And my results are in!

This morning's appointment with Carrie went very well!  I got there on time, despite a team of tree removal workers from the city blocking our driveway as I was on my way out. 

I tested right before the nurse checked me.  My glucometer read 113, the office's glucometer read 103.  My thyroid is finally in the normal range, which means no more fluctuating medication doses!  100 mcg seems to be just right for me now!  All the rest of my lab work came back normal too and she was happy to report that.   

And the number I've been waiting to reveal...

As you may remember, my Dexcom Studio software was figuring my average blood sugar was around 108 (5.4 A1C), and I was sincerely praying that was true.  I really thought I would be in the 5s!  However, I couldn't remember how accurate its calculations were for my last appointment and A1C, so now I'm happy to be able to note this. 

My last A1C was 6.7 (146 mg/dl). 

My current A1C is....

6.0 (126 mg/dl) !!
Dr. B puts a 126 average blood sugar at 5.7 %, so that's nice!! 

I'm happy that there has been a good amount of progress.  Carrie was pleased to see that my numbers were looking great, even with a few spikes from hormones/over-corrections.  She really had no other instructions, but made note of my low carb intakes (and had no objections), remarked that we're in a better place health-wise to start having kids, and said she'd see me in 4 months (so seems I'll be seeing her every 4 months instead of 6, which is fine.  3 times a year is better than 4, right?).

So now I've determined to choke up on the reins even more.  I will reach the 5s by February, and I've figured out a few things I need to do in order to reach that goal (or do better):

Basal checks - because of those strange highs I was having, which I chalked up to hormones, I adjusted my basal rate some.  I increased my injections of 5 units up to 8, and even up to 10 overnight.  I've since brought them back down to 8 due to some overnight lows, but I'm not sure if I should bring them down even more or not.  That means I need to do some basal checks and make sure I have my dose where it needs to be.  My meal and correction boluses seem to be okay for now, so I'll leave them be.

Lowering my high alert on my Dexcom - In order to tighten my control, I need to start anticipating when my number may go higher than I want it to go.  My high alert tells me when my number reaches the maximum value I set, and it is currently set to go off if my number reaches 140.  However, I would like to start preemptively treating numbers before they get that high.  I think my next high alert setting should be 130, and then down to 120 (which is the lowest it can be set).  My ultimate goal is to keep my numbers between 70 - 120 as much as possible.

Expand my low carb recipe book - While I have some great recipes I've been able to make this past year, I'd really like to make use of the resources I've been able to find since joining some great low carb groups on Facebook.  I know there are a ton of recipes out there that are just waiting for me to find them and try them, and I'm excited to be able to try new ways of making the same old foods!

Well, that's all I have for now.  I'm going to go relax and rest a bit.  I'm running on 4 hours of sleep and have a tiny sore throat. 

To God be the glory!    

Approaching My Next Appointment

My numbers for the past 24 - 40 hours have stayed perfectly constant and in range!  Today I've stayed between 63 - 112 per Dexcom (finger sticks have said 70s, 80s, and 90s for the majority of the time).

1 week til my next appointment.  I go in for lab work next Monday or Tuesday, and then my appointment is Thursday.  I can't wait to find out my results!  Dexcom Studio says I'm maintaining a 108 average blood sugar, which is a 5.4 A1C.  Let's see how close it is to that number, shall we?

I've been testing the Dark Chocolate flavor of ChocoRite...it's pretty good but I prefer the Milk Chocolate flavor.  It's so nice to have a low carb candy I can enjoy that won't mess up my numbers!  

ChocoRite Milk Chocolate Bars

Thanks to some fellow Diabetics I've learned about a low carb chocolate bar that doesn't spike blood sugar!  I finally managed to track down a box at my local Walgreens and am sampling them for myself!  My first taste of chocolate in I don't even know how long...was wonderful!  An hour later and my blood sugar hasn't really budged!  I think this may be my new favorite candy bar!



Each bar has basically 2g carbs because they contain fiber and erythritol (a sugar alcohol, which you can read more about here:  http://bodyecology.com/articles/erythritol_what_you_need_to_know_natural_sugar_substitute.php).

I'm going to keep testing these bars (there are 5 per box) and see if there are any noticeable differences to record, just to be sure.  But for a first time taste of a virtually carb-free/blood sugar safe chocolate bar, I'm hopeful!

EDIT:  8:05 PM
I had no insulin on board or other food in my system.  Here are the results of my hour long test:

6:49 PM
Glucometer:  103
Dexcom:  96
Ate 1 ChocoRite bar

7:53 PM
Glucometer:  118
Dexcom:  99

Dexcom showed steady numbers after eating the ChocoRite bar!

So if you ever want to get me chocolate, you can get me ChocoRite Milk Chocolate bars!  

New Sensor Location

First time trying it on my calf. Loving it so far! Accurate readings, no pain, and out of the way!

(Decided to try it here after my thigh sensor got caught and partially pulled out. It was kinked when I removed it...first time that has ever happened to me!)
 

My stats are improving by the day!  Here's how they look at the moment:


8 units of Levemir really does seem to do the trick of keeping my numbers down.  I hadn't seen consistent numbers in the 70s and 80s before this, so I think I'll stick with it. 

I also had an eye doctor appointment on the 5th.  Eyes look good and healthy.  No sign of diabetic issues, same as always (and always good to hear!).  Eyes haven't changed so no need for a new prescription. 

Now We're Getting Somewhere

Increasing my Levemir has drastically improved my numbers, even to the point where I'm bolusing even less for meals.  I've been able to keep them under 100 overnight, even in the 80s and 70s!  Here is what the past 10 days have looked like:

And stats for the past 5 days, looking amazing with averages in the 90s and high 70s!  Those lows aren't entirely accurate...Dexcom seems to think I went lower than I really did on those days...I only went down into the 60s. 

Slight improvement in these stats (average down to 106 from 108; high 12% target 84% improved from high 13% target 83%).  Glucometer 104 mg/dl 14 day average, 115 mg/dl 30 day average.

 My quarterly stats, showing a drop in mean/average glucose from 130 to 106 mg/dl.  84% in target from July - October, up from 65% in target from April - July. 
 
Average glucose of 106 = A1C of
5.3 (ENDO)
5.1 (Dr. B)

Can't wait to see my result at the end of the month!