diabetes life

Living with Diabetes: February 2024 check in

February 15, 2024

I haven’t written one of these posts in a while. Probably because I honestly haven’t done too well with things. My numbers are way higher than they should be and I’m doing, well, pretty shitty in holding myself accountable.

But I have to look at the overall picture. Sometimes that can be really hard to do.

For those of you who have followed my blog, you’ve probably seen these posts before. Though, to be fair, I’m usually doing *slightly* better. This time, it’s a mixed bag. I say that because I only can really tell part of the story.

See, my A1C for the last several checks has not been good. So much that we’re getting to the point where my primary is talking about either having to change medications or talk about insulin. These are not things I’m interested in, especially the insulin part.

Somewhere along the line I kind of fell out of being smart with things. Well not everything. But at least checking and holding myself to task. Instead, I stopped checking on a daily basis. I know when it happened. At some point the meter and strips I was using wasn’t being accepted by my insurance and the supplies just … stopped coming. So I didn’t really pay attention and the checking just kind of … stopped.

That’s not good.

Meanwhile, other things were fine. I was losing something, whether it was pounds or inches. I felt I was going in the right direction. But each time I had an appointment, though I thought my A1C had to go down, it either didn’t, or it stayed status quo.

Again, not good. So here we are.

This is my fault, don’t get me wrong. I haven’t been the best with eating smart and all that. Though I believe that you need to live life no matter what and indulge in things you love, you still have to be smart. Sitting down and pounding down a bag of candy or something junky isn’t smart. A lot of it for me is stress eating.

Back at it is what has to happen. So I spoke with my primary and a diabetes educator I see. We figured out a game plan of sorts, and I also needed a new meter and strips.

I asked for a certain meter and test strips. I need things to use, such as graphs and all. If I use the one meter and strips, it connects to an app I like. This will allow me to see trends and understand what is going on.

Insurance denied it.

It seems they won’t accept this unless you haven’t done well with the ones they want you to use. So I called and had to issue an appeal. The person I talked to was great and she led me through the whole process. The appeal was granted. But then I had to fight back and forth to make sure it was done correctly. Finally, it was and the prescription was allowed to go through.

But that brings me full circle to the other part of this. It hasn’t all been bad. In fact, the numbers baffle me a little considering other things have been going decently. Most of the rest of my blood tests are great. My weight kind of hovers around the same … I usually lose a few pounds from each appointment to the next.

*A nice long Sunday walk with sun and blue skies! The perfect medicine!*

Here’s the thing, though. I look back to photos and all of how I was 10-12 years ago and it’s bad. I know what I weighed at my worst, and I know what I am now. The gap between the two is well more than 50 pounds.

The last year and a half, though, something else has happened. Though the weight itself is coming off slower, something else has happened — I’m losing inches. In fact, in the last 12-18 months, I’ve dropped three pant sizes. The one I am in now is one that I haven’t been able to get into in probably 12-15 years — at least.

Three pant sizes.

My clothes fit me better, too. Shirts, sweatshirts, jackets — everything. They all fit better. Even my primary said that it’s not always about just the weight (though I do still want to drop a bunch more. I have a weight I’d like to get to).

Without a doubt, a lot of this is because of Harper.

Before Harper, I walked. Quite a bit actually. But if there was a morning I didn’t want to get up, I didn’t get up until I had to. If I was tired from work and didn’t want to walk at night, I didn’t.

I don’t have that choice anymore. Harper and I walk in the morning and we walk at night. It doesn’t matter if it’s raining, snowing, sunny, cloudy or what — we go. And it’s rarely less than a mile, and usually a bit more.

A perfect example happened a couple of weeks ago on a Sunday. We did 1.75 miles in the morning. With the weather so nice — sunny and in the 40s, we headed out in the mid-to-late afternoon, which was a bit earlier than her normal “evening” walk. So many sniffs followed. We saw some friends and we wandered into places we usually don’t. In the end, it was just s bit over three miles.

That was a good walk!

We’ve been doing a lot more of these walks, and I’ve enjoyed it. The daylight keeps increasing and seeing sun is a good thing. It really can pick you up. Soon enough, we’ll hopefully be able to chill out in the yard and enjoy that aspect of life as well.

But back to the beginning — the numbers.

In the end, the insurance company accepted my appeal and granted me the ability to use the meter and strips I want to use. Now it’s time to get back into a routine of checking 3-5 times a day and seeing what is going on with me. This should help me stay more accountable to what I am trying to do. It will mean a few sacrifices, sure. But it should be good for me in the long run.

Here’s to health and happiness!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook!

Living with Diabetes: March 2021

March 11, 2021

It’s been a while since I did one of these posts, and there’s quite a bit to catch up on. Heck, to be fair, I’ve barely touched the blog outside of the Photo Blogging Challenge, so I need to kick it.

The one thing I always loved about this monthly post was the accountability that it gave me. Without it, part of my accountability goes away.

And my numbers have shown it.

I also realized I started writing one of these posts in February, and I never finished it and posted. So I am going to take things from that one and add a little more, so this could be a little longer. But that’s OK. I realize not a lot of people read these so it’s, for me, usually a way I can get my thoughts out there about how things are going.

So where to begin?

As I write this, we are a year into the current pandemic. We’ve all been going through issues over the past year. The world is still crazy, mad, scared, upset, and every other feeling and emotion you can come up with.

It just seems everybody reaches a breaking point and, at times, I feel I’ve reached said point more than once.

First … the numbers

Since I’ve written about this last, I’ve had two A1C tests and they are up. But this was expected. I knew I wasn’t doing the best. The second one actually went down a smidge, but that’s because of how I rebounded in the final month. If I hadn’t, I can’t imagine what it would be.

And why is this?

I explained to my primary (after the first test) that yes, I knew, but I also knew what was part of it – everything going on. From the pandemic, to the political world, to everything else – I wasn’t being smart. I ate like shit, I wasn’t watching things, and when my finger prick checking of my blood sugars wasn’t great (even when I was being smart), I got frustrated and pissed off.

So I’d eat.

Yeah, not the smartest thing in the world, that’s for sure. And I knew it wasn’t smart, but I had no self-control. It was a crutch.

That being said, I was keeping up my walking, for the most part. I’d stay as active as I could, but my free time was often on a computer and kind of tuning out life.

But why?

Look, the past year has been tough. Everybody has their own story or narrative about the year. And if you are in different parts of the United States, or in another country – everything going on has a different impact on you. Some have taken it worse than others. The suicide rate is up. Depression is up. Tension is up. Some people haven’t worked in months. Others are working too much. Some want to be working. Some would rather be in their home away from everything.

The way one person has been dealing with the past year won’t be identical to the next person.

But, because this is from my eyes, let me outline a few quick snapshots.

When this pandemic started, I was in the corner that we’d figure a way to contain it and we’d be back at it by May or June. I came to this conclusion based on things that had happened over the past 20 years (Ebola etc) where the world didn’t have to shut down. As it wore on, I realized it wouldn’t be a quick fix. I, like many others, had to come to terms with that.

So, I buckled down and went at it. My workload from March through June was incredibly high. I did more hours in that span than I can account for, but it had to be done. And ever since, it’s been up and down with normal hours to many more. All part of life.

But the little things get to you. As you look back and reflect, you can start pinpointing different aspects. I couldn’t go to baseball games. I didn’t want to eat out (I still don’t). I didn’t go geocaching or explore. I didn’t go on photo trips. I didn’t get to travel at all. I barely saw family and friends.

This is the type of stuff that really gets to you.

Politics

And what else did it? The presidential election in the United States. It doesn’t matter what side of the spectrum you were on for this – it was overwhelming. You have a global pandemic going on, social justice movements, and an insanely polarizing election cycle. No matter who one backed, there was tension. There were heated arguments and then add in social distancing (or lack thereof) and it got worse.

No matter who one backed – we all had part in this situation. And the sad part is that it didn’t end in November, or even December, or hell, even January. It’s still going. We’re a nation divided and it doesn’t help with people and their mental well being.

I’ve learned the block/unfriend/unfollow/mute buttons are very helpful in the social media world when it comes to a lot of this. I do it quietly, though. I’m not one of those who screams out I am leaving a group or I am eliminating people off my lists … I just do it. And believe me, I’ve done this to people on both sides of the political spectrum. It’s been nice that things have been relatively quiet, too. We know neither side is perfect — that’s for sure — but things being quiet is nice.

The weather

Depending where you live, this may or may not be something you are dealing with, too. But this winter near me has been shitty. It seems like we can’t go a couple of days without snow. And it’s not like we are getting feet at a time. It’s that steady, annoying, an inch or two here and there sort of snow.

*We had a lot of snow this winter … which made things tough as well.*

Sometimes it’s fluffy, sometimes it’s that “wet” heavier snow – like snowball weather.

This really messes with your mind, too.

There’s a day of sun and blue skies and you feel, even if it’s cold, that maybe something is turning. Then what happens? The next three days it snows. Two inches one day. Four the next. Three the next. It’s depressing.

And it also forces me to stay in more. While I don’t mind walking in the cold, if I am out shoveling multiple times over a two- or three-day span, my energy is drained.

And sure, shoveling

The weather has been starting to turn for the better, though, so I am hopeful. But, I never think winter is done in my area until March ends. That being said, I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

Into my small world

Though I was a bit more outgoing and “free” when I was younger, I’ve become way more of an introvert in my adult life. “Adulting” absolutely wears me out. Small talk drives me crazy because nobody knows where to end a chat and all. Sometimes, I just want to put on some headphones and block out the world.

I’ve had my own bouts with different things. If I have a day or two where my blood sugar is too high, I can go in several directions. I can get angry. Or frustrated. Or upset. Or any other emotion. It’s a battle that goes up and down based on my daily mood.

The stress of work doesn’t help, either.

The stress of life, too.

I’ve been looking to buy a house, as well as a new car sometime this summer. I’ve thought about a dog (which I think would help me), and I’ve looked into buying a kayak this summer. I’d like to explore more and ride my bike more. And walk more. Some of these are big, some are small. But they all add up to make it hard, at times, to keep focused on other things.

Mental health

This is real.

Think about yourself through all of this. Have you had any mental health issues? Has it taken a toll on your health at all? How’s your blood pressure? If you have diabetes, how are your numbers? How are other things? Are there any other underlying issues that have worsened during this time?

I have had my moments, that’s for sure.

Overall, though, I’ve taken it in stride the best I could. I’ve found ways to cope – whether it be a walk or binge watching something on Netflix, or trying to figure a way to shape my new personal journal (which may be one reason I haven’t blogged as much). Too often, I tend to slink back to the computer and that needs to change a little. The computer can be fun, be it some games or surfing or researching — but turning off the screen is important as well.

I’m trying to find different ways to do things to ease stress and I think that will help overall. The warmer weather will help. I plan to start playing some golf again as the weather improves, and I’ll be walking the courses more. Maybe I’ll get back to playing some disc golf. I want to explore some state parks. If a dog comes along, well … that can only help. Home ownership could help as well with all that it would involve. I want to do more with photography, and especially videography.

It’s the little things that will help.

OK, we get it … the numbers.

So … about those numbers

The last two A1C reports were in the upper 8s – obviously not where I want to be.

But …

One of my recent readings before dinner.

A month ago, I met with a dietician. She was uber helpful. She helped shape my meals. She offered ideas based on what I like to eat. She talked about calories, and carbs. She explained certain things. And we worked on what I could do.

The results have been crazy good.

I made a spreadsheet to document what my finger prick readings were for the past month and it’s quite wild to see it drop. Over the course of four weeks my numbers have gotten much closer to where they should be and for that, I am excited and thankful. It gives me the drive to keep it up and see what I can do.

Look, the reality is this – I don’t want my medication upped. In fact, I want it downsized. For this to happen, I need to do the right thing. I also requested a new blood glucose reader – one that syncs up with the MySugr app, so that should help as well. I’ll be excited when that arrives.

And when I saw my doctor earlier this week? I’m down 11 pounds. So that is also a good thing that helps in many ways. If I can continue my progress and do things right — maybe I can finally build the habits I need to get healthier.

Moving forward

I have some goals for this year. I’d like to continue the weight loss. I’d like to get a bit more active with my walking (pick up the pace again), and hike/explore some. Maybe do some biking and kayaking. All that will help. And by the end of the year (I would have 2-3 more A1C tests this year as I go every three months), I want that A1C staying under 7 – as low into those 6s as I can get.

And, I need to get blogging about these things more – not just this monthly write up, but the other features I have on here that have been neglected – such as the walking with a purpose and On The Trail.

I can’t guarantee I’ll be full force, but I am going to try and do a bit more. I’ve really crawled into a shell and I need to come back out and experience life a bit more.

And in the end, I think that will help me overall.

I hope everybody is getting through this pandemic. Be safe. Mask up when needed. Have some distance. Be healthy. Be happy.

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

Living with Diabetes: Managing during a pandemic

May 7, 2020

For those of you who read my blog, you likely know I’ve been working my rear off to get my diabetes in control. I’ve been doing pretty well with it, too.

In fact, at my last blood test in February, my A1C dropped .5 points and I’m on the cusp of dropping under a 7 for the first time in a while.

That has me pumped.

However, then COVID-19 hit,

The world went into a lockdown. People lost jobs. Others work remotely. Some are afraid to step outside. Being diabetic, I’m told, I’m at a higher risk.

Just what I needed.

I’m thankful I didn’t lose my job. I’ve worked remotely for the most part, but I go into the office a couple of times per week. I utilize social distancing. When I’m in a store or in a public area where I might be around people and can’t be 6-10 feet away, I wear a mask. I’m doing the items I’ve been asked to do. Do I like or want to do them all? No. But I’m also in the belief that I am doing many of these things for other people, not just me.

My work has really amped up, though. I’m having to juggle a lot of things and I know the next two months are going to be high-stress, probably longer hours at time, and definitely a time where I might not always be smart.

First, let’s take working at home. For me, it’s not the best. You do some Zoom meetings and all and you might snack a bit. I don’t always check my blood numbers as I forget. I’m out of a rhythm.

Now, I will say I get way more walking in. My morning and afternoon walks are usually a lock. Sometimes there’s a third. When I’m at the office, I tend to try and move more because there’s so few people around and if I don’t move and stare at the computer all day, I’ll go bonkers.

Sometimes on weekends, I’ve found nature areas and places to hike so I can get a change of scenery. I’ve tried to take photos and videos. When the weather is nice, I’ve tried to take advantage of it.

But this time for everybody is hard. We’re not doing normal things. We want to, but we can’t. And that takes a toll on somebody’s body.

The times I’ve checked my blood sugars, there’s some elevation at times. Not always mind you, but sometimes. I know there are times I pick at snacks because of the situation I am in. I don’t think I’ve really packed on pounds as clothes tell me otherwise. I’m trying to be as smart as I can. My portion sizes haven’t increased.

Still, I know I haven’t been great.

My next doctor’s appointment is June 30. I am supposed to get blood taken before then, so we’ll see how that goes. I hope I don’t see my numbers go flying back up, though I know that will be possible.

For now, I need to get back to where I was before all of this started. That means watching what I eat. Moving. Not snacking all the time. Sometimes it can be very hard, as I am sure others will note, too.

I keep plugging away. The best I can, anyway. It’s also my hope you are all doing well.

Stay safe and healthy.

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

Living with Diabetes: Medications and the ups and downs of it all

February 12, 2020

There are days when I want to scream when it comes to diabetes.

Like, top of my lungs, off the mountain tops, and filled with profanity sort of screaming. You know, the type that makes zero sense, but at the same time makes you feel a whole heap better.

I mean, if it’s just for you, it’s not often a few cuss words won’t make you feel better … right?

Let me back this up a little to explain.

At my last A1C test in November, my numbers had come down. I was happy about that, but the unfortunate part is that the past two tests had gone up … so I hadn’t been doing well. This made my primary and my diabetes educator each have a chat with me about kind of looking at what I was doing etc. I made a lot of changes since then and things are going well.

They also suggested I might want to look into an injectable medicine – not insulin, but one of the weekly ones. I agreed to do my research and that I’d let them know.

So I kind of went headfirst. I read about these medicines, such as Trulicity and Ozempic. I read reviews. I looked at all the possible side effects. I looked at the positives and negatives. I watched videos on how they worked and how I would have to use them. I emailed the diabetes educator with questions.

I did my homework.

In the end, I was actually highly interested. Knowing at least one of my medications would be cut in half and the hopes it would eventually be taken away because of using this medicine, I decided to give it a try.

I chose Ozempic.

I liked some of the studies and things to go with this medicine a bit more than the others. It just seemed like the right fit. I took the first dose in late December, and have done it weekly ever since.

And I like the direction it’s going.

My numbers as I check throughout the day have noticeably gone down. One app I use – mySugr – gives an estimation of your current A1C, based on the numbers you have in there. If this is remotely close, then I’m going to be stoked next time I go, which will be in about 2.5 weeks.

And I can’t say if it’s Ozempic, but things are going in the right direction. That leads me to believe the medicine is working and working in a positive way. It’s easy to use and I’ve not felt a negative side to it. I also like that it’s easily stores.

One thing the medication is supposed to help with – suppressing appetite. I know this much – over the past few months, I haven’t been eating as much. I get full much easier, which is a good thing. I’m not usually one that gets excited about a new medicine. I’d rather subtract than add, but this has been really good for me so far. Here’s hoping it keeps going in the right direction and allows me to fully drop one other.

I’ve also been walking a ton more than I used to. I always made sure to walk, but I’ve been really good about getting up and doing the 5 am walk (during the main work week), and then one at night.

Add all that up, and things are going very well in the right direction.

Let’s go back to the screaming part, though.

My one issue is the morning. Recently, my overnight readings have been awesome for my standards. It’s always been my hard area. But it’s been good. I get up, check my numbers and go for a walk. I can’t eat beforehand, as I have a medicine I take that needs to be in me for 30 minutes before I eat. So I go take a walk, come home and get ready for work and then eat.

Now, I realize because there’s nothing in my body, my numbers could rise (they usually do a little), but there are days where it goes way up. I don’t understand how one day it pops way up, other days it goes up a little, and other days it stays the same or goes down a little.

It makes no sense.

If there was a small bit of fluctuation one way or another, I get it. Or if it always went flying up. But it’s so random how things go.

I’ve tried getting up earlier, taking the medicine, going back to bed and then eating before my morning walk. That didn’t work out well. For one, there’s no time for the food to digest, so walking isn’t the best. But my numbers never improved all that much from it, and oftentimes – again – got worse.

So I am at a standstill. I’m not sure how to approach this or what to do. I have appointments March 3, so this will be on my question list.

I know this is an endless fight. I know there are times I’m going to want to scream and there are times I pump my fist knowing I am going in the right direction. But I also realize there will always be frustrations with this battle.

For anybody reading this … do these things happen to you? And if so, what do you do about it? I’m open for ideas and suggestions!

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!

Living with Diabetes: Plugging away

January 30, 2020

As I start to plan out being a bit better about the blog, I realized I hadn’t run one of these since November – and before my last blood test.

Shame on me!

If you recall from last time, my A1C (long-term blood sugars) had gone up a bit dramatically. I got spooked with the talk of insulin and realized I had been a bit aloof about the whole situation.

In fact, the last time I posted about this, I gave myself a bit of a plan of action. Thus far, it seems to be working.

Let’s recap where I went in 2019. My A1C in January of last year was pretty good. I was trending in the right direction and seemed to be doing things the right way.

I got into the Freestyle Libre, which when I wore it and it stayed on my arm, was awesome. I could check my readings a lot. But, when it popped out or one ended, I tended to lax.

And when that happens, that means I’m not checking and “think” I know what I am doing.

I don’t.

So the next two blood tests didn’t go as well as the first – my numbers went up 1.6 points at the May appointment, and another point in August.

Needless to say, my primary wasn’t pleased. I went to work on it and started keeping track of things a lot better. When November came around and it was time for my blood test, I was cautiously optimistic.

It’s dropped 1.1 points.

Am I where I need to be? Not yet. But I’m getting there.

The next thing my primary though was… what are my thoughts on injectables. Not insulin, but the long-range medicines. He wasn’t telling me I had to do it, but to think about it.

I talked to the diabetes educator I see and she thought it would be worth thinking about. By doing this, one of my other medicines would become a lower dose with the possibilities of it being taken away.

Over the next month, I did a lot of research on the main players. In the end, it seemed Ozempic would be a good match for me. In the end, I decided to give it a go.

For four weeks, I’ve used this. It seems like it is helping my daily sugars, mixed in with the exercise and everything else I am doing. I still have a ways to go, but I seem to be trending in the right direction once again. I’ll expand on this medicine and my thoughts in February’s post.

Some things have been harder than others, but everything is working well. I’m doing walks on a regular basis and trying to get myself feeling better overall. I push myself and I watch things. I sometimes still get higher readings and it’s frustrating because I can’t always pinpoint why it’s happening. My other issue is the morning and trying to figure out how to get it all to work well, especially mixing in a morning walk.

In time, I am sure.

I’ve changed some habits and am being much more cognizant about everything I am doing. I just have to stick with it.

My other goal here is to stay more on top of this feature on the blog. I found in the past when I was doing this monthly, it allowed me to reflect and look to what was working and what wasn’t. In the coming months, I’ll have a range of topics to cover, as well as the personal updates.

I realize some of my other past goals, namely a food journal, haven’t been going as planned. That is still on my radar, but I’m trying to figure the best way for me to pull it off.

It’s an endless fight and it’s one I will keep at because it’s the only thing I can do.