Modern medicine. There are so many ways to evaluate our health these days, so many ways to measure, poke, prod, sample, and analyze us into better health that it makes the mind reel. This week I am experiencing one of these adventures. For the second time this year, I have a hitchhiker 24/7. That’s right, another glucose monitor!
Ew! Did you have to do the needle thing again?
Not a needle, 9, but they do call the little bit of metal that attaches to monitor to my upper left arm a “sharp” for a very good reason.
Glucose jail: I hope my sentence is light!
I thought this would be pretty much like the last time. First difference, it was a different brand of monitor than the freebie the nutritionist gave me in June. I had the app for that one on my iPhone, but I didn’t have my password with me when the nurse asked me to download the new app from the App Store. . .
This is Greek to me.
How fortunate, Lily.
Instead, I have a little device called G7. Blood glucose data is automatically collected there, and I also post carbs per meal. Plus, it is loaded with several different alerts that warn me when glucose creeps into high and low ranges.
The monitor was placed on Tuesday. No highs so far, which surprises me because the endocrinologist is having me do this on account of the pre-diabetic A1c score I racked up in April.
The what?
It’s a 3-month average of blood glucose, 9.
Blood. That sounds icky.
In a horror movie, yes. But as a diagnostic tool it can come in handy.
I had expected a drop in blood glucose levels because, after reconfiguring a few items in my diet and conferring with a nutritionist, I’d designed and implemented a lower carb eating plan. Not as much fruit, and the ones I eat are lower carb. Very little refined sugar. Pastas made from red lentils, chickpeas and edamame instead of enriched white flour. Keto bread and tortillas. Coffee and red wine are on the list of okay things, in moderation. So is high cacao chocolate. Plus, I get lots of nuts, nut butter, olive oil, avocados- -so I hardly feel deprived.
Now, I’m thinking I may have made an over-correction. This is especially apparent in the wee hours of the night when the G7 parked on the nightstand vibrates its head off to tell me I am nearing, or have gone into, the low glucose range.
Glucose jail: Admin, aka the G7, says I’m not in the high range at all so far. . .
What happens then?
Mostly, I feel extremely annoyed. I checked in with an endocrinology nurse after being awakened four times between 12:30 and 4 AM on Wednesday. One tip I’d already found online: drink a half cup of fruit juice (certain restrictions apply on what type of fruit) to quickly boost glucose back up.
But here’s why I think I’ve overcorrected and am not really in the pre-diabetic range anymore: When the glucose scales low, aside from being annoyed (which my niece has since explained to me is a feeling, not a symptom) I have none of the relevant symptoms. Shakiness, sweat or cold clammy skin, rapid heartbeat, intense hunger? Nope. Just being mad as hell that I have to get out of my cozy bed and deal with it.
Can’t you turn the G7 off?
As far as I can tell, I can’t, Lily. The only solution to shutting it up that I can think of is to throw it in the street and wait for a car to run over it. But. . .I only need to have it on until my appointment with the endocrinologist on Monday, so in the larger picture it’s not that big a deal. In the short term, however, I feel like I’m under blood glucose house arrest. Fingers crossed that I will soon be sprung from pre-diabetic jail.
One thing I have definitely developed during this process: an empathy for people who have blood glucose issues that require them to wear monitors all the time. I suppose like anything it soon becomes part of their “new normal.” But, sheesh. . .
The aging human body. I try to deal with it proactively and keep my sense of humor. Best hack for keeping my perspective: It’s a constantly evolving, interesting, and sometimes inconvenient science experiment.
Good read!
Thanks, Jill!
Brilliant and wise perspective. I can relate
We all have our twisty-turny health challenges, yes? Good luck to us both on working through this interesting, and at times inconvenient, science experiment!