Renewed Health Today

I have been a Type II Diabetic for nearly 18 months now. I have been extremely lucky. My first HbA1c test result was 12.1and my first daily glucose reading caused my meter to errored out. I learned later that my meter errored out because my glucose reading was over 600 which my meter could not handle.

My last HbA1c reading was 5.8 and prior to that I have had readings of 5.5 for the last two tests. My daily glucose reading are around 110-115 in the morning and mid 80 in the early evening. These numbers are wonderful, but it took me some time to learn how to relate these numbers to renewing my health today.

Everyone with diabetes should know their HbA1c score . The HbA1c test measures your average blood glucose levels over the last three months.  This test will tell you how well you have been controlling your blood glucose levels. Your daily blood glucose reading by finger prick blood tests assists controlling your daily glucose levels as you discipline your diet to maintain a relative steady level of  blood glucose.

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Today I am a very fortunate Type II diabetic. My HbA1c has been in the mid 5s for the last nine months. My daily glucose readings average 110 in the morning and mid 80s in the late afternoon. I spike occasionally beyond those averages when I forget my diabetic life style discipline. I take each spike as a wake up call to return to my more diet controlled diabetic life style.

Last November I was diagnosed a Type I diabetic and placed on a regiment of 10 units of insulin in the morning and late afternoon. At an age of 57 a diagnosis of Type I diabetes is not the norm. My HbA1c was 12.1 and my initial daily glucose readings were off scale, 600+. Those kinds of readings could only express themselves if my pancreas has stopped producing insulin. I was literally floating in glucose. My young inexperienced doctor knew that I had to quickly reduce my glucose level. Insulin was prescribed to do eliminate excess glucose from my system.

The insulin injections would assist my red blood cells absorb glucose to be carried to starving body and organ cells throughout my body. This would arrest the self feeding weight loss. Without the use of insulin my red blood cells could not deliver glucose and other nutrients to my body. In response my body drew necessary energy and nutrients stored in living cells. My body was in starving self feed in condition.As a result my liver and kidneys would be less stressed to eliminate excess glucose. My pancreas would be able to initiate a recovery which most fortunately it did.

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A little over year ago, 2006,  at the age of 57 I weighed 252 pounds at 6’ 1”, I was overweight. Even though I am large framed by most standards I have found, I should have weighed less than 190 pounds. Therefore, by all tables I could find, I could have been classified “Obese” by at least 62 pounds.

In early October 2006 I was buying Dr. Pepper by the 24 pack and consuming up to 4 cans a day. I was over eating as a way to deal with job stress. Most of the time I was eating convenient food. I was tired at the end of most days. I hadn’t exercised for a least a couple of years.

Near the end of October I was eating more, but beginning to lose weight as well beginning to drink larger quantities of fluids. In this case it was Dr. Pepper. I had lost interest in sex and the ability to perform sex was waning. I has noticed a more callus build up on my feet. I was eating more and yet I was hungry before the next meal. I was also making more frequent trips to the bathroom. Worst of all I was unaware of the obvious early symptoms of diabetes.

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