My quarterly blood test results are just in. Like every one I await the
test results with even more eagerness than any of my exam results. You
know you have worked hard. You know you could have put in more efforts.
And you some how want to feel just may be you are also lucky! The
results are as follows: ( The latest numbers are in last column).

                   Jul          Oct         Dec        Mar'06
                               ----          -----         ------
    -----
HbA1c                          10           5.7            5.7      5.2

S. Cholestrol             141    160        147    164
Direct HDL Cholestrol      25         32      32       35*
S. LDL Cholestrol      102         111     105         115
S. Triglycerides         71     86          51       68

Ratio of Trigg/HDL      2.84         2.69     1.59         1.94

Cardio CRP C-reactive protein     0.30                        0.50

Fasting Blood Test

   BUN
    17
   Creatinene
  1.1
   Fasting Gloucose
105
The remaining blood test had all numbers well within the range.

I would be the first to admit that I am treating my diabetes as an
experiment where I want to control a few things rather rigidly and see
if I can keep the regression of diabetes at bay. I want to accomplish
this with minimal medication. Currently the only medication I am taking
is Metformin 500mg x2.

The first parameter I am controlling is kind of exercise and the
regularity with which I do it. I told myself that every thing I need
for doing a workout I should be able to do it with no external
equipment. So zero dependency on weights, gym or trade mill etc. A
quick workout should be possible in a space of 5x7 space. This is so
that even when I am traveling I will not have any excuse for avoiding
it.

So what do I do for exercise : Brisk walk  50-60 mins a day 5-6 days a
week.
I do a variations on pushups (15each 3sets) and squats (35 each 4 sets)
. The pushups give workout to my upper body and the squats take care of
the lower half.

For diet I am using the PBWF (Plant Based Whole foods) approach derived
heavily from my readings of the book "The China Study" by Prof. T.
Collin Campbell (http://www.nutrition.cornell.edu/ChinaProject/) . The
study was done in collaboration with Oxford and Cornell University.  So
far I have nothing but good results. I have modified plenty of
traditional Indian dishes to incorporate sprouted  legumes based
ingredients. All grains in my diet are sprouted first and then cooked
with beans. I use extra virgin Olive oil.  I eat excessive greens
including broccoli and spinach. And unlike the popular belief
/experience I have had no problem digesting what I eat. I also have
fair amount of peanuts, almonds, walnuts, roasted pumpkin and sunflower
seeds in my diet. I eat plenty of citrus fruites. Oflate I have started
eating red grapefuit first thing in the morning. It seems to have
decreased my PPBGs.

Room for improvement

I am at 169 lbs 5'11". I would very much like to loose another 10
lbs. My girth size is 36 I want to go down an inch or two. HDL number
while good for trig/HDL ratio can be improved if I increase my
exercise.   I also plan on taking more holistic approach towards my
mind and my body by keeping myself engaged in greater good of the
fellow travelers.

Finally I do want to thank all of you for enormous data and research
you have collectively unearthed and make it palatable for newbie like
me to read. Many times just existence of a specific research was the
most valuable information. I salute the open university approach to
learning! The more I learn the more I marvel at our body! It is nothing
but a miracle that it works at all!

Anil
T2 Dx July 05