[mayapple]

Found this thread interesting. Some days it would be nice not to have to worry about numbers. I find the best range for my a1c is 5.5-5.9. Once over 6.0 start to look what has been happening the past while. Usually if a1c gets to 6.5 the drs around here would start to watch you closer & do an a1c in a mth. Everywhere seem different as to what is acceptable or not.
Take care everyone.

[shabbie6247]

Originally Posted by Gary_W

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

the next nearest is ysbyty glan clwyd (near st asaph) thats 50+ miles away and no car ;-) they have a daphne centre there too.

[volleyball]

Sharon, I can see why the medical people are perplexed. You are in a minority. They are used to the non committed diabetic. So if your numbers are low, they guess you are swing low a lot. If you bring the download from your meter charting out your daily test and they see you are not hypo'ing then maybe you can educate them. You can also do as the rest of their patients do is ignore them and do as you feel best. Until they cut you off as far as testing supplies and pills goes, you are free to keep at it.
I too get concerned by some that are obsessed with a low number. If it is steady and they are not going low more than once a week, then fine. but if it is low because it is swinging, then they are doing themselves an injustice. I'm glad so many have great control, it's just the few who are competitive enough to actually do themselves harm by seeing how low they can go. I work to be in the range. I work to be steady. I don't worry about a morning rush if its less than 150
Alice gave great advice. You have the knowledge. You may not be able to pick your doctor but you have the final say on your health

[shabbie6247]

Originally Posted by volleyball

Sharon, I can see why the medical people are perplexed. You are in a minority. They are used to the non committed diabetic. So if your numbers are low, they guess you are swing low a lot. If you bring the download from your meter charting out your daily test and they see you are not hypo'ing then maybe you can educate them. You can also do as the rest of their patients do is ignore them and do as you feel best. Until they cut you off as far as testing supplies and pills goes, you are free to keep at it.
I too get concerned by some that are obsessed with a low number. If it is steady and they are not going low more than once a week, then fine. but if it is low because it is swinging, then they are doing themselves an injustice. I'm glad so many have great control, it's just the few who are competitive enough to actually do themselves harm by seeing how low they can go. I work to be in the range. I work to be steady. I don't worry about a morning rush if its less than 150
Alice gave great advice. You have the knowledge. You may not be able to pick your doctor but you have the final say on your health

the crazy thing is, i DID show them my meter readings for the last 6 weeks, it didnt seem to make a blind bit of difference to their assumption that i am putting myself at risk.
hmmppphh!!!

apart from fighting a tendency to get higher evening readings there isnt really a problem. i get my pump soon and that will hopefully help me balance that out.

i like the way i feel better than i did when i got diagnosed.....i dont want to go that way again if i can help it. who would??

[Alice]

I agree with an earlier post that many clinics see people in the 10-13 A1C range (I don't know how high it can go?)

Therefore, they tend to relax around the 7-8 range...since it's a marked improvement over the "out of control" range. Most doctors consider 7-8 "needs some work" range. It's still high enough for complications...although I know that even a 5.5 diabetic is still at a higher risk of diabetic complications than a non-diabetic.

[ladytaz]

First, your doc and nurse NEED to go back to med school!! This isn't 1970, 1980 or 1990 ... it is 2007 and the guidelines have changed!! A LOT has been learned about Diabetes in the last 10 years alone!!

Instead of praising you and saying "good job" you're the BEST patient we have, they're chastising you! That is SO wrong!!! Makes one think they're trying to kill you off, doesn't it!! GRRRRR

Secondly, do what is best for YOU!! It's YOUR body, YOUR health! Since you don't have a choice for a doc, I say, go to him as instructed, to get your prescriptions, get your lab tests and such, but do the rest on your own, exactly as you have already been doing! Technically, you don't need the doc or nurse for YOUR control!! You seem to be doing a MUCH better job at it, than they are instructing you to do!!