Somewhat Fed-up.

To say that last week was enough to push anyone over the edge is not an exaggeration!  I won’t go into all the work hassle but suffice to say we were without email for seven days….?*! Can you imagine?  It made life very difficult, on top of the fact there are quite a few ‘big’ issues on-going at the moment – not that that is much of a change in recent months.  Hey ho. 
 
It was also my week of a number of medical appointments.  It is not a surprise really – because I got back into the NHS system when I returned to the UK, of course it makes sense that all the check-ups or annual or six monthly appointments fall at the same time.  In some ways it is good to get them over and done with, but this past week was particularly trying as there have been a few ‘updates’ from the recent blood-tests which needed to be considered.  

​To be honest, after a ‘joint’ appointment with my Diabetic Nurse and the specialist Dietician I’m finding it all a bit depressing.  Well, with one attitude it could be positive, but the reality is more sobering.  Basically, they have suggested that because my blood sugars have not been going down sufficiently quickly despite having a weekly injection for nearly 12 months, then it is best to try a very strict diet (regarding both food types and calorific intake) for the next two-to-three months, and this will then either a) put diabetes into remission or b) indicate that insulin injections is the way forward.  It’s all about whether the pancreas is ‘resistant to’ or basically not producing enough insulin.  A right pain.

However, the one light at the end of the tunnel could be that I won’t have to take any medication…. so that can only be a good thing can’t it? BUT it’s not necessarily guaranteed either.  AND it will be very hard to get there to even find out!  The Dietician has sent me a load of information based on research by the aptly named Professor Lean (!) and his research on T2 and a very limited calorific intake.  The Dietician has recommended approaching it as a 5:2 diet which should make it easier I suppose.  However, I have decided to try it, and ordered the recommended books (recipes etc) today.  Maybe this approach plus the B9 / B12 medication / supplement will make me feel better over the next couple of months?  I hope so – I am sick and tired of feeling sick and tired - and fed up! 
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​However, both the Diabetic Nurse and Dietician were very pleased that I have signed up for a weekly Pilates class (I’ve been twice so far and enjoy it). I am hoping that attending this will give me some of the confidence to go back to the gym – or whatever.
 
Another thing to look forward to is an imminent visit to Bonn.  We are visiting friends from Adelaide, who have recently moved back to Germany – after living Down Under for over twenty years!  We haven’t seen them since making the decision to come back to the UK ourselves – about 2-and-a-half years ago – so I imagine that most of the long-weekend will consist of lots of talking over various refreshments.  These are the friends who introduced us to those Tractor Shed sales at various South Australian vine-yards and cellar doors, where you buy end-of-line wine by the case, or two!!
 
I’ve been looking at ‘things to do’ in Bonn as well but, again, we are mainly concerned in catching-up as opposed to walking around Bonner Munster or Doppelkirche and admiring the stained-glass windows and architecture.  It’s good to see these places obviously but we are already going back to Bonn in May so can do more ‘sight-seeing’ then.  On this occasion, we're likely to visit Beethoven’s Birthplace /  Museum and the Botanic Gardens.