New glucotabs and a dermatology appointment

I bought some new glucotabs to try.  They are all natural with none of those yucky artificial colors or ingredients in them.  I'd try them now but I'm not low! 

I also made an appointment with the dermatologist Nan recommended.  I'm going to see what he has to say about these red blotches on my neck early Thursday morning.  Apparently I'm not the only one in my family who has them.  I can't wait to hear what they are.

What you should know about a Diabetic Diet (especially since your doctor doesn't!)

Regarding a heart healthy diet:

 

The heart is best protected by eating natural, low carbohydrate foods such as non-starchy vegetables, meats, fish, eggs, high fat dairy, nuts, and healthy oils.  Limiting all manner of carbohydrates is paramount for diabetics of all ages.  Our bodies cannot metabolize carbs and do not thrive while on a high carb diet.  

Eggs are the perfect protein.  They contain all essential and non-essential amino acids.  

Sodium is a necessary and vital mineral and limiting it would be detrimental.  Rather than table salt, which is unhealthy, Himalayan Pink salt should be used. 

Cholesterol is a vital nutrient, without which we will die.  Lower cholesterol levels have been associated with early mortality and higher cholesterol has been associated with longevity.  HDL and LDL are not exactly cholesterol but they’re envelopes that carry cholesterol through the body.  HDL carries the old cholesterol to the liver to be recycled.  If cholesterol is so bad, why would our body bother to recycle it?  Simply because our body needs it.  Our bodies make 2,000 mg of cholesterol every single day.  Nearly every single cell in the body makes cholesterol. Cholesterol works as a band-aid to help arteries that are corroding, getting ulcers or getting inflammation. It acts as a healing agent and that’s why cholesterol is in the artery – to heal it.  It’s not the culprit; it’s the middleman.  Most of our brain is made of cholesterol to allow the insulation to travel through the nerves.

All the cell walls are made from cholesterol.  Most hormones are made from cholesterol, especially the sex hormones.  It’s also needed to make vitamin D to help convert and increase the calcium in the blood.  With that, we can transport other vitamins into the bone. Thus, we desperately need cholesterol to survive.

 

Now about “bad cholesterol.”  They're not really bad.  They’re envelopes to transport calcium back and forth.  Out of the LDL, only a very small part of it is really bad.  LDL comes in different sizes, and the really small ones form the plaque.  But, the purpose is to heal the inflammation.  What causes inflammation?  Sugar and cortisol.  Sugar is the biggest culprit.  Cortisol is also anti-inflammatory in nature but, when it loses that effect, you’ll end up with inflammation in the body.

 

Saturated fats are healthy for you and protect vital organs.  Unsaturated and trans fats such as canola oil, soybean oil, and margarine are best avoided at all costs.  Olive oil, coconut oil, and full fat grass-fed butter are best.  

Grains of all kinds should be avoided for diabetics as they spike blood sugars and increase inflammation.  

Non-starchy vegetables should be consumed, but not vegetables that are higher in carbs.  

Fruits should be avoided as they contain natural sugars that spike blood sugars.  Avocados are the exception.  

Low fat dairy products are unhealthy.  They contain extra sugar and spike blood sugars.

All sweets should be avoided.  They are unhealthy and spike blood sugars, causing inflammation and complications.  They cannot be bolused for with insulin adequately.

Hypo- and hyperthyroidism cannot be properly medicated without a full thyroid panel.  TSH is a pituitary hormone that is useless in the treatment of thyroid imbalances.  Only by examining the Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, and thyroid antibody values can an accurate dose and type of mediation be prescribed.  Suppressed TSH means adequate T3 and T4 are being used by the body, because the TSH is not knocking on the thyroid’s door asking for more to be produced. 

Regarding ketones:

Ketones are best measured with a blood test rather than a urine test.  Urine tests are highly inaccurate.  

When a diabetic follows a low carb diet, ketones become less of an issue.  When blood sugars are normal, there is nothing to worry about.  It is only when there is a lack of insulin and very high blood sugars that high ketones become a problem.  But when the blood sugar is constantly maintained at a normal level on a low carb diet, monitoring ketones becomes obsolete.  They act as a protective agent for the brain, especially in the event of a low blood sugar. 

Lab results and meeting Nan

I got my thyroid lab results back and met Nan, who will be taking over for Dr. Goodyear since he's moved to another clinic.

Thyroid values 
Reverse T3:  12.8 (good)
TSH:  0.01 (low)
Free T4:  1.0 (good)
Free T3:  3.9 (good)

Vit B12: 801 (good)
Folic Acid:  6.64 (good)
CRP, high sensitivity (cardio CRP):  1.90 (good)
Vit D:  65.6 (good)
Magnesium:  1.6 (on the low side of good, need to supplement)

So since my TSH is even lower than it was last time (it was 0.08) she's decreasing my dose some, from 2 grains a day to 1.5 grains a day.  Everything else looks good, and she was pleased with how well I'm doing in regards to diet and staying away from gluten.

I spoke to her about my desire to get tested for the MTHFR gene mutation, and she said she feels I may have one or two.  She also wants to do a lipid panel, a cortisol test to check if that may be contributing to my high blood sugars, as well as a food sensitivity test (LEAP).

I asked her to check the red blotches on my neck and she looked them over, but wasn't sure what they were.  She recommended a dermatologist and I'm going to see about making an appointment with him soon. 

Other than that, she added raw potato starch to my list of supplements to help with blood sugar management and insulin sensitivity.  It's not a starch that gets digested and is supposed to help improve how well insulin works.  I'll start out small and slowly increased how much I take until I see what works.

I'm also going to restart on the probiotics Dr. Goodyear prescribed me last year because my good gut bacteria isn't as varied as it should be.  She also recommended a natural detoxing supplement to help with mold (DP/me) and other toxins that are sure to be in our bodies.


She also made a point to recommend a WiFi protection device that keeps radiation away from your body (helps to keep you safe from cancer, etc).  I'll be looking into one for me and DP since we're around cell phones and WiFi ALL day every day.

Everything is all connected and it's going to take more time and money before I get all the answers I need.  Please keep me in your prayers!  I'm on the right path!

Red blotches

I've had these red blotches on my neck area for a while now (I can't remember when I first noticed them) and I can't for the life of me figure out what they are. They don't itch, burn, sting, etc. I don't feel them at all. I only know they are there by sight.  I'm going to have my NP try to help me figure out what this could be.  It could be anything from food allergies to gut bacteria imbalances.  Let's hope I can get some answers! 

Lesson Learned

I learned something this week about how my body responds to manual labor, specifically grooming and tacking up horses and going on trail rides.  

It spikes my blood sugar!

All those spikes in red were the result of that hard work.  I never knew my body was so sensitive to manual labor!  On a high carb diet, being pumped full of tons of insulin, I always dropped like a rock, even if just walking through the mall.  Now my numbers rise when I go shopping and I have to take more insulin.

I felt awful when these spikes occurred.  My mouth was constantly dry, I was drinking tons of water, and I took multiple corrections.  Not fun!   

Changes and Tests

I found out yesterday that my holistic doctor is taking a very exciting opportunity and moving to a new clinic in a few weeks.  It's out of state so I won't be able to see him anymore, but I plan to stay at his current clinic here in TN and have their NP take over my care.

I'm now in the process of seeing if I can get my labs moved up to an earlier date so he can look over my values one last time before he leaves.  It will be good to see how my thyroid levels are doing, as well as the other tests he wants me to get done.

I'm hoping to get tested for the MTHFR genetic mutation soon.  The test is about $300 so I need to save up for it.  We also want to get a new mattress since ours is way too old.  That will be much easier once I start working!   

No Concern

Despite my TSH coming back super low, my holistic doctor said he wasn't worried (as if there was cause for concern I would be exhibiting symptoms and I'm not) nor could he tell anything without the T3 and T4 values (because my NP didn't get those tests run).  From what I understand, a low TSH value means the TSH is suppressed and has no need to come knocking on the thyroid for more T3 and T4, meaning I'm probably getting the amount I need from my medication.  Nothing about my cholesterol so it's just business as usual. 

I think I'll be sticking with Levemir for now.  I like being able to change/adjust my basal rate at a moment's notice, like when my body decides I suddenly need more or less than I'm currently getting.  A longer lasting basal insulin probably wouldn't be a good fit and I'm not in the mood to deal with something new right now.   

Long overdue appointment

I finally got in to see Carrie today, after rescheduling my appointment with her twice!
My lab results from January were less than stellar, but I wasn't surprised.  I've been struggling with overnight highs and I'm fed up with them.  My A1C was 6.5, down from 6.7 in October.  Meh.   

 I don't have to see her again until July, so I've got some time to kick my butt into shape.  She said I could try Tresiba if I want instead of Levemir, so I told her I'd think about it.  I don't know what to do. 

Why I Feel Like a Burden

I always have.  I probably always will. 

But now I think I know why:  Diabetes has always felt like a burden to me, on me.   A lonely, heavy burden.  I guess it's only natural that when I feel burdened, I feel like I am burdening others.  So I try not to be a burden and shoulder it myself.  But it's more than I can handle, and I stumble and fall and drop it all in a river of tears.  And what do I do after that?  I pick it back up and, if I don't take it to God, I try to handle it myself all over again.  If I do take it to God, I usually find myself taking it back from Him and falling into the same vicious cycle.  

No matter what I do, I always forget that I don't have to carry it alone.

"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved."  Psalm 55:22

What a mess!

So Monday the 15th I went in to the lab to get my blood drawn for my appointment with Carrie, which was scheduled for the 17th.  However, due to the snowstorm that hit our area Tuesday and Wednesday, the office called me Wednesday morning to tell me they were closed and my appointment would have to be rescheduled (again!).  At least it wasn't my fault this time, but I'm going to have to wait until Feb 8 to get the results of my A1C.  Ugh. 

Also, I've been having some trouble with my new receiver.  It has been giving me the System Check Passed message every 2 days since I started using it on the 9th and last night it gave me an error message telling me to call Tech Support.  I just got off the phone with them but all they could tell me (since it's still working) was to give it time to sort itself out (as it seems to be out of warranty) and keep an eye on any other messages that pop up.  So I'm playing a wait-and-see game.  *sigh* 

New year, new receiver!

Last night, I had to say goodbye to my original Dexcom G4 receiver.  I noticed that the mini USB cable port had come loose and was pushed into the receiver case.  I could no longer plug it in to charge or download my data, nor could I get the port to go back into place.  The receiver also became unresponsive, despite have plenty of battery left.  I pulled out my new Dexcom receiver and turned it on, then calibrated it with my current sensor/transmitter.  Today, I put on the purple sparkly PumpPeelz skin I had been saving. 

Old on top, new on bottom

I am back in business.  My old receiver lasted me from August 2014 until January 2018.  It still beeped and vibrated!  I was blessed to have it as long as I did...3 years and 5 months!  Here's to another 3.5 years with my new one! 

The side of diabetes most people don't see

There's a lot about diabetes you can't see.  It's an invisible illness, yes, but some parts of it are more tangible than others.  Most of you see the Dexcom sensor on my arm, or the Dexcom receiver in my pocket.  Or the glucometer and insulin syringes and vials I pull out of my purse.  Or the glucagon kit I have in 3 different locations.  You can see the graphs and charts and pictures of my daily blood sugar readings.  Diabetes is very much a physical battle.

But diabetes is also an internal battle, and very few people get to see that.  And only if I tell them.  

• There's nerve damage that occurs when my blood sugar goes over 140 mg/dl.  You can't see it, but I can feel it.  It's like my fingers and toes are on fire.  Pins and needles. 
  
• There's mental anguish when dealing with blood sugars that won't respond to insulin the way I want them to.  It's like the insulin is water, useless.  

• There's frustration when I'm doing everything I can to manage my numbers and yet my A1C climbs up higher than I want it.     

Emotional breakdowns are still a part of my life.  They are less severe and less frequent than they used to be, but they are always going to be a part of my life.  Not only do I have 3 invisible diseases, I also happen to be an emotional, introverted woman and, while I don't try to hide things and keep my struggles bottled up like I used to, I still get overwhelmed with all the different aspects of my life.  Diabetes is 24/7/365.  No breaks, holidays, or paid time off.

The other night I had one such breakdown.  I was feeling particularly down about my numbers, frustrated that my insulin needs had mysteriously dropped one night and raised again the next night after.  I was angry at Dexcom for constantly alerting me that I was high.  I was tired of feeling like I was doing everything right, but had nothing to show for it.  I was worried I'd never be able to get my A1C down to where I wanted it, no matter what I did.  I was scared about my future, about the children we want to have someday.  I was so sick and tired of being overrun by emotional letdowns, I just couldn't hold in my tears any longer.  I'm so grateful my husband was more than happy to just hold me. 

Everyone is fighting a battle, and each battle is different.  We usually don't see the battles other people face unless we're walking alongside them but, sometimes even when we are, there are parts that remain invisible until they decide to bring them to light.  Some days are harder than others.
Let's try to remember we're all fighting different things and we all need comfort from someone in those times.  Diabetes may not control me, but that doesn't mean the emotional struggles aren't real.          
   

Sudden Drop In Basal Rate

I've been taking 8 units of Levemir every 8 hours for the past 2 weeks or so and last night I'm glad I didn't bolus for dinner!
My basal needs dropped and I found myself watching Levemir cover my high protein meal of chicken and broccoli.
I dropped dose to 6 units Levemir at midnight and went down to 64 overnight (Dex woke me up). A little glucose brought me up to 94 and I dropped Levemir to 5 units at 8am.  After that, it seemed to be holding steady.
I've never seen this before but hopefully it's the start of improving my 6.7 a1c?  Or perhaps it's just female hormones trying to mess with me.  Either way, I was pleasantly surprised to not have to deal with blood sugar spikes overnight.

This is also a good reminder to keep an eye on how your blood sugar is reacting, even and especially when you're tempted to just continue what you're doing and throw your diabetes on the back burner.  Diabetes is like a child -- sometimes it cries for attention, and sometimes it's so quiet you begin to wonder what kind of trouble it is getting into.  It's up to YOU to keep an eye on it!

All Quiet on the Eye Front

Hubby and I had our eye doctor appointments today.

I don't know why, probably because of my higher A1C, but I was super worried about how my eyes were doing.  If you remember from last year, the doctor found that the blood vessels in my right eye had changed, but were nothing to really worry about nor did they need treatment.  This year, he found that my left eye looked clear, and my right eye was the same as the year before.  All clear!  "Keep up the good work and we'll see you next year!" 

My eyeglasses prescription has changed, though, which I figured had happened.  So since hubby and I both want new frames, we've decided to go ahead and get our new prescriptions filled!  We've had these old frames and lenses for about 5 years now so I think we're due!  Now we just have to figure out our money situation.    

Lab Results and A1C

Yesterday, I received the results of the labs my holistic doctor ran.  These were primarily to assess my thyroid medication and A1C, along with my inflammatory and cardiovascular risk.

Free T3: 3.2 (Range 2.0-4.4)
Reverse T3: 9.5 (Range 9-27)
Free T4 0.8 (Range 0.8-1.8)
TSH: 0.38 (Range 0.45-4.5)
Total T3: 1.03 (Range 0.8-2.0)
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody (Anti-TPO antibodies): 56 (Range 0-34)

Homocysteine: 6.1
CRP, High Sensitivity: 1.5
Range:
Less than 1 = low risk
1-3 = Average risk
3.1-9.9 = High risk
Greater than 9.9 = Very high risk

Vitamin D:  101 (Range 80-100)
Ferritin:  90 (Range 10-291)
HBA1C:  6.7

Metabolic Panel

Glucose:  116  (Range 60-99)
Sodium:  139  (Range 135-145)
Potassium:  4.1  (Range 3.5-5.3)
Chloride:  100  (Range 96-106)
Carbon Dioxide:  29  (Range 21-31)
Urea Nitrogen (bun):  13  (Range 6-20)
Creatinine:  0.6  (Range 0.6-1.3)
Bun/Creat Ratio:  22  (Range 9-35)
Calcium:  8.8  (Range 8.5-10.5)
Total Protein:  6.6  (Range 6.4-8.3)
Albumin:  4.4  (Range 3.5-5.2)
Globulin:  2.2  (Range 1.8-3.3)
Albumin/Globulin Ratio:  2.0  (0.8-2.0)
Total Bilirubin:  0.3  (Range 0.3-1.2)
AST (SGOT):  14  (Range 13-40)
ALT (SGPT):  15  (Range 7-52)
Alkaline Phosphatase:  46  (Range 38-101)

He said everything looks good and, that since all of my thyroid levels are in range, he's okay with letting my TSH be low.  The only change he made was to cut out the red yeast rice he had prescribed as a natural statin, because it was the only thing that was keeping my blood sugars elevated (my A1C increased from 6.4 in June to 6.7, and he added the red yeast rice in June to see if it would help with my high cholesterol levels).  He said I am sensitive to statins, as they raise my BGs, and that I don't need them.  He expects my A1C to drop come January, and wants to know what the result is when I get it done again at my endo's office.         

Diabetes is a Personal Disease

Three years ago, I wrote an article explaining my decision to not get a pump.  If you missed it, you can read it here.  I felt like I should write a follow-up post after reading a very inspiring Facebook post by a fellow diabetic, Caroline Levens.

Many people look at the picture she posted and think, "Why would you give yourself so many shots when you could just get a pump?"  The answer really isn't as simple as people think.

1.  Pumps aren't always the preference.
Believe it or not, some people don't like pumps.  Whether they hate being tethered to something or they don't like the inconvenience of having to change the infusion site every 3 days, or they don't want to deal with insurance headaches or pump malfunctions, some people don't like pumps.

2.  The method of insulin injection is not necessarily as important as receiving the injections.
If the pump works for you, great!  Stick with it!  If shots work better, great!  Stick with them!  Don't try to tell people they need to switch just because you like one over the other.  What works for you may not work for them.  You don't know their story.  Don't offer unsolicited suggestions if they seem happy with their choice.  In Caroline's case, she's not asking for pump suggestions.  She's showing us what a month of shots looks like, because that's her choice and she's happy with it.

3.  Just because she's taking more shots than YOU think is normal does not mean she's doing something wrong.
NEWSFLASH:  She's taking all those shots to keep her blood sugars normal and, if that's what it takes for her to achieve normal blood sugars, all the more power to her!  Don't go bashing people or accusing them of not being diabetic because they don't fit the "diabetic mold" that you've got preconceived in your head.  Diabetes is not a one-size-fits-all disease.  It is very much a personal disease, and everyone is going to manage it differently.  Don't go telling someone they aren't doing it right when they haven't expressed anything of the sort.      

I'm glad I chose to stick with shots.  That was the best decision for me.  I'm also happy that I chose to get a Dexcom.  I've been able to keep each sensor in over a week and it's been such a blessing.  I don't feel tethered to anything -- in fact, I feel freer!  The wireless aspect must be what makes the difference.

Do what works for you.  You deserve normal blood sugars.   

National Diabetes Awareness Month 2017

Today begins the month we seek to bring awareness to the metabolic condition known as diabetes.

I've covered several different aspects of diabetes over the years, so I've been racking my brain for a new angle.

I've been thinking a lot recently about commitment, satisfaction, empowerment, and control.  All of these things have become much bigger parts of my life while on a low carb diet and I wouldn't change anything.  I've become stronger, braver, and more determined to follow the course God has set for me while I walk the journey toward better health.  I am striving for these elements to become a part of other areas of my life because I've seen the benefits of implementing them on a daily or regular basis.  It hasn't been all rainbows and butterflies, I'll be honest, but it has been totally worth it.  I have the Lord and a low carb diet to thank, as well as the undying support and love of my family and friends in the diabetic community.   

On that note, I've been struggling with figuring out my insulin needs when it comes to covering protein with Regular insulin.  I'm eternally grateful for the TypeOneGrit community on Facebook that is so quick to offer support, encouragement, and suggestions for troubleshooting issues.  I don't know where I'd be without them.  I was able to determine that the protein/R ratio I was using wasn't quite enough.  I ended up doubling my dose (from 0.5 units of R per 1 oz of chicken to 1.0 unit of R per 1 oz of chicken) and saw much better results!

0.5 unit per 1 oz = a mess!  (both nights I tried this captured)

1.0 unit per 1 oz = smooth sailing!

My A1C History and Flatter Lines!

 

I'm due for another A1C test.  I hope I am back down in the 5s, especially since my thyroid meds have been working and my blood sugars have been improving.  These have been my numbers today:   

It feels so good to see flat lines again! 

New Medical ID Bracelet

I came across this medical ID company on Facebook and decided to personalize a bracelet that totally fits me!

The paracord colors are royal blue and purple.  It was made by a Navy veteran.  I love how this company supports our troops with jobs! 

Thank you, Handmade by Heroes!  Thank you, Jimmy, for making my lovely bracelet and for serving our country!

Low Carb Frosty

The other night I was going to make my Chocolate Snowcream recipe but as I was measuring out the unsweetened vanilla almond milk, I discovered that it had gone bad.  Ugh.  So I improvised and got creative.  I think the results were pleasantly delicious!  The result was a thick, creamy dessert that tasted and behaved like a Frosty from Wendy's.

8 oz cream cheese
2 tbsp Pyure
2 tbsp Kroger baking cocoa
2 cups ice
3/4 cup water (or almond milk, if you prefer.  I didn't have any, obviously)

Blend the cream cheese, water/almond milk, Pyure, and cocoa power/vanilla extract.  Add the ice cubes after it is thick and creamy.  Makes 2-3 servings.

To make it vanilla, substitute vanilla extract for the cocoa powder.