Postprandials

Thanks so much for the great responses guys!

So, the thing is, I already eat low GI foods... whole wheat everything and all that good stuff. The ideas about lowering basals after meals is very interesting. I'll have to look into that.

For now, my game plan is to bolus early for meals. This way the insulin is kicking in when I start to eat. Sometimes I'm waiting too long, like this morning when I woke up at 88 mg/dl, bolused for my 51 carbs of cereal and milk and then waited 20-25 minutes. After I ate my breakfast I felt low. Not fun. I'll have to be sure not to wait too long to eat.

Besides that, I had awesome results yesterday with my early bolusing:

Breakfast: 70 mg/dl

Postprandial: 105 mg/dl

Lunch: 94 mg/dl

Postprandial: 100 mg/dl

Dinner: 81 mg/dl

Postprandial: 77 mg/dl

I tested 11 times yesterday and my range was 70-124 mg/dl.

Now, if I can only keep this up for the next year or so :)

Getting ready for baby...

I'm been MIA around the blogsphere as of late, because my thesis is slowly but surely nearing completion. Now, if my advisor would only get back to me about our next meeting...ARGH!

Friday afternoon my husband and I cut out of work early to attend our "Pre-conceptional consult" appointment with the Diabetes and Pregnancy Group at UCSD. I first contacted the CDE, June almost a year ago! Well we were finally ready to met the doctor and discuss my strategy for a healthy, diabetic pregnancy.

I felt so, so, so great about the appointment. This group is going to help keep me very healthy! My husband and I had a great rapport with the doctor right away. Both he and the CDE were supportive and really listened to my input. Since we were the last appointment of the day, we spent over an hour with both of them... simply amazing! I haven't had that kind of concentrated attention from a medical professional in years!

Now, onto the hard work.

My fasting blood sugar target is 90 mg/dl (not too bad, that's what I've been aiming for).

My premeal blood sugar target is also 90 mg/dl or less (again, that's been my goal).

My 1 hour postprandial target is 120-130 mg/dl (here's where I'm having the problem!!!)

I've always tested 2 hours after meals, never just 1 hour. As the CDE noted, "If you're 130 mg/dl at 2 hours, you could've been 170 mg/dl at one hour... we don't want that." Oh man!

So, for the past two days, by 1 hour postprandial blood sugars have been steadily in the 150 to 190 mg/dl range. Opps, a little too high.

I'm thinking that the answer is to bolus about 20-30 minutes before meals, so that the insulin is kicking in just as I'm starting to eat. Now, it's just a matter of getting into that habit. I'd become pretty comfortable with adding up my carbs and bolusing (or injecting) just as I was starting to eat. Aren't these antilogs supposed to be a lot faster?!

Any tips from diabetic mommys-to-be would be greatly appreciated! :)

Welcome 2007!

I'm not big on New Year's resolutions. Mostly because they're a bit cliche and most people are over them by Valentine's Day. Why resolve to do something on January 1st, that could've as easily been started last week or two months ago? The idea of "starting over" in a new year hasn't resonated much for me in the past. However, for some reason, this year I'm very much feeling like the changing years marks something important in my life. I can look back on 2006 with many wonderful memories, and great successes like starting the pump! Many of the emotional, spiritual and physical changes that I experienced in 2006 have set me up for what's to come in 2007 and beyond.

So, this year, my goal, focus... resolution, if you will, is Discipline.

Huh?! Doesn't sound so great does it?

Let me explain my interpretation of discipline. I share Julie Andrews' view:

Some people regard discipline as a chore. For me, it is a kind of order that sets me free to fly.

I know I've shared this quote here before, but it really fits my goals for 2007. This year, my first priority is to finish my Master's thesis, which is due April 2nd. I'm also preparing my diabetic body for pregnancy. All the while I'll be working full time, planning a bridal shower, attending both of my sibling's weddings, etc. Life is full :)

The only way I can accomplish these goals is to stay disciplined. I must go to Starbucks (or the Library I suppose!) each afternoon after work to study and write my thesis. It doesn't matter if I don't feel like it that particular day, I must go if I want to meet my deadline.

On the diabetes front, we all know how important discipline is... choosing to log my blood sugars, food and insulin; exercising regularly, choosing healthy foods and resisting the treats.

Also, my husband and I are trying to reach some financial goals this year, which means budgeting properly and not spending unnecessarily.

All of these goals reinforce one another to a certain extent. If I plan my lunches ahead of time by grocery shopping for healthy items to take to work, I'll be doing well by my body, and saving money by not eating out. Also, by keeping my blood sugars steady, I'll be mentally able to focus on my thesis. And the biggie, if I don't finish my thesis by April, I'll have to pay for another semester of tuition just to turn the thing in!

So, discipline will be my friend this year.

I'll be healthier, in mind and body, when I achieve these goals... and that's freedom afterall, right?!