Doctor's appointment

[mamadeb]

Last night, I got a call from my GP, to remind me that it's been three months. Time for bloodwork,etc. (Such is the life of a Type II Diabetic.) I made an appointment for early today - bloodwork, etc has to be done fasting.


I weigh 194 lbs clothed and needing to use the bathroom. This is about three pounds less than my previous weighing. My bp is 130/80. They took a body fat index, but I don't know what the result was. And they drew blood and took a urine sample (or why I needed to use the bathroom.)

And Jed was very unhappy with me. I'm way overdue for a mammogram and I need a hospital colonoscopy to get rid of a sessile (and benign) polyp.

You know what he did? He called the radiologists himself, sat me down in the chair and made me make the appointment then and there. So, I'm going next Tuesday. (The radiologists' medical secretary treated the phone call as if from another one, and I went along. It was kinda funny, given that it was for a mammogram, that they kept referring to me as "them". Of course, men do get breast cancer.) I also made an appointment for the colonoscopy - three days after I get back from Readercon.

I'm getting my eyes checked on Monday (I can tell I need a new prescription.) He was happy to know that my opthamologist is experienced with diabetic eyes and has already taken a baseline. I tried to call my gyn but I think he's moved his offices to Manhattan. I need another one. I'll ask around.

Comments

[james]

I got my A1C test results back today and after four+ years it is over 7.0 which is highly depressing - especially given that I know it's about 90% due to my eating habits. It's 7.4 which isn't horrible, but it isn't 6.4 either, which is where it was before.

I don't know if my doctor will let me try to modify my diet and wait 'til next test to require meds, or if she'll require I go on meds now. It's a doctor I've never really been to before, since we moved to Oregon (just a brief go in, get introduced, and set up to take blood tests at the lab.)

The bad thing is I don't have much faith in myself to really eat right, even in order to avoid meds. Going on meds almost feels like it'd be a relief; I'm not really convinced that's a good thing.

*flails*

Just thought I'd babble. Don't mind me.

[mamadeb]

Here's the thing to know about Type II Diabetes - it's PROGRESSIVE. Even if you're perfect - uber perfect even, like my mother-in-law, who takes her blood sugar religiously and watches every single "carbo" - it will not stand still. Diet and exercise - which are always good - can only do so much, and while losing weight helps, it's only really that first 10% that does any good.

I controlled mine with diet and exercise. I had an advantage in that I don't crave sweet things. (Salty and fatty, on the other hand? Crave those big time.) And that worked for six or so years, and that's pretty darn good. But the time came when I needed meds - I hadn't changed my lifestyle, I hadn't changed my diet, and I was, if anything, exercising more because I was doing the martial arts thing. That didn't matter, and it wasn't a personal failing, either. The disease had just progressed all on its own.

It's not a personal failing on your part, either. You probably do eat well - not perfectly, but self-denial only makes things harder. It's - well, aging does it.

If you need the meds, take them. It's not a bad thing. Yes, better if you don't, but Type II Diabetes goes its own way and the best you can do is slow it down.

[james]

Yeah, it's good to hear (again). I just have always had that voice in my head that says I should be able to do it myself - not need crutches or assistance or help, that I should be strong enough have have enough willpower to just do whatever needed doing. (Whether it's lifting something that weighs 75 pounds or controlling diabetes or fighting a cold).

I did, at least, make my appt to see my doctor already, instead of ignoring it. :-) So that's a plus. Now I just need to use up all my test strips, so I can get a monitor that uses a smaller blood sample. (The one I have now uses the largest test sample on the market, and in the winter I often can't test my blood because I can't get enough out of my cold fingers!)