Isaac.Eiland-Hall.com

So I finally got my prescription filled for the diabetes medicine (1000mg Metformin). The pills I’m not afraid of – but I. Hate. Needles.

Someone gave my wife a meter for me, but I decided to get one for myself – partially because I could control the need guage that way… I found some 30 guage lancets at Walgreens, and you can be sure I snapped `em up.

After reading all the meter instructions and calibrating it, it was time.

I’d convinced myself I wasn’t going to panic, that I’d be ready for it… but I really wasn’t. I sat there for about five minutes, with nothing left to do before lancing, trying to convince myself to do it.

Now, I must interject that I have cats. Two cats with sharp claws. Two cats that I love so dearly that I ignore the pain when they pad their paws on my shoulder when I pick them up. As I write this, I can still feel a little bit of pain from petting my stupid cat before starting the testing process… but I’m afraid of the needles…

I’ve been tested now a few times, and it hurts, but not for long. I know it doesn’t hurt for long. And yet, faced with that damned lancet….

Well, I’d already figured out that I’d try my forearm first – that did help the mental battle a bit.

So finally, I get up the courage… And, of course, it doesn’t hurt very much at all. And I think, “See, ya wuss?” – but my bones say “Yeah, whatever. We don’t ****ing like needles.”

I got such a tiny droplet… I knew it wasn’t enough, but I wasted a strip to find that out, just because I didn’t want to lance myself again. Bah.

It wasn’t enough.

This time, it only took me about 30 seconds to lance myself.

But, dammit, still didn’t get enough blood.

Now, I really don’t want to lance my fingers, but it’s quickly getting to the point where I’m thinking once finger lance is better than 20 forearm lances…

Alright. Finger it is. SIGH.

That did hurt a bit worse, but I did manage to get enough blood. Barely enough. And now my finger hurts because of the squeezing, massaging, and general pleading for blood I gave it – “PLEASE don’t make me lance any more! Three was already three times too many!”

...but I got enough.

Result: 272

Ouch.

I don’t know whether or not to count that as fasting – it’s not 100% fasting, as I had [the equivalent of a] beefstick or so when I went to pick up the prescription… Either way, obviously it’s way too high.

Yesterday morning, I had a pre-employment physical. Fasting, it was 225. They can’t approve me unless I get down below 200; and they’d prefer to see 140-150.

BUT… this is all unmedicated. And frankly, I’ve not got the diet straight yet – I’m eating better overall, but I don’t have it all set yet…

As I’ve typed this, my finger is pretty much fine again, and my shoulder isn’t… but I’ll pick up the cats and pet them in a heartbeat, and I know I’ll freeze again next time I go to monitor. Wish I could fast-forward to a week or so when it won’t bother me. Dammit.

OTOH, hopefully this medication will help get things under control… I feel tired nearly all the time, and I suspect that’s tied to the high glucose levels… I’m mentally lucid, just physically tired…