Diabetic Update, Nov 9

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Well, I just got back from the Diabetes Center for my week-and-a-half followup from last time. The nurses were very impressed by how quickly my blood sugar got under control, and especially impressed by the graph I made (hey, I'm a nerd, of course I graphed my blood sugar progress...lines for each of the four testing times). In fact, they're going to use it as an example of how effective insulin can be, since there's a sharp drop after I started on it. However, my before-dinner scores are kinda high, and after some discussion we realized that it might be that the time-release insulin I'm taking at 7PM is wearing off by 5PM. It's supposed to last 24 hours, but doesn't always. So I'll be shifting to taking half the dose at 7PM and half at 7AM (or as close to that as I can get on weekends). I really hope I can go off insulin before traveling to Seattle for a conference in January, though, because it's really hard to stick to that sort of routine when at a conference.

Still, it's definitely having a noticeable effect. I no longer need the afternoon naps I've been taking most weekdays for the past couple of years, for instance. And while I'm eating a LOT less than a month ago, I'm not really hungrier (mind you, I'm still probably eating more than I should, but less than before). I haven't really lost weight, but neither have I gained weight, something that often happens when going on insulin (because your body can suddenly process a higher percentage of what you eat). And my body fat percentage has gone from 29% on October 18 to 26% today.

Another interesting revelation today was finding that diabetes can cause magnesium deficiency. AHA. I've been taking magnesium supplements for about five years now, after being hit with the symptoms of it back in Michigan. In fact, it's possible I should stop taking them now, because of the side effects of having too much magnesium (hint: Milk of Magnesia uses magnesium as the active ingredient). The nurses didn't think my daily dose was excessive, but I'll try stopping it for a few days and see if the side effects diminish.

My blood sugars have been around 100-120 before breakfast, 110-130 mid-morning, 150-170 before dinner, and 110-130 two hours after dinner. Blood pressure has dropped well into the safe range (I've completely cut my caffeine intake now that I'm not drinking soda anymore, and not being so tired means I haven't been popping caffeine pills in the morning either). I can handle 15 minutes of brisk walking without strain and only breaking a mild sweat (slowly bumping that time up). And my wallet's lighter, what with $100 or so per month in prescription stuff (insulin, test strips, pills) and assorted doctor's visit copays on top of that. Once I stabilize, hopefully not too far in the future, that should all drop off.

Later edit: Gah. I just worked out that my daily soda consumption before the diagnosis amounted to 500-600 calories, and 10-12 "carbs" (where 1 carb = 15 g of carbohydrates, tweaked by some other rules that don't bear going into here). A healthy diet is supposed to have 10-12 carbs a day TOTAL. And then there's the 4-6 servings of snackfood I tended to eat each night (although that's more variable, and wasn't always chips or crackers). While my entrees are only 20-30% smaller than before, there's a good chance my caloric intake has been slashed nearly in half, and my carb intake divided by three or even four. Man.


Nov 27 will be Medical Day for me, with followups both with Dr. Poell and with the Diabetes Center. No classes for me that week, though, so easy to fit in.

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Huh. Coulda sworn Dr Pepper had less caffeine than colas. Ah well, it's sadly part of my past now, regardless of caffeine levels.