Praise Science

[kenny]

A1C is your average blood sugar over the previous three months.
I think it's the most important test result for keeping a Type 2 diabetic on track to stay as healthy possible for as long as possible.
The 'normal' range for me is 4.6 to 7.4.

May 17 of this year it was 10.1, very dangerously high.
Right away, June 1, my Dr. started me on Ozempic, and gave me a probe in my arm that measures my sugar every minute, 24/7.
Then you hold a reader thingie, or your cellphone next to the probe and it reads out your sugar.
It's is the most awesome biofeedback tool for getting edumacated about how what you do and what you eat affects your sugar.
Three months later my A1C fell from 10.1 to the high end of normal range, 7.1

Yesterday I got it measured again.
Kawabunga, Holy Test Result, Batman!
It's now 5.8, near the middle of the normal range!!!!!





YES YES YES.

Now I bow my head to give credit where credit is due ...

Praise be to Science!
Bless its awesome name!
To Science be the Power,
And the Glory,
For Eeeeeeever.
AAAAAAAAMEN

 

[Ally T]

A1C is your average blood sugar over the previous three months.
I think it's the most important test result for keeping a Type 2 diabetic as healthy possible for as long as possible.
The 'normal' range for me is 4.6 to 7.4.

May 17 of this year it was 10.1, very dangerously high.
Right away, June 1, my Dr. started me on Ozempic.
Three months later my A1C fell to the high end of normal, 7.1

Yesterday I got it measured again.
But Kawabunga, Holy Test Result, Batman!
It's now 5.8, near the middle of the normal range!!!!!








YES YES YES.

Now, let's bow our heads and give credit where credit is due ...

Praise be to Science!
Bless its awesome name!
To Science be the Power,
And the Glory,
For Eeeeeeever.
AAAAAAAAMEN

Wow, this is certainly fabulous news! Way to go & i tip my hat to scientists every day.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Great news!!
Did you change your diet as well?

 

[kenny]

Great news!!
Did you change your diet as well?

Thanks David.

Well, not really much: my diet has been excellent many for years.

 

[dk168]

Great news, well done to science!

I had a blood test recently, and my Type 2 Diabetes is under control, however, I have to increase my statin as my Cholesterol is creeping up slowly, hey ho!

DK

 

[telephone89]

Less than 6 mons is quite amazing. Yay science, and yay you!

 

[LightBright]

This is great news. What did you do to normalize your blood sugar levels?

 

[kenny]

What did you do to normalize your blood sugar levels?

No secrets.

I did the two medical things that my doctor told me to do, as posted above ...
1. Ozempic
2. CGM

CGM is a little painless sensor you put in your arm, and replace every other week with a new one.
It continuously measures your sugar and sends the number to your phone via an ap.
Since I don't do aps I use the little "reader" (looks like a pager) it came with.
The biofeedback is incredibly informative and helpful.
You immediately see exactly what you just ate or did does to your sugar.
It is an educational tool that guides you to make better decisions.

Also, I forced myself to actually do stuff I already knew I should do - exercise, diet, minimize stress, blah blah blah etc. etc.

 

[dk168]

Well, not really much: my diet has been excellent many for years.

This kind of confirms my approach to my diet, in that despite your excellent and presumably healthy diet, you still ended being diabetic.

Before I was diagnosed as Type 2, my cholesterol was fine, excellent even.

However, since Type 2 Diabetes kicked in, my cholesterol started to creep up.

When suggested by my diabetic nurse specialist (DNS) that I should start taking a statin, I resisted and tried changing my diet.

It was very difficult for me to cut down on diary products and red meats, to do so would mean giving up a lot of food that I love, and life would not be enjoyable.

So I gave in and started the statin.

When I informed my DNS, his words were "sometimes, you've got to live a little"; bless him!

DK

 

[kenny]

...

It was very difficult for me to cut down on diary products and red meats, to do so would mean giving up a lot of food that I love, and life would not be enjoyable.
...

My life would be MUCH more enjoyable if I ate more for pleasure (dopamine) than health.
I choose health.

But I'm not preaching.
I know people vary.

I endeavor get my dopamine fixes elsewhere from things that don't harm me.

 

[Ibrakeforpossums]

MrCarParts has a CGM now since he's on insulin and oral meds failed in efficacy this spring. Of course he took his used one apart at the table to see how it works. It's quite a device.
kenny, I'm happy for your results. He's battled to get under 8.

 

[SparklieBug]

@kenny Congratulations! May I ask what foods (or food groups) caused typically your blood sugar to spike?

 

[Rockdiamond]

Really great that you've dealt with the Kenny!!!
It's such a horrible curse, diabetes. My brother wears a monitor but somehow he still can't get a handle on the blood sugar. It spikes, then goes way down.
He plays golf almost every day! Terrible disease.....

 

[Rockdiamond]

I endeavor get my dopamine fixes elsewhere from things that don't harm me.

I have to ask..........without prying.......how?????

 

[LightBright]

I’m so happy these things worked for you! CGM sounds incredibly helpful, thanks for letting us know.

 

[missy]

Good for you Kenny! This illustrates the best of medicine and science. This is what the goal is...to be as healthy as possible given the genetics we have. Thank goodness for modern medicine and the good it can do.

I endeavor get my dopamine fixes elsewhere from things that don't harm me.

I have to ask..........without prying.......how?????

I know you asked Kenny but hope you don't mind me chiming in...

I agree completely with Kenny. I do my best to eat as healthfully as I can and while yes I do indulge I do it as smartly as I can and I get my dopamine fixes from being active and enjoying my favorite activities. Cycling with my dh by the sea. Hiking in the woods. Even just being on my treadmill. Listening to great music. Lately I am on a classical music kick. So enjoyable. Doing anything with my DH. And hanging out with the kitties in front of a warm fire on a cold winter's (or autumn's) day. Reading a good book. So many enjoyable activities

And yes. YOLO. Make the most of the time we have on this earth. We are only promised the right now.

 

[lala646]

That is wonderful news, Kenny! CGMs and insulin pumps have truly changed the lives of millions. Yay, Science!!

 

[kenny]

I have to ask..........without prying.......how?????

@Rockdiamond
Instead of getting my dopamine/endorphin fixes from drugs, over-drinking, gambling, promiscuous secks, crime, I indulge in ...

* Teaching. I love teaching anything to anyone
* Swimming laps
* Going for walks with Bibi (my conure) on my shoulder
* I get huge a huge fix of dopamine from sharing Bibi with people we happen upon
* Making, and taking, the time (I mean a REALLY long time in researching and in the kitchen) to make healthy and delectable and creative meals from scratch, mostly with produce, bulk grains etc. nearly always using simple unprocessed ingredients that came in packages without barcodes
* Similarly, I don't drive like the vast majority, to get there ASAP. I bend over backwards to use minimum gas and produce minimum pollution, while still endeavoring to be considerate to drivers behind me
* If a store is close enough, Bibi and I will walk
* Ogling my Octavia and FCDs
* Playing piano and guitar
* Streaming films, classics, film noir, Indies, and quality non-commercial films, documentaries, and foreign films, especially from The Criterion Collection
* I've recently discovered birding with binoculars.
* Falling down online rabbit holes of my various interests
* Boardgames with DH
* Time on Pricescope
* Cleaning & working around the house
* Cuddling with Bibi on the couch
* I relish mind-expanding things that challenge my intelligence, knowledge, and memory, such as NYT crossword puzzles, Scrabble, online chess, and watching Jeopardy,
* But sometimes I love just sitting, alone with my thoughts, and thinking.

But hey, even Kenny varies.
Maybe once a month I fall off my ascetic wagon, drop my drawers, and just let the devil have his way with me.
But it's not my fault, because ...



Below is my favorite nono, well, second only to a box of See's Dark Chocolate Nuts and Chews ...
I tell myself I'll eat only one a day, but I never obey me
At least now I can check my CGM to keep my momentary sugar in range.
I'm thrilled to learn that I be a bit naughty, and still achieved a 5.8 A1C.

 

[dk168]

@kenny, great list of Dopamine/endorphins inducing activities, some of which I share.

BTW, in case you have not read it in the news, falsified and counterfeit Ozempic products started to appear as early in mid-October 2023, and some even ended up in wholesaler(s) in Germany!

Ozempic Falsifications detected in Germany

DK

 

[Rockdiamond]

Great suggestions @missy and @kenny !! Thank you.
The bottom line is that we’re all responsible for our own happiness.
Kenny- if I send a prepaid label will you ship me some of your devil’s chocolates

 

[dk168]

@missy indeed we are responsible for our own happiness.

Food and drink make me happy and I am not going to lie, and live by a little bit of what makes me happy cannot be harmful (food and drink wise).

However, so do other activities like spending time with the pets (my cat is on my lap purring as I type); volunteering; learning something new; getting out and about in my van with the dog; walking with the dog; socialising with other people etc. etc...

DK

 

[kenny]

Great suggestions @missy and @kenny !! Thank you.
The bottom line is that we’re all responsible for our own happiness.
Kenny- if I send a prepaid label will you ship me some of your devil’s chocolates

Sure, if you send me some 1 ct Argyle Tender Fancy Vivid Pinks, VVS2 and above though.


BTW, See's is the BEST!

Oh and if you don't have any of the Argyle's I want, there's always:

Amazon.com

 

[kenny]

@missy indeed we are responsible for our own happiness.

Food and drink make me happy and I am not going to lie, and live by a little bit of what makes me happy cannot be harmful (food and drink wise).

However, so do other activities like spending time with the pets (my cat is on my lap purring as I type); volunteering; learning something new; getting out and about in my van with the dog; walking with the dog; socialising with other people etc. etc...

DK

Dopamine is Dopamine.
Sameo Sameo

Yes we are responsible for our own happiness! x 1000
That got drilled into my unconscious by EST training in the 1970s, and by my years in psychoanalysis.

I just wanna slap some these spoiled brats these days who whine, sulk, and complain thinking they're entitled to everything without working for it.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Holy $hit.....Werner Erhard......changed my life too!!
We really have a lot in common Kenny......

Sure, if you send me some 1 ct Argyle Fancy Vivid Pinks, VVS2 and above though

Damn!! SO that .99ct Fancy Intense Purplish Pink VS1 just won't cut it

 

[kenny]

Damn!! SO that .99ct Fancy Intense Purplish Pink VS1 just won't cut it

Hmmmmm.
Buddy, you drive a hard bargain.

Nice try, but I wouldn't be caught dead wearing such a cheap tacky diamond to any of my Buckingham Palace events!
I DOOOOO have standards ya know.

 

[Matata]

Intermittent fasting is shown to be effective in lowering blood glucose in Type 2 diabetics without the use of drugs.

 

[kenny]

Intermittent fasting is shown to be effective in lowering blood glucose in Type 2 diabetics without the use of drugs.

Well, I guess that settles that.
Gosh, I had been praying to Zeus, and burning Nag Champa incense and placing crystals on my chakras.

Somehow I missed that NYT headline.
I'll let my doctor know.

Seriously, thanks but I'll stick with evidence-based peer-reviewed science.

 

[diamondringlover]

fantastic news!!! mine was as high as 11.4 back in 2014, got it under control now with NO meds, all diet and exercise and its currently 4.6!!!

 

[kenny]

fantastic news!!! mine was as high as 11.4 back in 2014, got it under control now with NO meds, all diet and exercise and its currently 4.6!!!

Congrats!
Yours dropped from 11.4 to 4.6.
That's much better than my drop.
Good job!

I've heard of many who have done this.

BTW, my doctor just found out my A1C has dropped to 5.8 so quickly.

He's investigating because of the speed of the drop, and because 5.8 is slightly below the middle of the normal range.

Last night I emailed him that I downloaded my CGM's sugar data to their website, (which has worked many times in the past).
But today he said he can't see it, so please download it again.

Displaying my current sugar now with the CGM is so quick and effortless.
It takes 2 seconds, and I don't have to stab a finger, draw blood, and deal with the hazardous waste disposal process.

The more I display my sugar number (and view the detailed smooth continuous graph generated by the CGM automatically taking a measurement every 60 seconds) the more educated I become to adjust my behavior to further control my sugar.

He says my meds may need adjusting if too many episodes of temporary low sugars have occurred.

I only mention this because, if my doctor is looking into my 5.8 as possibly being too low, perhaps your doctor will see your 4.6 as being worth looking into.
Perhaps (s)he has already done that and 4.6 is fine for you and not an indication of hypoglycemia.

Science is so Cool!

 

[mustangchi]

Sure, if you send me some 1 ct Argyle Tender Fancy Vivid Pinks, VVS2 and above though.


BTW, See's is the BEST!

Oh and if you don't have any of the Argyle's I want, there's always:

Amazon.com

I so agree with you about See's! We only get a pop up shop in this area of the country every year from Christmas to Valentine's Day. I so wish it was easier for us to get it all year. But then it is probably better for me that it's not.