Numbers Game

Because I have the wussy pancreas, I'm supposed to keep an even stream of carbohydrates coming in. No skipping breakfast then pigging out at lunch. That causes spiking. Very bad.

Carb loading (my fav!) is bad. But going on a no carb diet is also bad. WTF?

So here's the formula for babying the pancreas:

Good snack = 15 grams carbs, 7 grams protein, 5 grams fat

Good meal = 30 grams carbs, 14 grams protein, 10 grams fat 

Of course nothing is exact, so I need to try to stay close in carbs without going over/under too much in protein or fat. It's exhausting.

When looking for pre-packaged food, I'm supposed to find something that fits within these parameters. It's not as easy as I would like.

Even more difficult (for me at least) is trying to figure out non-packaged food. How many carbs are in an apple? Can I eat an Egg McMuffin? I have a few booklets for that. Honestly, they're inconvenient to tote around, so I don't. I wonder if I can find an app. I always have my phone with me! Until then, I'm trying to wing it. I have a feeling that I'm failing.

Other numbers I need to watch are my blood pressure and blood glucose levels.

As I mentioned, I have hypertension (high blood pressure). I bought a wrist cuff to monitor my BP. I don't think it works very well. The numbers are all over the place, even when I take my blood pressure several times in 10 minutes. The good news, however, is that every time I go to the doctor the corpsman taking my vitals seems unfazed by the number. I guess that means my medicine is working!

Then there's my blood sugar. Ugh. There are many things that affect this number:

• When I ate
• What I ate 
• Exercise
• Hydration
• Stress
• Illness
• Pain
• Other medications
• Menstrual cycle (yes, hormones are a factor)

Unfortunately, my blood sugar mg/dl number is not as steady as I would like. My target range is between 80 and 130 first thing in the morning, and less than 180 two hours after eating.

I should test my blood at least once a day. (Honestly, I don't.) One of my doctors wanted me to test twice a day: first thing in the morning, two hours after lunch, two hours after dinner and before bed. It was difficult to keep up. I had an inconvenient full page chart to tote around and/or store in my tiny bathroom. I'd forget to take my glucometer to work. I'd often eat late so two hours after dinner was bedtime, thus skewing the data. I got frustrated and quit.

And finally, there's the A1C. This is a blood test that has to be done at the lab. The number reflects an average blood glucose levels over the previous 3 months. As a diagnosed diabetic, my goal is 7 or less. I've had it up to 9.2. (Very bad.) I had my A1C taken this month and it was 7.5. (Better, but not great.) I'll do it again in three months and see where I'm at -- hopefully heading in the right direction.

Something to note about the A1C: The number isn't 100% accurate. I've recently discovered that there is a +/- of 0.5. (So my 7.5 could be 7. Then again, it could be 8.)

So many numbers. So many terms. So many things to think about. They really do make my head spin. Will I ever get this down?