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Good reports from Dr. visits promote motivation
Sometimes I get angry about having diabetes and sometimes it makes me sad. I love sweets; always have, and to give them up and other foods I love has been one more struggle for me as a "still new" diabetic. The positive event for me is that I was not so far over all ranges that I had to have intervention from multiple areas. So, when I was sent to my endocrinologist by my PCP, I was not that far over the lines of pre-diabetic to full blown diabetic. My numbers were just a few points over, so I refused any meds and researched diet and appropriate exercise instead. My endo gave me three months to see if that would work. Fortunately, it did work, and I had no other problems in any area.
So, I continued to control my diabetes 2 with diet and exercise. But, at my age I am not a person to exercise. My going and coming and being in the house doing chores compromise my exercise. I have a beautiful treadmill which sits in the corner of the den, but I just look at it. I have turned it on one time. It's just not pleasant and I find it frustrating because I have never had to exercise.
After 22 months of being a diabetic, I had my first 2018 endo appt. today. I am so happy because every test was in range or below. My A1c is 5.9; Dr. wants it to be 5.7 by next time. My blood pressure was 124/60. My glucose is 115. Only my weight is too high, so I will work on it. All the other tests were in range or below. My next appointment is not for six months. Dr. said I am doing so well that I don't need for him to check every three months; we'll wait six months and see. He has been calling me a controlled diabetic for over a year since I have done well; now he says I will always be a diabetic, but I have everything in check. He was very pleased and so am I.
An appointment with all positive results makes me even more motivated. I might even turn on the tread mill and give it a walk!
I wanted to share my short journey to date with you to let you know that diabetes can be handled. It does take patience and determination and self control, but eventually it gets easier to make the right choices.
retiredteacher
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@retiredteacher
Yea!! Congratulations on your 5.9 as well as the other good numbers. Thank you for sharing your good report I'm sure it will be an encouragement to others just starting the journey with diabetes.
Teresa
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1 ReactionI hope it will help ease the concern of new diabetics. I knew nothing about the disease when I was diagnosed except it had something to do with sugar. All the rest was totally new. This disease sneaks up on people when they just don't even think about it. We are bombarded with Cancer and other problems, but I didn't know anyone with it when I was growing up, and never even was around anyone who had it when I got older. So, I started at Ground Zero and had to go forward with just my husband to help. I researched for hours. I purchased Mayo Clinic books and read and learned terms and what to do and what not to do. Trial and error. The one thing that is really important is that I learned every diabetic is different.
I hope that posting my positives from today will help others realize they have to be their own advocate and ask questions and see what works for them. Sometimes medical professionals tend to blanket a group of people under the one umbrella. Diabetes doesn't work that way so it's great to be part of the diabetes group and get general information, but be an individual diabetic too and see what helps singular profiles.
retiredteacher
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3 Reactions@retiredteacher A1c of 5.9 is great, I am surprised that your doctor is not satisfied with that number. Mine is generally in the 5s, was once 4.9 which my endo said was better than his and he's not diabetic, but recently I have not been good about avoiding carbs and sweets so I suspect it will not be good the next time I have it tested. I really have to get on track.
JK
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1 Reaction@retiredteacher
Yes, you set a great example of how to approach this difficult disorder!
Teresa
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1 ReactionThat is really great news, @retiredteacher. Wanted to be sure some of our members who've talked about diabetes get the chance to read your post about your positive doctor visit and your encouragement that diabetes can be handled: @motiger, @gman007, @valb68, @archer8119, @sciondiva, @donnasues, @okay, @vanin11, @timc, @coloradogirl, @oldkarl, @vdouglas, @spice, @dhernandz, @mrlee43, @gailb,@kamuela, @riveroaksfarm, @bonniewhite56, @maurtura, @dougmann,@joanem, @natee, @dazlin, @kdo0827, @peach414144 and @kdo0827.
Did you end up turning on the treadmill, @retiredteacher?
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1 ReactionNot yet. I'm still trying to be friends with it. 🙂
retired teacher
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3 ReactionsA great example of how we should approach anything the doctor tells us. It is so much easier today than when you started because the web allows for research we could have never gotten access to 20 -25 years ago. We can go to Medline and as long as, like me, you don't mind looking up every third word, actually read the notes from medical research. That is a bit tongue in cheek, but there is an awful lot of easily understood, thank God, sites that j=help you learn what works in general, but like you, I have also learned a lot about what does and definitely does not work for me. Thank you for a great post. Anyone know any good secrets about coping with the big D, or hacks as the youngsters say today.
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2 Reactions@contentandwell I hear you - in Jan. my A1C was tested and the candy from December raised my level from 5.5 to 6.0, not too bad, but still an increase. How was your Super Bowl trip to California? Did you have a good time?
Teresa