They Weren't Lying!

With my having to make changes in my life to control my diabetes I have been testing out foods, snacks, and drinks I normally wouldn't. Well, I have come to the conclusion that, holdy crap, Diet Dr. Pepper really does taste more like regular Dr. Pepper and that the commercial were telling the truth. So, if you love the Doc, consider trying diet because it's pretty dang good for a diet soda.

Check out the nutritional facts

The Live-abetes Mobile

First of all, I'm calling diabetes live-abetes, at least for the day, because I'm a dork. But, I am so excited because Delli and I bought bikes so we will have a greater incentive to exercise, which will help both of us. We took a trip to Wally-world the other night, rode around the store, and picked out a couple of rides. Originally, Delli just wanted to get me a bike and she was going to ride an old bike of her mom's, but she saw a cute little pink bike that fit her perfectly, and when I saw her eyes light up, I told her we had to get it for her (and because I told her I'd feel more comfortable if she rode a bike that wasn't so old). Best thing is, it was only ninety bucks. Mine was significantly more, but I love it. It's a Mongoose, and it looks rad.

Delli's ride. It's a brand called Next (which I've never heard of), but she rode it around and liked it, so we went with it. And it's pink so she couldn't resist.

My Mongoose. It wasn't too bad of a price. We only had to throw down two Benjamins for it.

Splendid Splenda

So, As my wife and I were shopping yesterday, we decided to buy some Splenda since I told her I wasn't going to eat non-sugared cereals. It was about six bucks, which is a little steep, but I have found I love the stuff. I had a couple of teaspoons on my Grape Nuts this morning, and I was in heaven. It tastes like sugar. How cool is that? The bad also says its good for baking, so all have to try some cookies or something. Best of all, it measures cup for cup like sugar, so it should be easy using it to make other things. I love the comforts of modern life in the era of technology.

Fluctuation Frustration

At first, after my diagnosis and being started on Metformin, I was thinking my BG levels had been dropping, but now I've realized that the dropping of the levels is only daily fluctuation. In the morning, my blood is usually in the low two-hundreds (surely because I test it before breakfast and after fasting through the night), then it jumps to the four-hundreds at around noon or one in the afternoon. By three or so, it drops to the mid to low three-hundreds (which is odd because by then I have eaten lunch and the food from that has circulated through my body; so why it's higher before food and then drops after, I have no idea). My blood sugar continues at about the same throughout the evening until eight or nine when it jumps up again to the high three-hundreds or low four-hundreds.

I will not be discouraged though because apparently the medication takes a week or so to start affecting me as it should. I also haven't yet been to the nutritionist, so I can only use my best guess as what to eat. But, still, I would think cutting out sugared soda entirely would have had a greater affect. Alas, I might just need to give it a bit more time.

1. My little pricker thingy that I'm sick
of jabbing into my sore little fingies!

2. My glucose-ridden blood and
a really expensive test strip.

3. The scary results (at noon)!

Diagnosis

Over the past few months I haven't been feeling so well (i.e. increased fatigue, increased thirst, lower immune system). I have been to the doctor three times in a month and a half and my immune system hasn't been functioning as it usually does. On the last visit, I went in with a sore lymph node and shared my concerns of low immune system with my wonderful doctor (actually, she's a PA or RN or something of the sort), Sabrina. She decided to run a blood test, mono test, and thyroid test. She told me I'd get the results in a few days.

July 9, 2009

As my wife, Adelle, and I were traveling out of town to go on a family outing to Fish Lake, I received a call from Sabrina (first indication of something wrong, she called me in person instead of the receptionist) who wanted me to come in and told me it couldn't wait until Monday, she informed me it was most likely diabetes.

Luckily, we were still in town, so we headed for the doctor's office and met with Sabrina. The results of the blood test showed my blood glucose level at 498 (where the low 100s is normal). She ran some more tests, diagnosed me with type-2 diabetes, and prescribed Metformin and gave me a Glucometer. She told me to monitor my blood three times a day until she said otherwise. She said I needed to have less than 100 carbs a day, and naturally, she also told me soda had to go.

Needless to say, all of this information had me, for lack of a better expression, in a diabetic shock! Even now, the Monday after being diagnosed, July 13, I am still quite stunned. As of Friday, my life has changed...drastically. I am attempting this blog as a help as a coping mechanism for me (though I am so grateful for my dear wife who has been so supportive this past few days, without whom I don't know how I'd have survived the weekend).

So, I guess this is where I start me journey with the battle against type-2 diabetes. If there are those of you who want to come along for the the ride, feel welcome, but as I said, I am mostly speaking aloud to myself. I hope as well to inspire my family (with both parents with type-2 and siblings at high risk) to live their lives in such a w that will prevent them from having to go through this by maintaining proper diet and exercise (but, even so, genetics has quite a bit of control, even if a healthy lifestyle is followed). I pray that none of my brothers and sisters will have to go through this.

So, let the journey begin!