First my friend : No retinopathy; no kidney disease; excellent lipid profile; no high blood pressure; no glasses; no neuorpathy; no liver abnormalities; A1c in the 5.3 range-always. 71 years old and getting older- runs stairs for a minimum of 1 hour a day every day - no medicines. Eats only heart healthy foods, doesn't count carbs and doesn't worry about
high numbers because they go back to normal very rapidly. He looks like he could be in his late 50's-early 60's.
Now me: I have no idea why my numbers are lower than before. I have not changed my diet or exercise. I actually stopped taking Actos about 6 weeks ago because it made me gain weight and hold water- so if anything I take less medicine than before.
I told my doctor that it was counter productive to take a medicine that prevented me from doing the one proven thing I could do to naturally bring my sugar count down. She wanted me to take glipizide XL and I did for 3 days- it made me drop into the 60's and I gained 3 pounds. I stopped taking it. I also refused to take lisinopril (sp?) because my blood pressure is on the low side, I don't have kidney disfunction, and it's known to raise sugar and potassium levels. She got all testy with me and I asked her to refer me to the Joslin Diabetic Clinic or to another doctor who believes in a less chemical approach to diabetes management.
We finally agreed that I could try 'my way' - I follow the Insulin Resistance Diet approach to carb management. I link one carb to one protein every time I eat carbs. I eat the same number (about 120 NET carbs -up to 180 Total carbs), type (low to med GI), and frequency (3 meals + low carb yogurt before bed) as before. I ride my exercise bike 1 hour or walk 1.5-2 hours per day- except for Sunday. I only eat plant foods (including proteins) and yogurt. Except for the yogurt, I am a vegan. I drink 84 ounces of water laced with a bit of lemon every day.
My sugars are between 72-88 in the AM; in the 80-mid 90's during the day and about 90-95 before bed. They drop to about 68-72 after exercise. I test 5-7 times a day, so I can document my progress for her- I take 500mg of metformin at breakfast and dinner and 1000 mg at night. I dropped 500 mg at night 3 weeks ago (I was taking 1500 at night) because I ran short of medicine and was waiting for it to come in the mail. After 3 days, I found no difference in my numbers, so I waited to see how long it would take to start creeping up again- 22 days later - still no change.
I do think that consistency has a lot to do with my good numbers- before my diagnosis I would eat I large meal and one small meal a day, sleep about 4 hours a night and exercise only about twice a week. My BG at diagnosis was 457 at the end of July, so I am doing well. I plan to increase my exercise during the year next year in hopes of reducing or eliminating my medicine while maintaining good control over my BG.
I am going to have my A1c and blood work done mid-January and am expecting a good result.
sandy