Take that, Diabeetus!!

So today I had an appointment that I used to absolutely dread.  I had my endocrinologist appointment.  My diabetes doctor.  Dun dun duuuuuun.  But lately, they haven't been too shabby!

For those of you who don't know, I was diagnosed with diabetes at age 12, in November 1999. Right before Thanksgiving.  Worst Thanksgiving ever.  Anyway, I had been drinking a lot and peeing a lot.  We went to the movies as a family (on some random weeknight, I'm sure, which I loved), and I drank a ginormous Coke by myself before the previews even started.  Dad was like, "Okay, that's it.  We're checking her bloodsugar when we get home!"  Mom had gestational diabetes while pregnant with my little sis, so we checked my sugar when we got home and it was like 475 (holy moly!  Normal bloodsugar is 70-110, actually back then I think it was 80-120...still crazy high).  So just to be sure it was really bad and not some coke and popcorn-induced hyperglycemia, we checked it in the morning after not eating and it was still like 375.  So BAM.  Welcome to my life, Type 1 Diabetes!  I didn't take care of myself like I should have the first few years because A) I didn't want to be different and B) I didn't really understand anything like the actual process of the diet and insulin and the horrible consequences that come from not controlling this disease.

Even as an adult and with an insulin pump, I still used to have difficulty regulating my sugars and keeping my lab levels normal.  But for the last like 1-1.5 years, my lab levels have been glorious, and my blood sugars fairly well under control.  For you who understand, my hemoglobin A1c level from today was 6.1!!  I'm fairly certain that it's the best it's ever been!  I think when I was in 11th grade and got dumped and basically refused to eat for several weeks because I was convinced I got broken up with because I was not skinny enough to keep the guy (I never said I was a rational teenager...) my hemoglobin A1c was like 6.2.  That level is supposed to be less than 6.5 in diabetics, and I could barely keep it below 7.5 or 8 like 3 years ago.  So I am very pleased!  Blood tests to check the function of my kindeys and liver were great as well!  However, cholesterol is kinda getting the drop on me (as usual), but I blame genetics.  It runs in the family.  And my blood pressure has been slightly elevated, but unfortunately it's kinda par for the course with diabetics.  Overall, I am SO very blessed to be in such good health considering all of my diagnosed maladies.

My life changed tremendously in November 1999, but I think it changed me for the better.  I think about how I would probably eat if I weren't diabetic and had to be conscious of everything I put in my mouth all the time (not that I always make the best decisions), and it is astounding.  I love chicken fingers, pasta, french fries, chocolate... practically everything that's terrible for me.  But I have to eat that stuff in moderation.  And Hunter helps me out a lot in that arena, too.  He's healthy voluntarily, and he's probably more healthy than I am anyway.

In other news, here are some photos from the past months that I've sucked at posting:

Me and my man on Christmas, complete with the lovely scarf from my sis.

I just love this gift bag and wanted to share it with everyone.  Just to prove that my sister is better than your sister.

Dad and Robin came to visit, and I was slack about taking pictures, but we were in a store downtown and Dad found a hilarious book and he kept cracking up.  It was almost funnier watching him lose his mind laughing than the book itself!

Some of the girls on a shopping trip!  Very fun night!

AND MY BABY GIRL TURNED TWENTY-TWO YEARS OLD!!  I CAN'T HANDLE IT!

Here's a pic but I'll make a separate post about it.  She deserves it.

We all met in Columbia to dine together to celebrate Anna making it to 22 years, haha.

Here's the funny quote for the post.  My friend Jonetta had her wisdom teeth out, and we had been texting beforehand so when she got out of surgery and was still quite under the influence of the anesthesia, she thought it would be a good idea to call me.  I can't quote my favorite one because it has a dirty word in it (surprise, surprise), but here goes:

"Leah, my mouth used to be pretty.  It's not pretty anymore..."

Now that I typed it out, it's not that funny.  But listening to her say it while she was still pretty high and seeing it again on the video that her significant other took, it was hilarious.  I love her intensely.