Recent Labs Report

REPOST from former blog My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

July 31, 2020

Image: My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

I wanted to write a short post today, to update you on my recent visit to my endocrinologist. I visited Dr. Folb on July 13th, and I got a call Wednesday with my lab results. All in all, my results were good – better than they have been in a long time. 

I was especially worried that they would not be as good, since the pandemic has slowed down our workout options. We did, however, invest in a treadmill, so I’ve been using that to get some cardio in. I also have some dumb bells, a kettle bell, and a bosu ball that I can use to help with my workouts.

First of all, my A1c was steady at a 5.6 – what a relief. I was really happy about that. My lab results were not perfect, but the definitely were not worse than last time.

My cholesterol was 203, triglycerides 282, HDL 35, and LDL 56. Those numbers are not perfect, but for me, they’re the best that I’ve had in several years, so this is a celebration for me! Yay!! 

I started taking some over the counter fish oils and a multi-vitamin in April, both at the recommendation of Dr. Folb. We discussed me taking Vascepa, but it is so cost prohibitive, that she suggested I find a good OTC fish oil which I did.  

Image: My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

Here are pics of the fish oil and the vitamins that I got.

Nordic Naturals EPA Fish Oils & 365 Women’s Multi Vitamins

Image: My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

If you’re interested in these, you can find the fish oil by clicking this image:

And the multi vitamins I got at Whole Foods Market. Unfortunately, Amazon does not carry that vitamin yet. Hopefully soon. 

I’m also supposed to pick up and start taking some Vitamin D – as my level was low. Dr. Folb told me to take 2000 units a day. 

So all in all, I am very pleased with the results of my labs. I can breathe a sigh of relief for now. But there’s still work to be done! 

I wanted to get this blog posted, and let you know that I’m working on a food post soon! 

We currently have our home on the market, and are looking for another one, so much of my time has been totally consumed with that! Fingers crossed for that to all go smoothly! 

Thanks for stopping by to read my blog. I love to get comments and hear what you have to say, so feel free to leave me a comment below.  I hope that you’ll subscribe – top right corner of the page if on a desktop, and bottom of the post if using a mobile device.  

In the meantime, live well, and be well!  

*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

My lab results are back!

 REPOST from former blog My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

May 2, 2020

After my appointment with Dr. Folb on April 13th, I got a call the next day about my lab results.  She told me that she would mail a copy of the full results, so that I could look at them.  

The good thing, she told me, was that the copy she would be mailing me would have not only the current results, but the previous results, so that we can begin to see where my body is going. 

My lab results are in!
Image: My Type 2 Diabetic Life © 

When I have bloodwork, Dr. Folb has told me there's no need to fast.  She wants to see where I am on a normal day – and most people don't fast all the time, so she wants to see what my levels are when I am myself.  

Last week I got the much anticipated letter in the mail with my lab results.  I was nervous and excited to open them.  So here are my results:

Tested	Result 1/17/20	Result 4/13/20	Range
Glucose	99	97	60-100 mg/dL
Hgb A1C	6.2	5.6	5.4 (Dr. Folb’s goal for me)
Blood Sugar	126	107	105 fasting  140 after meal (Dr. Folb’s goal for me)
Total Cholesterol	186	192	140-200 mg/dL
Triglycerides	186	210	<150 mg/dL
HDL (good)	34	36	>40 mg/dL
LDL (bad)	115	114	60-130 mg/dL

My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

There were many other test results, but these are the areas where we focused our conversation when I went for my visit on April 13th.  

On the bottom of the results, Dr. Folb wrote me a note that said:

“Jan here are some copies of labs.  Great job… See you in July. L Folb”

That was so exciting to receive.  First of all, I had NEVER had a doctor to write me a personal note like that for my lab work.  Not even a nurse.  

But to have my doctor call me a couple of days after the appointment and tell me my labs, then mail me a copy with a personal note acknowledging my hard work – it really did validate that I am working hard, and I’m all in when it comes to healing my body. 

This all started with a visit to an internal medicine doctor on November 13, 2019, when my A1C results were 8.1 – and 5 months later, I am 5.6. 

So even though some of my results might not be perfect or in a “normal” range, Dr. Folb was very encouraging.  Most importantly – my Type 2 Diabetes is now under control with diet and exercise!  

I will be a Type 2 Diabetic for the rest of my life – but now I have to continue to watch my diet, and to exercise.  Both of which are key factors in not relapsing back into out of control diabetes.  

I told Dr. Folb that I was concerned about the HDL not being where it should be.  She told me that hopefully as I continue to exercise and eat clean, that hopefully that could return to normal levels – I’m close… just not there yet.  

She said that it could also be just genetic and I may not be able to ever get it back to that “normal” range.  But overall, my total cholesterol levels are much better than they have been in the past.  

I am very ready for this COVID19 stuff to end.  I’m ready for the gym to open back up so that we can get back to our workout routine.   It’s time to get back to normal – but at the same time, I am a little nervous.  

I do know that a healthy body is more able to fight off illness than an unhealthy one – so I’m looking forward to going back to the gym soon!

Thanks for stopping by to read my blog.  I hope that you’ll subscribe – top right corner of the page if on a desktop, and bottom of the post if using a mobile device.  

In the meantime, continue with your social distancing, live well, and be well!   

*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.