I lead a Wednesday night adult Bible study. We just finished an incredible study in the book of Ruth. Ruth is only four short chapters but it took our group about ten weeks to do the study.
If you have never read or studied this book, do it. It is a beautiful love story detailing many relationships. There is just enough vagueness in the text to force you to look elsewhere in scripture for answers.
What made the study of Ruth so fantastic for me is that I have a deep affection for everyone that came to the study. My folks, my neighbors, couples (young and old) from church, long time Christians, new Christians, shy, bold... you name it they were represented.
We'll take a week off and then we'll start the book of Esther.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Are glucose meter reading scientific...
...or are they just wild ass guesses?
After reporting six consecutive glucose readings at or near 100, suddenly I am struggling to keep them under 150.
I guess the water and air where I live must be rich in carbohydrates.
After reporting six consecutive glucose readings at or near 100, suddenly I am struggling to keep them under 150.
I guess the water and air where I live must be rich in carbohydrates.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
How fitting
November is Diabetes Awareness month, and on November 11th I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes .
As previously posted my A1C levels were found to be very high when I applied for new life insurance. After a month of healthier eating (note that I said 'healthier', which was not healthy enough) a subsequent blood test taken during a physical showed my A1C levels to still be too high. Over 10. Per my health care professional (JS) they should be under 6. The good news is that my testes, prostate, and general health are all in good shape!
I now am on Metformin twice a day, I check my blood sugar levels 3 times a day, and I have essentially eliminated carbs from my diet. No more cookies, no more cake, no more chips, no more potatoes, no more pasta. I am eating much more fish, lean meats and lots of green veggies. On top of that I have been eating three times a day again. I had been only eating once a day, and poorly at that. My last 6 glucose readings have been right around 100. My previous A1C levels (a 3 month average of glucose levels) indicate my glucose had been, on average, between 200 and 250. The lower glucose test results are encouraging. Getting multiple daily reminders that you are eating better helps one forget how much you miss the foods you can't eat.
One thing that will be a long term project will be to teach the SoDT how to read food labels to be sure she is buying food that I can eat. Late last week she brought home a bunch of yogurt for me, figuring it would be good for me. I showed her the label indicating each container had 33 grams of carbohydrates. WAY to much for me to have. It was the fruit flavored Yoplait yogurt which has tons of added sugar.
Next move (hopefully this weekend) is to get the weight machine set back up so I can start resistance training again. JS would prefer weight/resistance training over aerobic/cardio as the increased muscle mass aids in the bodies ability to process starches and sugars. My long term goal is to get off the meds and be able to control my glucose levels with diet and exercise.
Since meats are OK for me to eat, I can still grill and barbeque as much as I want/can. That, my friends, is very good news.
As previously posted my A1C levels were found to be very high when I applied for new life insurance. After a month of healthier eating (note that I said 'healthier', which was not healthy enough) a subsequent blood test taken during a physical showed my A1C levels to still be too high. Over 10. Per my health care professional (JS) they should be under 6. The good news is that my testes, prostate, and general health are all in good shape!
I now am on Metformin twice a day, I check my blood sugar levels 3 times a day, and I have essentially eliminated carbs from my diet. No more cookies, no more cake, no more chips, no more potatoes, no more pasta. I am eating much more fish, lean meats and lots of green veggies. On top of that I have been eating three times a day again. I had been only eating once a day, and poorly at that. My last 6 glucose readings have been right around 100. My previous A1C levels (a 3 month average of glucose levels) indicate my glucose had been, on average, between 200 and 250. The lower glucose test results are encouraging. Getting multiple daily reminders that you are eating better helps one forget how much you miss the foods you can't eat.
One thing that will be a long term project will be to teach the SoDT how to read food labels to be sure she is buying food that I can eat. Late last week she brought home a bunch of yogurt for me, figuring it would be good for me. I showed her the label indicating each container had 33 grams of carbohydrates. WAY to much for me to have. It was the fruit flavored Yoplait yogurt which has tons of added sugar.
Next move (hopefully this weekend) is to get the weight machine set back up so I can start resistance training again. JS would prefer weight/resistance training over aerobic/cardio as the increased muscle mass aids in the bodies ability to process starches and sugars. My long term goal is to get off the meds and be able to control my glucose levels with diet and exercise.
Since meats are OK for me to eat, I can still grill and barbeque as much as I want/can. That, my friends, is very good news.
Friday, October 10, 2014
Change is no longer an option
The SoDT and I both applied for new life insurance policies.
I know. I hate dealing with insurance in general, life insurance in particular. Drives me freaking nuts.
Once we applied with the agent, an in home health screening was scheduled. The guy that came to the house and did the screening was very polite and professional. He went through all of the typical stuff. Height, weight, BP, pulse, general medical history, etc... (The thing that surprised me was the question if I'd had any moving violations in the last 5 years.) There were questions about drug and alcohol use, tobacco use, and family medical history. I answered things honestly. I have no history of chronic illness, no drug use, very little alcohol use for 15 years. My weight was higher than I thought, my BP was better than I expected. My biggest concern was admitting to tobacco use over the last 7 years. He drew blood and I produced a urine sample too. I knew there was going to be a urine test, so I stayed up all night studying for it.
When I got home from an elder meeting last night, the SoDT handed me a pile of papers and a check. It was from the company we were applying for the policy through.
One of the papers was a letter informing me that my application was denied. The other three were copies of the lab report. Thankfully the underwriter had circled the lab result that caused them concern and the denial of my policy.
My cholesterol is high, but that wasn't it.
My BMI could be way more better, but that wasn't it. (I'm 5'8", 240 lbs. Do the math.)
My fructosamine and A1c levels were too high.
I am pre-diabetic.
That was the problem.
I never stopped to think it could be an issue, and while I have been eating really well and losing weight for the last year or more, I had been eating like shit for the month before the screening.
Too much junk food, too many sweets, too many processed foods, and too much dairy (and boy, do I love my milk!).
I am now investigating lifestyles that will allow me to naturally lower my blood sugar. Currently the front runner is a Slow Carb type of "diet". Protein, non-processed veggies, and legumes.
You read that right. Legumes.
Beans.
Every day. Multiple times a day.
No bread, sugar, grains, or pasta. Tough task with three teenagers in the house.
Do you want to know what's strange about that? There is a guy at church (a wonderful man who loves Jesus more than me and is a fearless evangelist) who told me more than a year ago that I should be eating legumes every day.
Guess I should have listened to him.
Now I have a reason to post more often and keep both of my readers up to date with how things are progressing.
On a brighter note, tonight is the last home football game for 2014. The SoDT and I will be introduced before the game along with son #1 and maybe son #2 (son #2 is one of the water boys).
Have a great weekend, and may the Lord richly bless you through His Son Jesus Christ!
I know. I hate dealing with insurance in general, life insurance in particular. Drives me freaking nuts.
Once we applied with the agent, an in home health screening was scheduled. The guy that came to the house and did the screening was very polite and professional. He went through all of the typical stuff. Height, weight, BP, pulse, general medical history, etc... (The thing that surprised me was the question if I'd had any moving violations in the last 5 years.) There were questions about drug and alcohol use, tobacco use, and family medical history. I answered things honestly. I have no history of chronic illness, no drug use, very little alcohol use for 15 years. My weight was higher than I thought, my BP was better than I expected. My biggest concern was admitting to tobacco use over the last 7 years. He drew blood and I produced a urine sample too. I knew there was going to be a urine test, so I stayed up all night studying for it.
When I got home from an elder meeting last night, the SoDT handed me a pile of papers and a check. It was from the company we were applying for the policy through.
One of the papers was a letter informing me that my application was denied. The other three were copies of the lab report. Thankfully the underwriter had circled the lab result that caused them concern and the denial of my policy.
My cholesterol is high, but that wasn't it.
My BMI could be way more better, but that wasn't it. (I'm 5'8", 240 lbs. Do the math.)
My fructosamine and A1c levels were too high.
I am pre-diabetic.
That was the problem.
I never stopped to think it could be an issue, and while I have been eating really well and losing weight for the last year or more, I had been eating like shit for the month before the screening.
Too much junk food, too many sweets, too many processed foods, and too much dairy (and boy, do I love my milk!).
I am now investigating lifestyles that will allow me to naturally lower my blood sugar. Currently the front runner is a Slow Carb type of "diet". Protein, non-processed veggies, and legumes.
You read that right. Legumes.
Beans.
Every day. Multiple times a day.
No bread, sugar, grains, or pasta. Tough task with three teenagers in the house.
Do you want to know what's strange about that? There is a guy at church (a wonderful man who loves Jesus more than me and is a fearless evangelist) who told me more than a year ago that I should be eating legumes every day.
Guess I should have listened to him.
Now I have a reason to post more often and keep both of my readers up to date with how things are progressing.
On a brighter note, tonight is the last home football game for 2014. The SoDT and I will be introduced before the game along with son #1 and maybe son #2 (son #2 is one of the water boys).
Have a great weekend, and may the Lord richly bless you through His Son Jesus Christ!
Monday, September 29, 2014
I really need to post more
We started a new season of study at church a couple of weeks ago.
I am teaching an adult Sunday school class again, working our way through Major Bible Themes. It is so amazing to have so many adults stay and learn God's word and good theology each week. I have made it a point to be more prepared each week and it is paying off. There is a lot of participation and lots of good questions are getting asked. People are hungry for the word of God and our little church is filling that desire.
On Wednesday nights I am also leading a Bible study through the book of Ruth. We have only had two lessons, but I can see already this is going to be a powerful study. Last Wednesday we met for over an hour and only covered the first ten verses of chapter 1. Discussion was spirited and in depth. Best of all, my neighbors have come to the first two classes, and some members of the church who don't usually make bible studies have been there as well.
God is so good, and to see Him working through our congregation is a blessing.
More to come...
I am teaching an adult Sunday school class again, working our way through Major Bible Themes. It is so amazing to have so many adults stay and learn God's word and good theology each week. I have made it a point to be more prepared each week and it is paying off. There is a lot of participation and lots of good questions are getting asked. People are hungry for the word of God and our little church is filling that desire.
On Wednesday nights I am also leading a Bible study through the book of Ruth. We have only had two lessons, but I can see already this is going to be a powerful study. Last Wednesday we met for over an hour and only covered the first ten verses of chapter 1. Discussion was spirited and in depth. Best of all, my neighbors have come to the first two classes, and some members of the church who don't usually make bible studies have been there as well.
God is so good, and to see Him working through our congregation is a blessing.
More to come...
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