Diabetes Update II

I had my 3 month follow up to being diagnosed with diabetes.

My AIC was 14 at diagnosis, today it is 6.2! That’s considered pre-diabetes. Below 5.7 is normal.

My albumin/creatine levels and ratio are in the normal range. That’s where they check your urine for excretion of proteins. Above a certain level it indicates decreased kidney function, and higher still indicates kidney failure.

My blurry vision trying to read small text also resolved! Whew!

How I Did It

I did it with mostly a diet change. I am sure exercise will tip it back even further. The inertia to add exercise to my schedule is the perpetual challenge…. I’m off the 3 times a day insulin with each meal. Now I just have a bedtime insulin and a weekly non-insulin. The goal is to get me off the bedtime insulin and just the weekly injection soon.

I am adding a cholesterol med to my regimen because diabetes makes even slightly elevated cholesterol a risk for heart attack and stroke. That stuff is hard on the liver, so even more reason to get more exercise….

Exercise. I mow my double lot with a push mower and usually get over 10,000 steps on my fitness tracker when I do. I also spent a lot of time cleaning out my garage. It was nearly packed to the gills as my son and his family live with me.

My Secret

Limit carbs. I’ve avoided potatoes, corn, and peas, the vegetables which are the worst for diabetes. I only eat whole wheat bread (I can’t stand store bought white bread.). I increased fruits and veggies and am more diligent about getting enough protein. I also cut out diet soda, since the body reacts to artificial sweeteners just like it was sugar. I’ve only had a craving for a sugary snack once and I just kept walking past it when I was getting groceries about a month ago.

Sure a candy bar or ice cream sounds good, but I don’t like feeling as gross as I did. My Dad had adult onset diabetes and would eat a huge bowl of ice cream every night, then complain about how bad he felt. I’m not going down that road.

PSA Update

I had my 3rd quarterly PSA test in June, and still it is undetectable. I go in for my final quarterly PSA test in September. Then it goes to 2 times per year. If it is still undetectable, then I just get it checked once a year with my annual physical.

My muscle mass has improved, but I still have plenty of excess body fat I should lose.

Answers to Low Energy  – Diabetes Update I – Diabetes Update III – Diabetes Update IV