Lowering my HIGH alert

Over the weekend I once again lowered my HIGH alert on my Dexcom G4.  It is now at 250.  I have to say, this slow introduction to the HIGH alert has helped me become even more motivated to keep my numbers under control.  I feel like I haven't been rushed but rather I've been gradually helped along in reaching my goal.  It's a nice feeling - to not be pressured or thrown head-long into an annoyingly overwhelming task.  Easing myself into things has always been my way of adjusting.  I'm so grateful that my diabetes team (especially Carrie) understands that this is a good way to start me off on the Dexcom. 

My next appointment is scheduled for October 9...a little over 2 weeks away.  I wonder what Carrie will say about my numbers.

Stay on Target

I went in for fasting labs on Monday morning.  They were quick and painless...3 tubes full of blood and I was done.   

On Wednesday, I got an email saying that my transmitter had finally been shipped...and what's more, it had already been delivered!  I ran out of the bedroom to find that it was laying on the kitchen floor in the FedEx box, which DP had brought in before he left for work.  I opened it up and praised God for its timely delivery (it had been over-nighted to me before I knew it had even been shipped!).  I would've put it on right then and there but I was delayed by a family emergency.  ;)

Today, I went in for my 3pm appointment.  After the nurse went over the usual questions and medicine doses, Carrie came in to discuss my numbers and lab work.  The first thing she pointed out was my A1C.  It had dropped a whole percentage from 11.1 to 10.1!!  I was so thrilled!  I reached my goal for August!

She then went on to say that both my HDL & LDL cholesterol levels were normal and the rest of my lab work came back normal.  Even my thyroid is where it should be!  I couldn't believe it!  Even though my A1C is still high, I found it to be a very good health report card!

She suggested that I start my Dexcom today and set my low at 70 and not to set my high alert so that I wouldn't get annoyed at it right off the bat for going off all the time.  Every week or two I'll set it 50 points lower until I get it down to about 200.  I'll be coming back in 6 weeks so they can see how my Dexcom is doing.

I told her I'd be pressing on toward my next goal...9%!!  And 7% by the year's end.  She smiled and said, "Then you can start baby-making."  Yup!   

After watching the tutorial video, I now have my Dexcom sensor and transmitter in place.  My receiver is all set up and ready for action.  At 6:45pm, I'll do my first calibration session.  Until then, I've got a yummy dinner to make in celebration of this wonderful news and God's goodness!

Awaiting Their Decision and More Good Numbers!

I decided to call the insurance company today to check on the status of my Dexcom authorization.  They are still in process of making the decision and probably won't have it made until next week.  *sigh*  I'm depressed. 

Thankfully, my numbers have continued to remain in my target range for the past 3 days.  I'm so happy to finally be on a positive roll with them.  I don't remember them ever being so good for so long.  That's sad, but also encouraging.  I am getting closer to my endo appointment on the 28th and I'm really hopeful about my A1C.  I'm pretty sure it will be much better than May's A1C at 11.1%.  If it dips down into the 10% range, I'll have met my first goal.
 
A1C Goals:
August - 10%
September - 9%
October - 8 %
November - 7%
December 31, 2014 - 7% or lower

Of course, I won't be able to check my A1C every month (only every 3 months, I think) so my next check should be November sometime. 

Today, my numbers have all been between 166 and 127! 
12:30am - 127
1:15am - 143 (bedtime)
10:45am - 144 (wake up - it stayed perfect all night!!)
11:25am - 166 (Basal insulin given)
12:50pm - 165
4:45pm - 152

Average BG so far - 149.5!

My Personal Goals

Since my next appointment is on August 28 at 3pm, I figured it would be a good idea to set some goals to meet by then.  I have 33 days from now.

By August 28, I am going to try to get my A1C down into the 10% range.  My A1C in May was 11.1%, so anything in the 10% range would be an improvement.  

My big goal after that is to get my A1C down to 7% by December 31, 2014 (year’s end).  That puts me at a little over 1% per month.  I will accomplish this in several ways:

• Stay on top of correcting high blood sugars and giving accurate food boluses.

• Use the Dexcom (whenever I get it) to track my blood sugar patterns and trajectories. 

• Use my secret weapon – namely, GC Control from Melaleuca – whenever I am able to order it.  
  
  

I think blogging about these goals and my progress will help me stay accountable and diligent.  If you are a diabetic, I hope I can help you in some way.  Likewise, I would appreciate help from you!  Thank you for joining me on my journey!

Looking back on 2013 and Looking forward to 2014

Well, 2013, it's been real.  Today's your last day.  Tomorrow we start fresh with a new year.
Highlights of 2013:  

• getting married in March and honeymooning in the Bahamas for a week.  :) 
• welcoming a new baby nephew in May 
• watching Joe & Georgi get married in June
• visiting my family over the summer and swimming in their pool
• vacationing in Old Fort in August and geocaching for the first time
• self-publishing my first poetry volume in September
• moving to Tennessee in November
• celebrating our first Thanksgiving and Christmas as husband and wife

It's been a good but hard year.  But as hard and frustrating as it has been, I wouldn't change anything.

I've decided that a gluten-free diet isn't enough...I need something more - actually, something less.  I need an even more limited diet.  I need an organic, simple diet like the hunter-gatherers had.  My antibody levels for Celiac may have dipped back down into the normal range, but I still feel sick to my stomach sometimes, as well as lightheaded when I stand up too quickly and nauseous when I shouldn't have any real reason to.  I know there's a lot of damage that's been done to my gut from processed foods and toxins that are being snuck into foods that are being labeled as "safe" to eat (but they're not, of course!).  My blood sugar numbers spike continuously and sometimes drop unexpectedly.  I really do hope that a simple diet like the SCD Lifestyle diet can help me get a handle on my gut healing and blood sugar numbers.  It will involve cutting out grains, starches, and other high carb foods, meaning I will eat nothing but meat (fish, poultry, red meat, etc), veggies, fruits, dairy, and nuts.  Yes, that means no bread, cakes, pies, pasta, cereal, etc.   Not even the "gluten-free" kind.

I want nothing more than to start this new year with that goal first and foremost in my mind.  I've been drifting aimlessly for too long and I have nothing good to show for it.  I want 2014 to be the year that I stop drifting and pick up my paddle and start rowing with a purpose, toward the prize I can't yet see.    

I also want to write more this year.  More poetry, more novel-writing, more blog articles and posts.  I need to make more of an effort to get my "art" on paper.

I'm still trying to decide which direction to take this blog.  2013 proved to not yield the results I was hoping for and I'm honestly surprised about that.  "Don't Kill With Your Words" was my highest viewed post with 465 views.  None of my other posts came anywhere near that number.  As much as I appreciate the traffic, I'm hoping to see a more consistant viewership in 2014 regardless of my post topic.  I guess we'll just have to see what happens.  And once I figure out what to do with this blog, I'll have my answer.

Anyway, may 2014 bring the changes for which we're hoping and the answers which we're seeking.

God bless.