My coworker, who also has diabetes, reminded me that there are MANY factors that raise and lower glucose readings. He showed me that I ate a meal that had protein in it and the protein causes the carbs to digest at a much slower rate than eating carbs without protein, therefore my numbers will stay higher for longer. He also showed me that yes I walked, but I walked outside, in the snow. When the temperature is colder the body digests slower. He also showed me that when I exercise in an extreme manner, my body will release glycogen in order to fuel the muscles for the exercise thus raising my blood sugars.
He listed many more reasons why my sugars would be high, which all reminded me that I’m a walking test tube. I’m my own chemistry lab and I’m the only person who can track the numbers, find correlations, and apply them in my own life. He said doctors only know one piece of the puzzle, nurses only know one piece, nutritionists only know one piece, diabetic educators only know one piece, and it is up to me to connect them all to see the whole picture.
He also reminded me that 90% of the population has Type 2 diabetes from being overweight and sedentary, where a 30 minute walk 30 minutes after eating does a world of wonders for their sugar levels. I am an active, fit youngster and most studies/findings/advice about diabetes does not apply to me. I need to find how diabetes works in MY body by paying lots of attention to me and piecing together my own picture/puzzle. This will most likely take many years before I begin to see patterns in certain scenarios, like seasons, illnesses, menstrual cycles, holidays, etc.
By the end of the talk with my coworker, I felt much better. I’m not as paranoid and worried as I was this morning and the wheels in my head are turning with ideas and excitement.
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