It's been eight months since I started the bio-identical hormone treatment. I've seen progress. I've seen some setbacks in my progress. Overall, the last eight months have been interesting, slightly grueling, and very trying on my patience.

Between the supplements and medications that I take, my blood sugars have seen highs and lows. I have no idea how much this process has affected my blood sugars, but I do know that it certainly plays a part. I'm always wondering which supplement raises blood sugars and which lowers. I try to watch for trends, but it's too much to handle when you're taking this many supplements and prescriptions.

Just how many supplements and prescriptions am I supposed to take (I say supposed because I seem to lack discipline in this area)? Well here's my daily list:

Morning: Cortisol, Vitamin D, Fish Oil, a Multi-vitamin (also has minerals), Vitamin B12, L-Tyrosine (for thyroid because my body doesn't tolerate the thyroid supplement), Acidophilus and 16 days out of the month I'm on Progesterone.

Lunch: another Multi-vitamin, Fish Oil, and Acidophilus.

Evening: Multi-vitamin, Fish Oil, Acidophilus, Vitamin D, Progesterone on those 16 days, and a Sleep Formula that includes all natural sleep aids.

In the past week, I've added a few more on my own to help with my skin and some other issues that can't seem to be covered by the current supplements. Those include Vitamin A, Cranberry extract, a combination Vitamin C & E, and Zinc. Next week, I'm adding 5-HTP into the mix. In total, I'm supposed to take 33 pills on a daily basis. They hardly fit into the pill case that I have.

Most people can't understand why a medical regimen should include 33 pills. My lab tests and conditions can explain why I am supposed to take 33 pills a day. My blood levels of Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 are deficient (and these are the only ones that have been tested, so we aren't even sure on the other levels). My cortisol levels showed low levels indicating adrenal fatigue. The other pills are used as aids to help the conditions and symptoms that I have (like Fish Oil for debilitating period pain, Zinc and Vitamin A for my skin, and Acidophilus for healthy immune function).

Cortisol is supposed to increase blood sugars. Progesterone is known to decrease blood sugar. And I'm sure the other list of pills all have interacting decreases and increases on my averages. The only noticeable difference that I see is with my progesterone. As long as I keep things consistent and appropriate (as in, I don't eat more than normal), my blood sugars are much lower when I'm on the Progesterone. Cortisol hasn't seemed to throw me for a loop that's too hard to manage. My A1c went up after I started it, but I also stopped trying quite as hard.

It's daunting to take 33 pills a day. I don't normally take all of them, because I just can't remember or just don't want to. Coordinating food around these pills (some with food, some without) becomes increasingly annoying. But the progress that I've seen makes trying to remember just a little easier. One of my goals for 2009 is to get these pills on a schedule with my schedule. If I can do that, maybe I can watch for trends in my blood sugars and accommodate my insulin for those trends.