Attitude Adjustment

photo by Charles Earl

It's a few weeks until my next A1C test. As you may recall, the A1C is the test of blood sugar levels over three months. 6.5+ means diabetes. In March, mine was 9.5. In May it was 8.1. If it is 7 or higher in August, I will have to go on medication. I have completely changed my diet and increased my physical activity. I monitor with a glucose meter once a day now, as opposed to several times a day with the continuous glucose meter I was using to help me learn how my body reacts. I know now what causes uneven levels and how to even them out. 

In the last while, I have been focusing on my emotional and mental health. On the advice of Adam Brown, the author of Bright Spots and Landmines: The Diabetes Guide I Wish Someone Had Handed Me, I have started to do daily gratitude journaling through The Five Minute Journal. At the start of each day, I note what I am grateful for, what would make the day better and write a daily affirmation. At the end of the day, I note the highlights and what I have learned. I am not always the most positive person in the world. Ha! Understatement! Focusing on the good things and keeping track of them reminds me daily how lucky I am and what's good in my life. I know these things but recording them seems to help remind me, and after writing the morning pages, I find I have gratitude in mind all day. 

It's part of taking care of myself to take the time to reflect about good things. I also read the journal out loud to Charles and we both enjoy that. I have to say I am really enjoying having more rituals in my life. There are several routines I have to do as part of my diabetes management, such as the glucose monitoring, eating my meals at specific times, physical activity. I call them rituals and they help make my day better along with improving my blood sugar levels and therefore keeping me in a good mental and physical state.

In the meantime, I've had to go to hospital for three days for a bowel obstruction from July 12-14. I have been dealing with a bacterial infection on my feet. These things are difficult but my mental and physical states are in good shape, which contributed to making them not too awful. I am so much calmer and less anxious now. I don't stress the small things that go awry as much as I did.

Charles and I had our 4th dose of the Covid 19 vaccine on Friday. There are groceries in the fridge. We're doing our laundry. Tomorrow I see my doctor to follow up with the bacterial infection and possibly get more anti-biotics. This afternoon Charles will make another delicious omelet for our lunch. I feel peaceful. I have a lot to be grateful for, including dear friends.