Akting Out

This is my blood sugar reading as of about nine pm, Central Standard Time. This is a lot better than I expected; I haven’t checked my blood sugar in about ten days. I know, I know. I won’t do it again. But the reason why this reading is so good is because I’ve been off glyberide for two days now.

I wrote a post not too long ago about what low blood sugar feels like; glyberide was the cause. No, wait. That’s not fair. My refusal to take care of myself back in the day is why I’m diabetic now. About a year ago, my blood sugar rocketed to 330, prompting a trip to the Emergency Room. I was already on metformin, which is used to keep blood sugar level. To it from spiking again, I was prescribed glyberide (aka “suicide medicine”) which essentially acts like a trap door on blood sugar.

I took a (fairly) strict hold over my diet and exercise plan, and lost forty pounds for the trouble. Problem is, when you don’t have to be on something as drastic as glyberide anymore, it can cause real problems. Fatal problems, if you’re not careful.

So my A1C is normal and my average blood sugar (according to Track3, also available for $6.99 in the Android marketplace) is anywhere from about ninety-eight to one-fifteen. Glyberide nearly killed me on a couple of occasions (not being dramatic; I woke up with a reading of 46 once), so my doctor decided to take me off of it. One medication down, one to go. The goal is to “beat diabetes” which is my dramatic way of saying that I want to manage it without medication.

It’s a balancing act. I tend to eat healthy, big breakfasts that involve some kind of Cheerios, or a smoothie, with a bacon-and-cheese quesadilla. I’m gonna burn most of those calories off throughout the day anyway. I’m supposed to eat salads for lunch, and I do two or three times a week, but I’ve learned to take it easy (and not pig out) when I get fast-food. Which accounts for, you know, the other half of my weekday lunches. Yeah. I know. Stop scowling.

Around six or so, I quit eating. It’s a tip I picked up in a fitness magazine; stop taking in when you’re not going to be burning off. This was primarily how I shed forty pounds, but I started getting ravenous at night, so I started eating soup (two cans tomato with water and seasoning) just to tide me over.

In order to get off medication, I need to get my weight down to about two-twenty. That’s forty pounds. My goal is the end of the year. So here goes. Thanks for reading and please feel free to pass along any tips.

Eating Tip: Cheerios may be one of the best cold cereals you can put in your body. Not even Frosted Cheerios is all that high in sugar when compared to some of the other brands. Work it into your routine with 2% for better health.

Exercise Tip: First thing in the morning, scoot to a sitting position at the edge of the bed and put your feet on the floor. Lay flat on the bed and place your hands beside your head (not behind). Sit up to a fully seated position and lay back down. That’s one rep. Perform ten of those until you become comfortable with them each morning, and then increase reps gradually over time. Works wonders on the lower abs.

(c) Avery K. Tingle for Akting Out LLC

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I’ve been a type-2 diabetic for over a decade. My goal is to manage it without the aid of medication. I’ve managed to go this long on metformin and glyberide (the latter of which, I’m about to come off of), having no reason to go on insulin. High blood sugar, I’m used to. I become sluggish; tired, my blood turns to sludge in my veins and I can sleep forever. I’ve dealt with that long enough to know how to handle it, and how to avoid it. Low blood sugar is something else. Something worse.

The reason why I’m about to go off glyberide is because the medication causes blood sugar to plummet rapidly. Since my diet isn’t so bad anymore, it causes my blood sugar to drop to dangerously low levels (46 was the lowest I’ve ever seen). I’ve started to keep snacks on hand for when this happens.
The feeling is torturous and agonizing, that’s the only way I know how to describe it. I’ve only been dealing with it for a few months; I wanted to share what it felt like, perhaps as another warning to those with diabetes who aren’t taking care of themselves.

First, a hole opens in the center of my stomach, and quickly, within a matter of moments, becomes a vacuum at the center of my being that is impossible to ignore. It’s hunger, impossible, endless hunger; striking within seconds and making me feel as though I haven’t eaten in days.

My hands are next; they begin to shake. The vacuum within my stomach has spread into my chest. I can feel my heart beating at the base of my throat. My mouth is dry. I can’t stop my hands from shaking. Breathing doesn’t help; it makes the hunger worse. Concentrating is impossible; all I can feel is the hunger. I can’t stop my hands from shaking and it’s frightening; I’m losing control of my own body. My body no longer does what my mind tells it to do. The shaking hands is usually the threshold; the most I can take, when I must get something to eat, or I’ll pass out, or worse. At least, that’s how it used to be.

My mind is the final step. With my heart pounding like a bass drum in the center of my chest, my body feeling as though it’s on the verge of a seizure, my mouth dry and taking in each breath like it’s a chore, I begin a mental battle in my mind. I’m usually trying to finish whatever I’m doing; a sentence. A call. A conversation. Something that, for whatever reason, cannot be interrupted.

Little things begin to slip. Words; I forget how to spell things. Typing has become an exercise in futility, as I spend about as much time on the backspace key as anywhere else. My mind has a hard time focusing on anything beyond this intense hunger. Without food, my body will shut down. I will die.

THAT’S NOT TRUE!!!

So begins the battle most often fought in my mind, much like the image I used in this blog. I’m strong, I’m powerful, and I can overcome anything, I know this…but against this, I have no chance. This enemy is beyond me, and I know it, and eventually, I will have to give in to it, but for whatever reason, I cannot do it now. I have to finish this thought or I’ll lose it. I have to finish this call or I will lose the sale. The person speaking to me needs to me listen and retain. For whatever reason, I have to keep this gluttonous monster that is ravaging my body from within at bay.

I have two children. Their names are Terry and Brandon. Terry was named for my childhood hero, a video game character. Brandon was named for Brandon Lee, the late son of another one of my heroes. I take hold of their names in my mind and I hold them, feeling like I’m hanging off a cliff in a windstorm. Buffeted, beaten in all directions, just hold on a little longer.

Eventually, I’m able to get something into my system, and the monster within recedes, although it usually takes about twenty minutes to feel normal again, and I feel as though I’ve just run a mile. Beaten, exhausted.

This happens on average of once a day, usually between breakfast and lunch. The medication that causes this is no longer necessary (obviously), so I should be going off of it within the next month or so.

This is what it feels like to have your blood sugar bottom out.

Thanks for reading.

Figure 1 Image Copyright DC Comics, taken from Superman/Batman: The Search For Red Kryptonite

(c) Avery K. Tingle for Akting Out LLC

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The middle of last week was a low point. So low, in fact, that I wound up going to the hospital. I learned that I was under a lot of stress; it was raising my blood pressure. I’m fine now, though…

The clinic I get examined at is student-run, and adjacent to the hospital; I had never gotten the results of my recent blood work, and I figured that I might as well kill two birds with one stone. After filling the doctor in, he stepped out for a few minutes.

He returned with my open chart in his hands, studying it carefully. “Mr. Tingle,” he begins, “What’re you doing to yourself?”
My heart bottoms into my stomach. “Nothing out of the ordinary, why?” Just what the hell are you about to tell me?!
“Whatever you’re doing,” he looks up, smiling, “Keep it up.”

My A1C is down; my blood sugar stays pretty even. Although he couldn’t authorize it himself, he was going to recommend that medication no longer be necessary in the management of my type two diabetes.

I have been off medication for about five days; it’s been an adjustment. I won’t say it’s been easy. My energy level has dropped off a bit, and my blood sugar peaked out a few days ago at 138. It consistently remains at around 98-112.

I still get up and work out every morning. I still eat a lot of fruit, I still remain very active, and I still take the necessary steps to keep my body going.

But you can officially take it from me.

You can beat this thing back.

Thanks for reading.

(c) Avery K. Tingle for Akting Out LLC

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Hello, dear and faithful readers. I know that I missed last week’s post, but I wasn’t quite ready to confess. But…I can no longer keep the secret, that which may cost me readers, but I can no longer live a lie…

I am a type two diabetic…with an unconquerable addiction to junk food. Yes, I needs my Snickers and my Reese’s. If you put strawberry cheesecake in front of me, then I’ll follow you anywhere.

I was in so much better shape before I discovered that I like the Whopper. Damn you, Burger King. I used to sit down and eat four whoppers—heavy ketchup—in one sitting. Want to know how I became diabetic? Now you know.

Now, blessedly, with age comes wisdom (in some things), and I’ve learned to temper my love of most things chocolate. I ration myself to maybe one piece of junk food in a week, and cheese cake once every two weeks. Again, blessedly, thanks to medication and an active lifestyle, my AIC stays in check.

Oh, the active lifestyle? Yes, that’s what this blog is about.
If there’s any one weapon you have in the fight against diabetes (and obesity, and other health issues), it’s your body’s ability to move. I mean, let’s be straight; you can take all the vitamins and medication and supplements you want, but they won’t do much unless you’re keeping your metabolism moving. Point blank; living actively keeps your blood sugar down, and it also promotes heart and circulatory health. It also keeps your energy through the roof (I’ve often had my energy level compared to that of a seven-year-old’s. Maybe that’s my attitude. I don’t know. Anyway…)

Now, say you’re a diabetic, but you hate exercise (better learn to like it). Say you want to start a little slowly and work into something more challenging. There are several ways you can be active around the house, or during the day, without busting a sweat to remixes of old eighties tunes.

1). Use the commercials.
They put those commercials there for a reason. Use the time; knock off fifty jumping jacks. If you find that too strenuous, just bounce from one foot to another. Knock off twenty crunches, ten pushups, anything. Just don’t sit on the couch while the Geico cavemen are continuously insulted. You’ll be surprised how much you’ve done during an hour-long show.

2). Use your office space.
You have a chair and a desk, and you probably have to do something while you’re on the clock. There’s no rule saying that you have to be sitting to do it (and if there is, disregard this). Get up, out of your chair, and walk around. Pace. Keep your legs moving. You don’t have to do this all day, but I promise, enough walking at the end of eight hours, you’ll feel it in your legs—and your heart.

3). Use your neighborhood.
Almost all of us have to go outside to check the mail. No one said you had to walk to the mailbox. Challenge yourself by sprinting out and back. Once you have an average time, try to beat it. You may find yourself working up a sweat in two minutes…and it helps.

I suppose I should say that I’m not a doctor (can’t you tell?) , and none of this should be construed as medical advice. Check with your doctor before beginning any kind of physical routine.

This is just me, and what I do.

Until next week. Best of luck, God bless, and be safe!

(c) Avery K. Tingle for Akting Out LLC

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I’m forming some new habits this week. More on that later.

First thing’s first. Here’s where you can find Glucose Buddy, the iphone app I recommended last week, on the web. Also, here’s where you can find it on twitter and on facebook. If you have trouble with any of these links, let me know.

So this is my plan to resolve diabetes within ten years. I exercise five days a week, alternating between burning fat and building muscle. The real struggle is to watch what I eat at night, when my metabolism slows down and my blood sugar rises.

So this is the regimen and the vitamin lineup. I’ll share the diet next week.

Mon-Wed-Fri
50 Pushups
50 Situps
50 Curls
25 Butterflies
30 Minutes General Training (Boxing/Martial Arts)

Tue-Thurs
50 Jumping Jacks (sets of three)
3 Minutes Shadowboxing
3 Rounds of Footwork (1 Round=3 minutes)
15 Minutes General Training (Boxing/Martial Arts)

Vitamins
Centrum Cardio
B12
Cinnamon
E
Metformin
Omega 3 Fish Oil

I’ve been on a variation of this for weeks now. I figure if I do light versions of this in the morning (to wake up) and then do full versions at night, keeping my heart rate up will counteract my blood sugar rising. So here goes.
I’ve also started researching other type 2 blogs; I’ll share those results next week.

Till then…

(c) Avery K. Tingle for Akting Out LLC

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I went into a bit of a cheesecake-induced depression after learning that I couldn’t do much running anymore—especially with my knees killing me. Getting older sucks; not much you can do about it.

Still, even though I went off on the cheesecake, I stuck to a new workout routine that involved freeweights and aerobics, and I managed to keep my blood sugar beneath 130 all week. I’ve also learned that it’s not only how much you exercise, it’s also when. So what I learned last week, I happily share with you;

1). Hit The Ground Running.
…I should’ve found a better way to phrase that. But seriously, when you get out of bed, immediately get into your routine. I’ll knock off twenty pushups before I hit the bathroom just to get my heart working.  Your metabolism is still picking up speed when you first wake up; getting your heart rate up first thing in the morning not only increases metabolic speed when you first wake up, but that, and a good breakfast, will carry you through most of the day. In my case, I wake up, knock off twenty pushups, fifty sit ups, fifty curls, and fifty butterflies, all in about ten minutes. After either a smoothie or oatmeal (and a single cup of coffee) for breakfast, I’m pretty energized by the time I take off.

2). Shut Down The Fridge After 8pm.
You may have to tailor this to your own schedule, but one’s metabolism tends to slow down when the bulk of the day’s workload is down. For diabetics, this means your blood sugar begins to rise regardless of what you’ve eaten. Even if you eat a carb-friendly meal for dinner, you may see abnormal results simply because your body isn’t digesting as quickly as it should. So roughly four (six is ideal) hours before you hit the sack, shut down the kitchen.

It doesn’t hurt to sneak in a workout, too.

So many people who are new to this disease run into this problem; not understanding why their blood sugar rises at night. I cannot overemphasize this; at night, your body is most vulnerable. This is where you need to be especially careful as to how you treat yourself. Above all else, STAY ACTIVE.

As for me? Well, I feel better than I have in awhile. I can actually see a little definition in my arms, I feel lighter, I can jump higher, and my kicks have a little snap in them again. I do a lot of work with the weights (shadowboxing and footwork, I don’t recommend it unless you’re sure you can take it, because you will feel it in the morning), and I’m starting to slim up a bit. So, one more week down.

Oh, before I go…

Glucose Buddy
Tell me; does anyone who own an iphone/ipod touch find it impossible to live without? I can’t tell you how much I take this thing for granted. Being able to check my email in the middle of the night? Music, movies, news, podcasts, and I can write from the thing on top of it? I’ll be buried with my ipod. But I digress.

I disovered Glucose Buddy about four months ago. I haven’t tinkered around with other diabetic-friendly apps on the ipod, because I haven’t felt a need to.

Initially, I had some syncing issues between the device and the web page; they seem to have been worked out over the last couple of months. Basically, the program lets you enter your blood sugar level and then sync it to your device so you can track your results anywhere. This is excellent for taking your history to the doctor. It’s one thing when you have to recall from memory, it’s another when you can walk through the last two weeks with your physician.

Beyond syncing your results, there are columns for recent activity and exercise. This may be the most beneficial aspect of the application, as if you can make revisions to routine on the fly.

I really feel bad here; I follow this guy on Facebook and couldn’t find him on my friends list (and yes, I’m sure he’s still there). He’s also available on twitter, and when I turn him up, I’ll share links. In the meantime, if you run search for “Glucose Buddy” in the iTunes App store, you should be able to find it.

Till next week!

(c) Avery K. Tingle for Akting Out LLC

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This blog was written October 5, 2009.

Ugh, today was not a good day. I went a bit out of control and had nine (count them) nine glazed donuts over the course of nine hours. I paid for it at the end of the day; slightly dizzy, mild headache, and fatigued. I downed a sugar-free Red Bull to compensate, and was fueled enough to get through the day. Unfortunately, I felt my heart racing as though it would burst out of my chest. For a second, I was really worried.

Luckily, after walking home, my blood sugar is only 137. I got lucky.
I can’t run anymore; pounding the pavement takes a terrible toll on your knees. As much as I hate to admit it…I just can’t take the damage as well as I used to. My right knee has been acting up, so, following the advice of some people I trust, I’ve given up running for very brisk walking.

My morning routine consists of getting up, busting about one hundred and fifty jumping jacks to music, hitting the free weights, and then pushups and situps (mostly situps).

I’ve discovered this great way to wear yourself out, get your heart rate up, and improve your punch speed; train with the freeweights! I hold the weights and go through my routine; stationary punching, shadowboxing (which will really take it out of you), and basic blocking.

Combine this with a single cup of black coffee, and one serving of oatmeal with lowfat milk, sweetener, and blueberries, and my sugar in the morning is usually about 97 by the time I get to work. I feel ready for the day, I’m full till lunch, and I’m losing weight.

If I can avoid days like today, I’ll be great.

I’m still on metformin, but I need to get my blood work evaluated again within a month. That’ll be a test. I’ve managed to avoid going on insulin this long…here’s hoping I can keep the streak alive.

Next week, I’m going to start keeping more accurate records on my blood sugar, thanks to this great little app I found for the Ipod. Thanks for following!

(c) Avery K. Tingle for Akting Out LLC

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What inspires me to pursue this is that I had no medication for nearly three years, thanks to a lack of medical insurance. I knew that keeping my heart rate up, and thus my metabolism high, could be enough to keep the disease at bay—if I was willing to work hard enough.

Well, I’m willing to work hard enough.
That’s the first thing I need to stress; if you have this disease, food is not your worst enemy; ignorance is. Doing nothing and hoping things will change will only lead you to your own funeral, and the trip there won’t be pleasant. If you got it, then you got it, now deal with it.

Many experts (including a couple of doctors I’ve seen) agree that exercise can take the place of medication, and I can live a long, healthy life if I take care of myself. Trouble is, I’ve always been active, I’m getting older, and I can’t push myself like I used to. Still, I have to find a way…

September 15, 2009

Woke up this morning and went for a three mile run, nearly spraining my leg in the process. Had an 8-ounce smoothie (one banana, handful of blueberries, four strawberries, lowfat milk, and the prep time is under five minutes), and a cup of black coffee for breakfast.

I left my meter at work so I wasn’t able to test until close to noon. By then, I had walked up to work (another half mile) and downed another six ounces of coffee.

An hour after that, my blood sugar was 137. Makes sense, because I keep myself pretty energetic to work, but it’s still higher than I’d like.

Lunch, I went a little overboard at a local Chinese restaurant; chicken lo mein (pasta takes a long time to digest), General Tso’s chicken, Vietnam Garlic Chicken, Chicken Dim Sum (seeing a pattern here?)

I really should’ve made that orange soda diet.

Beyond that, I had one sugar free red bull.

Again, I left my meter at work. Final reading of the day; 152.

I shouldn’t have done lunch like that.
Dinner is critical, because as the night goes on, your heart rate slows down, and your blood sugar rises on it’s own. Closing the night out with two sandwich wraps (sliced chicken/roast beef, American Cheese, tomatoes, green onions, and mild salsa).

Tomorrow is another day. Lesson learned; run more, eat in a more balanced manner. Here’s hoping for better results next week.

(c) Avery K. Tingle for Akting Out LLC

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When I was in my early-to-mid twenties, I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. It happened by accident; I was at the doctor’s trying to get cleared for something, they ran my blood work, surprise; no more Reese’s for you.

Of course, being me, I didn’t take it seriously; there are certain foods I’m just not willing to give up. I’ll find a way to beat it. I always do.
Well, it didn’t quite work out that way. Type 2 can be a bitch, unmanaged. You live in the bathroom, especially at night. You can also drain the Pacific and still be thirsty as hell. And you sleep; you sleep a lot, whether you want to or not.

Sometimes you can sleep and not be sure if you’ll ever wake up.

You sleep because your heart is having such a hard time getting blood through your system that the only way it can do so is to shut you down. And if it can’t get the process back up to speed, well…

Type 2 Diabetes is the result of your body’s inability to produce enough insulin to counter the sugar that passes through your bloodstream. The sugar then acts like acid, literally eroding away at your major organs. Left unchecked, it can result in the amputation of your limbs. Amputation follows diabetic neuropathy.

Going from a physically active lifestyle to sleeping fifteen hours at a time was kind of a wake-up call. I was happy to learn that exercise, especially aerobic exercise, greatly countered the effects of this poison racing through my bloodstream.

I began to take it seriously. I was unmedicated for three years—during which time, I actually lowered my blood sugar by more than fifty points by exercise alone. I came to learn that enough exercise can actually replace the need for medication. I can live a very long life if I take care of myself…

I confess that there’s more to it than that…
When I was younger, and I fought, I could dance. I could float across the ground like I was walking on clouds, make my opponent dizzy just by continuing to circle them, and frustrate them by making them miss their every move. A friend of mind once told me he just wanted to grab me and plant me into the ground so he could land one clean shot. It was too much work trying to chase me down. Even more so, my right leg was a tripwire with a cannonball at the end of it. It was a threat from any range, at any distance. I used to taunt people; I didn’t even need my hands. You get close enough to me, and my right leg will take the wind right out of you.

Nothing beats the sensation of flying; leaping through the air and tagging your opponent with three kicks before gracefully returning to terra firma.

Type 2 slows you down. My entire body felt so heavy that when I fought my last battle in Saginaw, I did it using boxing—and got very, very lucky.

I run an average of about seven miles a week now. I can’t leap like I used to, but my body is beginning to remember the footwork again. What few sparring sessions I’ve had, the physical memory is kicking in. I may never be as fast as I used to be, but if I can lighten my body, it’ll make things easier on my heart.

If George Foreman can win the heavyweight crown at forty-five, I have no excuses.

My goal is to be completely off of medication by the time I’m thirty-five. To this end, I’m (somewhat) careful about my diet, I work out religiously, and I monitor my blood sugar.

This category is going to be a weekly journal of my progress. I find that I’m more accountable when people are reading. Beyond that, I’d like to help anyone who’s at risk for getting this disease, or having trouble managing it. I’ll post what I’m eating, how I work out, my blood sugar levels—even when I screw up. For the record, Red Bull Sugar Free is a great energy drink that doesn’t skyrocket your blood sugar.

Feel free to contact me or comment, and thanks for following along.

(c) Avery K. Tingle for Akting Out LLC

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