"Officially Diabetic"

Doug's blood sugar has been rising slowly over the last few years. So a few days ago he went to our Family Nurse Practitioner for a repeat hemoglobin A1c test. (The cancer specialists have 'tunnel vision' like most specialists - they only look at one aspect of health.)
This most recent A1c test had a result of 7.4, which according to our FNP means that now Doug is "officially diabetic".  His blood glucose was 144.
The dexamethasone is no doubt elevating the blood sugar. After consulting with physicians, the consensus is to control it with diet and exercise and not add any drugs right now. That seems to be a good sensible approach.

We can't blame it all on the dex -- for years Doug has followed a poor diet. Even suggestions and nagging by the wife hasn't had much effect. He eats everything a typical ten year old boy would like, and has always had an aversion to 'healthy stuff'. But now he isn't going to be able to get by with that. He's going to really try to eat better. Before the relapse pulled the rug from under us, we had started to count carbs and eat only the 'good carbs'. Now we have to get back to that.

The exercise part - during the months that Doug's hip pain was so intense, he could walk only very short distances, and so became sedentary. Now the hip pain is mostly gone, so he has started walking a little more each day. In addition to walking, we got an exercise band to use at home. Need to build up those muscles again.

Good news is that we are leaving next week for a visit to Texas, where we have a lot in a private RV community. Doug is looking forward to warmer weather. We'll stay about two months, then we need to head home to keep up with doctor visits.

The road on this part of the Myeloma Journey is relatively smooth, with only a bumpy part here and there.
 Love to all.

"The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things."    Epictetus