blood tests results

Last Monday I had the routine blood tests done for blood sugar, cholesterol, thyroid, liver, etc. and today I went in to talk to my doc about the results. My A1c was 6.2...not normal range yet, but considering I've only been doing low carb for a month, I was pretty pleased. I've lost 30lbs. this summer...woohoo!!. My cholesterol was perfect. She couldn't believe this was the same person she's been seeing for 10 or 11 years with this stuff. We changed up the meds (my idea) and going to try the metformin extended release to try to eliminate this crazy mid morning spike I've been having and going off of glyburide to Januvia. The Januvia she's not happy about. Said the docs she's talked to at Diabetes conferences are impressed with the results. But she conceded that everyone is different. If it doesn't work then she wants to try Amaryl. And maybe go back on the byetta 3x a day. Anyway, we are going to keep at it until we find what works.

I told her how I was eating and she said GOOD. She too wondered when the ADA was going to figure it out and quit pushing their diet. She is strictly an internist, but she really tries to keep up on the diabetes stuff.

All in all, I was pretty happy. I did have a cortisone shot for a rotator cuff issue and she told me not to test for about a week because I would just be depressed. And we're holding off for that period to change the meds. She said she didn't want to drop the glyburide until the steroids were out of my system as she didn't want me climbing into the 2 or 3 hundreds. That was fine. So, in a week or two, I'll start the new stuff and see what happens. I think that as I continue to drop weight that is going to help my numbers, also.

Thanks to everyone on this forum for your awesome supprt. This place has literally been a life saver!!



Karen

I'm absolutely delighted for you, Karen! At the same time, I'm insanely jealous that you have found a doctor who actually understands the principles and benefits of a low-carb lifestyle - mine doesn't have a clue.

Your numbers may not be where you'd wish them just yet, but I know you'll get there. 30 lbs is outstanding, though. Can you imagine achieving that on a low-fat diet? Me neither.

All the best,

fergusc

Thank you (bow to the left) Thanks you (bow to the right). I tell you, tho', I could not have done it without the support here!! I am on another forum for byetta, even tho' at this time I'm not taking it, and they pretty much ignore any talk about diet. They rely heavily on that drug. It's too bad, because a couple of people on there have said that they noticed that after a couple of years their appetite starts to come back and they start to put weight back on. They haven't learned how to eat right! And a couple have ended up with biliary and pancreatic problem after long term usage. So, I much prefer learning a healthy life style and way of eating for my particular body...basically doing it naturally. But I did not know that about myself until here.

Sandy, my doc said she only has had only one other patient try Januvia and it didn't work for him/her. and she had talked to other doctors at diabetic conventions that did seem to care for it. But at least she was willing to let me try it. I think she knew I was pretty adamant about it, and since everything else I was doing was working so well, she couldn't really say much. Another thing I've learned from this forum is that you have to take control of your own medical needs. So many of these doctors don't know anymore than we do. She saw that I had done my research and had become much more educated and knowledgeable about diabetes, so was willing to let me try it. And if it doesn't work, well, we will try something her way. I'm hoping I will surprise her. She WAS surprised when she went over my blood work and saw my weight loss. I told her I finally got religion.

Anyway, thanks again everyone for their support!

Karen

Sandy,

What type of exercise program do you do? That is the one part of my plan I am still working on. I did join a gym with my husband and I have been there a few times. As my doc says, it's all a process. But I'm really hoping the Januvia is successful and want to do what is necessary.

Thanks, Karen

Hi Karen,

I exercise mostly every day. I have an exercise bike, a treadmill, an elliptical trainer, a bowflex and a set of free weights at my house. I just got the elliptical- but the others (bowflex and bike) have been around for years-

Monday - Friday  I do 3 short (12-15 minutes) sessions on the treadmill/ and or elliptical

Monday - Friday I ride the exercise bike 30 - 45 mintues after work to de-stress

I work at home a lot - so it is easy to do this. When I am on the road, I do the treadmill for 15 min before I leave the hotel, 15 min when I get back- a noon walk around the facility and the bike or swim after dinner. I only stay where they have an exercise room.

Weekends- I walk (weather permitting) about 1.5- 2 hours or go to a walking place like a museum, craft show, mall etc; bowflex (30-40 min) longer now that it's football season; or bike + clean my house top to bottom (lots of up and down stairs with my vacuum etc)

I also have the chairdancing tapes (aerobic, toning and yoga) which I try to work in while I watch TV at night a couple of times a week.

This may sound like a lot- but it's not. I just move instead of sitting around. I love the exercise bike and don't consider it to be exercise. I listen to my iPOD, close my eyes and just burn off the stress. This works better than going to a gym for me because I am lazy and would wind up paying for a membership I never use.  I used 'gym' money to buy my exercise bike 25 years ago. My brother gave me the bowflex when he joined a gym and wanted it out of his house, my daughters bought me the treadmill and the elliptical- so I don't have a lot invested in the machines-and my house had an extra bedroom when my youngest moved out-

I think exercise has probably helped me more than medicine or diet- I always see changes in my numbers when I add a new routine or up my current regimen. I don't usually invest more time, just more intensity.

sandy