When to monitor

Hi, brand new here. I graph every 1/2 hour for 2,1/2 hours. 5 years ago, I bought a couple pounds of pure "Dextrose", an ingredient used for baking. But the same stuff, when it's inside you is called glucose (or blood sugar) -quite different from table sugar (sucrose). I started doing my own 100gram Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT), as I began my diabetic recovery. BTW in 2017, my fatty liver cirrhosis cost me a liver transplant, so I had been seriously ill from metabolic issues. I was on Ozempic, in 2018. But I weaned off of it by simply reducing my carbs to only "salad stuff", while holding protein and fat the same. Anyway, my home made OGTT results, and several consecutive A1-c readings of 5.0 and below finally convinced my Endocrinologist to very kindly dismiss me as a patient, for being "boring", i.e., normal. On my last visit, I asked her (as I had asked my primary care doctor) "why don't you push lifestyle harder --why did I have to figure this out myself?" "Because people get angry when you tell them that," they both said. I get angry when they don't. Sorry for the long editorial. You (95% of us) can do this with no more serious a drug than metformin. You can now get at least two brands of continuous glucose monitors (CGM) without prescription. Mine costs $100, for 2 two-week sensors. That's spendy but you can learn a lot, if you write down the data and think about it (it doesn't download data, which is a bummer). Anyway, cheers!

Hi . I'm sure protecting that new liver is great incentive. If ever I donate an organ (or my family donates one on my behalf), I hope it goes to someone like you. Congratulations on being too "boring" to treat. That is awesome!
I can understand why doctors are so reluctant to push their patients too hard. One of my closest friends left family medicine, in part, because too many people demanded prescriptions or surgery without ever trying alternatives, like lifestyle or dietary changes. When she pushed them to try alternatives first, they complained. It frustrated her to no end.
But I also understand the patients. Food addiction and decades of eating habits can be incredibly difficult to fight and undo, especially for those with debilitating comorbidities or unusual amounts of stress. For many, another major challenge is figuring out how to prioritize themselves and their health without feeling like they are letting others down.
I hope your story and your success inspire others to give your approach a try. Thanks for sharing your story. I hope you are always able to remain diabetes-medication-free and that your new liver allows you to live a long and full life. - Lori (Team Member)