kevin_standlee: Kevin after losing a lot of weight. He peaked at 330, but over the following years got it down to 220 and continues to lose weight. (Default)
kevin_standlee ([personal profile] kevin_standlee) wrote2005-10-04 11:10 pm

Living with Diabetes

The results from my quarterly blood tests are back. I like that Palo Alto Medical Center puts the results on their secure web site and sends you an e-mail telling you they're available for review.

We'll see what my doctor thinks when I see him two weeks from yesterday, but the numbers mostly look good. My A1C level (long-term blood sugar control) is at 5.1% (normal 4.8 to 6.0%), and my fasting blood sugar clocked in at 95 (normal range 70 to 100). Cholesterol is still too low, with HDL "good" cholesterol at 35 mg/dl -- desirable is >50. (LDL "bad" cholesterol is at 76 -- normal is 0-130.)

This evening I took further advantage of having a kitchen and did some cooking. Among the things I bought on my shopping trip last night were some small Glad food storage containers, so that I could save leftovers, thus (a) further justifying the long-term stay room and (b) resisting the urge to eat too much "because it would go to waste otherwise."

Still, there was a lot of carbs in what I made: "chili dip," which consists of ground meat (I used turkey because it's lower in fat), refried beans (no fat variety), salsa, and cheese, served over rice with tortilla chips. I must exercise after eating this, so I went exploring the neighborhood. We're on the edge of some sort of business park, but fortunately there are sidewalks -- not always a given in this car-centered culture of ours -- and it's well lit, so I got in a 40 minute brisk walk, and a reasonable blood sugar reading, meaning I'm doing the right things. It's becoming a way of life, but I'm making a better person out of myself for doing so. And it's good to know that I can still eat a lot of things I like.

Post a comment in response:

This account has disabled anonymous posting.
(will be screened if not validated)
If you don't have an account you can create one now.
HTML doesn't work in the subject.
More info about formatting