[Diabetes-Talk] Regarding my diabetes education appointment

[Terri Stimmel]

Hello everyone,


This past Monday was my appointment for my diabetes. As I mentioned in 
previous messages, I was switching my care over to my primary care 
doctor. In doing this, I will now also have appointments with a nurse 
practicianer who will help me with meal planning and such.


My first appointment with her went very, very well. I am so happy, and 
so thankful that I made these changes. I was worried about doing this. 
But I'm not any longer.


I felt very comfortable with her. I felt she was well educated, and kept 
up with things. She answered all my questions. I didn't feel stupid for 
what I had to ask. I felt like I was receiving top-notch care. I needed 
this after how I had been feeling with my diabetes specialest.


She asked me if I wanted meal and snack ideas. I told her I did. So she 
emailed me a PDF. She also printed it out. This way if I had someone who 
could help me look it over, or a way to scan it, I could. She also told 
me that if I couldn't access the PDF, to let her know and she would find 
a way to help me be able to access it.

I loved that she was more than willing to make things accessible for me. 
Or help me figure out ways to access stuff. I do have sighted assistance 
at times. But it's limited.


My A1C is down to 7. In about 3 months it's gone from 7.6, to 7. So I 
feel that's pretty good. I'm happy that it's continuing to go down. I 
want this to keep happening.


Also, she decided to leave my Treseba at 80 units.

However, she lowered my Novolog at breakfast from 25 units, to 20 units. 
Right now, lunch is still at 25, and dinner is still at 30.

She asked me what I thought of the Ozempic. I told her I didn't think it 
affected me nearly as badly as the Victoza had. But that I still thought 
it caused a lot of stomach upset. But I also told her that in some ways 
I think it helps me eat less. That once when I didn't have it for a 
week, I felt rather more hungry than usual. She said this was possible.


I told her that my goal is to eventually need less insulin. But that I 
didn't know if this was possible. So she told me that if I were 
interested, that in time I could possibly try a pill at dinner, instead 
of insulin. I told her that I would consider this. But the medications 
such as, Farcega, and Jardiance made me nervous. To me, the side affects 
seem awful. But I am open to this.


I decided that for now I won't ask her about the V-Go system. I am very 
curious about it. But for now I think I need to have other priorities. I 
hope that makes some sense?


So that's what happened. I go back in mid November for a follow-up 
visit. She also did tell me that my lows were in the 4 percent range, 
and that this wasn't good. She said she'd prefer to see them at 2 
percent. Then she also stated that something else was at 95 percent, and 
that this was phenomenal. I meant to ask her what she was talking about. 
But we got onto other things, and I never got back around to it. She was 
viewing my Libre system, when she said both of these things.


I feel so much better about things, now that I've gone to this 
appointment. I look forward to eating better, and making better choices 
for myself. I look forward to having better controlled diabetes, and not 
having to worry about it so much.


Thank you to all of you who have kindly offered me support and advice. I 
truly appreciate it. I will keep you all posted on how things are going 
with me. My biggest struggle is realizing when I am truly hungry, or 
just wanting to eat, because I'm bored and it's something to do.


Terri