Hi Sharon,
Before I found this place, my A1c was 8.1 and my daily routine was to bounce between 18 and 2.5 and back again. My eyes permanently looked dreadful, I weighed too much, I felt lousy. My hospital team told me 'below 7.5 A1c would be better, but you're doing fine'. I thought that was my lot in life and got on with it.
When I saw the nurse a couple of months after finding this forum, I explained to her I was testing around 7 or 8 times a day, doing correction shots etc. I was told that I was testing excessively and doing it all wrong. My A1c came back as 6.5 which she told me was the lowest she'd seen in a type 1....
When I went back a couple of months ago I told them I regularly test 6-10 times per day and that I eat anything I like. I had lost 35lbs in weight and felt fantastic. My A1c was 5.5. Once they had picked their jaws from the floor they asked 'Don't you mind testing that many times a day'. I told them I'd rather not but it was better than losing my legs.
Hypo unawareness bothers me as a concept. It is something that MAY happen if you sail close to the wind all the time. At the moment, I am feeling the best I have in years and (if what I read is true) have pretty much wiped out my chances of complications long term. That feels good. If I ever go hypo where I didn't know it was coming then I'll re-think my statergy. AFAIK, you can get hypo awareness back by running a bit higher so I'll cross that bridge if I ever come to it. I know that an A1c of 8.1 was harming me, both now and in the future. I cannot trade that for a 'what if' with hypo unawareness.
I would also argue that my basal is now correct at 18u per day. The hospital had me on 35u per day which was why I was always ticking down. I had far greater chance of a hypo in the night putting me in A+E doing things there way than I ever do now with my new fangled ways.
I think so many diabetic clinics see loads of patients that just do not take care of themselves whatsoever. Some people with this disease don't do a blood test from one week to the next, don't bother injecting etc. When someone goes in that actually knows a thing or two I believe it scares them
As far as blood tests go, I would argue that a blood test 2-3 hours after eating is a good idea so as you can correct if needed with either insulin or food! They told me to just do 4 a day, but then again they think that an A1c of 8 is alright so I find it a little tricky to take them seriously.
You actually CAN change clinics if you wish; your GP can provide you with a list of alternative clinics you can attend. I notice you live in North Wales so your choice may be rather limited by Geography / time taken to get there. Ysbity Gwynedd? I used to go there occasionally with work. Pretty drive, took forever though!
Gary
