It has been a while since the last update on my fight with Type 2 Diabetes, but here we are. I had a full blood panel completed the first week of August that measured everything from my A1C to my blood sugar and everything in between. While all my numbers were completely in the green, my weight continues to be an issue.
My A1C Has Dropped to 7.6
Bloodwork conducted in April revealed that my A1C hit 9.6, the highest it has been to my knowledge since my diabetic journey began back in 2021. I was surprised, stunned, and worried with that number when I first saw it. Surprised because I had been feeling the best I had felt in a long time. No longer was I constantly tired or sluggish, so the high number made me concerned.
My endocrinologist was very concerned too. We discussed my daily habits, including my food intake, mental health, and mobility. The A1C measures a person’s average blood sugar levels over a three-month span.
Seeing that number drop by almost two full points this August brought a smile to my face. The work I have put in to improving my metabolic numbers and overall health since April has started to pay dividends. However, my weight is not where I would like it to be (260 pounds).
I Prefer to Hover Around 230 Pounds
I know that 230 pounds for a person who stands at five feet, six inches still is not ideal when it comes to BMI, but it is the first marker I have set for myself since my diabetic journey began three years ago.
When this journey started I was able to drop 35 pounds in the span of eight months by walking constantly, eating right, cutting out sugary snacks and drinks and taking my prescriptions at the same time of day every day.
While it is obvious to me when standing in front of the mirror that I have put the weight back on, I physically do not feel the added weight. My mobility has not changed (aside from a nagging knee issue that has been with me since my early 20s).
The inability to shed the weight at this point in my journey has frustrated me. I walk between 10,000 and 15,000 steps per day at a brisk pace. What makes the inability to lose weight even more frustrating is the fact that my bloodwork results were so strong, including my sugar levels (134 – the lowest my sugar has been since I measured 371 in the hospital in 2021).
I Start on Ozempic Next Week for Weight Loss and A1C
A routine visit to the endocrinologist this week resulted in him prescribing Ozempic for me beginning with next week. He was ecstatic to see the turnaround in my metabolic blood panel, especially the A1C and blood sugar levels. He shared concern with me that I have struggled with losing weight.
We discussed Ozempic and Wagovy, ultimately settling on Ozempic to start. I will begin with low doses to ensure that my body can handle it (monitor for side effects) and then up the dosage over the span of a few weeks.
Diabetic Treatment is a Marathon Not a Sprint
I keep reminding myself that diabetic treatment is a marathon and not a sprint. It is trial and error as no two diabetic people are the same. What works for one does not always work for another. This includes the exercises used to lose weight, diets, prescription medications and injectables.
For all I know, Ozempic will not work for the goals I have set for weight loss. That is why I will not get my hopes up that it will work for me. If I need to pivot to a different injectable, or even add in a different pill to treat the diabetes, so be it. Only time will tell if this is the right path in my diabetic journey.
