So it’s been a very very long time since I’ve written here. I’ve wanted to blog, but haven’t known what to say.

So here’s my idea on how to get started…

My new year’s GOAL (NOT resolution) is to drop my A1c. (What is A1c, you ask? It measures the amount of glucose crystallized to the blood cells, and since blood cells have a half-life of 3 months, this measures the average blood sugar over 3 months!) My last A1c was 7.6. This is equivalent to an average blood sugar of ~165mg/dL, I think? But, BUT, my first few months here in Seattle have been horrible for my diabetes. I have had to deal with eating more, needing less insulin, more exercise, more stress…. Oh and a huge upset in my habits, as I moved and am completely doing something different! So I expect my next A1c to be brutal – above of 8.0 (avg 180mg/dL).

Where I’d like my A1c to be – I would be very very pleased with myself if I could get into and maintain the necessary habits to get me to an A1c of 7.0 (avg ~154mg/dL) by the end of the year.

But since this is a goal and not a resolution, I must actually write out how I’m going to achieve this idea of mine. So here are my ideas:

* Bolus for food at least 10 mins before eating. 20 minutes is ideal, but 10 minutes is better than nothing.
* When pre-bolusing for unknown amounts of food, at least bolus for SOME, rather than waiting or giving too much. Both cause issues – either high blood sugars from waiting, or being stuffed but needing to eat more because I still have unaccounted-for insulin on board….
* Correct for low-blood sugars how I’m supposed to. Start with 15gm of carbs, wait 10-15 minutes, check BG again, if still low, 15 more grams of carbs. Then wait. Then eat some protein, NOT carbs. Then wait another 30 mins… if stable, can now eat some carbs. Joy.
* Correct for high-blood sugars how I’m supposed to. While this isn’t all that hard (calculate how much insulin I need based on my pre-set ratio), this is complicated by the emotional side… not wanting to deal with it, not wanting to see it, just not wanting it, period.

Ideally, I would say I would add some exercise in this equation, too. And I completely mean to. However, I’ve made that resolution to myself, and it’s never happened. But I am definitely going to get back into bellydancing (YAY!) and am going to try to make it to the slightly-off-campus campus gym for both workouts and classes.

Thanks for listening! I will do my best to update, say, every Saturday on how things are going