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Wednesday 26 May 2010

Health update....

You remember in February when we got back of our Caribbean Cruise I was diagnosed with Diabetes and feeling really down?  Well last week I had to go for blood tests to see if the meds are working and the good news is that it is working very well.

In February a fasting blood test result showed my glucose level to be 6.5% and another test two hours after drinking a glucose drink showed it to be 12%!  Thankfully my HbA1c test three months later shows my glucose level is down to 5.9% which is great as the benchmark is between 6.5 and 7%.  My cholesterol has gone down from 9.7 to 3.1 which is fantastic.  My blood pressure is down to 130/80 from 150/88 and I've lost 13lb since I was diagnosed in February by eating healthily and exercising.  Actually I have lost 2stone (28lbs) since January 2009 but still need to lose at least another stone (14lbs).   All my other tests came back good - no liver, kidney, eye or nerve damage.  

I'm feeling good.



We're off to Scotland on Friday until late Monday.  I'll be publishing a 55 Flash Fiction and Microfiction Monday by the power of Blogger Scheduled Posts (so clever) and will catch up with all yours next week.  Of course I'll be taking lots of photos and will tell you all about it when I get back.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Excellent my friend I'm so happy for you. Keep up the good work. Me Ke Aloha

Charlene Amsden said...

Hooray!

Cloudia said...

I knew:


You ARE good!

so glad :)

Aloha, Friend

Comfort Spiral

Elaine Denning said...

Well done, Ak! xxx

Flowerpot said...

That is very good news Ak - good on you!

Gledwood said...

I'm glad you're well. Surely it's "only" type II (a big "only" I know). I know someone who has type I ~ as the doctors say, even with insulin, and she had bottles and bottles of swines' insulin in the fridge, they wouln't wish that on their worst enemy.

It surprised me though that some of these young people, and type I always kicks in by the early 20s, just will not listen to the warnings or even basic advice and this girl, who is my friend's sister lost one really good friend ~ basically to Mars bars! Which might sound flippant but it's true. V sad as well.

Did you cut out sweets altogether or go down the sorbitol route?

I know I should remember. I think I may have been somehow a bit (ahem) "hazy"

You may have discovered, as I did, going through 2 packets of v nice mints with a tiny warning on the side... sorbitol can be a superb laxative!

Valerie said...

I'm so pleased for you. Hubs was diagnosed with type II earlier this year so I understand a bit more about Diabetes now. I do have to nudge him occasionally when I see him gazing at cream cakes in a shop window.

Dumdad said...

Great news. You must be about the healthiest blogger on my blogroll. Enjoy Scotland but don't eat too many haggis.

Akelamalu said...

Thanks Thom. x

Yes Hooray QUILLY - I'm so pleased. :)

I'm determined CLOUDIA ;)

Cheers LANEY x

It is good news FLOWERPOT but I was determined to get it under control. :)

Yes I'm type 2 GLEDS and I never realised that in some ways it's much harder to control than Type 1. I am lucky that I don't have a sweet tooth - never taken sugar in my tea and coffee or drunk sweet drinks and don't crave cakes and biscuits to no problems there.

Luckily the dietician arranged for me to go on a managing diabetes course for two days VALERIE and I learned such a lot which has really helped me get it under control. I hope your husband is managing OK. x

I feel quite healthy now DUMDAD though in all honesty I wasn't aware of feeling ill before I was diagnosed - though apparently it's not always evident, which is the big problem! I will still be watching what I eat whilst I'm away. ;)

secret agent woman said...

YAY!! Now go enjoy your trip!

G-Man said...

No Haggis!!
That will shoot your sugar Ski High, too many carbs...hehehehe
Bon Voyage!!!

Ron said...

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!

So glad to hear about your test results!

You GO, girl!

Have a wonderful time in Scotland, m' dear! I can't wait to hear all about it.

Happy Wednesday...X

Deb said...

So glad to hear that you have a handle on your health. It can be so frustrating but it sounds as if you are working hard by exercising and eating a healthy diet. I am working to get my cholesterol numbers under control. I go for lab work soon ~ hope my results are as positive as yours! Enjoy your trip !

Smalltown RN said...

That is wonderful news!!! And good for you for being pro active with your health....controlling your weight when it comes to diabetes is so important..and it would appear that is exactly what you are doing...hip hip hooray to you!

Daryl said...

Diabetes is a bear but manageable .. congrats for taking charge and whipping it into submission .. and congrats on the weight loss not always easy to do with diabetes!

Maude Lynn said...

That's wonderful, Ake!

Hope that you have a lovely trip!

buffalodick said...

Sounds like it all is working well..congrats on the weight loss!

Linda said...

Excellent news! Good for you on all counts!

Looking forward to your trip to Scotland and all the great pictures!

Spiky Zora Jones said...

akelamaalu: I'm glad youare doing well. being a diabetic myself. I know how sometimes a high blood sugar level can make you feel bad.

I'm proud of you...i have to bring mine down a notch too.

later sweets. xxx.

Julia Phillips Smith said...

Those are amazing results in a really short amount of time. Obviously, you don't let anything get you down for long!

Susan at Stony River said...

Congratulations!!
Those are great results!

Akelamalu said...

I will SAW but I'll be watching what I eat - don't want to undo all the good work do I? ;)

No Haggis G-man but I may have to try the Highland Whiskey! ;)

Cheers Ron, I'll tell you all about it when I get back. x

I'll keep my fingers crossed for your cholesterol results Deb, thanks hon. x

I think weight loss and controll is about THE most important thing with insulin resistant diabetes RN so I just had to do it. :)

I want to live a long time to enjoy my retirement Daryl so I just had to do it. ;)

Thanks Mama Zen. x

Seems to be, thank goodness, Buff and thankyou m'dear. x

I'll take lots of photos to share with you all Linda and thanks hon. x

I didn't know you're diabetic too Spiky, it's a bummer but controlable thank goodness. xx

No Julia I always take the bull by the horns and deal with things straight away. :)

Cheers Susan :)

A Lady's Life said...

Thats wonderful!

My aunt has diabetes but the doctor took her off the pills because she manages her diet well.

I do not think my story was an urban legend Akelamalu but you never know.
Its more common than we think.

http://en.wiki.org/wiki/Dog_meat

Sandi McBride said...

That is perfectly wonderful news! I am so happy for you...been a diabetic for years and know the drill and how it throws you...enjoy the trip you vagabond you...you travel a lot for a sickly person, lol
hugs
Sandi

Gledwood said...

Didn't they used to call diabetes by 2 names?... I think type 1 was diabetes mellitus, which is named after honey and type 2 was diabetes insipidus

I once read a memoir of diabetes called Metal Jam after the flavour of jam made with 100% artificial sweeteners; the author, who was insulin dependent, had a horrible tendency to go into "hypos" where the blood sugar plummets and some VERY strange behaviour results...

in such states she has found herself at railway stations miles from where she wanted to go; she once found herself paralysed but fully conscious with a junior doctor (this was the 1970s when Freudian psychology still held sway) convinced this was simply "hysterical neurosis" that she could be talked out of.... I think he thankfully noticed her emergency bracelet and administered the appropriate glucose and then she was OK

... and I'm glad YOU're OK ;-)

Travis Cody said...

This is fantastic news! Keep it up!

MarmiteToasty said...

woooo hoooo great news....... now go eat a mars bar ;) - enjoy Scotland and dont look under to many kilts... on second thoughts, treat yaself LOL

x

Leah said...

That is WONDERFUL news!

SO happy that the meds are working right and you are much healthier!

Also, I am super jealous that you are in Scotland right now. I am either doing my UK trip this year or after I finish school... Can't wait for the pictures and stories!!

Unknown said...

I missed seeing your diagnosis. I'm so glad to hear that the meds are working for you.

I was diagnoised with diabetes about 10 or so months ago. My experience says the meds (I'm doing Metformin) work well with diet and exercise. I do, however, miss my traditional sweet rolls for breakfast. (Sigh).

Pam said...

wow, i've missed a lot. glad the meds worked and usually exercise and diet controls some diabetes well. i wish i could lose 2 stones. i have lost any since the 15 over a yr ago :o/