Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1058     Reading:  71

Blood Pressure:     No longer taken at this     time unless necessary

Breakfast:  1215  & 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 when used with glipizide
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/2.5 mg	1/2 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

    Nothing unusual, a little slow getting out of bed, but not out of hand.

Non-stat Lunch

Lunch:  1705  & Meds What she ate:  1/2 3 oz bag "lite" microwave popcorn 8 unpitted variety olives in a vinegar, olive oil, dill brine 11.5 oz V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
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

    Once again, I simply forgot to take stats. But, although she, once again, had a long nap, she awoke feeling good with a normal lunch appetite, and ready to watch a movie we'd discussed earlier in the day.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  2012     Reading:  102

Blood Pressure:     Time:  2016     BP:  133/60     Pulse:  57

Dinner:  2020  & Meds What she ate:  Cobb Salad, exactly like last night, except a deviled egg was substituted for the chopped egg
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
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/2.5 mg	1/2 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
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    Mom's blood pressure, tonight, reflects laughing. She was watching something on TV when I was taking her BP and started laughing. I asked her to stop and she erupted into an absolute gale of laughter!
    Medications are back to normal tonight.
    Although I neglected to take her blood sugar before her lunch, considering her dinner BP, I'll bet it was pretty low; possibly even normal.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  0855     Reading:  83

Blood Pressure:     No longer taken at this     time unless necessary

Breakfast:  1140  & 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 when used with glipizide
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/2.5 mg	1/2 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

    You'll notice the extraordinary lag between the measurement of my mother's blood sugar and serving her breakfast. Today was blood draw day. I took her blood sugar, as usual, when she awoke but immediately after her bath we headed to the lab so her blood work would reflect a fasting state. Didn't eat breakfast until after we returned.
    So, the time lag may not make much difference in what happens in regards to the timing of her meals, today. But, just out of curiosity, I think I'll feed her soup, again, and olives, I think, and see what happens to her blood sugar between lunch and dinner, which we've already decided will be Cobb salad.

Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1711     Reading:  108

Blood Pressure:     No longer taken at this     time unless necessary

Lunch:  1715  & Meds What she ate:  1/2 3 oz bag "lite" microwave popcorn 8 unpitted variety olives in a vinegar, olive oil, dill brine 11.5 oz V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
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
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    Well, I tried. I suggested soup when she arose from her nap. "What kind?" she asked. Always a bad sign.
    "I thought maybe that beef soup you had yesterday."
    No response. Thoughtful look.
    "Chicken? That Chicken Pot Pie soup with extra chicken and onions and some curry seasoning?"
    "I don't know if I want soup..."
    I really wanted her to have soup, for reasons explained in yesterday's meal stats...so, instead of suggesting something else, I asked her what she wanted, thinking she wouldn't come up with anything. I was wrong.
    "How about some popcorn? And olives."
    Shit. Oh well. It's been a blood draw day, which is always a bit hard, I wasn't about to overrule her desires. So, I added to them. "And V-8 juice?"
    Zesty response: "Sounds good!"
    So, that's what she had.
    I was surprised by her blood sugar. Took it twice, just to make sure.

Non-stat Dinner

Dinner:  2015  & Meds What she ate:  Cobb Salad with the usual ingredients, including olives, and chopped ham and egg, and home made buttermilk ranch dressing
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
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/2.5 mg	1/2 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
291.66 mg Augmentin	1/3 of an 875 mg tabl with meal	to address UTI infection
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    No, you read right. I forgot to take stats. She was hungry just three hours after lunch, and, as well, I ended up having to change her bed twice today, so, in the busy after-evening I forgot to take stats. Because she ended up having popcorn for lunch, I was very curious about her blood sugar, and even more curious about her blood pressure because of the second watershed, today. But, oh well, she's alive, feeling good, and today's the last day of antibiotics. And, now, she's too relaxed to bother her with taking her blood pressure.
    Tonight, because I expect that she's going to fight staying up longer that she really wants, I decided, last night and all, to administer the antibiotics and the iron together. It's not that they're dangerous together, it's that iron and other minerals can drain effectiveness from antibiotics.
    Her appetite was excellent. Her mood is very good. She's annoyed with the bruise on her arm and won't leave it alone, but the day has been salvaged.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1141     Reading:  88

Blood Pressure:     No longer taken at this     time unless necessary

Breakfast:  1245  & 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 when used with glipizide
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/2.5 mg	1/2 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
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    Normal everything, including behavior.

Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1653     Reading:  137

Blood Pressure:     No longer taken at this     time unless necessary

Lunch:  1715  & Meds What she ate:  approx 8 oz Beef Pot Roast soup with added beef, green onions and 1/4 tsp cinnamon approx 6 of MCS's home made bread and butter pickles
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
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

    I suppose her blood sugar will soar before I feed her dinner tonight. Two more days of antibiotics. I'll be glad when we're done with them.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1928     Reading:  119

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1932     BP:  141/64     Pulse:  58

Dinner:  1950  & Meds What she ate:  5 buffalo wings approx 1 cup small curd 4% milkfat cottage cheese 11.5 oz V-8 juice
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs 2 hours after 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/2.5 mg	1/2 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
291.66 mg Augmentin	1/3 of an 875 mg tablet with meal	to address UTI

    Needless to say, I was surprised at her blood sugar, especially considering that it had been not quite 3 hours since she ate "lunch". I'm confused, now. When she's not on antibiotics, her normal lunch will bring her blood sugar to normal or close to normal before dinner. Today, it was soup and, considering that the added beef jerky was teriyaki flavor and one of the ingredients that "makes" teriyaki teriyaki is sugar; the soup, itself, had sugar listed on the label, although I'm sure it was in minute quantities. As well, I thought yesterday's blood sugar reading at dinner may have been due to the bread and butter pickles, which include sugar in the brine. And, of course, I've considered shortened time element between meals. Tonight, it was very short, as it was yesterday...her hunger got the best of her, again. And, yet, we got a very nice blood sugar reading. I don't know. I can't explain it, now.
    Sometimes I wonder if it's worth all the analyzation and worry, anyway, since her diabetes is well enough under control so that she's not at risk for the typical long range problems of diabetes.

Today's Stats:

BM Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1134     Reading:  103

Blood Pressure:     No longer taken at this     time unless necessary

Breakfast:  1240  & 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 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 when used with glipizide
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/2.5 mg	1/2 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

    Everything looks good. Normal breakfast, normal blood sugar readings, she definitely looks a little ruddier in the morning, now that I've reinstated her 3rd iron dose in the evening 2 hours after dinner.
    Her Bowel Movement occurred around 1540. Excellent volume, consistency and ease of elimination. I think she's cleaned out for a couple of days, now. I'm pleased that her bowel movements have been so regular and surprised, as well, because I've been feeding her more cheese than usual since I've knocked out her calcium pill until she's done with her antibiotics.

Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1716     Reading:  131

Blood Pressure:     No longer taken at this     time unless necessary

Lunch:  1720  & Meds What she ate:  1/2 3 oz bag "lite" microwave popcorn 5 unpitted variety olives in a vinegar, olive oil, dill brine and some of MCS's home made bread and butter pickles 11.5 oz V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
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

    Everything looks good. I expected her blood sugar to be a little lower, but it's better than her lunch readings (and some of her dinner readings) have been since she started on antibiotics, so I'm satisfied.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1942     Reading:  173

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1946     BP:  128/56     Pulse:  56

Dinner:  2000  & Meds What she ate:  approx 1 cup left over Beef Strogansauer and 1 cup left over Mac & Cheese
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs 2 hours after 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/2.5 mg	1/2 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
291.66 mg Augmentin	1/3 of an 875 mg tab with meal	to address UTI
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    Arrgh! Her blood sugar! These damned antibiotics! Luckily, her blood pressure is going down, but that is primarily because of the watershed she experienced last night. I left her alone (except a little bit) regarding drinking fluids, today. I recounted and tomorrow is actually her last day of antibiotics. Maybe, by the time we go for her appointment on Monday they should just about be out of her system. I hope, anyway. Otherwise, she ate well, felt good, had no problem staying up long enough to take her 3rd dose of iron.
    Ooops, nope, actually, she's got two more days on antibiotics, through the 21st, Friday. Well, some of it may be all the sleeping she's doing, which tends to accordion her meals together, all of which she seems to want. Tomorrow may tell a slightly different blood sugar story, since I'll be waking her up early for a blood draw, which will reschedule her day. It'll be interesting to see what happens.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1123     Reading:  89

Blood Pressure:     No longer taken at this     time unless necessary

Breakfast:  1230  & Meds What she ate:  2 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 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 when used with glipizide
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/2.5 mg	1/2 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
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    Back to normal reading schedule...blood pressure only once a day. Actually, she seems the tiniest bit bloated to me, so her body may be having a little bout of CHF, probably because of the antibiotics and the changes in the rest of her medication. Hopefully it will be over soon. Everything else normal for breakfast, except that she announced that she was "hungry this morning" and wanted two eggs, which I gave her.

No-stat Lunch

Lunch:  1545  & Meds What she ate:  1/2 3 oz bag "lite" microwave popcorn 8 unpitted variety olives in a vinegar, olive oil, dill brine 11.5 oz V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
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 tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron

    I didn't take stats today because I forgot. She surprised me with her hunger only three hours after breakfast, before taking a nap, so, to keep her from rummaging around in the kitchen, I hurriedly prepared her "something to hold [her] up" and realized, halfway through, that I'd forgotten to take her blood sugar. By then it was too late.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1915     Reading:  153

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1918     BP:  143/63     Pulse:  60

Temperature:     Time:  1845     Reading:  98.4

Dinner:  1940  & Meds What she ate:  5 artichoke ravioli approx 1.5 cups meat marinara with added onions, green pepper and celery approx 2 Tbl shredded parmesan cheese
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs at 2130	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/2.5 mg	1/2 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
291.66 mg Augmentin	1/3 of an 875 mg tablet with meal	to address her UTI

    She still seems bloated to me and her blood pressure indicates that she may be retaining water. She had a dry hacking cough earlier so I immediately put her on oxygen. Although she once again announced how hungry she was, only ate about 2/3's of her dinner...in fact, I wondered about her appetite when she mentioned it and told her that if she didn't want to eat all her meal, not to force it.
    You'll notice the temperature reading in the afternoon. I was just curious. Her forehead felt fine so I decided to see if I could get a baseline temp for her on the arterial thermometer since I know that her baseline on a mercury thermometer by mouth is around 97.8-or-9. 98.4 sounds about right for an arterial reading.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1100     Reading:  85

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1108     BP:  156/71     Pulse:  57

Temperature:     Time:  1110     Reading:  99.4

Breakfast:  1225  & 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 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 when used with glipizide
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/2.5 mg	1/2 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
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    Well, it's time for me to cut back and take her blood pressure only at night. It's beginning to irritate her, again, and me, whenever I take it.
    Her temperature is well within normal range for arterial readings. I'll take it tonight to see if it's the same as it's been, and, if it is, I don't think I'll give her acetaminophen tonight and see how it reads tomorrow.
    She wasn't too keen on getting up this morning, but I insisted. I didn't want her sleeping until noon, even though it's been a few days since she's done that.

Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1610     Reading:  159

Blood Pressure:     No longer taken at this     time unless necessary

Lunch:  1615  & Meds What she ate:  1/2 3 oz bag "lite" microwave popcorn 8 unpitted variety olives in a vinegar, olive oil, dill brine 11.5 oz V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
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 tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron

    She's slept a lot, today. By 1300 this afternoon she wanted to nap and I disallowed it until 1330, when she simply arose and headed in on her own and there was no stopping her. Not just a little hour or so nap, either, she really packed in the time. I think this is keeping her high blood sugar up, plus, of course, the affect of the antibiotics. I've been noticing that today, unlike the last several days, she's been soaking her underwear between checkings, which occur every two to three hours. I don't think I've been pushing liquids, but, just in case, I'll lay back on them a bit tomorrow. She actually hasn't been up, today, enough, to drink 2200 ml. Maybe her body is beginning to clean itself out.
    Her color is good, though, and she's not in pain or anything, and her urine looks good, so I think she's okay, except for the reaction to her body not being able to rid itself of excess sugar as quickly as usual.

BM Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1922     Reading:  139

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1926     BP:  155/75     Pulse:  57

Temperature:     Time:  1930     Reading:  100.4

Dinner:  1945  & Meds What she ate:  6 oz ham steak 2 hard over eggs, heavily peppered 1 slice toasted oat bran bread with 1.5 Tbl Fleishmann's margarine and 1/4 tsp cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs 2 hours after meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1 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/2.5 mg	1/2 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
291.66 mg Augmentin	1/3 an 875 mg tablet with meal	to address her UTI

    She ate everything! She got what she asked for at dinner, but I didn't think she'd eat it all. I was wrong. I'm pleased that her appetite remains good. This is an excellent sign. I tried to get her to wait to eat until between 2000 and 2030, but she was having none of it. When I asked her if she might be hungry at that time she said, "I don't know, it's coming on pretty fast, maybe before then..."
    "Whoa," I said, "I'd better alert the chef! We don't want to miss your appetite!"
    Her Bowel Movement occurred at 2145. Fair volume, and, I know this is going to sound gross, but it floated this time, which, I think, is because of the lower amount of iron she's been consuming. It certainly hasn't been because of a lack of fiber. Easy elimination, though, and good consistency.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1030     Reading:  117

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1028     BP:  152/67     Pulse:  52

Temperature:     Time:  1045     Reading:  99.0

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 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 when used with glipizide
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/2.5 mg	1/2 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
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    I'm not sure why her blood sugar is higher than normal this morning. Could be the antibiotics but, at least, no more Christmas dessert muffins. We're done with those and, although they were good, I'm relieved.
    Her blood pressure was high because she awoke on her own only an hour after I'd awakened and I wasn't ready for her, so, while not mean, I was very short with her. I tried to be otherwise because she was in such a good mood, but I wasn't ready to interract with anyone, yet. I am pleased that she awoke on her own. She thought, last night, that she'd sleep 'till noon. So did I. I guess I'm going to have to go to bed earlier and get up earlier.
    Temperature back to normal. I expect that she may have a few more evenings of a touch high then back to normal in the morning. We'll see.

Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1540     Reading:  145

Blood Pressure:     No longer taken at this     time unless necessary

Lunch:  1550  & Meds What she ate:  1/2 3 oz bag "lite" microwave popcorn 8 unpitted variety olives in a vinegar, olive oil, dill brine 11.5 oz V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
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 tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron

    Everything pretty much as expected; I did think her blood sugar might be lower but I'll probably have to wait for that until she's done with her course of antibiotics.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1937     Reading:  86

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1938     BP:  146/70     Pulse:  57

Temperature:     Time:  1940     Reading:  100.4

Dinner:  2000  & Meds What she ate:  approx 2 cups Mac & Cheese with added onion, green pepper, celery, white cheddar cheese, ground beef and sausage
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs given at 2200 tonight	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1 tab with iron supplement - given at 2200 tonight	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/2.5 mg	1/2 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
291.66 mg Augmentin	with meal	to address UTI
500 mg acetaminophen	1 tablet with meal	to address low grade fever

    Tonight, because her feet were slightly swollen, I think her blood pressure is legitimately high. Might be an effect of the antibiotic, or the fighting of the infection going on in her body. Her blood sugar, though, is back to normal, which is good. No more muffins for awhile. I am beginning to wonder if her "low grade fever" in the evening is a low grade fever or if it is common for her to run an arterial temperature of 100.4 in the evening. I think, tomorrow, if I get the same reading, I'll forget about the acetaminophen and see what her temperature is like Tuesday morning.
    I got in a 3rd dose of iron tonight. I'm planning on doing this tomorrow, too, then we'll have her blood drawn for the CBC on Tuesday. That will give the results enough time to filter down to her PCP's office in Mesa before Friday.