It has been two and a half years since I was officially diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and I hit a speed bump in July. I was stuck in the house for the first three weeks of the month due to stomach issues that we could not pinpoint the cause of originally.
For three weeks I removed foods from my diet in the hopes of finding a solution. After that I thought maybe it was a stomach bug that just lingered. I visited a gastroenterologist. No luck there.
Following multiple blood tests and another test, which I will not name (all of which came back with normal results), my general practitioner decided to stop my daily Metformin for four days. Within two days my stomach issues were resolved.
At the direction of the doctor, I took half of a Metformin pill on a Monday. The entire next day I was laid up in the house with stomach issues again. That determined it. The doctor said to stop taking Metformin for the foreseeable future
Once I went a solid month without Metform (I remained on Jardiance), the doctor decided it was time to move completely away from the medication until September. I was able to keep my blood sugar in check (it actually averaged lower daily numbers off of Metformin compared to when I was taking it).
My general practitioner referred me to an endocrinologist for an initial consultation and in-depth blood panel. The endocrinologist was pleased with the decrease in my A1C, which dropped from 8.4 to 7.8 (still not the lowest I have been while battling diabetes), so it was decided to add in a second medication again.
The endocrinologist prescribed Januvia. I have been on it for a little more than one week now and have yet to have any side effects. That, combined with Jardiance, a better diet, and continued exercise (I make sure to hit 10,000 or more steps per day with a brisk walk), my diabetes continues to be kept in check.
I will continue to see my general practitioner, but will also remain under the care of the endocrinologist as I fight diabetes. As I have mentioned before, this is a long road that does not come with an immediate solution. There have been ups and downs along the way and I expect more to come. However, my outlook, attitude, and drive are all much improved. I know what it takes to keep my blood sugar in check and what needs to be done to reduce my A1C.
Are you battling diabetes? It is not easy to avoid sweets, sugar, and other foods that taste so good but are so bad for you. It is especially difficult being Italian. We grow up in a culture of pasta, meats, carbs and desserts. Do I avoid all of these completely? No. It’s almost impossible. But, I have a stronger willpower now and have learned to say no to second helping of pasta or to avoid sweets altogether.
The good thing about my fight against diabetes is the support I have surrounding me. Nicole understands what I go through daily. She reminds me of how I used to feel and how unhappy I was with how I looked. Nicole and the boys are my driving force in getting this under control.
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