This thread topic replaces the previous fitness journal(s) that I've attempted over these past several years. I may refer to them just so I can compare trends, but right now, this is it.

the beginning of the end
This past year has been a physical hell for me: diagnosed with Stage 2 Lyme Disease, need bifocals, have waaaay to high triglyceride levels, and have officially crossed into the diabetic zone. Took the appropriate medicine to stop further advancement of Lyme, but now that I have it, I will always have it; refused bifocals, so all I really have to do is take off my glasses in order to read small print, or books (which sounds really weird); have been prescribed atorvastatin calcium "to lower cholesterol and heart disease risk", though I'm not sure if I want to take this or not (seems you need doctoral guidance to stop taking it); prescribed metformin hcl "for diabetes"; and as of right now, I am ordered to self test my glucose levels only once a week. With my last annual VA physical, I weighed in at 315.6, and have a BMI of... what did the doctor say... 38%? Regardless, I now can't shouldn't do this, can't shouldn't do that, need to lose weight or else. Been hearing the weight lose thing for years, even brought it up a few times myself, but now that I'm a diabetic, well... that kinda changes things.

There is a good side. Because I'm just barely over the diabetic benchmark, I asked the doctor if this is something I have to do every day for the rest of my life, or could I be looking at a shorter sentence. The doctor said that, going by my blood counts, I'm actually pretty healthy considering I have a BMI of 38%; there's nothing wrong with my kidneys or liver; my weight has been consistent; and with the exception of my high triglycerides, my counts are pretty good. She believes that I could be stuck on this medication for a year or two, at worst. Not too bad, all things considered.

So. I got my Accu-Chek Aviva Plus blood glucose monitoring system yesterday (November 18, 2019), had the instructional rundown, and was tested at about 180mg/dl. Seeing as how I just downed a Whopper value meal from Burger King prior to taking the test, that isn't too bad. According to this chart I found. the after meal levels should be less than 180.



Okay, now that the preliminaries are out of the way...

November 19, 2019
Even though I'm only supposed to check my levels once a week, I'm curious as to how things look on a typical day. I figure this way I can see what needs improving, or what time of day is better / worse than others. I already know my lunch hour dinings need to go, but what about the rest of the day? At least with this, I'll have a baseline, something to work from.

0610 - got out of bed, get ready for work
0735 - tested levels; came back at 210mg/dl. Did not eat or drink anything since 2130 the evening prior That does seem really high. Maybe my finger wasn't completely dry from the alcohol wipe? Will need to check tomorrow morning.
1155 - pre-lunch test; 114mg/dl. Drank 34oz of water, 12 oz of V8 low sugar "Simply Green". Excellent blood count!
1235 - Ate Hardee's Southwest Patty melt, a medium onion rings, and a medium diet Doctor Pepper; cannot test for two hours.
1330 - took 20mg statin, 500mg metformin
1435 - post-lunch test; 188mg/dl. Levels checked two hours later, and sure, it's a little high, but I don't think it is necessarily that bad. Then again, who am I to say what's a good measure of health, ehh? Does kinda fall within the chart though.
{edit} additions made during the evening hours {edit}
1745 - pre-supper test; 98mg/dl. Drank 17oz of water between tests. Level is good, being below 100.
1815 - 2040 - munched / ate supper: pack of chicken noodle soup, a large portion of pumpkin pie a large amount of cool whip; summer sausage.
2200 - post-supper / bedtime test; 161mg/dl. Blood level is good, as it's supposed to be less than 180... if you go by the post dinner levels; if you go by bedtime, it's high. I think I may have to change my eating times, but since I had a village board meeting that lasted until around 1930, not much can be done. I think it's fine though.

In looking at these levels, it's hard to see why I'd be considered diabetic, with the exception of the wake up level of 210. Will check that one tomorrow morning to see what's going on.