The calm before the...

echinacea flower with purple petals and a big middle bit

Since May I’ve been thinking about August. Not because of hot weather or some kind of love of summer; although I’ve been enjoying the lush flowers and sunlight, but rather because of my A1C test, a test that measures blood sugar levels over three months.

March 15, 2022: 9.5

May 11, 2022: 8.0/8.1

August 3, 2022: ??

My doctor told me that she believes that since my blood sugar level was so high in March, it is unlikely that I will be able to manage my diabetes through diet and exercise alone. This was hard to hear, but I kept working on my diabetes management by working my ass off, prioritizing physical activity and food that kept my blood sugar levels in the good zone (before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/L; 2 hours after meals: 5 to 10 mmol/L or milimetres per litre).

Today I went for the test. I go to the Dynacare Lab on Kent Street, a fifteen-minute walk from my apartment. I checked in via Dynacare’s Net Check in, which allows people to be in a virtual queue and not have to wait too long in the waiting room.

I wore one of my favourite dresses. I drank lots of water beforehand. I was nervous, but I calmed myself. I have been doing meditation and I believe it is helping me face things calmly. I had printed out my initial requistion but all I needed to do was tell the person at the desk that I was there for my 3 month A1C test and hand them my health card. It was that simple.

I read poetry in the waiting room. The technician complimented me on the dress. It was a quiet and good experience.

After I went over to Staples to use the washroom and to buy myself a pen, a small reward for not freaking about about the unknown and the possibilities that I may need medication. I encountered a dear friend and we chatted for some time.

I have changed my attitude greatly from the initial diagnosis in March. I know it is possible I may need medication. If I do, I will learn as much as I can about it, continue to work on diet and exercise and attitude, taking good care of myself and communicating to my health care team. I understand now that I am responsible for my health care and that others are there to help me achieve what I need in terms of physical and mental well-being. I have the amazing support of my darling husband for whom I am infinitely grateful.

I am signed up to the Dynacare Plus, so I will know my results in a few days. Then I will make an appointment to discuss follow up with my doctor.

Doubtless my husband and I will be checking the app a lot in the next few days, but regardless of the outcome, I feel capable of handling it. I feel as if I’ve grown up a lot during the process of initial diagnosis to management of my diabetes. It’s a lot to learn. Gee, I’m 58 and still have a lot to learn. Ain’t that grand.

I’ll let you know the results in the next post!

Comments

Holding Pattern

I am one month away from my next A1C test. I am trying my best not to feel too hopeful that I will have a blood sugar level below 7.0, the target my doctor set for my not having to go on medication. I try to bear in mind what she said: that my 9.5 result in March means it is pretty likely I will require some assistance in the form of medication, but fuck oh fuck oh fuck, I do not want to have to take anything. My brief fling with blood pressure medication was awful. The unsteadiness I felt all the time prevented me from doing as much physical activity as I wanted/needed: not only to lower my A1C level, but also because it makes me feel better now to do a lot of physical activity. I am at the end of the extra FreeStyle Libre 2 sensors we purchased after I tried the Libre 1 and Libre 2 sensors for free. While the trial versions seemed great and taught me a lot about how to manage my diabetes, the purchased versions were awful. Compared with the One Touch glucose monitor, which requires

Dancing to Unsweetened Jams

Yesterday I had my follow up appointment with my regular doctor about my diabetes diagnosis. Today I had the follow up blood tests at the DinoCare (actually Dynacare, but I couldn’t resist) lab that the temp doc wouldn’t let me have when I saw her back on March 29. My regular doctor also prescribed blood pressure meds. I’ve been monitoring my blood pressure with a wrist cuff since I am not able to use the regular arm cuff without my blood pressure going sky high. But even with feeling more comfortable with the wrist cuff, I still get hypertension 1 and sometimes 2 numbers, so I need to lower it. Tomorrow I’m starting PERINDOPRIL, which may have me fainting from low blood pressure and vomiting. Hey, let’s hope not. Don’t read the side effect stuff on the web. The pharmacist said well, you have to take it , right? So yeah. As long as the symptoms are minor, I’ll be ok. ?! The supremely kind and helpful staff of the Community Diabetes Education Program Ottawa (CDEPO) rigged me up wit

ongoing dizzy tizzy

the 4g of Perindopril Erbumine blood pressure medication the doctor put me on was making me too dizzy to be able to take my daily walks without shortening them severely. the doctor halved the dosage a week ago and I’m still experiencing the dizziness when I walk and also in the shower. it’s very frustrating along with being petrifying because I’m terrified I’ll fall. I’ve tested both my blood pressure and blood sugar levels when I’ve felt like this and they haven’t been out of range. I’ve tried taking the meds before breakfast and before dinner. Still dizzy. I feel like my attempts to lower my A1C levels are being sabotaged. today I had a bit of a cry when I was sitting outside on a bench in the sun. I love walking and the weather is beautiful. I want to be outside and enjoy the day. Instead I’m home and feeling like I’m not doing everything I can to manage my diabetes. I told my darling husband who has been walking with me after work when he gets home, holding my hand. He will do

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