Damn numbers
Thursday, January 24th, 2008First, before I get into things, I have been writing daily but, I got tired of fighting blogger every night so, I will be back posting my daily stuff over the next few days.
My life is full of numbers. From the numbers of carbs in my meals, the number on my meter, the numbers on the scale, the number on the other meter. You see, for those of y’all that don’t know, I’m diabetic, diagnosed in December of 2006. I am fierce about keeping my numbers down, normally (but, that’s another bit for later.) In fact, I am stricter on my numbers than my doctors are.
My last A1C number was 5.2 which is fantastic, in fact it is right at non diabetic numbers. My doctor wants to see it around 7.0, so yes, I’m doing better. Now, for a quick explanation, A1C is a blood test that shows the average of your blood sugar level over the last 4 weeks to 3 months depending on the person. The higher the number, the worse your blood glucose control and the more likely you are to have complications from your diabetes.
So, that is one number, the next big one are my blood glucose readings throughout the day. I stick my finger and take my blood readings. I try to keep them at 140 or below but, I am not always successful with that, especially here lately, as my numbers have been getting worse. Most doctors want you to keep your numbers at 180 or below but, at that level you are risking organ damage. And, since I happen to like my organs undamaged, well, that is too high.
My last blood sugar reading I took was 159, which is really high for me, in fact, it made me start thinking about numbers and how I hate them so. Now, I am drinking water, I took 1.25 of Glyburide to help bring it down and I am planning out tomorrow’s menus in my head. There is no doubt of why my numbers were so bad tonight, I ate crappy, high carb, low fiber food for dinner. I had planned on making potato soup for dinner tomorrow but, that is obviously high carb so I need to make alternate plans.
Another number that is a pain is my weight, I am slowly working on losing weight, although I am stuck at a 50 lb lose right now. Which is a good lose but, I want to lose more prior to my gastric bypass. And, yes, even with losing 50 lbs, I still need the surgery.
The next numbers are my blood pressure numbers. Not only did I become diabetic but, my blood pressure went up at the same time, it was as if my body just went “Ha ha, time to fall apart.” Those numbers have been doing much better, as we seem to have the medications down for me on that. HCTZ and lisinopril for anyone interested. Small doses of each but, they are what works for me.
Other health related numbers are my cholesterol which is damn good, although my good cholesterol could be a couple points higher. Every doctor I’ve had has done a cholesterol work up, then been shocked that the fat girl doesn’t have high cholesterol. I still worry though as it is very hard to brign up good cholesterol.
And, there is one more health related number but, this is a fantastic one to have to think about:
One year, four months, three days, 23 hours, 57 minutes and 48 seconds. 19639 cigarettes not smoked, saving $2,454.99. Life saved: 9 weeks, 5 days, 4 hours, 35 minutes.
My SilkQuit meter numbers. I smoked for 17 years and quit in September of 2006. I put the cigarette down, after being disgusted by me being sick, having a horrible cough and sore throat, yet I still picked up a cigarette and lit it. When, I realized that it had that much of a hold on me that was it. I had gone one Wellbutrin a few days prior, and you are are supposed to wait a full 2 weeks before you try to quit but, I couldn’t wait, I was done with it, disgusted with myself. I was just ready.
Now don’t get me wrong, I do still think about cigarettes somedays but, then I think about the cough, the hack, the expense, and how utterly horrendous smoke smells and any urge I have passes. And, yes, if you smoke you do stink. I never thought it was as bad as people said when I smoked. Ha, it is the grossest damn smell coming off of a person. If you smoke in your house, it smells even worse as the stale smell gets into everything. And, no candle or air freshener covers it up.
Ok, enough of the numbers and stuff. Have a good one.