Healthy Journal - January 29th
By Rhonda Hale
“What can I do to make Mississippi healthier?” It seemed like a daunting task until Irealized it must start with one person at a time. Me.
Rhonda Hale, CFE Asst. Chief Financial Officer University Physicians
Just three months ago, I was diagnosed with diabetes. At the age of 36, I have joined the 372,000 other Mississippi residents who are trying to fight this disease. A new journey has begun. I had been pre-diabetic for a number of years and failed to comprehend the urgency of not becoming diabetic. This is a journey I never expected to be on and may have been avoidable if I had known more.
Please join me along this journey. Together, we can learn about diabetes and all the necessary lifestyle changes. We can also learn the steps that you could take to avoid this journey. For the next six months, I will provide progress updates, tips and key facts about the disease. As our knowledge about diabetes grows, hopefully we can take control of the disease - one person at a time.
Did you know?
Blood glucose monitoring is the main tool you have to check your diabetes control. The A1C test measures your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3 months. In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting average, it tells you about a person's overall success. Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting record gives the same big picture. As a diabetic, you should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was diagnosed or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall glucose control, your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year and maybe as often as four times per year. The A1C test can help you manage diabetes by confirming self-testing results, determining whether a treatment plan is working and showing you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes control.
Below is my A1C result measured on 01/09/2013. An A1C of 8.7 correlates with an average blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL. Since the A1C test measures the average of the past 2 to 3 months, I will provide new lab results in March 2013 and June 2013.
My goal is to see improvement in these results. I want my A1C to be, at least, less than 7.0. However, if I can get there or lower with medicines, then my ultimate goal would be to come off of diabetes medicines altogether and keep my A1C less than 7.0 without medicines. You see, I am accountable to each and everyone of you now.
I have partnered with Dr. Zeb Henson (Assistant Professor in the General Medicine and Hypertension Division). If you are struggling with diabetes,pre-diabetic, have a family history of diabetes or just want to learn more about it – or – you would like to provide encouragement, tips or valuable information for my success, please feel free to reach out to me personally (rhale2@umc.edu). I am excited about our journey together. Watch for updates next month!