January 5, 2022
Linda had an appointment this morning at Stanford, a pre-op consult for her hip replacement surgery scheduled for January 28—three weeks and two days from now.
This gives me some pause to think about my own health journey, specifically diabetic health. I began my “Year Without Carbs” on January 5, 2015—seven years ago on this date!
A1C and Blood Glucose
On January 5, 2015, I had an A1C of 7.0%. My A1C was 6.9% at the end of the year. My lowest A1C was 5.8% in mid-2020. At the end of 2021, it was 6.3%. My goal is to get to 5.6% or less (out of pre-diabetic range).
Medications and Insulin
In 2015, I was on metformin 2000 mg/day and glipizide 10 mg. I shot up insulin twice a day, every day, between 40 and 50 units at a time. By the end of 2015, I still shot insulin twice a day but the amount varied between 10 units and 50 units. I stopped glipizide altogether by February. By December, I was in the process of getting off metformin and replacing it with berberine, 500 mg twice a day. In December of 2021, I used insulin 7 times, in amounts ranging from 41 to 50 units at a time. I would love to be off insulin completely; but until I am able to get a fasting insulin test, I will not know whether or not my body is still making insulin. I’m thoroughly pissed that Kaiser would not allow me to get a c-peptide test when I got my A1C last fall!
Weight
I weighed 172 lbs. at the beginning of 2015. At the end of 2015, my weight was 150 lbs. I continued to lose weight in 2016, 2017, and 2018. I gained weight in 2019, lost weight in 2020, and gained weight in 2021. At several points, I got down to 130 lbs. or less, with the lowest in 2019 at 126 lbs. At the end of 2021, my weight was 137 lbs. My goal was (and still is) 130 lbs. or less.
Lipid Panel
In January 2015, my HDL cholesterol was 38, my LDL was 109, and my Triglycerides were 245 mg/dL. By the end of 2015, HDL was 45, LDL was 108, and Triglycerides were 123 mg/dL. At the end of 2019, my HDL was 61, LDL was 117, and Triglycerides 77 mg/dL. In mid-2020, the Kaiser lab went to non-fasting lipid panels which made my numbers higher! I don’t like that. So my goals are the same: HDL over 50, Triglycerides under 100. I wonder what will happen if I fast anyway for my next “non-fasting” lipid panel.
Blood Pressure
No perceptible change in blood pressure. My blood pressure has always been good, though, and I take lisinopril.
Other Factors
For the last 8 months (since May 2021), I’ve been taking daily walks with Emily in her stroller, except for the past two weeks when it has been cold and rainy. But I will start again when the weather gets better. I walk 8 blocks round trip to the duck pond and back, 15 minutes each way.
On sunny days, Emily and I get 30 minutes of sunshine on our walks.
I need to get in bed earlier. However, I usually get 8 hours of sleep—from 2 a.m. to 10 a.m.
I’ve started tracking my food again with MyFitnessPal and trying very hard to keep total carbs under 30 grams, 20 grams if I can. I’m also trying to not have that tempting bedtime snack!
I don’t come anywhere close to drinking 8 glasses (64 oz.) of water, but I do keep a water bottle on my desk, in the car, in the dog stroller, or in my hand every waking moment, and on my nightstand at night.
Looking Ahead
I have an in-person appointment with Francis (Pain Physical Therapist) this month and an in-person acupuncture session with Sophie in February.
I would love to be able to do an extended fast on the first weekend of every month, beginning the fast after supper on Thursday night and breaking the fast with Monday morning breakfast. I did this at the beginning of January, actually from December 30 to January 3. It was a “modified fast” during which I drank 1/2 cup unsweetened chocolate almond milk twice a day to take medicines, 1 cup of fresh brewed coffee with 2 T. heavy cream in the morning, and 1 cup of beef bone broth in the evening.
