It was a little over 10 years ago that I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes (ironically, to me, it was about 5 years after I started actually exercising and you know…moving). I was diagnosed with an A1C that was WAY above acceptable – I want to say it was around 12 or so. The target A1C for a diabetic is around 7. The average A1C for a non- diabetic is anywhere from 4.5 – 6. So, I was way out of acceptable ranges.
I had no symptoms, but had switched doctors and the new guy wanted to run full blood work – that’s how it was discovered. Up to that point my blood sugar readings at my regular primary care visits were completely within acceptable range…
At first I was pretty good at managing my numbers. I gave up many things I love 🙂 Oh, real, regular Coke – how I miss you!!
And, of course they had just started opening Krispy Kreme shops in California…
I hated sticking my finger so I found meters that let me do “alternate site testing” – which generally meant, for me, my forearm.
I found an endocrinologist. The only one covered by my insurance. And there was something like a 4 month wait. So I waited. I took the Metformin that my PCP had prescribed. I went to the Diabetes Education classes. Finally saw the endo and he really didn’t do much more than the PCP had…
Fast forward to later in 2004 – I had sold my house, quit my job and moved to the East Coast where I, eventually, found a job! With the job came insurance once more so I headed out to find a Primary Care doctor and an endocrinologist. First visit with the PCP and my numbers were once more out of control (no insurance = no medications) so he upped some dosages and added in Glimipiride (as well as blood pressure medication and cholesterol medication as stroke preventives…). I then visited my new endocrinologist and after hearing my history, she wanted to run a new test – a GAD Antibody test (Presence of these antibodies means that your pancreas is under attack and will eventually stop producing insulin.) When that came back positive, she told me that I had what they were starting to call Type 1.5 or Type 1X diabetes Dr. B put me on insulin – a small dose at bedtime. (Feb 11, 2005 was my first time! — the dates we remember!!) as a start at reducing my morning numbers.
I did what I was supposed to, I ate decently most of the time, lost some more weight and my numbers started to REALLY improve! Time passed and it got more and more difficult for me to keep things under control. Which is very frustrating which would sometimes lead to a little “binge” on foods I shouldn’t eat much of…which would make the numbers bad which is a never ending cycle…
Late last year, I had to change my Primary Care doc since he was retiring. My new GP (who has since moved to Seattle!) decided I needed to get back to seeing an endocrinologist. But meanwhile she put me on a second insulin regimen – to be taken before meals.
Slowly things started to improve again. Very. Slowly. I finally met with the new endocrinologist and it has been quite nice to get real explanations of the “whys” behind why I need to do what I need to do. And I decided, once again, that I need to take this seriously. Plus with all the #Dopey15 training, I need to be sure to stay on top of things!! One of the big things we discussed was the results from that old GAD Antibody test, and what I have is now being called LADA or Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adults.
Today I had my second visit with the endo and things are definitely improving! We’re even taking me off of one of my oral medications which makes me happy. I will never be completely off of everything, since I just don’t produce as much insulin as I need to, but it is VERY nice to be able to knock one off of the list! Now, the only medication I’ll be taking specifically for diabetes is insulin!
We also discussed adding a Continuous Glucose Monitor to my arsenal. This would be REALLY handy not only for running/training but also because I’m starting to become desensitized to lower blood sugars – not having any symptoms til my numbers get near dangerous lows. Eventually we may also look at combining this with an insulin pump to gain better control.
So things are definitely looking up, and the changes I am making seem to be working! My A1C is *almost* at target, my cholesterol is all good and all of my other numbers are pretty impressive 😉
And I still get to splurge every now and then – which is fine with me!! Cause we know I love me some cake!!
outrunningthefork 