Day One

On my last visit to my endo, he told me that upping one of my diabetes meds was "the last-ditch effort" before going on insulin.  With my next appointment in September (the day after Labor Day), this has given me a little time to get myself in gear.

The thing about the type 2 diabetes meds is that they work...for a little while.  And then they don't.

I've told my doctors (both my GP and my endo) that my numbers are lower when I cut the worst offending carbs out of my diet.  My GP said he thought it was too extreme -- not something he could do, especially not long term. 

But, on the other hand, they keep piling on the meds.  Including supplements, I take 7 pills in the morning and 4 at night (it should be 7 at night, but there are a couple that my pharmacy can't get the doctor's office to respond to a request for a new prescription.  Yes, I know.  I can call or show up at the office and get the prescriptions, but every time I do, they don't like it.  Plus, it is $40 copay per month for one, and it's just too much for me right now.)

Cost is a huge thing, too.  I take Invokana (you've probably seen it advertised on TV) at $40/month.  The Janumet I'm supposed to take is also $40/month.  Glucose test strips for the meter I have are just under $20/100 strips.  I'm on two allergy meds.  The prescription one isn't that bad, but the OTC is around $20/month.  Everything else is around $4/month, although, mostly, I get those in 90 day batches, so I'm paying $10-12 every 3 months.

So you must be thinking all the usual questions.

Are you overweight?  Yes.  My current weight, according to the scale this morning, is 183.2 pounds.  I am about 5'2" tall.  My BMI is 33.5.

However, my high weight was about 235, which is a BMI for me of 43.

Now, they tell you that your Type 2 Diabetes risks and sugars and whatnot go down as your weight does.  Mine has gone up.  Not sure what's up with that at all.

Beginning Statistics:
Weight: 183.2
Fasting BG: 171

"Diet" (Lifestyle Change) of choice:  Primal.  (It's like Paleo, only it includes full-fat dairy).

Starting off with an Atkins-eque Induction phase.  No fruit for the next few days.  As soon as I hit the store for something different to sweeten my coffee, no sugar.  (I generally use Natural Bliss hazelnut by Coffeemate, since it has 3 ingredients, but I've noticed that 1 tablespoon has 5 grams of sugar, and I use a bit more than 1 tablespoon.  If I'm supposed to be trying to limit my carb intake to roughly 20 grams for a few days, that will have to go.  So will the half an avocado for breakfast.  I think I've already had my 20 carbs between my coffee creamer, the avocado, and the cheese on my breakfast scramble.)