See that cat, he's jumping for joy - in spite of early-morning stressors...

I thought for sure I was going to be late.

I got in my car at 7:20 - I'd have enough time to make it into Providence for my 8:00 appointment with the doc - with time to spare. But there was traffic. A lot of it.

I was fairly certain my blood pressure would be through the roof when I finally arrived at the doctor's office 5 minutes late.

But my blood pressure was just fine at 110/70. And my A1C is lower than it's been maybe ever - without an astronomical number of low bloodsugars! On top of that, I've lost 19lbs since my last appointment in May. And my bad cholesterol number - although not yet at that elusive under 100 number, has finally at least hit 100. I was so freaking excited, I forgot all about the damned traffic and relaxed as my endo smiled his way through telling me I was doing a good job....

I'm proud that the changes I've made are paying off - and I'm confident that moving forward with these changes will result in continued improvements in my health. I am lucky and thankful to have a support system that has been at my side - and made it that much easier to stay on track.

But there's still work to do.

First - I am DETERMINED to get that bad cholesterol number under 100 and I NEED help....

So, I'd love advice... Has anyone taken supplements that they've found help with reducing bad cholesterol - Fish Oil? Garlic? Anything others?

Next - Athletes out there... Please, advise. How do you handle your daily exercise? I know that I could be losing more weight if I wasn't having to consume extra calories around exercise to keep my bloodsugar from dropping? Does anyone have methods for reducing/cutting out insulin around exercise that don't involve spikes in bloodsugar? How about sources of carbohydrate that won't pack on pounds?

Finally - My doctor wants me to stop being so obsessive compulsive. About bloodsugar testing and exercise and other things.... Um, dude, I want me to stop being so obsessive compulsive too - but this is how I was made. Any advice from other diabetes-OCD sufferers - how do I stop (over?)thinking?