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Bloody well right.
Nov. 7th, 2020 10:40 amAs I was sitting here at my computer this morning, sipping my first coffee, it occurred to me that I hadn't checked my blood glucose levels in well over a month. When I was first diagnosed, I was under doctor's orders to check it three times a day, later reduced to twice a day when my levels started to stabilize.
I continued checking it twice a day for about a year and a half before I slowed to once a day when my insurance started pushing back at reimbursing me for the lancets and strips.
Later, I caught an episode on a doctor's channel I follow on YouTube where he addressed the testing regimen for people with Type II. He said that requiring people to test themselves daily, or multiple times a day once they were on medications that were keeping the symptoms under control was pointless, and even a bit cruel. He argued that there was no good reason to require people to stab themselves once or twice a day for no measurable benefit, and that spot-checking was sufficient.
I brought it up with my own doctor later, and he agreed that spot-checking would definitely be sufficient since my blood readings had been coming back consistently good after he'd adjusted my medication about eighteen months earlier.
I had been meaning to get into a habit of testing it once a week or so, but I admit that I am more of a "when I notice the kit sitting there and realize it's been at least a month or more since I last used it" kind of guy.
Well... I noticed the kit this morning. One of the benefits of this current pandemic is that our diet has become more healthy (lots of home cooking), but yesterday was a cheat day when we ordered in from a local pub. I figured it might not hurt to see how my levels looked after all of that.
I tested my blood this morning and the levels came back perfect.
I guess I'm good for another month or two. Well, I have to see my doctor again next month, and he wants blood work in advance of that, so I guess I'll test it once or twice before that.
In fairness, my eating is not entirely healthy when left to my own devices. My breakfast the other day consisted of a sweet-potato, onion and leftover steak hash with fried eggs on top. Probably had way more salt and saturated fat than I want to think about, but it was darned good.
In fairness, my blood pressure is more of a concern to me these days than my glucose levels. I only learned recently that high blood pressure runs in the family.
Our family traditionally doesn't discuss medical issues, but we've loosened up a bit on that since my brother's death.
Anyway, on another front, here is a picture I took while walking along the river this week.
Soon this will be a solid sheet of ice and buried under snow. For now, though, I am just appreciating how low the river is running as we slide into the winter season. These pilings are usually under water.
I continued checking it twice a day for about a year and a half before I slowed to once a day when my insurance started pushing back at reimbursing me for the lancets and strips.
Later, I caught an episode on a doctor's channel I follow on YouTube where he addressed the testing regimen for people with Type II. He said that requiring people to test themselves daily, or multiple times a day once they were on medications that were keeping the symptoms under control was pointless, and even a bit cruel. He argued that there was no good reason to require people to stab themselves once or twice a day for no measurable benefit, and that spot-checking was sufficient.
I brought it up with my own doctor later, and he agreed that spot-checking would definitely be sufficient since my blood readings had been coming back consistently good after he'd adjusted my medication about eighteen months earlier.
I had been meaning to get into a habit of testing it once a week or so, but I admit that I am more of a "when I notice the kit sitting there and realize it's been at least a month or more since I last used it" kind of guy.
Well... I noticed the kit this morning. One of the benefits of this current pandemic is that our diet has become more healthy (lots of home cooking), but yesterday was a cheat day when we ordered in from a local pub. I figured it might not hurt to see how my levels looked after all of that.
I tested my blood this morning and the levels came back perfect.
I guess I'm good for another month or two. Well, I have to see my doctor again next month, and he wants blood work in advance of that, so I guess I'll test it once or twice before that.
In fairness, my eating is not entirely healthy when left to my own devices. My breakfast the other day consisted of a sweet-potato, onion and leftover steak hash with fried eggs on top. Probably had way more salt and saturated fat than I want to think about, but it was darned good.
In fairness, my blood pressure is more of a concern to me these days than my glucose levels. I only learned recently that high blood pressure runs in the family.
Our family traditionally doesn't discuss medical issues, but we've loosened up a bit on that since my brother's death.
Anyway, on another front, here is a picture I took while walking along the river this week.
Soon this will be a solid sheet of ice and buried under snow. For now, though, I am just appreciating how low the river is running as we slide into the winter season. These pilings are usually under water.
