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dreamer_easyOff to have my periodic diabetic blood tests this morning - results in a few days, in time for my endocrinologist's appointment next week.
The aim for a diabetic is to keep their blood sugar within certain levels, rather than swinging up and down wildly, or being too high all the time. In my case, that means eating the right kinds of foods (low glycaemic index carbohydrates, such as multigrain bread, pasta, and sweet potatoes), and exercising lots. I check my blood sugar once each day with a meter, and can bring down a high reading with a brisk 20 minute walk - I did this before an autograph session at Gally! Damn you Denny's, with your white bread and potatoes. :-)
Today's blood tests will reveal my average control of my blood sugar over the past three months, check for kidney damage, and so on. I'm very lucky in that I was diagnosed soon after the problem developed, so I have a good chance of staving off complications and the need for pills or shots for as long as possible. If you're worried at all you might be at risk of diabetes (for example, you have a diabetic relative) check with your doctor - you need to know how to avoid or at least delay it, and if you do have the condition, the sooner it's diagnosed, the more you can do to avoid the attendant health problems.
I still hate blood tests, though, so I've taken .5 mg of my good friend Xanax. I had to fast since midnight, so I think I'll be taking myself out to breakfast after the vampires have had their way with me. :-)
The aim for a diabetic is to keep their blood sugar within certain levels, rather than swinging up and down wildly, or being too high all the time. In my case, that means eating the right kinds of foods (low glycaemic index carbohydrates, such as multigrain bread, pasta, and sweet potatoes), and exercising lots. I check my blood sugar once each day with a meter, and can bring down a high reading with a brisk 20 minute walk - I did this before an autograph session at Gally! Damn you Denny's, with your white bread and potatoes. :-)
Today's blood tests will reveal my average control of my blood sugar over the past three months, check for kidney damage, and so on. I'm very lucky in that I was diagnosed soon after the problem developed, so I have a good chance of staving off complications and the need for pills or shots for as long as possible. If you're worried at all you might be at risk of diabetes (for example, you have a diabetic relative) check with your doctor - you need to know how to avoid or at least delay it, and if you do have the condition, the sooner it's diagnosed, the more you can do to avoid the attendant health problems.
I still hate blood tests, though, so I've taken .5 mg of my good friend Xanax. I had to fast since midnight, so I think I'll be taking myself out to breakfast after the vampires have had their way with me. :-)
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no subject
Date: 2004-03-09 01:43 pm (UTC)My Gramma didn't need to take insulin until she was in her 80s, and by then the hospital was looking after her. So with a good diet, you might be able to stave it off for as long as she did. Good luck with it!
PS - as I mentioned in Jon's LJ, I managed to get some pix of you with that McGann guy. http://www.pagefillers.com/travel/Galley04/ is the full website. 'Twas nice to see you again at Galley! Glad you got back safe und sound!
no subject
Date: 2004-03-09 01:51 pm (UTC)Oh yeah, hi. *waves* You don't know me but we share friends. :)
Oh, crap
Date: 2004-03-09 07:00 pm (UTC)I hate blood tests.
Re: Oh, crap
Date: 2004-03-09 08:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-03-09 08:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-03-09 08:37 pm (UTC)Re: Oh, crap
Date: 2004-03-09 10:06 pm (UTC)I know there are scaryfanstalker issues so I won't be offended if you say no ::g:: but if you're ever in the mood for lunch, I'd love to meet up.
I am so glad you had a good nurse. That makes such a difference. When I was pregnant I had to give approximately 10,000 little tubes of blood, and the lady taking it jiggled the needle and made me squeak unheroically. A couple years later, with a paranoid health scare, I had to give many little tubes again but the guy taking the blood was so good I didn't even feel it.
Re: Oh, crap
Date: 2004-03-09 11:15 pm (UTC)Re: Oh, crap
Date: 2004-03-09 11:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-03-09 11:21 pm (UTC)But these needles are part of the effort to avoid lots more needles in your future, so I suppose they're permitted.
no subject
Date: 2004-03-10 04:53 am (UTC)