A1C Time again - Happy New Year

A1C Time Again - Happy New Year

Evidence of our family's Christmas has been packed away until next year. I expect I will be chewing on the Extra Dessert Delights chewing gum that filled my Christmas Stocking for weeks to come.

The family came through our first holiday season with me as a diabetic. My loved ones did an amazing job supporting my efforts and I know I could not have done as well without their help.  With their support it was not as difficult to stay on target as I thought it would be. To be honest, I have had more trouble staying on track since the New Year began. It is as if I breathed a big sigh of relief and went crazy eating 'healthy' food choices. A calorie is a calorie is a calorie. More on that another time.

During the holiday seasion of 2010, I learned more about my body's responses to different situations. I had surgery in early December that raised my BS numbers as did a delightful visit from our daughter and son-in-law. This pancreas of mine still responds nicely to exercise. I was cleared to get back to cardio work yesterday - and I want to continue taking advantage of  the benefits of physical activity in 2011.

On Monday I will have a new A1C test taken and find out the truth about how well I managed diabetes during the most recent 3 month period. In truth, I expect it to be higher than the last time but not much higher. I am still getting the hang of tracking my numbers and carbs. It is so much easier to write down the food as I eat it. And better still if I have the day's meal planned before I have breakfast. My BS numbers range from 80's to the highest of 182. My doc recommends I stay below 140 and that I do not swing more than 40 points in either direction.

I still don't understand how I wake up with BS at 137, eat a "proper low carb breakfast" and find that my #'s go to high 80's before noon. Then have a spike only to 140 and a drop to 90 again between lunch, snack, dinner. I don't understand why I spike in the night while I sleep. However,  I do understand this:

It is my responsibility to control my numbers as best as I can. Armed with a low carb food plan, my sugar free gum, a new pair of sneakers and a walk around the block before or after work, I will keep tracking, counting, and praying the big D will continue to be under control.