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Sharing Diabetes and Supplement Information #1: Introduction, Invokana, and ACA
First post in a series…
When I started writing this post two days ago, I had intended it to be just a “quick” post.
SIGH
Well, it is turning into quite the project. And waaaaaaaaay too long for a single post. So, here is the “introduction” and the 411 on Invokana.
For those who aren’t hip to all the current jargon… “411” is what the kid’s these days call “information.”
Questions! I got Questions!
Because of a recent doctor’s visit, I have a bunch of questions. And I went online and started doing some research, trying to get answers to those questions.
After a little bit, it occurred to me that I should put the information I found into a blog post. Sort of a one-stop shop with links, where I use my searching skills to save you folks a lot of time.
I know that I’ve had a recent surge of new subscribers who found my blog because of the Diabetes information that I’ve posted.
So, if any of you folks have answers or comments based on your own experience then, please SHARE them in the comments at the end of this post.
Standard Disclaimer:
I am NOT a doctor. I am not offering medical advice. You should ALWAYS consult your doctor before making any medical decisions.
A bit of background…
I was diagnosed with diabetes in June of this year. I started taking Invokana and Janumet in mid-June and started testing my AM fasting blood sugar levels in late June.
I’m visiting my doctor once a month right now so that my doctor can keep a close watch on things not only because I’m a newly diagnosed diabetic, but because I’m “obese” (workin’ on that!) and I have high blood pressure (workin’ on that too!)
One bonus of going to see my doctor monthly is that it really helps me; just knowing that I’m going to weigh in and will have my blood pressure checked, keeps me on track. To date, I’ve lost 27-30 lbs since my heaviest weight of 333 lbs. Yay!
My weight fluctuates a little, of course. This morning I weighed 305 which gives me a 28lb loss to date. But the good news is that I’m nearing at a threshold / plateau breaker of 300 lbs. Unfortunately my body is resisting going past that hurdle. Grrrrrrrrrr
At last month’s regular visit, about four weeks ago, I had a really BIG blood work panel done when I was at my doctor’s office. That visit was the 3 month anniversary of my diabetes diagnosis; which is why she did the big blood work panel — 3 months after I had been taking the two diabetes medications.
Well, last week, at this month’s doctor visit, she gave this multi-page report that were the results from the blood work.
OMG! It was huge.
Who knew that you could discover so much about a person just from their blood! A bit overwhelming actually.
Good & Bad News in the Report
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What is a normal Blood Glucose Level?
It is harder to figure out than you think…
I’m headed to my doctor’s office on Tuesday, so in preparation for that I’m printing out reports from my Blood Glucose Meter.
I was looking at the reports and started to wonder about those “target ranges” and what exactly did they mean. I wanted to know:
- “What is a normal blood glucose level?” (the answers I found are in this post)
.. - “Given that there is a normal RANGE… is it OK for a person who is diabetic and on medication to be anywhere in that range?” (couldn’t find an answer from a trusted source so I’m gonna ask my doctor on Tuesday)
Getting a “good” “reliable” answer…
Depending on where you look, you get different answers. sigh And it MUST be correct because it’s on the Internet! Right? sigh
All kidding aside, some sites are better than others when it comes to reliable information. But even with sites you trust, there can be differences.
Take it from a retired Librarian with over 30 years of searching experience: check and double check when doing “research” on the web. Then check it again, just to be sure. Not all information resources are created equal.
The ones I’m sharing with you now are, in my professional opinion, on the “reliable” end of the spectrum.
Bayer (as in Bayer aspirin) the maker of my Blood Glucose Meter says:
The meter I use is the Bayer Contour Next. The default settings are:
- 70 – 180 mg/dL — Overall
- 70 – 130 mg/dL — Fasting
- 70 – 130 mg/dL — Before a meal
- 70 – 180 mg/dL — After a meal
I’ve been testing consistently for about 3 months now and my doctor wants to look at the data when I visit her on Tuesday — which is what prompted my questions and this post in the first place. 🙂
One of the questions I have for her is whether or not the default settings in the monitor are what she wants me to use as my “target” ranges OR does she want me to use something different.
WebMD says:
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Diabetes Learning Curve and “All about Moi”
Confession time…
I know this is going to sound weird… I am actually relieved to find out I have diabetes. Why? Because now I know that it wasn’t “just a lack of will power,” there is a real medical reason which explains the way I’ve been feeling.
I wasn’t imagining it: I really was fighting against my own body in my attempts to improve my fitness.
I will also admit that I’ve arrived at this point, in part, because of some bad lifestyle choices and in part because of a genetic predisposition. Everyone in my immediate family is large and about half are diabetic. Except one skinny brother which none of us can quite figure out why he’s the lucky one. sigh
I’m relieved because now I know that it is going to be easier from this point forward. Things are going to get better. As soon as the meds start doing what they are supposed to do, I will be in a better position to move toward a healthier me.
I want a book deal! And a Speaking Contract!
I tell ya, when I’m all fit and healthy and dancing again, I want to share my story in every possible way! I want to tell others that it is not hopeless. That it is possible to go from absolutely on the brink of a “Health Apocalypse” to being a fit, happy healthy person.
I want to be like Jared, the subway guy! By the way, if you have not read his book, I highly recommend it. The first time I read it, I cried. Literally. Because I could relate to his struggle. I had to stop reading and wipe away the tears before I could continue. I hope to meet him one day and get him to autograph my copy of his book. That would be so cool.
I want to be on Oprah! I want Ellen and I to be best buds! Light’s, camera, speaking tours with tumultuous applause! Yeah, right, like that’s gonna happen!
I probably won’t get a book deal or end up touring the country talking about my own journey, but it would be nice wouldn’t it? Uh-oh! Tony’s doing that “digression” thing again. Brace yerself loyal readers, this post might get Read the rest of this entry
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Tony’s Tip No.7 — Learn about your Metabolism
The Truth About Metabolism “Fun Quiz”
I subscribe to several “tip lists” and this one showed up in my inbox today from WebMD.
The Truth about Metabolism Quiz
It is a fun mini-quiz that asks you a series of questions.
After you Uhmmmmm. . .
. . . “guess” at the correct answer… Did I say “guess” ahem
I meant to say, “answer based on your in depth knowledge of all things healthy, a short explanation appears with valuable information about your Metabolism. Woot!
I scored 15 out of 15 correctly! 100% Who da man? Uh-huh! Uh-huh! Uh-huh! Woot!
And… I STILL learned stuff!
For example I learned WHY experts recommend the “eat six times a day” approach!
Woot! Nope… not gonna tell you here. You need to go take the quiz.
[wicked grin]
Ok, ok, I’ll tell ya… ’cause if you “…going too long between meals can slow metabolic rate. That’s why experts recommend eating a small healthy meal or snack every 2 to 3 hours. ”
I encourage you to check out WebMD if you are not familiar with it.
To date I have found their information to be balanced and reliable. Which is tough to do when it comes to health and fitness. Especially since the information is constantly changing.
See ya on the dance floor!
5-6-7-8 Dancing My Way to a Healthy Me! 