Living with Diabetes

It seems like the months got away from me on this one! With everything going on over the holidays, I obviously missed December’s “report,” so I’m going to double up, and there is a lot to report on!

Last told, I made it through Thanksgiving without much of an issue. So, there’s a lot to update on.

Something I was quite proud of was making it through 2017 without having candy over the final three months. That means getting through the holidays without being silly with mass-produced goodies. Yes, a few of the famous caramels done up by my mother each Christmas were had, but outside of that I was good. I stuck to the one soda per week and I was out walking.

Boy was I ever.

Since I started this odyssey at the end of September, I’ve made it a priority to get out and walk. Though I can’t say I’ve never missed a day, it’s highly rare. From early October when I started this, to early January 22 (the day before my latest doctor appointment), I had taken more than 1,218,000 steps.

For some people, that might not be a super ton over that period (though I think it would be pretty good for most people, as that is averaging more than 10,500 steps per day), but for me it was a huge step (you like what I did there?) in the right direction. But looking back to when I first started using my Fitbit again, this is way better. From July 23 until the end of September, I had 457,856 steps. Though the time is shorter in that comparison, it gives a glimpse of what I was doing as compared to now.

Routine is important and I think I am doing well with that.

I make my goal to get to 10,000 steps per day, which is (give or take) about five miles per day. Some of that is done throughout the day as I push myself to walk more during work hours, and then I make up the difference with walks at night. I tend to push myself to make sure I get these steps, as if I don’t, I know I’ll regress.

My eating habits have changed, but I know I have to continue down the right path. I watch what I eat and the portion size is down, but there are times I know I am eating too much of one thing or another. I have had a few pieces of candy here and there, but luckily it doesn’t seem to do a lot to me as I am smart about it. It’s hard at times – don’t get me wrong – but I know how important this is.

Weight wise, I’m down about 8-10 pounds. This is where I know I am doing something right, but at the same time not enough. It might be the portion control and all, but with as much as I’m actively doing, I think I should be losing a little bit faster.

The biggest thing is my numbers.

My daily readings are improved, but my overnight reading and what I take around lunch time is usually higher than it should be. Once I hit dinner, I’m better.

These all fluctuate some, and I do make some positive steps. This all gave me confidence in my A1C, which I knew had to improve.

That thought was fully correct.

My A1C went down a full 1.5, which brings me in line of a better place. I’m going to keep pushing and see how low I can get it. I know I can keep improving and I will. I am looking forward to things.

There are still items I need to work on and I’m trying to figure them out. Blood sugar is a crazy thing, and there are times it just doesn’t make sense to me. I’d like to institute some exercise in the morning, but I just am not sure how to do it with a medicine I have to take in the morning, when I can eat, and how to do both before exercising, yet also make it to work on time. I’ll figure it out eventually!

I will keep pushing forward and working to get healthier and healthier.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

It’s the day after Thanksgiving.

Black Friday, as we all know it.

For me, it’s a good Friday of sorts. I successfully made it through the holiday without gorging. My numbers, too, have been doing much — much — better. To understand all of that — let’s go back to the beginning of October. That’s when I made this newfound pact with myself to finally do something about things.

Actually, let me go back even further — to April’s post. That’s when, in a comment, Denise wrote the following:

“Research now shows that it takes 66 days of consistent behavior change to modify existing habits/establish new habits, so consider printing off a sheet with 66 big squares numbered 1 – 66 and putting a big red X through each day as you fit in some exercise!”

I thought — at that point — easy to do. I could do 66 days to change habits! My numbers back then weren’t that good. I knew I needed to do something and, yet, I didn’t.

Then as I approached my doctor appointment in October, I knew I had to do something. I couldn’t let my A1C be really bad.

There were several things I started doing:

1. Stopped eating all candy (still going strong with that, outside of gum)
2. One soda (at most) per week)
3. Walking every night

When I went to the doctor, the A1C number wasn’t very good. In fact, it had gotten worse since June. It went up .6, and that wasn’t something I felt should have happened — so I knew I was crapping the bed.

So, time to fix.

Eating better. No more stupid snacks. Walking. Seems like a simple plan, doesn’t it? I have said for a long time these are the things I needed to do. Then take into account that I’ve received good advice throughout — and still did nothing.

This was the time. And here’s the update.

I haven’t had any candy since September 30, and I’ve stuck to my soda plan. I’ve also kept to my walking regimen, and once habits start — they are hard to break. I have done well with getting out and walking anywhere from 1.5 to 3.5 miles per night, often depending on how much I walked during the day.

And the results have shown.

Though my numbers aren’t where I want them (yet), they are vastly improved. Before I started this, my blood checks would often be in the low 200s for fasting, and sometimes throughout the morning. Since this, that has come way down. My fasting sugars are still a bit on the high side (for my liking), but the improvement has been steady and earlier this week was 154. That is way closer to where it needs to be.

The checking of the blood for other times (lunch, dinner, after dinner, other random times) has shown an incredible change, too. The highest points of the day have been around lunch, which still throws me off. But as the day goes on, the numbers get even better. For the most part, I’m staying within my ranges, but the lunch time is often at the higher end, while other times are on par of where they should be.

The biggest win for me was making it through Thanksgiving without overeating and feeling like I would have killed something I had worked so hard on. And that didn’t happen. Not only that, but with two separate walks that day, I covered 2 miles and 3.1 — and that doesn’t include all the other moving around for the day.

I always say things like this are a marathon — everything isn’t fixed and made better overnight. It has been good because I’ve gone out on walks and things like that in a lot of different weather situations so far, so I know I can push myself. I’ve seen some weight loss, too, which helps.

So far, November and Thanksgiving are a hurdle I got over. The tough is going to be Christmas. But, as long as I keep focused and don’t go overboard, I should be able to get through it without too many scars, so to speak. My next appointment is in January, and I’ll be getting an A1C test then, too, so we’ll see how things go!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Fall off the wagon, get back on — or so it seems.

The summer, for whatever reason, is awful for me when it comes to controlling diabetes. I guess I know the reason — I travel a bit more, I eat out more, and I am not always watching things. That’s part of trying to get in a routine — to be able to control this.

That being said, I thought I did decent this summer. Reality is, I know I didn’t but was trying to convince myself. Though I didn’t eat awful, it wasn’t controlled. Candy has been an issue. Too much eating was an issue.

And I definitely didn’t get enough exercise during the time of year when I should be doing the most.

The summer months went by and I kind of realized … crap, I need to start doing something or else I’m going to get bitched at by my doctor and diabetes educator. But when that thought crossed my mind, I realized a few things, and they are as follows:

1. I can’t live appointment to appointment
If I am worrying just about getting bitched at or scolded because I’m not doing something, then I’m not controlling things. Instead, I’m trying to do just enough to slowly improve, but not really make changes. I think that’s what I have been doing.

2. Accept what it is
Look, since the first day I was told I was pre-diabetic to earlier this year, I was always in denial. I know what it was. I know what I had. But I still thought … if I feel good, then it’s really not there, right? Turns out that’s wrong.

3. Ultimately, I make decisions on how things go
In the end, a doctor or somebody else can take me to take this medicine or do this or that. In the end, I have to make that decision on my own. Therefore, no matter what happens, I really only have myself to blame.

4. Start having will power
I need this. More than anything.

So as September winded down, I made a conscious effort to start eating better. I started looking at things closer. I knew with appointments in late October, I wouldn’t be able to “hide” everything I’ve done, but hopefully I could get to where I felt was a good sign to show I understood where I was and where I’m going.

On September 30, I had a couple of small pieces of candy. On October 1, that stopped.

Since October 1, I’ve been doing a lot more and it’s starting to show. I’m eating better and I’m out moving. I go out each and every night for a walk, which can range (at this point) anywhere from a bit more than a mile to nearly three miles. I have some routes that I follow and they are of different terrains. My goal each night is usually 30-45 minutes of continuous activity. I’ve only missed one or two nights because of working late, but those days I’ve made sure to be a lot more active and moving at work, so that’s been good.

My A1C this visit was slightly up from July. That’s disappointing, but not unexpected. The difference this time is that I’m not too worried about it because I feel I’m going in the right direction.

Those couple of months where I was traveling and going to more games — I wasn’t really even checking my blood. That was a bad move. So when I started back up in October, I was (not really) shocked at what it looked like.

I also knew it would take time — and it has.

In the beginning of the month, my numbers were higher than I am comfortable with. So I adjusted. I’ve made changes in my diet and I’m working on other aspects. I’m exercising. I’m understanding what I am doing.

But the thing about it is this — I’m getting into a routine. I go out for a walk now and think, maybe just a mile tonight … and 2.5 miles later, I’m finishing. I push myself and want to get things better. The numbers have improved. They aren’t perfect, that’s for sure, but they are better. I’ve utilized many things to get me out and moving — like having to mail something or joining virtual races (I’ll have a blog post about these in the near future). Either way, it’s getting me into a good routine, which is also helping me sleep better and feel better overall.

My next doctor’s appointment is in late January, which means my next A1C test will include the holiday months. This won’t be easy, but instead will be a massive challenge for me and I look forward to wading myself through things.

I haven’t had candy in October and plan on that continuing. I’ve only had one (diet) soda per week. I’m trying to find variety in what I eat, yet keep it healthy and control the portions. I’ve learned, from researching, that eating out is not that easy when you are watching certain things, that’s for sure.

Coming up: November is National Diabetes Month, and November 14 is World Diabetes Day.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!