I missed DON day once again today, and it’s becoming a concerning pattern. The issue is my glucose levels, which I still haven’t managed to get under control. It’s crucial to keep my glucose in check because cancer tends to thrive on glucose and glutamine. All the efforts I’m putting into my health need to complement each other, so it’s disheartening if my glucose remains unmanageable.
Since my last update on the 2nd, I’ve completed two more sessions of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and maintained my strict keto diet. My glucose levels have improved slightly but are still not consistently low. To keep a close watch on my progress, I’ve been using two devices: the Fora6 Connect for blood glucose and ketone monitoring and the FreeStyle Libre 2 Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM), which I’ve been using for several months. The CGM offers real-time glucose data by measuring interstitial fluid rather than blood, and while it doesn’t always match the Fora6’s readings, it provides a more immediate picture of my glucose trends. However, I decided to take a break from the CGM recently because I felt like I was becoming overly fixated on the numbers, which may have been contributing to my stress and potentially even elevating my glucose levels.
In the meantime, I received a second blood glucose/ketone monitor called the Keto-Mojo, which I won by participating in the Metabolic Summit organized by CanceRevolution. Even though I came in second place, the winner kindly requested that the organizers award it to me, as I couldn’t purchase it in Canada. The Keto-Mojo is highly regarded within the metabolic community, and I was excited to try it. So, with the CGM off, I’ve been using both the Fora6 and the Keto-Mojo to cross-verify my glucose levels. Fortunately, they’ve shown consistent results, confirming that my glucose issues are indeed a personal challenge rather than a device problem.
Last Friday, I underwent a DEXA scan, providing valuable information about my bone density and body composition. This data helps me determine my resting metabolic rate and calculate my daily caloric needs, which now stand at 1400 kcal daily. This adjustment means I can incorporate more carbs and protein into my diet, but the challenge remains in increasing my fat intake, which is quite difficult unless I resort to liquid sources. I also made a doctor’s appointment to discuss metformin. It’s very low risk and might just be what I need to stabilize the glucose under 4.1mmol.
Now, a little about me – I absolutely despise meal planning. My kids can vouch for how much I loathe it. It would be a dream come true if I could avoid planning and cooking meals for the rest of my life. It’s bad enough to create meal plans when you can enjoy pasta, potatoes, and rice. But now, with the keto diet’s restrictions and the need to get enough fat into my diet, meal planning is crushing me. If I could be tube-fed the correct macros in the proper portions, I would take it in a heartbeat. This is the most challenging aspect of my entire protocol, and I’m beginning to doubt that most people could adhere to it, even if it does prove to be a cure.
Anyway, I am going to continue HBOT while working on my glucose. I am behind in the protocol, but remember, this isn’t a race. It won’t work if I half-ass it. And the EXCITING news is that tomorrow, I will get my first Bone Scan since starting Metabolic therapies. But the CT is what they use to measure growth for me, and the CT isn’t until the 12th of November. Last time, my CT and Bone Scan were separated; they said I can always swing by and see if they have time to squeeze me in, so I’ll try that tomorrow, but either way, it will be a week or two before I get the results. And I am not expecting change; it’s possible, but I don’t want to get my hopes up. The funny thing is I am not even a little bit, considering the cancer has grown; I’m not worried a bit.