Anyone mind if I go back retroactively and say my goal is to get my A1c under 6.0 this year? I’m pretty sure that was my goal at my last visit with Dr. Great and Powerful but I just didn’t say it out loud.

I really like Dr. Great and Powerful Endo – even if I named him after the Wizard of Oz. I can’t remember that I ever said here why I did that so I’ll tell you now. I was feeling pretty much desperate when I asked for the referral. My blood sugars sucked, I felt out of control, my vision was blurred (and eye stuff scares the hell out of me) and it felt like nothing I did made any difference. Although I knew that much of my diabetes care (or lack thereof) lay squarely on my shoulders, I felt like I was making the trek along the yellow brick road to beg a favor from the great and powerful wizard. He didn’t disappoint.

Dr. G&P has never been judgmental or critical. He has been unfailingly supportive and encouraging. He has been understanding and listened to me and helped me even when I felt nothing I did made things any better. When I chose to do the lap-band, he was right there in my corner rooting me on. And today he says he knows how much work I have done, that the surgery won’t give these results without the work. I guess I really needed to hear that.

He’s really a very sweet man, as well, even though he calls me ma’am. He was tickled pink when he came in the exam room and must have told me half a dozen times how happy I was going to be with my numbers as he went through the myriad of questions and poking and prodding he always does. “I don’t usually look before coming in so I don’t bias myself,” he told me. “But I just couldn’t wait.”

So it’s diabetes celebration time at Chez Zaz. My A1c has dropped from a personal high of 8.4 last August to 5.7 – which Dr. G&P says is the same as a normal person without diabetes. Yes, I know there are those who advocate for even lower numbers which I just don’t see as humanly possible but I’ll bask in my glory for a while, thank you.

Meds have been greatly reduced and he’s cutting them further. I may never be off certain medications but I’ll take significantly reduced any day. I’ve cut the glucophage from 1000mg twice daily to 500mg 2x daily. Glyburide has been reduced from 10mg twice daily to 5mg once daily. Levemir has dropped from 40 units at night to 10 units. And I’ve been able to quit Zestril (a blood pressure medication) altogether.

I have a lot of work to go – but visible, concrete progress is damn good. And how often does your doctor grin like a little boy waiting for you to open your birthday present?