6 posts tagged “diabetes”

After a year and a half of hemming and hawing we've finally bought a new car.  It's a Nissan Versa Hatchback. The colour is Airstream (a light silver-grey), not my first choice but not bad.  When we had car problems last year (long story) I rented the Versa Sedan.  It's a nice solid car, gets good mileage and has a good safety rating.  And best of all - we can afford it!

My beloved Jeep is part of the down payment *sob*.  I'm not really that sad. I've had it nine years and had lots of fun with it. The Jeep's a soft top, so being able to actually talk to each other in the car, instead of yelling, will be great.

I don't know when I'll be able to drive it as I'm currently not licenced.  Yeah. Not fun.  When I got my licence renewed in December I was asked if there was anything health-wise that I might want to divulge.  I told the agent that I was diabetic, silly me.  It was renewed with conditions.  I had to get a doctor's physical stating I was okay to drive.  I had two months to do that but between illnesses and being a slacker it didn't get done.  My licence got rescinded sometime in March.  I had the physical done in April and we're still waiting to hear back from the government.

On the BG/insulin front there's been some setbacks.  I guess the 8.6 reading was a fluke.  I'm up to 16 units and my reading this morning was 11.0.  I know a lot of it depends on what I eat during the day but it seems that the readings vary wildly even eating the same things.  It's very frustrating to say the least.

My BG reading was 8.6 this morning, yay me!  I'm up to 10 units of insulin so far. I'm sure it'll have to add more units to have consistent morning BGs of less than 7, but it's good start.

My doc finally decided it was time for me to start using insulin (Humulin N).  I wish I had started it a year ago when his substitute doc thought it was time for me to start using insulin.  How much damage, if any, would have been avoided in that year?  I suppose I'll never know.

I had a one-on-one class with the diabetes educator at the local hospital to learn how to inject.  I was given a free pen (thank Buddha - those puppies are spendy!), some needles, etc.  I picked up my insulin and some other supplies (Dex4, sharps container, more needles, etc.) and was set for my first injection this last Friday evening (May 10).  All went well except I almost forgot to dial in the units (6 to start) and did forget to pinch up some fat.  Ah well.

Saturday morning - my blood glucose reading was as high as usual 16.3 mmol/l.  A little background - my BGs were running high (10-12) but not that high until recently. I think my meds gave up the ghost.  Anyway, I was told to wait every three days to up the insulin by 2 units until my morning BG was 7 or below.  Today, Sunday, my morning reading was 14.8.  *Sigh*.  I'm not going to wait another day, I'm going to up it to 8 units with tonight's shot.

In other news I finally had an eye exam for new glasses about a month ago.  Yay new glasses!  BUT the examiner noted that she saw a haemorrhage in my right eye.  Between this 'n' that I'm way over due for my twice-yearly eye exam. I now have an appointment for June or July.  I'm quite sure more laser surgery is in the offing.

So between the eye doc, a mammogram (my first!) and a follow-up appointment with my urologist for the kidney stone I had a few months ago, it's gonna be non-stop doc appointments for the next couple months.

Are we having fun yet?!

I finally connected with the diabetes nurse.  I have a class on June 18.  I also have an appointment the same day with my doc to discuss my blood work, especially my cholesterol.

I was diagnosed with Diabetes in February 1999. I had gone in for a general physical exam in preparation to become a Landed Immigrant in Canada (I'm American, my husband is Canadian). To say I took the news badly would be putting it mildly. Thank goodness the mister has strong shoulders to lean on. (I became a Landed Immigrant, similar to a Green Card holder, in July 2005.)

I've been on meds since diagnosis. Metformin and glyburide were prescribed right away. I was prescribed Avandia about two years ago (and yes, I need to discuss the recent news with my doc). I've been taking Atacand (blood pressure) and fenofibrate (cholesterol) as well. To make the whole mix really fun, I'm also taking Effexor for depression. Wheee!

I don't have any problems remembering to take my drugs in the morning. The evening is another story. However, I bought a pill dispenser thingie two months ago and that's been working really well. Instead of forgetting evening doses five or six times a week (yikes!) it's down to one or two or sometimes even -0-. Yay me!

I'm also supposed to be dieting and exercising. I'm not so good at either one. Actually, it fluctuates. I'll go through periods of being "good" and doing what I should and periods where I don't. Right now I'm doing fairly good. I'm eating much better and trying to get off my ass and exercise by walking the dog.

My last doctor's appointment was about two weeks ago. My A1c is up from 7-ish to 10+. This was during a period I was doing better diet-wise and taking my meds. Whoops. The doc informed me I have to start on insulin and he was upping my existing meds prescriptions. Oh fun. I needed to have a bunch more blood-work done (which I've done) and then they'd set me up with an appointment at the local hospital to learn how to inject and whatever else is involved with using insulin. The clinic and I have been playing phone tag the last couple days, but my training will get scheduled soon.