadside for vitals. Asparagus - fair enough, 'tis the season; strawberries - early methinks; new potatoes - very early surely? The strawberry I tried yesterday was wonderful and we have had the asparagus before: poached egg, Hollandaise and Parmesan shavings anyone? Stay safe and be considerate of others - Googling "tractors" in public is to be avoided . (How does John Deere/Claas/New Holland lead to porn?)

Sounds a most pleasant day @ianpspurs .

I may have missed it, hopefully news was your good lady fully recovered ?

Meal very... mmmhhh

Nicely observed that older couple .

Another topic that raised its head while I was out and we all set the world to right.

Mentioned by some that it's the cruelest of diseases, it certainly is cruel, I'll agree...but the cruellest ?

Aren't we all headed for poorer health by dint of surviving previous culls, etc.

And many will succumb to other diseases or illnesses that impair slightly or more fatally.
And every loss is a cruel blow to someone's family..

Having personally witnessed that long steady decline, I can only agree with you, that God does move through some, his wonders to perform.

That calmness and patience of her husband speaks loudly if it, as you say .

The small blessing is that unlike a sudden death, You do get the luxury of time, even if unheard, to tell those affected how much they are loved.

A small mercy given the illness, but one gratefully received none the less.

May God make that couples journey, as calm & peaceful as it can be .

And good man you, for seeing that so clearly.

Have the best of days .

 

[jjraak]

Good morning all. Another bright start to the day. fbs at 8am was 13.3. Blood test for HbA1c and cholesterol made for Wednesday following my on line message to the new doctor's surgery. Enjoy your week-end folks.

A hug for the numbers being a bit of a roller coaster of late.
I notice the docs in hospital never worried if everyone under 10 & only slightly concerned if it was over slightly ..heading for 20 seemed to be the time they worried .


And the best of wishes Wednesday blood test goes well and results are are good as can be .

I know others say you don't need to fast, but I always do.
Will you be abstaining too ?

The tests are a good guide to how the inner workings are doing
I want them to be as level as possible.
And the only way i could ever remember the previous tests mix the night before IS to make it zero food or coffee.

Even I can remember that every time

Make a difference ,. Honestly I don't know.
But every test is as similar as I can make it

Hate to fret over a high or low 'something' that MIGHT have been raised/lowered by what I partook of hours earlier

 

[Krystyna23040]

But then a few days later she tried rubbing her head and body against my legs. So I responded with a nice voice. And she has done that ever since. She is far friendlier and calmer than she used to be, but this is still going to take time...

It is so lovely that Shadow is getting calmer and friendlier day by day @gennepher

 

[Krystyna23040]

@ianpspurs yes the bluebells were out and we had a lovely walk through the bluebells. They were stunning.

We walked 4 miles. Archie (who is almost 15¾ did really well). Mr K shared his sausage roll with Poppy and Archie.

Hope your shoulder of pork was delicious and that your MIL enjoyed the meal.

 

[dunelm]

Good morning everyone from our last day north of the wall. Still no sign of any white walkers roaming in the gloaming, lassie or nay. Spotted a Spitfire in some blokes front garden yesterday and not to be outdone, a kangaroo a couple of doors down: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/meet-moffat-man-home-made-21991395
Parks and play areas were the order of the day yesterday - you adults just get us there and then stand back and enjoy the scenery. Sunshine decided to have a lay in and did not appear until mid afternoon, just in time for a BBQ and the enjoyment of the outdoor space. Tidy up time this morning putting this lovely old Victorian building back to how we found it and then home.
Art bit - a little stippling and a couple of boats. Have a marvellous bank holiday Monday, Time for an early koffy before everyone gets up and makes vacuuming noises.

 

[gennepher]

It is so lovely that Shadow is getting calmer and friendlier day by day @gennepher

Yes it is, thanks @Krystyna23040

 

[gennepher]

*Yes, I do understand depression can be serious & life threatening in many ways, but haven't we all heard some one described as depressed, when miserable might have been a more appropriate word ?

Which was how I perceived it .. rightly or wrongly
Apologies to anyone genuinely suffering depression X.

Taking one bit out of your post yesterday on depression @jjraak
I looked up just now in a thesaurus the word depression, because like you said, we can use the word depression to cover a multitude of feelings. Maybe, if we are able to, we could examine what might be a better word for how we feel. If I have to pick one word from this list if I am not feeling bright and chirpy (I am trying to avoid the word depression here, just because I am), the word that best describes me from this list is 'sadness', but then that opens up another multitude of things and cans of worms (done the counselling and psychology bit, and I wasn't impressed, but that is my experience). But the word sadness is a starting point for me in this, and makes sense to me. For me it is a heavy sadness.

Here is the list of words in my thesaurus on depression:
Melancholy, misery, sadness, unhappiness, sorrow, woe, gloom, dejection, downheartedness, despondency, low spirits, heavy-heartedness, moroseness, discouragement, despair, desolation, doefulness, moodiness, pessimism, hopelessness, the slough is despond, upset, fearfulness, the dumps, the blues, one's black dog, a low, the blahs, a funk, a blue funk, the mopes, clinical depression, endogenous depression, reactive depression, postnatal depression (these last 4 lead to another whole host of words), dysthymia, melancholia, dolour, the megrims, mopery, disconsolateness, disonsolation.

This thesaurus is on my iPad and it comes up as a mind map/spider diagram when you put in the word 'depression' and these are under the medical definition of depression.

I am not trying to depress anyone with this post but I just thought it was interesting that there are a lot more words around the word 'depression', which may or may not more accurately describe our own personal feelings on whatever it is.

Just a thought.

 

[gennepher]

Good morning everyone from our last day north of the wall. Still no sign of any white walkers roaming in the gloaming, lassie or nay. Spotted a Spitfire in some blokes front garden yesterday and not to be outdone, a kangaroo a couple of doors down: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/meet-moffat-man-home-made-21991395
Parks and play areas were the order of the day yesterday - you adults just get us there and then stand back and enjoy the scenery. Sunshine decided to have a lay in and did not appear until mid afternoon, just in time for a BBQ and the enjoyment of the outdoor space. Tidy up time this morning putting this lovely old Victorian building back to how we found it and then home.
Art bit - a little stippling and a couple of boats. Have a marvellous bank holiday Monday, Time for an early koffy before everyone gets up and makes vacuuming noises.


View attachment 54388

Hope you got your peaceful coffee @jjraak
Interesting gardens in Scotland...
I love this stippling effect, looks very detailed and is perfect for those waterfalls going down...

 

[gennepher]

Cheers @gennepher .

Yes, unused muscle/groups..deffo felt it the next day or so, but I guess that means something is working

Cycle, not too far travelled...about 20 minutes steady pace.

Discussed at breakfast/bar

I think we graduate as children into modes of transport or not

I know the current gen seem less inclined to learn to drive due to possible waste of money, if cars driving themselves becomes the norm

I found when chatting to bike lads on forums, we all seemed to graduate from bicycles, ( longer trips) onto any sort of vehicle that extended our range, predominantly powered two wheelers (PTW)..so the 50cc, moped, bigger bikes

For me it's always been about personal mobility & the freedom that brings

So scooters, motorcycles, bicycles, E-anything if it can move me where I want to go

Can DO busses, trains etc, but given the choice
Out in the open air, independent..= bliss.

Bargain too
£2:00..unlimited use (dock every 30 minutes ) for the whole 24 hours ...WIN

Yes @jjraak I agree with needing the personal mobility and the freedom that comes with it.
I wish I could still ride a bicycle. Well, I can, but my arthritis makes me seize up, so when it comes to stopping, I can apply the brakes with my hands no problem, but my legs and hips have seized up and I cannot take them off the pedals...
I found that out a few years ago when my son hired a bicycle. Why didn't you get one for me, I complained. Because you can't ride a bicycle now, he replied. Oh yes I can, give me yours. Mum, you can't...
I am cycling quite happily, downhill, then I needed to stop. My son is running after me, I am faster than he is. I need to stop, I find all my joints have seized up. I cannot take my feet off the pedals. What to do? I decide a bush might be the best alternative...
Son catches up with me. That's why I didn't hire you a bicycle, he said. But I CAN still ride a bicycle, I replied. ...
I am still 17 years old in my head...
Might get me into more trouble yet...

 

[gennepher]

Fbg 6.5

Yesterday Shadow was in attendance quite a bit. Patrolling the garden. I opened the kitchen door to outside and Shadow came rushing in, examined the kitchen and came out. She has not been in my kitchen before. But she wanted feeding and tried to get me to follow her through the plants (I cannot access back garden that way). So I came in, and went to the back and opened the back door. Shadow was sitting there initially with a disappointed face, she thought I had ignored her requests moments earlier. But then I produced food and she was happy. She is still trying to work out how I can reappear the other side of the bungalow...

All the other usual suspects were in attendance at the cat diner.

Creative today is my flowering Huckleberry bush in kaleidoscope in the Laboscope app.
Shadow is partolling.

Time for more coffee...

 

[Krystyna23040]

5.3 this morning. We are having a catch up day today - catching up with all the things that are outstanding. For me it probably means the dreaded admin but hopefully I will have time to look at some training videos - which is much more enjoyable.

Of course I will be drinking lots of coffee and relaxing and reading.If

Archie enjoyed his walk. Half way around the park he had a roll on the grass and then rolled onto his side and closed his eyes and went to sleep. Luckily he did get back up and we didn't have to carry him home.

 

[dogslife]

A hug for the numbers being a bit of a roller coaster of late.
I notice the docs in hospital never worried if everyone under 10 & only slightly concerned if it was over slightly ..heading for 20 seemed to be the time they worried .


And the best of wishes Wednesday blood test goes well and results are are good as can be .

I know others say you don't need to fast, but I always do.
Will you be abstaining too ?

The tests are a good guide to how the inner workings are doing
I want them to be as level as possible.
And the only way i could ever remember the previous tests mix the night before IS to make it zero food or coffee.

Even I can remember that every time

Make a difference ,. Honestly I don't know.
But every test is as similar as I can make it

Hate to fret over a high or low 'something' that MIGHT have been raised/lowered by what I partook of hours earlier

Good morning @jjraak. Thank you for taking the time to respond. I had assumed my cholesterol test was a fasting one but when I collected the blood form from the doctors it says in brackets ( = non fasting). The test is also for other things as well as HbA1c . I made my appointment as early as was available---10am -deliberately so I would be fasting for too long but now I'm not sure whether to eat or not. As the purpose of the cholesterol test is to see if the statins have made a difference maybe the doctor wants to check what is normally happening rather than when I haven't eaten? I am convinced it is the statins that have raised my fbs even higher than before so unless they have substantially reduced my cholesterol level I will stop taking them. It's a case of which causes the most damage. It will be interesting to hear what the new doctor advises. Best wishes for your continued recovery.

 

[ianpspurs]

Hello from a sullen skied region of the East Angles. I am all crosswaffled as to whether I should have celebrated the feast of 2 apostles Saturday, today (as per the more woke version of C of E daily worship.) or tomorrow Either way our two oldest sons share the apostles names and yesterday meat was eaten, wine drunk so it counts as a feast and thanksgiving IMHO. @Krystyna23040 good news on the bluebells and walk. The pork was as good as usual thank you and MIL enjoyed and ate all her meal including the sticky toffee pudding to which she treated herself and JKP. She had her latest booster Friday and is in full planning mode for her forthcoming trip to Wales with No 1 son and his daughter. @dogslife I hope all goes smoothly with the blood tests and the results are what you need for clarity. @dunelm good news on the BBQ not being rained off. @gennepher interesting list of alternative words for depression and thank you for the kaleidoscope. My fbg was disgusting but oddly Swipey confirmed that I'm better off bgwise not eating anything until at least 11.00 am. Hard to see how my bg would fall by .4 in 3 hrs so initial level may have been an error. . Stay safe, huddle around the outdoor woodburner and munch on bossterism cakes if in the UK. For those in other countries we'll take all the what did you expect lectures and sympathy with good grace.

 

[dogslife]

Hello from a sullen skied region of the East Angles. I am all crosswaffled as to whether I should have celebrated the feast of 2 apostles Saturday, today (as per the more woke version of C of E daily worship.) or tomorrow Either way our two oldest sons share the apostles name and yesterday meat was eaten, wine drunk so it counts as a feast and thanksgiving IMHO. @Krystyna23040 good news on the bluebells and walk. The pork was as good as usual thank you and MIL enjoyed and ate all her meal including the sticky toffee pudding to which she treated herself and JKP. She had her latest booster Friday and is in full planning mode for her forthcoming trip to Wales with No 1 son and his daughter. @dogslife I hope all goes smoothly with the blood tests and the results are what you need for clarity. @dunelm good news on the BBQ not being rained off. @gennepher interesting list of alternative words for depression and thank you for the kaleidoscope. My fbg was disgusting but oddly Swipey confirmed that I'm better off bgwise not eating anything until at least 11.00 am. Hard to see how my bg would fall by .4 in 3 hrs so initial level may have been an error. . Stay safe, huddle around the outdoor woodburner and munch on bossterism cakes if in the UK. For those in other countries we'll take all the what did you expect lectures and sympathy with good grace.

Thank you @ianpspurs.

 

[gennepher]

Hello from a sullen skied region of the East Angles. I am all crosswaffled as to whether I should have celebrated the feast of 2 apostles Saturday, today (as per the more woke version of C of E daily worship.) or tomorrow Either way our two oldest sons share the apostles name and yesterday meat was eaten, wine drunk so it counts as a feast and thanksgiving IMHO. @Krystyna23040 good news on the bluebells and walk. The pork was as good as usual thank you and MIL enjoyed and ate all her meal including the sticky toffee pudding to which she treated herself and JKP. She had her latest booster Friday and is in full planning mode for her forthcoming trip to Wales with No 1 son and his daughter. @dogslife I hope all goes smoothly with the blood tests and the results are what you need for clarity. @dunelm good news on the BBQ not being rained off. @gennepher interesting list of alternative words for depression and thank you for the kaleidoscope. My fbg was disgusting but oddly Swipey confirmed that I'm better off bgwise not eating anything until at least 11.00 am. Hard to see how my bg would fall by .4 in 3 hrs so initial level may have been an error. . Stay safe, huddle around the outdoor woodburner and munch on bossterism cakes if in the UK. For those in other countries we'll take all the what did you expect lectures and sympathy with good grace.

Thanks @ianpspurs

 

[jjraak]

Good morning everyone from our last day north of the wall. Still no sign of any white walkers roaming in the gloaming, lassie or nay. Spotted a Spitfire in some blokes front garden yesterday and not to be outdone, a kangaroo a couple of doors down: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/meet-moffat-man-home-made-21991395
Parks and play areas were the order of the day yesterday - you adults just get us there and then stand back and enjoy the scenery. Sunshine decided to have a lay in and did not appear until mid afternoon, just in time for a BBQ and the enjoyment of the outdoor space. Tidy up time this morning putting this lovely old Victorian building back to how we found it and then home.
Art bit - a little stippling and a couple of boats. Have a marvellous bank holiday Monday, Time for an early koffy before everyone gets up and makes vacuuming noises.


View attachment 54388

You certainly have cornered some wonderful sounding days, @dunelm

Great little pic, too.

Liking that hint of mountains in the foggy background.

 

[jjraak]

Taking one bit out of your post yesterday on depression @jjraak
I looked up just now in a thesaurus the word depression, because like you said, we can use the word depression to cover a multitude of feelings. Maybe, if we are able to, we could examine what might be a better word for how we feel. If I have to pick one word from this list if I am not feeling bright and chirpy (I am trying to avoid the word depression here, just because I am), the word that best describes me from this list is 'sadness', but then that opens up another multitude of things and cans of worms (done the counselling and psychology bit, and I wasn't impressed, but that is my experience). But the word sadness is a starting point for me in this, and makes sense to me. For me it is a heavy sadness.

Here is the list of words in my thesaurus on depression:
Melancholy, misery, sadness, unhappiness, sorrow, woe, gloom, dejection, downheartedness, despondency, low spirits, heavy-heartedness, moroseness, discouragement, despair, desolation, doefulness, moodiness, pessimism, hopelessness, the slough is despond, upset, fearfulness, the dumps, the blues, one's black dog, a low, the blahs, a funk, a blue funk, the mopes, clinical depression, endogenous depression, reactive depression, postnatal depression (these last 4 lead to another whole host of words), dysthymia, melancholia, dolour, the megrims, mopery, disconsolateness, disonsolation.

This thesaurus is on my iPad and it comes up as a mind map/spider diagram when you put in the word 'depression' and these are under the medical definition of depression.

I am not trying to depress anyone with this post but I just thought it was interesting that there are a lot more words around the word 'depression', which may or may not more accurately describe our own personal feelings on whatever it is.

Just a thought.

Thank you @gennepher for the description.

A whole lot of words I think many would use on a rainy day, which certainly didn't match my personal feelings on the subject at hand.

But I did understand my councillors intention to label a symptom was more with the limitations of our language rather then any desire to trivialise my feelings.


Put me down too, for enjoying the slow courtship shadow is conducting.

Cat mummy status coming in ..5, 4, 3,.....

 

[jjraak]

Yes @jjraak I agree with needing the personal mobility and the freedom that comes with it.
I wish I could still ride a bicycle. Well, I can, but my arthritis makes me seize up, so when it comes to stopping, I can apply the brakes with my hands no problem, but my legs and hips have seized up and I cannot take them off the pedals...
I found that out a few years ago when my son hired a bicycle. Why didn't you get one for me, I complained. Because you can't ride a bicycle now, he replied. Oh yes I can, give me yours. Mum, you can't...
I am cycling quite happily, downhill, then I needed to stop. My son is running after me, I am faster than he is. I need to stop, I find all my joints have seized up. I cannot take my feet off the pedals. What to do? I decide a bush might be the best alternative...
Son catches up with me. That's why I didn't hire you a bicycle, he said. But I CAN still ride a bicycle, I replied. ...
I am still 17 years old in my head...
Might get me into more trouble yet...

Haha...went with the funny, because I've been there too
Knowing I shouldn't but insisting anyway and happy to take the fall, I knew was coming but ignored .oh to actually be that 17 year old again...


As for the bike riding,..I can do because I'm moving constantly ..

where as if I try on the motorcycle, I do think I would have similar issues to you , as to freezing or seizing up

Fine while travelling.
Not so sure I could get feet down quick enough to balance bike at any stop or lights.(203 kg)

Much as I might like to try it, not sure it's safe or others, tbf .

However I shall be investigating the use of my 2nd scooter once I'm more able to stand, bend, crouch, etc

 

[jjraak]

Hello from a sullen skied region of the East Angles. I am all crosswaffled as to whether I should have celebrated the feast of 2 apostles Saturday, today (as per the more woke version of C of E daily worship.) or tomorrow Either way our two oldest sons share the apostles name and yesterday meat was eaten, wine drunk so it counts as a feast and thanksgiving IMHO. @Krystyna23040 good news on the bluebells and walk. The pork was as good as usual thank you and MIL enjoyed and ate all her meal including the sticky toffee pudding to which she treated herself and JKP. She had her latest booster Friday and is in full planning mode for her forthcoming trip to Wales with No 1 son and his daughter. @dogslife I hope all goes smoothly with the blood tests and the results are what you need for clarity. @dunelm good news on the BBQ not being rained off. @gennepher interesting list of alternative words for depression and thank you for the kaleidoscope. My fbg was disgusting but oddly Swipey confirmed that I'm better off bgwise not eating anything until at least 11.00 am. Hard to see how my bg would fall by .4 in 3 hrs so initial level may have been an error. . Stay safe, huddle around the outdoor woodburner and munch on bossterism cakes if in the UK. For those in other countries we'll take all the what did you expect lectures and sympathy with good grace.

A fine celebration, fitting for the day.
( Whenever it actually is )

 

[jjraak]

Good morning @jjraak. Thank you for taking the time to respond. I had assumed my cholesterol test was a fasting one but when I collected the blood form from the doctors it says in brackets ( = non fasting). The test is also for other things as well as HbA1c . I made my appointment as early as was available---10am -deliberately so I would be fasting for too long but now I'm not sure whether to eat or not. As the purpose of the cholesterol test is to see if the statins have made a difference maybe the doctor wants to check what is normally happening rather than when I haven't eaten? I am convinced it is the statins that have raised my fbs even higher than before so unless they have substantially reduced my cholesterol level I will stop taking them. It's a case of which causes the most damage. It will be interesting to hear what the new doctor advises. Best wishes for your continued recovery.

Of course that decision must be yours.

So I won't muddy too much, the waters,
Except to end by saying

The worry that coffee, tea, burger, snack, etc
COULD impact any metric, is possible.

Is enough for me to fast for every blood test.

As one who never questioned any results I got from any medical authority, once looking into diabetes, I took much more interest in what any results meant, measured & entailed.

Surprising how much they tell us, but I admit I am more geeky with that then many.

So maybe ignore me.