Thanks, everyone.  I am very glad to see improvement on these lab
numbers for a lot of reasons.. 1) It gives me hope that I can make a
difference in my fate 2) It makes all that tedious restriction and
discipline worth it 3) It validates the science of good nutritition,
which for me is low carb but not necessarily low fat 4) It makes me
want to keep going and make the next numbers even better! 5) It makes
me happy to be able to share with other folks that you can make
improvements by just changing things a little at a time, but being
consistent with those changes--always forward.  I could ramble on and
on about how this all came about but I don't want to bore everyone
with all of the minute details.  I'll just say that the D&E pretty
much encompasses it all.  I tried just dieting at first (and got it
all wrong).  I was on the Zone Diet for Olympic Athletes.  I still
lost weight, but was eating waaaay too much.  Then I started getting
serious about the portions, and slimmed a little more, but my glucose
control was still not very good (way too much fruit and carby stuff in
that diet still).  I started exercising Jan 1, 2007 and kept doing it
even though it was hard, and I hated it and it seemed like it would be
forever til I saw results.  It wasn't--I started seeing better glucose
readings like, the same day.  I was determined not to have to give up
coffee and alcohol.  I started researching on the internet, mainly to
try to justify what I wanted to do.  My wife would have had me live in
a diabetic monastary, if that was what it took.  I found ASD by
accident, through the blood sugar pages that Jennifer created.  I
searched a bit, lurked a bit and then started asking questions.  I
would try things out that sounded good.  This group became an extended
family, an internet soap opera (at times) and a magic eight ball...I
could always find something on here to keep me going.  And I said I
wouldn't get all misty :)  Anyway, my updated list of contributing
factors in the management of diabetes continues to grow.  So, here's
my secret.  Lots of chicken salads with olive oil vinagrette, strict
avoidance of refined, processed carbohydrates such as bread, pasta,
and even some not so processed ones that spike me like potatoes, rice,
oatmeal (sigh) and such.  Alcohol, in moderation, except on the
weekends, then a little less moderation.  Drinking lots of water
throughout the day, snacking regularly with balanced portions of
protein, low-glycemic carbs, and mono fats like nuts.  And then,
exercise...starting a program, keeping with it, not giving up.  Which
brings me to the sex.  It's way better now, than when I had a big ol'
beer belly in the way.  And it relieves stress, which is one source of
the evil triglycerides.  Too much information, I know...I'll just shut
up now, but really...thanks again, everyone!  You guys have all helped
me to get here.  You're <sniff> great..

Nicky, I believe the VLDL is calculated, but I'm still unsure as to
what that is exactly...

G'nite, Everyone (I've bored myself sleepy with my ramblings)

Andrew