I feel really good today, and that’s something to celebrate! I didn’t even have to fight to stay awake in church today, the way I have for some time now. I think my body is adjusting to the steady level of glucose in my system, or at least a lot more steady than it used to be.
I continue to read everything I can find about ways to improve my diet and keep my blood glucose level in a healthy range.
Not that every day has been as good as today has been. We had our usual Date Day Friday, and the weather was gorgeous. That made for some pleasant yard sale shopping, but it meant we were stopping at a lot more sale signs than we have since last spring. Somewhere around lunch time I just ran out of energy. I ate what I thought was a reasonable lunch, but had the highest glucose reading I have measured so far several hours later. And to add to the general fatigue and yucky feeling from too much glucose in my system, my hands and feet were noticeably swollen. By the time we got home I was really very uncomfortable, and did very little Friday night or yesterday, either. Thank goodness that rough patch is over for now.
I’m looking forward this week to seeing my doctor to ask him about my test results from the Glucose Tolerance Test, go over my log of a month’s worth of glucose readings with him, and get an A1C test done. Oh, and I should tell you that I’ve been pleasantly surprised that all the finger sticks (for right now I’m testing before and 2 hours after every meal) aren’t nearly as bad as I thought they would be.
Here’s my understanding of how the A1C test I will have this week works. Every time a person’s glucose goes too high, the red blood cells are changed, as they react with the excess “sugar”. Once the glucose level comes back down, those changed blood cells do NOT change back to normal. So, for the life of that red blood cell, there is a chemical marker that the A1C test can read. If I have had lots of episodes of high glucose over the last few months then lots of my red blood cells will have this chemical marker in them. This test is almost like a diary of the last two or three months worth of sugar levels. It’s the last step in the diagnosis process to decide whether or not I have pre-diabetes or actual Type II Diabetes, as I understand it.
Then, later on this week I have my first appointment with an Internist who specializes in Hypertension and other Diabetes related problems, particularly Kidney problems. Don’t get me wrong. I am not having any trouble with my kidneys now, and I want to keep it that way! He comes highly recommended by my Gastroenterologist, which means he will be someone who can coordinate with my Gastro about my diabetic diet and my digestive problems and elimination difficulties.
I feel like this is going to be a very important week for me, and I am anxious for it to get going! I would appreciate your prayers!!!