Week 3

 

Now on week 3 of my training and no med plan. Average blood glucose levels have dropped from an average of 16.2mmol/L to 11.3mmol/L – still have some way to go, but a step in the right direction. First day was 23.6mmol/L – hence feeling a little chuffed!

Still awaiting the call from the doctor regarding my liver enzymes, I can wait. I know the prognosis – stop drinking. It’s not that I drink much anyway, but zero may be better.

Had to deal with multiple self-harm incidents at work today. Then experts tell me not to get stressed, which is impossible when I have to call parents and tell them that their child wants to die. If they enjoy pain and suffering why not send them to peddle Jiggers Bank on a fixed wheel? That should hurt. I don’t understand the need, when I was a kid in the 1970s avoiding harm from others was a major lifegoal, hurting oneself was no something on the agenda.

This week the training plan will ramp up to include a longer weekend ride. This should be a real indicator of my health and fitness levels. Then next week the cycle to work starts.

Diagnosis

 The diagnosis was not good. The nurse called me and broke the news:

"...You are a diabetic." 

Sorry I'm not, I am someone with diabetes. We no longer call wheelchair users handicapped, people are not defined by having a medical condition. Diabetes is not something I do, it's something I have. I cycle, kayak and climb mountains. Call me cyclist, paddler or mountaineer, but diabetic? Unacceptable.

The nurse was very nice and told me I needed medication immediately. This is not going to happen! I will eat less carbs, take natural supplements and ride more miles. Meds? Not a chance. She also offered statins as my cholesterol was high - despite lowering it from 6.6 to 6.2 without their help. I also have fatty liver - might be time for beetroot or artichoke and laying off alcohol. The nurse had heard that statins have side affects and accepted my reasons to avoid. To quote a late friend:

"They turn your brains to shit!"

I' m going with Pete on this one. It's going to be a hard road back to health, but I believe that type 2 diabetes can be beaten. It was by accident I caught Dr Unwin on BBC Radio 4 the week before I was taken ill. This is genuine medical advice from a NHS GP and has inspired me not to take the needle.

https://www.norwoodsurgerysouthport.nhs.uk/news/practice-news/dr-unwin-s-work-with-diabetes-and-the-low-carb-diet-published-in-three-new-books/

My diabetes may have been inherited from my mum, but I don't see any reason why it should be permanent.

 If you've landed here expecting some sort of pornography site, perhaps it's best to leave now. The title came to me after taking my afternoon blood test. I am presently being assessed for diabetes. Finger prick testing sounds so incidental, but it can become a pain and and leave you with continual sore fingers. The world may be enjoying a temporary reprieve from my guitar playing, but trying to remember where I last tested or getting the same hole twice has resulted in frustratingly sore fingers. Attempting to use the forearm to test has left me looking like a heroine addict.

I'm not fully aware yet why the condition has occurred, it could be genetic - as my mother was diabetic. Priceless gifts from parents, a food allergy from my dad and diabetes from mum.

The initial alarm was raised nearly two weeks ago when I woke up feeling pretty dreadful. A test for a suspected water infection revealed excess glucose. The NHS could not offer an immediate blood test or diagnosis. I will not roll over and take this lying down, so I purchased a home monitor and got started recording three times a day.

I could have had the condition for a lot longer. My pitiful performance on a White Water orientation course back in October may be linked. At the time I just put it down to exhaustion due to work, but with hindsight something was really wrong.

 In the same week suspected diabetes I got an offer to ride xxxkm in xxxhours. Yes, I have a place on The XXXXXXXX Bike Ride. I must enjoy pain! I'm currently awaiting medical advice on the ride before accepting and parting with the entry fee. Once given the all clear I will be looking for a charity to raise funds for, so any sensible suggestions greatly received.

In the meantime I've cut out the afternoon chocolate and reduced the liquid fruit intake. I'm out on the bike, but taking it easy - don't even bother comparing Strava segments. Mine are not going to achieve any trophies. Very few people know about the this at present (blog might change that) and I will not be retiring to my bath chair yet. My class of year 10 & 11s already think my chemistry lessons resemble Breaking Bad due to some of the off curriculum practicals we conduct and the number of times I have been blamed for fire alarms going off. However, if this diagnosis results in any stupid comments suggestions from the medics, the world is going to see and organic version of Breaking Bad meets Lance Armstrong. The knowledge is out there, just a matter of piecing it together.

I believe I am already two weeks ahead of the medics. I have been visiting a TCM practitioner and she has managed to drop my glucose levels from  23mmol/mmol to 11. This is just the beginning.

XXXXXXXX Name of ride and details removed - announcement to come later this year!