Hello, I am going to be getting the BPD surgery and It has been a little over a year when I started this journey. Today I went to the Dr. and my A1c is finally low enough for them to send the letter to my insurance. My highest A1c was 14. A year ago it was 12 then went down to 11 then back to 12 and in the past 3 months was able to lower it to 8.6. I worked very hard to exercise a lot more and make better food choices and stay in contact with my diabetes pharmacist to adjust my insulin. I really felt it was impossible at times to lower my blood sugar but it is possible. After my 6 month visits were over I was really upset that my a1c was still very high. I had lost some weight but my sugar would not get better. I was also upset when the Dr. told me I had to wait another three months to recheck my a1c. It was a tough 6 months trying to get to my Dr. appointments since I do not drive and my fiance would have to take off from work to take me to a few appointments. Somehow we did it and I actually found out there is transportation from a bus service that takes you to your appointments if you are on Medicaid.

During my year journey, I have quit smoking this whole year, had my sleep study and got a CPAP machine for my sleep apnea, lost some weight and kept it off for a year, something I have never done in my life. Now I finally am getting some control of my diabetes. I still want to lower it some more to be safe for surgery, so I am going to continue to work hard at that while I wait to hear from my insurance and to meet with the surgeon. I have wanted surgery for a long time now and I am so close. I want to be around for my 2 year old daughter and to have the energy to keep up with her. I'm really excited about my next steps and can't believe I'm finally here.

Woolhatgirl, CONGRATULATIONS on all the hard work you've done and continue to do! 8.6 is close, but you know not optimal. Keep trying, don't give up. Waiting 3 months to get your A1C checked is standard protocol.

You'd be surprised what raises blood sugar. My husband is type 2 diabetic. We changed both of our diets for our own specific reasons. But we watch carbs closely, they turn into sugar. You know many forms of sugar will raise your blood sugar. Theres so much more to do in your diet I just can't think of them right now (I'm at work) and I'm NO professional, just my 2 cents.

But, Way to go! Keep up the good fight, for your life!

Thank you! My doctor def wants me to keep trying to get it lower and now that I know I can actually do it, I am motivated to get it even lower. Yes, carbs are my biggest weakness. When I follow very strict low carb meals my sugars are pretty good for me, but they have to be very low carb. I have been looking up recipes and meal prepping and that has really helped. I have a big sweet tooth and I love bread and pasta and all that so it has been difficult. My fiance is my opposit, he has like 2% body fat lol. But he encourages me and also looks at carbs for me when he goes to get me something to eat or drink. He actually does not like bread or cake or stuff that is really carby, that's probably why he's so thin lol.

I just got a call from the hospital and I'm meeting the surgeon next Friday. I didn't think it was going to be that fast lol. After a year of things going slow I thought I wouldn't hear from them for a while. I'm nervous and excited. Thanks for the kind words. Changing the way you eat after so long of doing it the wrong way sure is tough, but it is doable.

oddly enough my surgeon didnt care about diabetic numbers or my high ass ferritin. but my gahdayum pcp would not clear me based on my a1c or my ferritin level. surgeon said it makes no nevermind to him cuz it why they are doing to surgery anyways to help lower it yadda yadda. but its not up to him. diabetic dr was nice enough about it though and was on my side and cleared me. hematologist shook his head and said the ferritin was nothing that would affect surgery anyways. was a set back though cuz it takes forever to get into a hematologist around here.

?CONGRATULATIONS?

I hear you, it does take time and I had to reschedule so many times so I could make the appointments. I was thinking like, hey getting control of my diabetes is one of the main reasons for having the surgery. During my 6 month dr visits I had a different dietician and doctor every time I went in so one would say let's get your a1c down to 9 and then another would be like I want it at least 8 before we submit to the insurance. I was just glad I got it down to where they felt it was time.