I almost forgot I started this. So much has happened over the last month since my diagnosis that I need to catch up. There's been learning to take my sugar readings, taking diabetes education classes, logging everything I eat and drink, planning for my upcoming surgery, working with my husband after his surgery, and on and on. Regardless of this, life goes on.
After leaving my doctor's, I got busy looking for things that might help me. This included a meeting with a registered dietitian who specialized in diabetic nutrition. She taught me to take my blood sugar readings (twice a day at differing times and meals) and enrolled me in the education series. Although I have several immediate family members with Type 2 diabetes, I've learned so much - especially how different we all are. First thing I noticed was a really high reading right after my husband's hip replacement surgery (that night and next morning). Turns out stress is a huge influence on blood sugar (blood pressure too). Next problem: my blood sugars were high first thing in the morning before breakfast. Solution: a snack right before bedtime helped. Turns out your liver will screw with you when you fast (sleeping is fasting!) and my sugar is normal if I eat a snack within an hour of going to bed. Who knew?
I downloaded an app and am tracking all my food and drink consumption - and my exercise. I am on week two and I am down 10 pounds since my diagnosis. Logging everything keeps me honest - Weight Watchers was definitely on to something there. And I've learned some new recipes that I actually like, am eating more vegetables, and can still have steak. Life is good.
Having knee replacement surgery next week is weighing on my mind. When I really think about it, my blood pressure goes up - as does my blood sugar. I know things will be fine - and I'm looking forward to no longer being in pain from the knee. Just prepping for it is a bit crazy. And I'm looking toward the next three months thinking 'WTF?'
Oh yeah - I forgot to mention we are in the process of selling our San Francisco place. So many things to do, sign, etc - but we have a great realtor who is really taking it over since we no longer live there. It's just paying the bills or painting, cleaning, staging, etc. As I am writing, I'm really happy no one is taking my blood pressure right now. Ugh.
So to cope - I've done a few things. Writing helps me process things, hence the blog. Today I hired a cleaning service to take care of the house - something I really should have done ages ago. Next week is prepping meals to freeze for when I cannot just stand and cook. And Lee will be with me through all this - overall not too shabby. And my A1C has already come down.
Life is good.
