Roller Coaster Readings

Today is Day 6 of Dexcom readings.  I now have physical proof of the roller coaster I am riding with my blood sugar numbers.   Now I can clearly see why my numbers have been so frustrating...!!  (the red dots are my glucometer readings - very accurate!)



My average blood sugar number:  188
My highest blood sugar number:  336
My lowest blood sugar number:  68

I've been experimenting with a slight increase in overnight basal insulin because of a noticed pattern of waking up high.  It seemed to be that my number was rising around 8 am or so.

Three nights ago, I took 11 units of basal insulin, going to bed at 245 (took no correction) and woke up at 4:20 to a low of 72.  6 glucotabs and 2 hours later I was up to 173.

Two nights ago, I took 10 units of basal insulin and went to bed at 170, and woke up the next morning at 8:30 to a big fat 310 after steadily going higher throughout the night.

Last night I took 10.5 units of basal insulin and went to bed at 141.  It seems from there I stayed steady in the 130s for half the night, and then I slowly started to go lower around 4 am.

My alert woke me up this morning at 6:40 to tell me I was 70.  I treated with 2 glucotabs and waited 15 minutes.  At 6:55 I was 68.  I took 2 more glucotabs and waited another 15 minutes.  At 7:15 I was back up to 85 and rising.  I slept off and on until about 10.  It didn't feel all that restful.

And now I'm experiencing my first issue with my sensor.  It is not communicating with the transmitter/receiver.  I am waiting for it to correct itself.  If it goes for another 2 hours without resolving itself, I'll need to call Tech Support.

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!