Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  0913     Reading:  114

Blood Pressure:     Time:  0919     BP:  129/71     Pulse:  64

Breakfast:  1025  & Meds What she ate:  1 hard over egg, heavily peppered 2 slices thick cut sugar cured lean bacon 1 slice toasted oat bran bread with 1.5 tbl Fleischmann's margarine 1/4 tsp cinnamon on bread 6 oz orange juice diluted w/8 oz water
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	1 hour before breakfast	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with Niferex-150	helps the body metabolize iron
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin
Protonix/40 mg	1 pill at least 1/2 hour pre-meal	standard pre-breakfast med
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
aspirin/81 mg	1 tab with breakfast	standard breakfast med - given for anti-coagulant properties
lisinopril/1.25 mg	1/4 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
Daily Senior Multivitamin	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
folic acid/400 mcg	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	standard breakfast supplement; a natural antibiotic and anti-coagulant
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties; among other reasons; appears to be of benefit to type 2 diabetics, as well, in its role as a smooth muscled organ protectant, particularly the pancreas, which produces insulin
1/4 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard once a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    That's right, I took her blood glucose reading at 0913 and that was after she was already in the bathroom and stripped for bathing. She awoke on her own, this morning, at this hour, and I was very pleased to see this.
    I gave her lisinopril this morning...her blood pressure seemed to indicate that she could handle it. Other than that, nothing out of the ordinary. How wonderful it is to have normal days, again!

Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1404     Reading:  122

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1411     BP:  100/57     Pulse:  68

Lunch:  1445  & Meds What she ate:  Approx 8 oz Marie Callendar's Beef Pot Roast Soup mixed with some left over generic canned chili from last night. Approx 6 oz 4% milk fat small curd cottage cheese 11.5 oz V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
18 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	1 18 mg tab with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron

    We had to make a trip to Costco, today. We went right after breakfast, as she had lots of energy this morning. She ate samples through the store, although there weren't as many as usual, just enough to whet her appetite. After the extended walkering, as we passed the lunch stand at Costco and smelled the warmed pizzas she said, "Let's go home and eat!" So, that's what we did.
    I was pleased with her BG reading, considering that she'd been sampling. I was a little surprised by her BP reading, as I didn't think this morning's lisinopril would take it down that much, but, she walked a lot, today, so that may have had something to do with the low reading at lunch.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  2023     Reading:  88

Blood Pressure:     Time:  2030     BP:  156/78     Pulse:  55

Dinner:  ?  & Meds What she ate:  Approx 9 oz serving of Costco's baked stuffed salmon; approx 6 oz was fish.
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
lisinopril/1.25 mg	1/4 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
calcium-vitamin D/500-200 mg	with meal	believed to be an osteoporosis preventative

    Not sure what's going on with her BP, this evening. Her BP usually lowers a lot right after an exercise session, but that didn't happen, this time. I hope it's not another UTI. Anyway, I gave her lisinopril. That should help.
    You'll notice we had no vegetables at all, tonight. We discussed having beets, but both of us were so hungry for salmon we decided, nah, there are 3 pieces of salmon in the carton, we'll bake 'em all and if 1 piece apiece doesn't satisfy us, we'll split the 3rd. The third is now marinating in lemon juice in the refrigerator. I'll probably use it in a salad on Monday.

Today's Stats:

Lunch No-stats
    Again, she became hungry earlier than would be normal lunch time, and I honored her hunger with a 3.5 oz bag of microwave popcorn and V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp cinnamon. This time, I didn't bother with stats at all, not even before her nap, as I did yesterday. She laid down late this afternoon, exhausted, probably from the workout and the incredible surge of well-being she felt, and the energy she used on behalf of both.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1912     Reading:  132

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1923     BP:  100/60     Pulse:  83

Dinner:  ?  & Meds What she ate:  Nachos, made with those Doritos chip cups, generic canned chili, a smoky chipotle salsa, lots of sliced green onions, sharp cheddar cheese, MPBIL's very hot Southwestern Fire and sour cream to top it off.
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
calcium-vitamin D/500-200 mg	with meal	believed to be an osteoporosis preventative

    Although all she said, when I was finally able to awaken her (I tried twice, the first time, a half hour before I was able to get through to her, she was so deep in sleep that she did not even respond to my touch, and that always gets some sort of response, even if it's only a twitch), that she felt "a little stiff", she was moving like a hardwood board and, once she sat down, she didn't move again until she had to go to the bathroom, once, then decided to go to bed.
    Obviously, I gave her no lisinopril tonight. I'm not worried about the blood glucose. I gave her the standard meds and I figure that her blood glucose will be well within her "new" range in the morning.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  0952     Reading:  134

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1018     BP:  134/72     Pulse:  80

Breakfast:  1045  & Meds What she ate:  1 hard over egg, heavily peppered 1 4 oz slice honey cured ham steak 1 Costco oatmeal raisin cookie with 1/5 Tbl Fleischmann's margarine 1/4 tsp cinnamon on cookie 6 oz orange juice diluted w/8 oz water
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	1 hour before breakfast	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with Niferex-150	helps the body metabolize iron
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin
Protonix/40 mg	1 pill at least 1/2 hour pre-meal	standard pre-breakfast med
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
aspirin/81 mg	1 tab with breakfast	standard breakfast med - given for anti-coagulant properties
lisinopril/1.25 mg	1/4 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
Daily Senior Multivitamin	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
folic acid/400 mcg	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	standard breakfast supplement; a natural antibiotic and anti-coagulant
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties; among other reasons; appears to be of benefit to type 2 diabetics, as well, in its role as a smooth muscled organ protectant, particularly the pancreas, which produces insulin
1/4 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard once a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    Breakfast was at a decent hour. I let her sleep until she was ready to arise. Decided to substitute an oatmeal raisin cookie for her bread, just to see how she handles the extra sugar. Nothing else noteworthy. She's looking good but feeling a little tired, from the trip, she says. At least she remembers the trip, which is good.

Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1629     Reading:  158

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1636     BP:  116/64     Pulse:  78

Lunch:  from about 1300 - 1700  & Meds What she ate:  1 3.5 oz bag microwave popcorn 2 Tbl sour cream approx 6 oz large curd 4% milk fat cottage cheese, heavily peppered, sprinkled with dill pickle relish 11.5 oz V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tab with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron

    The reason I call them "sort of" lunch stats is because from about 2 hours after breakfast she commenced to snacking and didn't stop until she laid down for a nap at a little before 1700. When she gets hungry, like this, I know she needs it, so I let her eat her fill, and pretty much whatever she wants, within reason. I monitor her choices to certain purposes; for instance: Today, because she'd a lose stool this morning, I tried to get in some milk products, although, as it turns out, she factored in some, herself. When her eating binge began, I "caught" her standing at an open refrigerator forking large dollops of sour cream into her mouth. I wasn't upset about her eating sour cream, but I was upset about her continuing to eat out of shared containers, and told her so.
    At any rate, from this point on, she suggested the popcorn, which I almost nixed, then, decided, ah, what the hell, what's another bowel clean-up? I suggested the V-8 juice, at this point because I figured I wasn't going to get stats in, or a formal lunch, so I went along for the ride and made sure she got her cinnamon. Some time she couldn't put her finger on what she wanted, so I took the opportunity to suggest the cottage cheese with pepper and dill relish, which I had her chase with her iron pills and vitamin C. So, she got those in.
    Just before she laid down, my curiosity about how her body was doing with this pretty near constant eating, so I decided to take the stats above. She did fine with it, I'm pleased to note.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1938     Reading:  102

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1945     BP:  124/67     Pulse:  76

Dinner:  2020  & Meds What she ate:  Cobb salad, loaded with all kinds of good stuff, featuring, this time, celery in the vegetable mix; with Doritos Nachos chips, of course, and home made Ranch dressing
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
lisinopril/1.25 mg	1/4 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
calcium-vitamin D/500-200 mg	with meal	believed to be an osteoporosis preventative

    I am marveling at how easy it is to keep Mom's blood glucose in check. I'm wondering what a Hemoglobin A1c would look like, about now, but we probably won't have one for another 3 months. Oh well, as long as she's doing fine, that's what counts.
    So, although she hadn't actually ever stopped eating, today, except to take a nap in the early evening, Cobb salad seemed in order, I suggested it and she thought it was a good idea. As usual, she ate every last crumb and dab on her plate.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  0530     Reading:  183 - Whoa!

Blood Pressure:     Time:  0604     BP:  161/88     Pulse:  89

Breakfast:  0615  & Meds What she ate:  1 hard over egg, heavily peppered 4 oz sugar cured ham steak 1 slice toasted oat bran bread with 1.5 tbl Fleischmann's margarine 1/4 tsp cinnamon on bread 6 oz orange juice diluted w/8 oz water
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	1 hour before breakfast	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with Niferex-150	helps the body metabolize iron
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin
Protonix/40 mg	1 pill at least 1/2 hour pre-meal	standard pre-breakfast med
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
aspirin/81 mg	1 tab with breakfast	standard breakfast med - given for anti-coagulant properties
lisinopril/1.25 mg	1/4 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
Daily Senior Multivitamin	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
folic acid/400 mcg	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	standard breakfast supplement; a natural antibiotic and anti-coagulant
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties; among other reasons; appears to be of benefit to type 2 diabetics, as well, in its role as a smooth muscled organ protectant, particularly the pancreas, which produces insulin

    So, although I'm changing the time on the posts to reflect September 15, 2004, I am actually inputting these stats September 16, 2004. Interesting stats, don't you think?!?
    I actually wasn't sure, until about a half hour after taking her blood glucose, why her blood sugar was so high this morning. We had a very low carb dinner. Then, as I was preparing her place at the table for breakfast while she was still in the bathroom getting dressed, I noticed that I'd doled her pills Tuesday evening but had never gotten them to her in the living room. That suddenly shifted me into a different perspective. Considering that she got no medication at all, last night, except aloe vera gel, this was actually a good reading. Had she slept in until about 0900, I'll bet it would have been in the 130s, or even lower.
    At any rate you can bet I was meticulous about pill administration the rest of the day...well, sort of. I forgot her iron at lunch, as you'll see. But, her dinner stats were great.
    I was concerned about her high BP, although it gave me the opportunity to give her lisinopril. However, as you'll see, that also straightened itself out.
    Her bowel movements are continuing every 36 hours or so. She had one yesterday morning just before we left for Mesa, and we still got out on time. Although I know she probably doesn't consciously sense it, she "works better" when she's having regular bowel movement. She's looser from the waist down. Weird how that works.

No Stat Lunch
    I considered, just before we stepped out the door on our way to , one of her favorite "fast served food" restaurants, taking her stats, then decided, "Nah. She'll be fine."
    And, she was. Without the cinnamon. She ate lightly, which surprised me. It was my choice, since, when I'm doing physical labor I don't like to eat heavy, to have a dinner salad and a bowl of their chili, which has a smoky flavor I love; very few if any tomatoes, no beans. Mom decided on the same thing. We ate, oh, probably around 1400-1430. We both finished every last drop and bite. Then, we headed back to the house, surveyed what we'd packed, I put it in the truck and we had no more space, so we stopped for the day and arrived home in Prescott at 0530. I took her stats for dinner. Nice, huh!

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1828     Reading:  101

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1835     BP:  103/59     Pulse:  75

Dinner:  1900  & Meds What she ate:  A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of that: Approx 8 oz left over Mac & Cheese Approx 8 oz left over Sauerkraut & polish sausage with caraway seeds
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
calcium-vitamin D/500-200 mg	with meal	believed to be an osteoporosis preventative

    No cranberry juice, today, but this last batch has been very sour and we appear to be controlling the recurrence of her UTI.
    I'd suggested an after dinner Costco oatmeal raisin cookie, but by the time dinner was over we were too full and tired to remember the cookie.
    I'm finally getting the hang of relaxing about her blood sugar, and am very pleased about this. It seems, the less I stress, the less likely her blood sugar is to bounce around. I mean, it probably doesn't work that way, but it seems like it.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1031     Reading:  115

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1107     BP:  139/64     Pulse:  61

Breakfast:  1130  & Meds What she ate:  1 hard over egg, heavily peppered 3 slices thick cut sugar cured lean bacon 1 slice toasted oat bran bread with 1.5 tbl Fleischmann's margarine 1/4 tsp cinnamon on bread 6 oz orange juice diluted w/8 oz water
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	1 hour before breakfast	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with Niferex-150	helps the body metabolize iron
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin
Protonix/40 mg	1 pill at least 1/2 hour pre-meal	standard pre-breakfast med
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
aspirin/81 mg	1 tab with breakfast	standard breakfast med - given for anti-coagulant properties
lisinopril/1.25 mg	1/4 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
Daily Senior Multivitamin	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
folic acid/400 mcg	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	standard breakfast supplement; a natural antibiotic and anti-coagulant
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties; among other reasons; appears to be of benefit to type 2 diabetics, as well, in its role as a smooth muscled organ protectant, particularly the pancreas, which produces insulin
1/4 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard once a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    So, even after the burger last night, and the fries and onion rings, everything seems to be in order. She sure looks good, and her energy holds out (relatively {to the universe} speaking, that is). She'll be doing a fair amount of walkering before lunch, so we'll see how things shake out.

Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1542     Reading:  90

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1548     BP:  111/56     Pulse:  65

Lunch:  1600  & Meds What she ate:  Approx 8 oz Marie Callendar's Beef Pot Roast Soup with added chopped green onion and beef (jerky) Approx 4 oz (that's all we had, so I know, now, she's been "sneaking" it, which is excellent, considering her blood glucose readings) small curd 4% milkfat cottage cheese, heavily peppered 11.5 oz V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tab with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron

    You'll notice, as of a few days ago, I've put her back on 36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate at lunch. I think she could use it, up here.
    So, everything looks excellent, doesn't it?!? She got some walkering in before lunch, about which I'll talk over at =>Moving =>Mom later, because it bears noting.
    Splendid stats. Absolutely no complaints. I did think to ask her last night, and again this morning, if she was going hungry throughout the day.
    "No," she said, matter-of-factly. "If I do, I just go to the refrigerator."
    So, I'm thinking, she's eating a fair amount off schedule and her blood glucose is still performing very nicely. This is excellent news. Excellent.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1955     Reading:  92

Blood Pressure:     Time:  2003     BP:  142/66     Pulse:  60

Dinner:  2030  & Meds What she ate:  Approx 8 oz. grilled rib eye steak with probably 3 Tbl A-1 Steak Sauce (original flavor) Dinner salad with herb greens, carrots, Bermuda onion, cabbage, green olives with about 2 Tbl Home made ranch dressing A very small russet potato, baked, with about 2 Tbl margarine, 2 Tbl sour cream, lightly salted, heavily peppered
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
lisinopril/1.25 mg	1/4 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
calcium-vitamin D/500-200 mg	with meal	believed to be an osteoporosis preventative

    This is amazing...a near perfect day without metformin and without painful calculation regarding what she should and could eat. I'm very curious to see what her blood glucose will be tomorrow. I'm wondering if the aloe vera gel works cumulatively. I read, someplace, that the rather poor studies upon which the determination that aloe vera gel helps boost the body's sensitivity to insulin also insinuated that aloe vera gel doesn't "work" immediately, but over time, as the body incorporates it every day. Maybe this is true.
    I was surprised by her blood pressure, but considered it an opportunity to administer lisinopril twice today. I guess, in a couple of days, I'll either be able to connect it up to some other body happenings; or, maybe I won't, maybe these raised systolics will go without explanation.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1132     Reading:  126

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1141     BP:  135/66     Pulse:  64

Breakfast:  1200  & Meds What she ate:  1 hard over egg, heavily peppered 3 slices thick cut sugar cured lean bacon 1 slice toasted oat bran bread with 1.5 tbl Fleischmann's margarine 1/4 tsp cinnamon on bread 6 oz orange juice diluted w/8 oz water
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	1 hour before breakfast	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with Niferex-150	helps the body metabolize iron
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin
Protonix/40 mg	1 pill at least 1/2 hour pre-meal	standard pre-breakfast med
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
aspirin/81 mg	1 tab with breakfast	standard breakfast med - given for anti-coagulant properties
lisinopril/1.25 mg	1/4 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
Daily Senior Multivitamin	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
folic acid/400 mcg	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	standard breakfast supplement; a natural antibiotic and anti-coagulant
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties; among other reasons; appears to be of benefit to type 2 diabetics, as well, in its role as a smooth muscled organ protectant, particularly the pancreas, which produces insulin
1/4 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard once a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    Mom, as it turns out, was up about an hour earlier than me. I awoke very early, then started feeling bad, took my temperature, it was a little over 100, took some ibuprofen, checked in on Mom and laid down. I bolted awake at 1120. Mom had been up "for a while", I'm thinking about an hour. Just sat at the dinette table and quietly read. I was surprised that she didn't eat, or anything. She also downed a 12 oz glass of water on her own.
    I rustled up breakfast for her, we played some Sorry she decided she wanted to go to bed and I coaxed her into doing her therapy exercises, a session that went well. Then, later, I had to pick up just a few items at Costco. She didn't want to go. I didn't blame her. The floor is exceptionally hard and the way is long. So, I told her she must stay up while I was gone, I'd probably be gone an hour. I was back exactly an hour later. She was up. Had finished some tea I gave her. Things are going well. I'm not, I'm still having a bit of a problem with this cold, but things are.

Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1601     Reading:  121

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1608     BP:  106/58     Pulse:  65

Lunch:  1615  & Meds What she ate:  approx 12 oz Marie Callendar's Chicken Pot Pie soup with extra green peppers, carrots, green onions and chicken 11.5 oz V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tab with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron

    I'm very pleased how my mother's day is going, even though mine isn't going so well. She's making sounds like she wants to take a nap, but this is the first time today she's done that. I'll probably let her. She might stay up, though. I'll let her do that, too.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1941     Reading:  97

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1948     BP:  143/63     Pulse:  60

Dinner:  2000  & Meds What she ate:  1 Carl's Junior Six Dollar Western Bacon Burger with half & half fries and onion rings and a diet coke. Polished the entire meal down to the last crumb.
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
lisinopril/1.25 mg	1/4 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
calcium-vitamin D/500-200 mg	with meal	believed to be an osteoporosis preventative

    I gave her lisinopril tonight. She wasn't over hydrated, even though her feet were a tiny bit swollen, so I'm not sure what's causing the leap in blood pressure, unless it's that UTI coming on again. I guess we'll be able to tell in the next few days.
    She took a very short nap late this afternoon; was up in less than an hour. Read, did crossword puzzles, beat me at a game of Sorry, watched the season premiere of Everwood, a show she follows, then decided the news wasn't "worth staying up for" and went to bed.
    I'm feeling good tonight about how her day, especially her hunger and her appetite to stay up. Good feeling to go to bed, tonight, on that note.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1003     Reading:  118

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1010     BP:  119/70     Pulse:  66

Breakfast:  1100  & Meds What she ate:  1 hard over egg, heavily peppered 2 slices thick cut sugar cured lean bacon 1 slice toasted oat bran bread with 1.5 tbl Fleischmann's margarine 1/4 tsp cinnamon on bread 6 oz orange juice diluted w/8 oz water
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	1 hour before breakfast	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with Niferex-150	helps the body metabolize iron
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin
Protonix/40 mg	1 pill at least 1/2 hour pre-meal	standard pre-breakfast med
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
aspirin/81 mg	1 tab with breakfast	standard breakfast med - given for anti-coagulant properties
lisinopril/1.25 mg	1/4 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
Daily Senior Multivitamin	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
folic acid/400 mcg	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	standard breakfast supplement; a natural antibiotic and anti-coagulant
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties; among other reasons; appears to be of benefit to type 2 diabetics, as well, in its role as a smooth muscled organ protectant, particularly the pancreas, which produces insulin
1/4 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard once a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    She was up on her own at a good time, stats good, energy level good, but body trailing far behind. She's been complaining of stiffness all morning and, when she complains, of anything, it's best to take notice. Finally, after a hearty breakfast, a neck-and-neck game of Sorry she tried to get up to throw away a Kleenex and shifted clumsily, grabbed onto the counter and stood there until I reinforced her. She insisted on making it, with the help of the counter, around to the garbage basket under the sink but kept mutter, "It's my knees, it's just my knees."
    Could be too little exercise over the last few days, could be too much walkering and not enough strengthening, could have nothing to do with either of those variables. All I know is that, after watching her, I gave her 500 mg acetaminophen and told her she could lie down, if she wanted.
    She responded with her Cheshire Cat Grin Pose. Not that she'd been manipulating the morning to go like this, but, as she often says, if she had've thought of it, she would've.
    I told her that, tomorrow, we'd have to hit the ground running. She agreed. She remembers what begins tomorrow. "I'm glad we have one more day before we get really busy," she said. I'm glad we're not going down tomorrow."
    "Well, Mom, we're going to be really busy tomorrow, even though we won't be going to the Valley 'till Tuesday. We need a storage shed and boxes, and I've got some important calls to make."
    "Well, you know what I mean."
    "Yes," I said, with a conspiratorial smile, "I know what you mean."

Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1604     Reading:  107

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1606     BP:  116/63     Pulse:  78

Lunch:  1615  & Meds What she ate:  1 3.5 oz bag microwave popcorn approx 6 oz small curd 4% milkfat cottage cheese, heavily peppered 11.5 oz V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tab with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron

    Once again, after offering to make soup, tuna open-faced grilled melts with olives, even a toasted cheese sandwich with de-fatted pepperoni, she asked, again, for popcorn, and took up the offer on the V-8 juice and cottage cheese. Sometimes, she gets into these food ruts...
    But, you know, all her stats looked good, she took a reviving nap, her energy is a bit low and she was intransigient when I suggested doing her therapy exercises: "Not now. Maybe later." I'm not going to worry, even though it seems that she's been lethargic for a couple of days, now. Things will pick up this week. I guarantee.
    I think she may be experiencing some temporary depression about letting the house in Mesa go, too. I just get that sense. I understand depression, even though my mother does not. So, I'll let her have one more day, and I'll take one more, as well.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  2022     Reading:  154

Blood Pressure:     Time:  2047     BP:  124/57     Pulse:  59

Dinner:  2105  & Meds What she ate:  approx 12 oz macaroni & cheese, heavy with ground chuck, sauteed onions, celery and green peppers and extra Vermont sharp cheddar.
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
calcium-vitamin D/500-200 mg	with meal	believed to be an osteoporosis preventative

    I'm not sure what's up with her. After she ate her lunch, she wanted to go back to bed. I argued with her a little, then let her. This explains the high blood glucose. She did nothing to work it off.
    Usually, on days like this, she eats very little dinner, but, tonight, when I asked her what she might want, she replied, "Something that sticks to your ribs."
    "Mac and cheese, with hamburger and sauteed veggies, extra cheese?"
    "Now you're talking!"
    And, she ate well.
    Now, she's dragging, again, and I expect her to tell me she's decided to go to bed. Again. Today. It's very frustrating. I tried to get her to do therapy exercises between lunch and dinner...snuck it up on her, set up the living room, had her sit in her usual exercise chair, handed her the weights and she simply refused to move.
    Well, tomorrow, no excuses. If she can't keep up she gets dragged behind. That should get her going.