Latest update on my quest. Yet more news to share! I want to call this episode "two steps forward and one step back".

1. I am off another hypoglycemic pill (reduces blood glucose level).
2. My weight has gone down a little more.
3. My blood pressure has continued to go up, so I am back on the water pill.

Step 1

Yesterday I removed another of my meds for reducing blood glucose level. I was cautious with my diet, and had no issues. I woke up today at 5.2. I am doing the same again today, while frequently monitoring my blood glucose level for any issues. I am on just one pill, morning and night and keeping my average around 5.5. If my blood glucose level goes up, I don't eat until it comes back down. By adjusting my intake of carbs, I am in control. I am not a slave to old habits, and letting meds fight to compensate.

This is great for me. The savings in pills over a year is going to be in the thousands of dollars. Add to that I am not buying the high carb foods that put me in this situation, so I save much more. When you eat too much carbs, it overwhelms your system with glucose. The quantity becomes a poison, known as glucose toxicity. Looking back, I was paying to poison myself, and then paying to treat myself of poisoning. Crazy eh? It took me too long to see it that way.

Step 2

It has been just over 2 weeks since my last doctor appointment, and I am down about 3 pounds since then. Progress has been a bit slower than before. I still think I need to replace my bathroom scale with a better one. I can get it to change up to 4 pounds by moving it to a new location. But I don't know if a new one would be any better. Still, despite the variation in numbers it gives out, I am getting lower numbers than before. If you can recommend a decent scale, please contact me or comment below.

I continue to exercise, usually at least 30 minutes on an elliptical machine or two 45 minute bike rides where I try to push myself. I can tell I am improving my stamina, and speed. I use one of those GPS watches with a heart monitor that gives me lots of charts to examine. Very cool to see the progress that way.

Step 3

My blood pressure is higher recently. I decided to resume taking the water pill, that I had stopped previously. My blood pressure had been low for a while, and after consulting with my doctor he said if I remained that low I could discontinue. But since then it had crept back up. I think it is more important to maintain my blood pressure low than to get off the drug at this point. Later, perhaps after I have lost more weight it will improve and I can try again without the pill.

About a couple of hours after taking the pill again, and also some exercise, my blood pressure has returned down to a more normal level. I will continue to monitor it 2-3 times a day for now.

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.