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@jeanoappleseed

@morph Thank you

@AnAutieAtUni I was ecstatic too as is probably obvious in my post. This will be the first time in more than 8 years that I can wait an entire year to see a cardiologist. Normally I would be there every 3 months.

@lynnskyi Thank you, Lynn. Almost unbelievable.

@jeanoappleseed Four years ago, my kidney function numbers had me in stage III kidney disease. No one told me what I should or shouldn't be doing, it was presented as something I should be aware of. So, I started reading on my own and learned a lot. As a result, I completely changed my diet and do my level best to avoid phosphates and as many preservatives as I can. A year later, my kidney function numbers were normal, and they've remained that way. I'm also off blood pressure meds, so I take no prescription meds anymore. Sometimes, you just have to do your own research. For me, I find all doctors want to do is write prescriptions. It is appalling how much bad stuff is allowed to be in our food in the US. I think processed foods are a huge part of many health problems.

@lynnskyi It was similar with me though not as serious as you. Every blood tests they would tell me “You’re pre diabetic” and when I asked my family doctor what to do (because I had cut ALL sugar) “Eat less pasta and less bread.” I was having a couple slices of bread per day. Pasta occasionally and I had no idea what to do. When I discovered the continuous glucose monitor my doctor seem to think I was obsessing about glucose. So I asked my cardiologist to prescribe me an RX monitor. He did. He agrees it’s a great tool.

@jeanoappleseed You're where you are today because you were proactive.

@Eric_ours_polaire It's been a bit hard, but between your advice and references you sent me and the monitors, I've been able to make such big changes! I never realized why my glucose was still high ever after cutting almost all added sugar. In fact, it was going up overall, instead of down. But it's ALL carbs that have to be looked at. It's been a big reality-check for me and it makes meal planning easier at home actually because I eat the same things almost all the time LOL

Eating restaurant or commercially prepared foods is much harder though. I don't often do it anymore, but I do sometime (like last night after the hospital, appointment, and my older dog getting really sick). I ordered food out and my glucose was up and down during the night several times. The visual aspect of the chart helps too because it helps me realize “OMG I must be more careful”!!

But even though my cardiologist said I'm a model patient for continuous glucose monitors, he said it's not like that with everyone.

@jeanoappleseed It is always complicated when eating outside but when this not too often occurs, it is not a big issue.

In the beginning, I measured very often but now, I know what I must avoid and I'm not sure having a constant monitoring is so helpful, could be a source of stress too...

@Eric_ours_polaire Agree. I don't measure manually as often (double-checking the monitor) either now. I usually just know how I will react to most things I'm used to eating and I eat mostly the same things all the time. But the monitor helps me discover exceptions to the rule. Eventually, when it all stabilizes fully, I probably won't need the monitors but I'm still learning. It's helps me not be in denial about what's going on.

@jblue Thanks so much. I feel so good about it. Though last night I ordered a burrito and my glucose overnight didn't do so well. But at least with the monitor I can see it so today and moving forward I'll be more careful. And it will be easier once my husband gets discharged from the hospital and I'm not so tired and stressed. :)

@jeanoappleseed

@nellie_m Thank you. It feels so good. I still have work to do. To keep it that way, but also to hopefully get the numbers to improve some more, but this is the best ever for me.

@lydiaschoch Thank you. It is indeed hard, but I tend to make changes quite radically sometimes and people look at me and think it's easy for me. It's not. But since my open heart surgery in 2018, I've become much more medically compliant :)