Today kicks off the 6th annual Diabetes blog week and I am thrilled to be able to jump in with my blog this year! Today's topic is I CAN, so I'm excited to share the BIGGEST thing I never thought I'd be able to do.
I've had Type 1 Diabetes for almost 19 years and, as many of my closest relatives and friends know, I've always struggled with high blood sugars and high A1Cs. I never thought I could ever have "normal" blood sugars - they were just impossible to reach. I was put on a high carb, low fat diet, and my A1C stayed in the 10, 11, 12, and even 13% range for years. My blood sugars never seemed to do what I wanted them to do, and it never made sense why they would spike and jump around no matter how much I tried to do what was right.
After getting my Dexcom G4 Platinum in August 2014 and finally being able to see what my blood sugars were doing, I realized just how much I needed to choke up on my diabetes care. I lacked the discipline and motivation for keeping a tight leash on my numbers, and my Dexcom gave me the eyes to see just how much I needed that motivation and discipline if I wanted to get my numbers where they needed to be. My other ultimate motivation was good health for long life and healthy pregnancies. So in January 2015, I really choked up on my care. I went in search of a better way to keep my blood sugars steady - in a good range - and I found lots of other diabetics who were following a low carb, high fat diet that was recommended by Dr. Richard Bernstein. I immediately started cutting out carbs and finally was able to buy his book, Diabetes Solution, which I am still reading through.
Since May 2014, I have seen an amazing improvement in my A1C (my A1C has dropped from 11.1 to 8.3 in 8 months according to my endo's calculations. Dr. B follows a slightly different chart that says I've dropped from 10.0 to 7.6), and I am thrilled to see that I CAN have normal blood sugars, and I CAN have steady blood sugars with strict discipline and motivation and encouragement from loved ones driving me. I have just as much right to normal blood sugars as non-diabetics, so I'm NEVER going to believe the horrible lie that I can't have normal blood sugars again.
And guess what?
YOU CAN have normal blood sugars too!
3 comments:
Wow, that is a fantastic improvement in such a short time!!! Good for you! I don't know where I'd be without my CGM - probably with a much higher A1C.
Congrats on the improved A1C! My CGM definitely helped get my diabetes in check!
Karen and Kelley, thank you so much! I can't stand to be without my CGM! :) So glad you both love yours, too!
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