Diabetes Education Classes

Myrna, I am writing to inquire about your interest in our diabetes classes. We have not seen you for a few months, and want to know if we should keep you classified as an 'active' patient. If not, we will move you to our follow-up program. When patients are marked as follow-up, we like to be able to interview them once per quarter to assess how things are going. Please let me know what direction you would like to take, and if there is anything else we can do for you at this time. We enjoy working with you and wish to assist you with diabetes management any way that we can.

Thanks,
Jim Webster, BS Pharm CDE
Santaquin Pharmacy & Diabetes Center

Myrna wrote: Please go ahead and move me to the follow-up program. I now weigh 130 pounds (down from 160) and, except for a few days when I had the flu, have remained active. My blood work in the a.m. is anywhere from 88 to 98. During the day, two hours after a meal, it is 110 to 116. I will go for another A1C in March. 

I am a reader and have read many books about Type 2 since I first met with you. I continue to learn. I also have learned a great deal from the internet. I am not using any meds and I am determined to stay away from them as long as possible. 

My surprise, however, was that I can not only not eat refined sugar but have problems when I eat foods containing aspartame. Clarene Hansen, who works with Dr. Susan J Maturlo MD, said it would be OK to use them occasionally but, I guess, not for me. I never did like soda either sugarless or sugared. I did chocolates. I don't need them and I don't miss them. When I had the flu, I bought some sugarless cough drops and found that even one seemed to elevate my blood glucose. Not enough to be dangerous but enough that I did not like it (120). That was an evening reading, before bed. Clarene also gave me a better machine which is much more stable.

I have adjusted my diet. I do not miss sweets at all. I feel so much better without them. I have found foods that I love and I always did love a good green salad with lots of fresh vegetables. I also like Greek yoghurt, unflavored for desert. I sprinkle a little cinnamon on it and really enjoy myself. The rest of my family eats as they usually have, with a few exceptions. There are less sweets and that is fine with all of us. For me there are no temptations. I have a strong will and I am content and happy. Clarene said that I am a good candidate to reverse (not eliminate) diabetes.

Thanks, M