When I was diagnosed with Prostate cancer I remember reading an article that said that if you overcome the cancer then you had to watch out for your heart and diabetes. The problem I have found is that you end up with a catalog of problems that leads to a spiraling decline in your health.
My COPD has had a significant impact, am really struggling at the moment to breath and using my inhalers a lot. I have also had multiple exacerbation's in the past two months that have led me to having to take anti biotics and steriods. Am certain the steroids have had an impact on my weight and as a knock on to my blood glucose levels.
I have completed pulmonary rehabilitation and now have just completed 12 weeks of fitness4life at the gym in Telford&Wrekin. These are supervised cardio-respiratory sessions. Am about to sign up for a membership to continue these as I have to get my exercise under control to enable me to breathe easy. But also this has to be done to fight my weight and help with my diet.
Have just had my annual blood test for HBA1c as I am high risk for Diabetes. Last year it was 46 (2016), this year (2017) it is 47. I have already been suffering foot sores that could have been really serious. I am getting numbness in one foot and toes. I was hoping with the work in the gym and cutting down on various foods that this HBA1c would have gone down not up. So I am in the pre-diabetic range. Diet and exercise is the only way forward. Its hard work with having COPD.
I have been given a Peak Flow meter for the COPD so I can measure my flow to see what my best is so i can detect when i am bad and heading toward an exacerbation. On a good day i am scoring 350 to 400 on the meter. A healthy person my age and height should be in the 600s. On my bad days and currently with this heat and pollen / air quality I am scoring 250 if I am lucky. Lots of blockage in my lungs.
I dont seem to be improving. Time will tell however. If I can do more exercise. My FEV1 was 53% , hopefully i can make improvements in the next 6 months so i dont drop below 50% into Severe.
Until the next update....
Breathe Easy everyone
