[Diabetes-Talk] Latest update from me

Thu Jul 30 15:56:08 UTC 2020

Hello Milton and list,

Thank you Milton for your suggestions. I really appreciate them.

I am seeing a nutritionist. Well, I am talking to her on the phone. I 
have talked with her 3 times now. I have another appointment with her 
later in August. She does seem helpful. I look forward to talking to 
her, and learning what I can from her. I find her easy to communicate 
with. which is good.

As for my blood sugars. I check them throughout the day. I check first 
thing in the morning. Before lunch, and dinner. About 2 hours or so 
after dinner, and before I go to bed. I also check other times during 
the day, if I feel I need to do so. I am using the Libra system. Not 
sure I spelled that correctly. I can't ever seem to remember how to 
spell it. I love having this system though. It's been a game changer for 
me. I think I have had it for close to a year now.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Thank you again for your thoughts.

Terri

On 7/29/2020 8:21 AM, Milton wrote:
> Hello Terri,
>
> My suggestion regarding your relationship with your doctor is really a
> personal decision and if you are not satisfied with your current doctor that
> you investigate other doctors/endocrinologist and diabetes educators in your
> area.
>
> For your exercise, I see that you are having difficulty increasing the
> length of time you peddle on a daily basis. I would suggest that you not
> have any resistance on your peddle and see if you are able to go a little
> longer each day or even take it by the week until you have a comfortable
> length of timeyou are spending timepeddling. I have a similar peddle like
> yours and I peddle daily for around 50-minutes with no resistance.
>
> For your eating and nutritional situation, I would suggest that you first
> see a Dietitian that has helped blind individuals with setting goals for
> eating and cooking/meal preparation. If you are living in the United States
> and a NLS BARD subscriber you can find diabetic recipes in Diabetes
> Fortcast. This is an audio magazine that comes out every other month. Also
> if you are an NFB-Newsline subscriber I saw at least two diabetes related
> magazine that are available and you should be able to find recipes in those
> magazines. At least one of those magazines on NFB-Newsline is Diabetes
> Fortcast.
>
> You do not mention if you are regularly testing your blood glucose levels or
> if you are using a Continuous Glucose Monitor known as CGMs, and what you
> should be doing to help you reduce your sugar levels is be testing before
> every meal and in some cases at least two hours after you have eaten.
>
> If I can be of further assistance, write me off list.
>
> Milton
>
>    
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Terri
> Stimmel via Diabetes-Talk
> Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2020 4:18 AM
> To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Terri Stimmel <icecreamlover76 at outlook.com>
> Subject: [Diabetes-Talk] Latest update from me
>
> Hello everyone,
>
>
> I hope all of you are well. I just wanted to give you all a quick update on
> myself, and my progress.
>
>
> This past Tuesday I went to see my diabetes specialist. I usually see
> him every 3 months.
>
> However, due to the virus, I hadn't seen him since January. I did have a
> phone conversation in April. But physically being able to go to the
> doctor is so much better in my opinion.
>
>
> Anyway, my A1C went from 8.2, to 7.6. I'm glad to see it lowered. This
> pleases me very much. My doctor said that this is the lowest it's ever been.
>
> However, I didn't think this was accurate. I had thought at one time it
> had been even lower. So I looked at my health records online. My
> thinking was right. Back in 2016, at one point my A1C was, 5.6. In all
> honesty, I don't know what the hell I did to get it that low. But
> apparently I did it.
>
>
> I would love to get my A1C that low again. But I don't feel it's
> possible. I don't eat well, and I know it. I want to eat better than I
> do. But there are several things that keep this from happening. It's a
> huge struggle for me. I have cut different things out, which I feel has
> helped a lot. I am also trying to eat smaller portions. Which I also
> feel helps a great deal.
>
>
> However, when it comes to this area of my life, it's a huge struggle for me.
>
>
> Also, I am still struggling with rather or not I want to switch doctors.
> I have been with my current doctor for about 6 years. But there are
> things I just don't like.
>
>
> For instance, they can sometimes be difficult to get hold of over the
> phone. I don't know why this is. I've called them at times, and won't
> get a call back. Other times, it's busy for long periods. Or they just
> seem kind of unfriendly, and not so helpful.
>
>
> But they are really good at making sure I know how to use my insulin
> pens, if something is switched. So that's a plus.
>
>
> But also it's the doctor. I think he is one of the leading doctors in my
> area. when I speak to other doctors in regards to who my diabetes
> specialist is, everyone seems to know of him. But I find it difficult to
> communicate with him. He usually seems in a good mood, and is pleasant.
>
> However, when I tried telling him that I started exercising every day,
> and that it was going well, I expected more of a response than what I
> got. He just said, ok, and continued typing at the computer. This was
> really a let down for me. while I didn't expect him to get all excited,
> I was maybe hoping he'd say that was great, or good job. Something like
> that anyway. I didn't need the praise from him. I just wanted some
> acknowledgment that he could see I really was trying to make progress.
> So this was a sad moment for me, in a way.
>
> There are other things. But this gives you all an idea as to what I am
> dealing with. I don't know what the right decision might be. I
> definitely need to think on it a bit more, before making a decision. If
> I choose to go through Mercy, then most of my medical records will all
> be in one place. That's something I really like, and that's appealing to me.
>
>
> As I mentioned earlier, I have started exercising. It's not much at all.
> But I've gone from not exercising at all, to making an effort. I
> purchased one of those peddalers you sit on the floor. I don't know
> exactly what they are called. I've heard different things. Right now,
> it's just set at resistance level 1, and I can only manage to ride it
> for 5 minutes at a time. But that's a start. eventually I want to
> increase this time. But I will have to work up to that. I pedal every
> day, once a day.
>
>
> Also, I can't remember if I have asked this before. So if I have, I do
> apologize.
>
> But are there some websites, or Apps I could use, to find some yummy,
> but diabetic friendly recipes to try out?
>
> I do want to work on eating better. But I do enjoy food. I can't be
> someone who just eats to eat, because it's what needs to happen. I'm not
> trying to insult anyone who might live this way. To each his own, and I
> try to respect differing views.
>
> But for me, I can't just eat, because it's something that needs to be
> done. But I know even though I really do enjoy food, I need to try to
> find other alternative ways to enjoy food, that's just a bit more healthier.
>
>
> Well I hope all of this has made some sense. Please ask questions if you
> have them. And thank you to those of you who might take the time to read
> this. It's very much appreciated.
>
>
> Terri
>
>
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