Tired

It's been a tough week for me. And I don't really understand why.

Maybe it stems from my A1C at the end of October. In July my A1C had plummeted to 7.0 from 8.4 in April. So I was really looking forward to an even better number.

Running the stats from my Dexcom, I expected at least a small improvement. Especially because I'd been working really hard at improving my diet, adding more exercise. For maybe the first time ever I was starting to think that I had wrestled my diabetes to the ground and won.

Then I got my end of October result.

8.1

What's going on? This number just didn't feel right.

Since then I've had two further A1C tests. One by means of Kevin's excellent A1C-by-mail, HomeCheck A1C, which gave me a result of 7.6 in mid-November. Another at my doctor's office a week later that gave me an A1C of 7.4.

This is one of the great frustrations of diabetes. I'm using a lot of diabetes technology:

• Insulin (like I have a choice)
  
• Symlin (another injectable drug)
  
• Insulin pump
  
• Blood glucose meter (actually several of these)
  
• Continuous glucose monitor (Dexcom SEVEN)
  
• Diet
  
• Exercise

And with all of this, I can't seem to get my A1C levels down to a lower level. That's really frustrating.

But I notice that my life seems very flat. Colorless.

Yes, I'm still blogging, and still taking daily photos for the Diabetes365 Project. For the most part I'm taking care of myself.

Recently this has gotten a lot harder. Maybe it's the same kind of issue that Allison is struggling with, but I don't think so.

Perhaps it's some type of low-level depression, which I know often accompanies diabetes. This disease is so wearing, it's a wonder that more of us aren't depressed.

Whatever it is, I just wish it would stop.

If you've got any suggestions, do please let me know.

Labels: A1C, coping, diabetes, low

posted by Bernard @ 7:09 PM 28 Comments Links to this post