Latest update on my quest. I have further news to share! I am making progress, and it excites me to see each little improvement.

My blood glucose level is down to 5.5 mmol/L average over the last two weeks. That is based on taking 6-7 readings per day for the last two weeks. I'm staying in the green range most of the time, except for some lows last week, which I have made adjustments to take care of in the future. Also, I am off of another drug.

Goodbye To Metformin

Over the last few weeks I have been reducing my meds as the diet was now keeping my blood glucose level low. Just over a month ago, I was taking 1000mg metformin twice a day, but having little effect. That was when my blood glucose level was in double digits. I switched to 500mg twice daily, then 250mg twice daily, then only 250mg in the morning. Now I have not had a metformin for 3 days. I am keeping my blood glucose level low, woke up at 4.5 mmol/L this morning. With my current diet I no longer need it.

I had been on metformin for years, so I am elated to be rid of it. I am sad it took me so long to understand, and make the change. It also reinforces my commitment to continue.

I took it gradually, and monitored the results, so I know it works. I also know I can never go back to my old way of eating. I eat smaller meals, and focus on carbs intake. If my blood glucose level is too high, I wait to eat later when it is lower. Since it has been over a month now, my body is not over saturated with glucose, so my blood glucose level will come down in a few hours. I can be patient.

I will be waiting a while before I consider reducing any other meds, to be sure I am good. I don't want any residual effects from the years of metformin to influence my results.

Crazy Saturday

Saturday I had a crazy kind of day. Understand that my goal is to make small moves with my blood glucose level. I don't want to go up and down like a roller coaster. Unfortunately, some days you don't always get what you want.

Overnight, my blood glucose level dropped to 4.6. That was OK. I had a coffee, and worked on some renovation work at our cabin. So without eating any food, and just doing some work, my blood glucose level jumped up to 7.3 in about two hours! I have seen this kind of thing happen before. I don't know if it is stress or the exercise causing it. I just need to expect it.

Then by midday it dropped down to 4.6 again. Perhaps the meds kicked in. So I had some salad, and some pistachios. I made the mistake of not checking how high in carbs the pistachios were. My wife and I both ate too much of them, they tasted too good. They pushed my blood glucose level up to 7.5.

I did not eat again that day. It dropped a bit, then rose up further to 7.7 before I took evening meds and went to sleep. (The 7.7 is shown as a red dot, because it is not after a meal)

What I learned, was a) sometimes my blood glucose level goes up when I am doing physical work, and b) don't eat too much pistachios, they are rich in carbs.

New Reading Book

I started reading a new book, Dr Gundry's Diet Evolution. I picked it up at the weekend, so less than a quarter through reading it yet. It has some interesting ideas, some that I hope to include in my approach. The idea of killer genes is scary.

Weight

I have seen some progress with my weight loss after a bit of a plateau. I don't fully trust my scale, it has a large margin for error. But I think because I am drinking lots of water affects my readings. I think patience is the key here.

Blood Pressure

My blood pressure is not as good as it was. It can vary a lot too. My meter takes 3 readings and averages them. I find that if I calm myself down by meditating, it can improve things a lot. I won't be changing my blood pressure meds any time soon, until I see more progress here.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. This is based on my own experience. Your mileage may vary. Check with your doctor before doing anything drastic based on what I wrote above.