Dated and timed in-home blood glucose readings, digressive from today's date

Effusive commentary, 4th column from the left

Doctors' appointments, tests and blood draws noted, when applicable

Unless otherwise noted, A.M. and P.M. readings, since relatively recently, are taken 30 minutes previous to meal, conforming to the newly discovered instructions for administering glipizide

Readings usually recorded on day taken

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8/03

7/03

6/03

5/03

4/03

3/03

Realizations in Arrears

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Mid

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Comments

A.M. begins another day: nicely. I gave her 500 mg metformin, but, today, we have places to go, things to do, people to see, so I may not give it to her this evening, depending on her reading.
Although her PCP would consider this MID reading okay, I don't, knowing 'she is capable' of better, knowing what it could mean for this evening and tomorrow.
P.M. A little movement, staying up and playing games did the trick. No metformin tonight. We'll see what her blood glucose looks like in the morning.

That's right, late but normal. Today promises to be a slow day but, I'm satisfied, yesterday was quite active and quite late. I waffled on the metformin. First, I reviewed what we could do with the day, a few trips, not a lot of walking, some out-in-the-world time, and she said, "We'll see," which means, 'I'm feeling good enough to stay up, but not sure about the walking part. Definitely no bath, though.' So, I mentioned we could have something else for dinner which wouldn't require a trip to the grocery for fresh vegetables, and she sounded very enthusiastic. We've already exchanged, "I'm gonna beat you at Sorry/Yahtzee/Scrabble, so the day looks promising for a variety of activities; but slow. So, I gave her 500 mgs of metformin. Depending on how the day develops, I may suspend it, tonight.
You'll notice I didn't take an afternoon or evening reading, yesterday, although she did get metformin at night. After she awoke, although we didn't venture out of the house, she remained mostly awake and reading The Fearless Caregiver, continuing to quote passages to me. We both snacked, rather than ate a meal, so there was never a clear 2 hour window where taking her Glucotrol would be appropriate, thus, I didn't take any readings. She ate a lot of cottage cheese, two 12 oz. cans of V-8 juice, popcorn, soy crackers, and a second glass of orange juice. I think a banana or two were thrown in, as well. Neither of us ever felt like fixing a formal dinner. Finally, about 9 hours after she'd eaten breakfast, I gave her pills.

Mom awoke "for good" at 7:30 a.m., on her own. Dehydrated, a bit more than usual.
Considering her reading, I decided to try adding 500 mg metformin to her breakfast regimen, just to see if it helps, allows her to eat more than she ate yesterday previous to the normal reading. I know, I know how I feel about metformin and Mom, but, this time at least, I am administering it correctly, and in a much reduced dose. If I keep this up for awhile, I will monitor her bowel compaction level, as well, and gently clean her out, occasionally.
EVENING READING: Gave her 500 mg metformin, again, tonight, to see if we couldn't discourage that morning spike. I am not convinced that she will be on metformin forever; I need to do some research, though, if any is available, on the occasional use of metformin; versus the occasional use of other diabetic meds.

See today's posting

A little high midday. I'm thinking: I noticed, yesterday evening and this morning, she seems to be a little constipated, although she's denying this. As well, last night, her feet were just the tiniest bit swollen; usually, at night, after the dinnertime Detrol, they are nicely hydrated but not swollen.<br>
I'm wondering, now, if it's possible that 1) the material in sluggish bowels can contribute to a temporary rise in one's blood glucose and 2) I took her blood glucose immediately after we arrived home from the store; perhaps the activity hasn't caught up with her, yet.<br>
She'll be having a banana, in a few minutes. I'm curious to see how that will register, with everything else; it may help clean her out. I doubt that I'll get her moving, much, this afternoon.

Nothing unusual here. We were out in the morning before lunch, very little walking, but it seemed to have an effect, both on Mom's vitality and her blood sugar level.
I suggested a short evening walk after dinner, specifically going to a grocery for perishables. We both ate a light and hearty dinner, neither of us were too full, but we both used the impending storm as an excuse to stay in. No games, tonight.
We both approve of the idea of evening walks. Later, I recalled and spoke of our institution of evening walks as a family. Maybe we can do this, again, in an abbreviated form.
Still no reason for Metformin! Hallelujah!

Just because we're running a bit high, in the morning, even though she'll be active for a bit immediately after her hair appointment, I may, if I remember, run a midday blood glucose check.
[BEFORE DINNER READING]: I'm impressed! We're getting there! Today we ate light meals all around, and Mom had a snack of a second helping of cottage cheese. Also, again, finally, she her had usual bag of popcorn throughout the afternoon. I sometimes wonder if that popcorn scrubs the sugar out of her system!

I was disappointed about the morning reading because of all her activity yesterday. I noticed, though, when I returned yesterday, she had eaten her way through probably 2 dry measure cups of soy crackers, so that probably had something to do with p.m. reading. We had pizza with loads of meat, loads of sauce and loads of veggies for dinner, Although each of us ate a quarter of a 12" pizza.

133

117

I was hoping for better, since she's been moving a little and a little more each day. Today she walked through an extended trip to Walmart so I was expecting her blood sugar to be normal at least at dinner. But these readings are not worrisome, so maybe her metabolism will kick in tomorrow.

She probably awoke at this time on this day, so this was probably a fasting blood sugar, but I recorded it as Midday.

Midday Blood Test Draw

Birthday: dinner served about 19:00. 1 piece birthday cake, ice cream; normal breakfast; cottage cheese, V-8 juice and popcorn for lunch

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Day after colonoscopy: Off Metformin since 7/22/03; Off Lisinopril since 7/22/03; Lot's of sugar in fluid form 7/22/03; Didn't eat much, or stay up much on day of colonoscopy.

First Midday from Blood Test Draw

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The first of the two P.M. readings happens, occasionally, because I don't get enough blood. I suspect this when Mom's readings get unusually low. In this case, I was right.

A.M. Blood Test Draw

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Midday numbers from Blood Test Draw
This is probably a "snack day", in which Mom usually stops eating early and eats primarily popcorn, cheese and nuts, if we have them, sometimes rummages for olives and pickles. On days like these, we usually eat a salad, early, so I take her evening blood sugar reading early.

Midday from Blood Test Draw

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