A1 See, I Told You

I despised the doctor.

Irrespective of the specialty (if any), any doctor I frequented seemed to be against me, not for me. I couldn't catch a break from anyone, and figured the less I went, the less scolding I'd get - so go as little as possible!

In retrospect, I can see the folly of my thinking. Although many of the aforementioned doctors may have lacked tact, that certainly did not entitle me to dismiss their message altogether. I had convinced myself I was doing all I could. I was trying: counting carbs, working the ratios, testing my blood sugars constantly; all to no avail. I was trying everything except the one thing I feared - the insulin pump! (cue scary music)

Yeah, well - that was then and this is now!

Back at the end of December I saw my new doctor (only 2nd appointment), after been having been on the pump for about a month. He wanted to run an A1C test (a lab test that reveals your 3 month blood sugar average), and I said, "no!"

He looked at me quizically and asked why. As previously mentioned, I used to dread and prolong these tests, and would cite obscure reasons to delay..."I've been feeling ill.....I just started a new exercise routine (go to Krispy Kreme, get a free donut; run to car and change clothes, re-enter Krispy Kreme for another free donut, repeat indefinitely..).....Taylor Hicks won American Idol and the whole thing confuses me...." you get the point here.

But alas, this time my motive was pure...I replied, "I've only been on the pump for a month, and it's a clean slate, a new start, a fresh beginning for me! I want to wait until I have three good months on the pump, so let's wait." (Remember the A1C averages the prior 3 months, so at that point I would've had 1 good month, and 2 bad).I was working too hard to get a bad report, and knew I just needed a little time on the pump to get those results that had eluded me for over twenty years.

Fast forward to last week and the doctor appointment. After the obligatory greetings, I got right down to the brass-tax.

"Well...??!"

The A1C is perfect, all the tests look perfect, keep up the great work!

And just like that, after 20+ years of toil, I finally experience triumph!

The test result was 6.3%. The ADA recommends 7% or less. Even the most strict endocrinologists prefer a 6.5% , so a 6.3 is a milestone achievement!

There have not been any major lifestyle changes, no radical diets or extreme exercise routines. My last A1C was 10.7; and now it's 6.3, and there's only one reason....

It changes your life!

(A1) See, I told you.....

I'm hooked (literally and figuratively), so until next time, I'll be pumpin'.....