I went to the doctor last week for a regular checkup, while I still know where my insurance is coming from. He called me back next day -- never a good sign -- and said I had diabetes.
I have had one test before that indicated I might have diabetes, but it turned out I didn't; unfortuntely, this time it seems I do. My blood sugar was over 300 (80 - 110 is normal), and subsequent testing has confirmed that it's very high.
I have seen what diabetes does to people, especially my mother. In her case, she had trouble walking for years, and eventually it affected her mind and then killed her. Not pretty. Diabetes can also lead to blindness, amputations -- it's just not a good way to go, a disease that causes your body to slowly go to pieces on you.
I am already taking insulin, both pills and shots, and monitoring my blood sugar. My first three readings were, 285, 215, and 235, the last three days. I am self-adjusting my insulin dosage, per my doctor's orders, and this morning I was down to 133, so there's a little victory.
There is plenty of bad news there, so I'll point out a few pieces of good news:
- It's somewhat reassuring to know that something is wrong and that I can monitor it, rather than wondering if something is wrong when I don't feel right. Sometimes, I haven't felt right.
- Finally, prompted by a note from my sister, I spent 85 cents and got non-iodized salt.
- Diabetes is forcing me to eat better, which was long overdue.
- The low-iodine thing will be over June 15.
- The doctor says that if I can lose a lot of weight, it can have a significant effect on my diabietes. Losing weight is not easy, but I have to eat a lot vegetables now anyway, because that's what diabetics are supposed to do, so I should lose weight.
- Oatmeal isn't too bad, especially with berries in it.
- My weight is already down a few pounds.
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