Almost Through Block 1...

So I had all these crazy ideas that I would find time to blog every day during medical school, and that blogging about diabetes would help keep me on track throughout medical school...well I am now 15 weeks through the semester and barely making my first post in almost six-months! Phewf...

Med School has brought a whole new set of challenges to managing my diabetes. Yes, my A1c a few weeks ago was 5.7%, my blood pressure was less than 120/80, I had a good HDL: LDL ratio, a nice healthy BMI, but I know the real story. The only tale-tale sign to my doctor was my slightly elevated triglycerides, but I've seen the + 200 spikes a few times a week, and the slowly crawling morning fasting sugars, which have steadily increased from 90 to about 120. Although, they may not last long enough to due to much damage to my A1c, I know they are slowly doing damage to my heart, nerves, eyes and mood. Nick can always tell when my blood sugars wacky. I get grumpy with him, and unfortunately he's been seeing it a lot more the last few weeks.

All the lunch time meetings--pizza (yes a med school frequently chooses Pizza as the lunch time meeting food of choice), burritos, cookies, and sandwiches...I know I should just always plan ahead and pack my lunch...

...Despite how much I know, I still find that stress turns me to an addict...I come home at 11pm from a long day of studying and all I want is chocolate. Every now and again I go on an eating frenzy...a recent study confirmed that studying does indeed cause people to eat more, but still this is no excuse...my brain tells me no, but my salivary glands yes. I think about retinopathy, neuropathy, and I convince myself, "Tomorrow, I start again....but tonight...." Food is always a struggle. I go to clinic and give the diabetic patients a meal plan to follow, and when I get home I sneak one of my roommates ice cream bars...as if no one sees me, it won't effect my blood glucose...I feel lucky that I can afford medications that give me a fair amount of freedom.

I've been trying to get back on the bandwagon. I've been packing 5-minute microwavable Tilapia Fish and Frozen Broccilli, I've loaded my fridge with veggies, and my spice cabinet with an arsenal of flavored stevia products, sugar free, but yummy spices such as pumpkin pie spice mix, baking cocoa powder, a Costco size box of Splenda, lots of great tasting Herbs to spice up all my low-carb meals. I've collected 20-minute or less healthy recipes that employ simple med school friendly ingredients (aka recipes that don't require more than 5 ingredients, but still taste great!)...I've even convinced my roomie to keep the chocolate and cookies hidden in her room. I plan on signing up for a half-marathon in San Diego in January to motivate to get me up before class to jog, and after hitting the climbing gym this weekend with my brother and his wife, I've finally decided that I am going to join the climbing gym up here in Sac, because it absolutely is addicting and super fun!

Recently, one of my roommates classmates was over, a second-year who has Type I...he joked and said, "Yeah, the key to managing diabetes is having lots of time!"

Next, we I have my first appointment with my new endocrinologist. I want to talk to him about injectable Byetta or Amylin...I think they might even out my post-meal spikes and curb some of my stress induced carbohydrate cravings....let's see if the med school insurance will cover it!

So there...I've gotten it all off my chest...blogging really does keep a diabetic honest!

More to come on my life in med school...but for now sleep!