My first A1C since diagnosis 3 months ago!!

Posted by kateia @kateia, Nov 4, 2019

I just wanted to share my excitement. I had my first A1C test today since my diagnostic test in July. July's test was 10.1 Today's test was 5.8!! I was going to be happy with 8!! I can't believe it dropped so fast. No medications. Just eating right and exercising!!! Woo Hoo!! I'll keep plugging along. Still want to get 10 more pounds off before the end of the year!

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@retiredteacher

@contentandwell I did my 15 minutes on the treadmill which was a 1/2 mile. That's all I could do, and my feet screamed at every step. I don't think there is anything that is going to help the pain, so I had to make a choice. 1) Tolerate the pain or 2) Let the diabetes run rampant and kill me. So I have to choose the pain. Tomorrow I will walk 15 minutes again, regardless of the pain. I have followed my diet strictly today---no snacking and being lazy. I am determined to overcome the problem with my feet to be healthier with my diabetes.
Carol

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@retiredteacher Carol, I don't have a treadmill, I do use one at my health club, but I use a recumbent bike at home. That might be good for you since you do not have weight on your feet. I really like mine. I bought it a long time ago at Sears, it's a Schwinn. After the initial use, I gradually stopped using it but then when I was preparing for my 2017 TKR I started using it again and I do use it often. My orthopedic surgeon was very enthusiastic about recumbent bikes, but of course that was for knee therapy, but it's a good activity for anything I think. It was recommended for my brother after he had a heart attack too.
JK

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@contentandwell

@retiredteacher Carol, I don't have a treadmill, I do use one at my health club, but I use a recumbent bike at home. That might be good for you since you do not have weight on your feet. I really like mine. I bought it a long time ago at Sears, it's a Schwinn. After the initial use, I gradually stopped using it but then when I was preparing for my 2017 TKR I started using it again and I do use it often. My orthopedic surgeon was very enthusiastic about recumbent bikes, but of course that was for knee therapy, but it's a good activity for anything I think. It was recommended for my brother after he had a heart attack too.
JK

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@contentandwell I'm sure a recumbent bike would be far more tolerable on my feet, but I don't have any place to put it. It would need to be on flooring without carpet and we have just put in new flooring and new carpet, so I wouldn't want to have a problem there. The treadmill is an expensive piece of equipment, so I can't just get rid of it. It sits on a brick accent part of the den floor and that's the only available spot. I'm just going to have to go with the treadmill if I can. If I could ever find the right shoes, I think the treadmill would be more tolerable. However, for now, that's going to have to work.
Carol

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@retiredteacher

@contentandwell I'm sure a recumbent bike would be far more tolerable on my feet, but I don't have any place to put it. It would need to be on flooring without carpet and we have just put in new flooring and new carpet, so I wouldn't want to have a problem there. The treadmill is an expensive piece of equipment, so I can't just get rid of it. It sits on a brick accent part of the den floor and that's the only available spot. I'm just going to have to go with the treadmill if I can. If I could ever find the right shoes, I think the treadmill would be more tolerable. However, for now, that's going to have to work.
Carol

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@retiredteacher I wish you lived close by, there’s a great shoe store that not only has regular shoes but caters to people with foot problems. My sister went there when she had plantar fasciitis.
You might try the Walking Company too, I just bought some excellent sneakers there with orthotic insoles. I need great stability for my osteoporosis and impact absorption for my knees.
That’s too bad that you have no place for a bike. Could you get a small rug to put under it so it wouldn’t mark the floor? You are more important than your floors.
JK

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@contentandwell

@retiredteacher I wish you lived close by, there’s a great shoe store that not only has regular shoes but caters to people with foot problems. My sister went there when she had plantar fasciitis.
You might try the Walking Company too, I just bought some excellent sneakers there with orthotic insoles. I need great stability for my osteoporosis and impact absorption for my knees.
That’s too bad that you have no place for a bike. Could you get a small rug to put under it so it wouldn’t mark the floor? You are more important than your floors.
JK

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@contentandwell I've ordered shoes and sent them back. I may stumble on something eventually that will work. I prefer the treadmill or walking tapes. That's the way I lost so much weight before diabetes. I'll eventually figure it out. I am particular about the way I dress and orthopedic shoes are not my look. So just like years ago when I wore spike heels, my shoes and clothes make a difference to me. I know that's vain but some people like a certain look that I wouldn't want and they wouldn't want to look like my choices. Shoes fall into that category. I look almost daily on the web; one of these days, I may find something I like and that works for my feet.
Carol

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@retiredteacher

@contentandwell I've ordered shoes and sent them back. I may stumble on something eventually that will work. I prefer the treadmill or walking tapes. That's the way I lost so much weight before diabetes. I'll eventually figure it out. I am particular about the way I dress and orthopedic shoes are not my look. So just like years ago when I wore spike heels, my shoes and clothes make a difference to me. I know that's vain but some people like a certain look that I wouldn't want and they wouldn't want to look like my choices. Shoes fall into that category. I look almost daily on the web; one of these days, I may find something I like and that works for my feet.
Carol

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@retiredteacher I am similar, a bit on the vain side. I really miss my high heels. 2" is my limit now. My sister buys shoes that I would not wear but she likes them. Clarks has some good looking shoes now, even my daughter has some and they are very stylish. Dansko also has some nice ones, they are being embraced by the younger generation who have enough money to buy them.

The shoe store that I mentioned also carries SAS. Some of their shoes are downright ugly but some are OK. They are extremely comfortable too. There are some other brands that are supposed to be good that are also pricey. I forget the brand names, but I have tried many of them on and they have not been good for my foot.
JK

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@retiredteacher

@hopeful33250 I am ready. I have worked all morning in the kitchen and will do my 15 minutes after lunch. I have made up my mind. I never liked wimpy people and then I turned into one. No more! I'm taking charge of me! If we can get more people who fell off of the wagon to get back on, we'll have that accountability. I remember how great I felt when I finished the Mayo walking program last year. I know it will save me again! Willie is ready to sing and I am ready to walk, regardless of the pain in my feet.
Carol

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I forgot all about Willie! I'm glad for your determination!

I saw an article on one of Mayo's newsletters that comes by email. It's about overcoming obstacles to exercise. Here is the link,

https://diet.mayoclinic.org/diet/move/exercise-barriers-tips-to-overcome-them?xid=nl_nl_mayo_clinic_diet_2019-11-07_18547226&utm_source=Newsletters&nl_key=nl_mayo_clinic_diet&utm_content=2019-11-07&utm_campaign=The_Mayo_Clinic_Diet
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@hopeful33250

I forgot all about Willie! I'm glad for your determination!

I saw an article on one of Mayo's newsletters that comes by email. It's about overcoming obstacles to exercise. Here is the link,

https://diet.mayoclinic.org/diet/move/exercise-barriers-tips-to-overcome-them?xid=nl_nl_mayo_clinic_diet_2019-11-07_18547226&utm_source=Newsletters&nl_key=nl_mayo_clinic_diet&utm_content=2019-11-07&utm_campaign=The_Mayo_Clinic_Diet

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@hopeful33250 I read the article too. I walked again today and intend to continue. I just can't give up; that's not my style. So I'll keep up and try to repeat the program from last year. I'm 4 days later starting, but last year, I went the Mayo three months and felt so much better until my feet. But now, that's just going to have to be part of the way things are and walk with feet hurting. It's a small problem compared to what other people have to deal with. I just had to get over myself and get on with what I need to do. So, "On the road again."
Carol

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@retiredteacher I know how you feel regarding forging on in pain. My hip is still painful but I have resumed the gym exercises. The trauma orthopedist said I can do what I can tolerate, I can't hurt it, so I am doing just that. Then later on in the day, or the next day, I have more pain. I actually took one of my leftover tramadol tablets today along with acetaminophen. We do what we have to do.

@hopeful33250 That link sounds interesting, thank you. I don't have time to check it out now but I plan to later.
JK

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@contentandwell

@retiredteacher I know how you feel regarding forging on in pain. My hip is still painful but I have resumed the gym exercises. The trauma orthopedist said I can do what I can tolerate, I can't hurt it, so I am doing just that. Then later on in the day, or the next day, I have more pain. I actually took one of my leftover tramadol tablets today along with acetaminophen. We do what we have to do.

@hopeful33250 That link sounds interesting, thank you. I don't have time to check it out now but I plan to later.
JK

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@contentandwell I agree with tolerating pain. I don't mean screaming and crying because of pain, but that constant hurt and throbbing. I am just not going to let it get me down. I can't cure it, so I have to live with it. That's another thing about the Golden Years. People never tell you that as you age, you can expect many health inconveniences that you never thought of or even knew about before. I have a dear friend who always says that when she awakes in the mornings, she lies still and tries to figure out what doesn't hurt! We have laughed about that for a number of years. And as we figure it out, you are right. We do what we have to do.
Carol

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@retiredteacher

@contentandwell I agree with tolerating pain. I don't mean screaming and crying because of pain, but that constant hurt and throbbing. I am just not going to let it get me down. I can't cure it, so I have to live with it. That's another thing about the Golden Years. People never tell you that as you age, you can expect many health inconveniences that you never thought of or even knew about before. I have a dear friend who always says that when she awakes in the mornings, she lies still and tries to figure out what doesn't hurt! We have laughed about that for a number of years. And as we figure it out, you are right. We do what we have to do.
Carol

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Have you tried compression socks? Do they work for foot pain? I have some pain but has been much relieved by loosing a few pounds. I cannot use compression socks because of Fibromuscular Dysplasia. Something to try.

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