250.01

March 23, 2007 at 4:04 pm | Posted in The Sweet Life | 22 Comments

The last time I went to Awesome Endo, I did a three day CGMS and he tweaked my basal rates and carb ratios a bit.   And for two weeks, I was SuperDiabetic.  You all know her: the one who faithfully tests two hours after meals and actually gets up in the middle of the night to do basal rate checks…  The one who weighs her food and looks up carbs and doesn’t say, “oh you already threw the frozen pizza box in the recycling? I’ll just eyeball it.”  The one who doesn’t eat frozen pizza, for g-d’s sake.  Who always always always tests before eating a snack. And who goes to the gym religiously, and checks her blood sugar mid workout and etc. etc. etc. 

Yes, for two weeks after the experience of having the blood glucose impact of every time I twitched in the direction of the candy aisle or took a bite without testing first recorded indeliably for all the world to see, I became the diabetic whose blog normally would make me cringe and turn my face away in shame.  And then… life happened.

I actually had an appt with Awesome Endo on Monday, right after we got back from Guatemala.  But I felt like crap – emotionally (duh) – and physically (our little boy already knows how to share! He shared his cold with me!) – and so I called and cancelled, pleading illness and expecting to be told that the next available appointment was in June by which time, of course, Perfect Diabetic would have been located somewhere inbetween the couch cushions or with the dustbunnies under the bed and restored to full functionality.

Howbout Friday? Asked Perky Receptionist.  Howbout it? Aside from a hair appt – flickr friends stay tuned for my exciting new colors – I didn’t have anything going on on Friday. Friday it was, damnit.

So when Awesome Endo asked me if I thought I knew what my A1C was, I steeled myself for the inevitable lecture, and said weakly… maybe around 8 (last visit was 7.5).  “What makes you think that?” he asked.  Well… I dunno, I just feel like my blood sugars haven’t been that great lately and… (I detect a hint of a twinkle in his eye).  Do you know what it is? Are you playing with me?

Yes. It was 6.5.  I don’t think I’ve had one that low since I turned thirteen. 

This disease, it just fucks with your head. 

I should be thrilled, but since I don’t feel like I brought this about in any concrete way, I also don’t feel like I deserve the credit for it.  Plus, since I don’t know why it happened this way, I feel like whatever good fairies were playing with the A1C machine today could just as quickly turn their backs on me next time. 

Still, 6.5.  For the first time in a long time, the diagnostic code he checked on the insurance form was 250.01: diabetes, type I, controlled, instead of 250.03: diabetes, type I, uncontrolled.  That felt pretty good.