When's a 5.8 a bad thing?

[moorejames]

When your last one was a 5.4....

A1c 6 months ago was a 5.4, last week's was a 5.8.

Not bad at all, I know. And I know some of you can't get into the 5's no matter what.

I've taken the last 6 months "off", sort of. I stopped visiting this site as much, I've tested only every now and then, and I've allowed myself the occassional slice of pizza and "cheat meal". (not daily or anything, maybe once a week).

I also broke some ribs a few months ago, so I haven't been exercising much (ok, not exercising at all - those things HURT :eek: )

So, all in all, I'm pretty pleased with a 5.8. I did put back on some of the weight I'd lost, but a lot of that can be explained by the lack of exercise.

My endo doesn't like the trend, but she can't really argue with a 5.8, so we're not changing anything meds wise. She did offer that I could try byetta if I wanted to. Her patients have been responding really well to it apparently.

I declined on the byetta, but the offers there whenever I want. My blood pressure was the lowest its ever been in her office, and the cholestorol was up ever so slightly, but still in the decent range.

Only thing that bothers me is that I had to change labs this time around, so it's tough to completely trust comparing to my last A1c.

In any event, I'm going to try to stop around a little more often, without getting obsessive about it, and get back to working out.

I kind of liked the low fives, but it's a lot easier to "live a little" so I can probably reconcile the high fives. ;)

[Pote05]

5.8 is still a good thing! I agree with the live a little, as long as you stay 6 and below I think life is good and so does my endo!

[princesslinda]

According to the conversion chart I use, 5.4 = 115 and
5.8 = 129....not really that much difference, esp when using a different lab.

I'm like you, I compare one A1C to the other, always trying to 'beat my best," but both of those #s are actually quite good...esp since you've said you took the last 6 months "off." That's quite good for an "off" 6 months.

As for Byetta...if you've having high post-meal spikes, it might be the way to go for you. I know for me, its a "mixed blessing" as it allows me to eat more carbs than I would without it, without the post meal spikes.

[moorejames]

I had gotten in to the habit of only testing my fasting number and pre-dinner. I'm going to focus more on post meal numbers for awhile to see if the byetta would be able to help or not.

My fastings are still a bit high 110-120 range. I'm usually 80-90 pre dinner, but then I don't each much for lunch, and I never seem to be able to sit down to dinner until 7pm or later.

[princesslinda]

I find a huge correlation between later dinners (even very low carb ones) and higher morning numbers. Like you, I eat later in the evenings, and my morning numbers are quite similar to yours.

[bryan42]

Great to have you back, I was wondering what happened to you. Im sorry you have been having such trouble. :)

[moorejames]

Great to have you back, I was wondering what happened to you. Im sorry you have been having such trouble. :)

I've got a lot of nerve to be pissing and moaning about a 5.8, don't I? :D

The ribs on the other hand, now THAT's something to complain about. I didn't get more than 2-3 hours of sleep at a time for weeks, and the pain is pretty much constant.

[BriOnH]

5.8 is awesome. With all that is going on with you I am surprised your doc is uneasy about the .4 tenths of a difference and the "trend".

Even if things like broken ribs (man i feel your pain, broken ribs HURT!! just coughing, laughing, getting around or going to the bathroom can be quite painful!!).

I wish my A1C was at 5.8!!

[Janlaton]

Welcome back, you are new to me. Hey if I only went up .4 without exercise I would be tickled pink! Keep up the good work.

[moorejames]

Welcome back, you are new to me. Hey if I only went up .4 without exercise I would be tickled pink! Keep up the good work.

Thanks.

Honestly, I almost (almost) wish it had been higher. Would have been a bigger kick in the seat of pants to get me up off the couch in the evenings and get some workouts in.

[moorejames]

Even if things like broken ribs (man i feel your pain, broken ribs HURT!! just coughing, laughing, getting around or going to the bathroom can be quite painful!!).



Best part was, it was the height of my allergy season, so I spent the whole time sneezing and coughing - with the broken ribs.

I'm still a little sore on that side when I get up in the mornings.

Actually, I wondered if all the pain medication would have an effect on my blood levels. Probably should have tested more during that time. I was "cycling" advil, tylenol and regular aspirin to make sure I didn't OD on any one particular kind.

Of course, being the idiot that I am, I never did go to the hospital or the doctor to get stonger stuff. Not much they can really do about broken ribs, and since I wasn't spitting up blood or anything, I figured they'd eventually heal on their own :o

[adiantum]

Best part was, it was the height of my allergy season, so I spent the whole time sneezing and coughing - with the broken ribs.


ouch !!! I found breathing hurt so I dont know how you coped with sneezing & coughing

[Bevvie]

Hi there, sounds perfect to me - surely you can't have a 'trend' with only 2 numbers ??

You're doin great :wink:

[moorejames]

Hi there, sounds perfect to me - surely you can't have a 'trend' with only 2 numbers ??

You're doin great :wink:

Thanks.

Yeah, "trend" was more my word than hers. Since diagnosis, my A1c has been:
10.0
5.5
5.6
5.4
5.8

The middle three were all at the same lab, so just switching labs could have accounted for the .4

I know it's not bad, but I still feel like I got a "c" on an exam :(

[art]

It's not a contest. At least not in my mind.
5.8 is great. So it's a little higher than last time.
You get some pizza, some cheat foods and you're having a better time. This is not a bad thing.
As for the ribs, been there done that 3 times. It HURTS and there's really nothing that can be done. But it does heal. Then get back to exercise.

I had my blood taken yesterday. I'll go for some pizza today.

Yippee.

Art

[moorejames]

I had my blood taken yesterday. I'll go for some pizza today.

Yippee.

Art

So, I'm NOT the only one who does the "post blood draw" cheat? :D

[princesslinda]

So, I'm NOT the only one who does the "post blood draw" cheat? :D


Nope.....the post-A1C meal is a time-honored tradition at our house...I generally pick the restaurant DAYS in advance! :T No guilt allowed!

[art]

Life's too short.
You gotta party.

I'm 62 and I may grow old but I'll never grow up.

And my daughter had officially certified me as the "Crazy Grandpa".

Once in a while is a good thing.

Art

[Janlaton]

Sort of like last night at church one guy could not understand why his friend would go to "Wendys" and eat in the truck for a birthday lunch when told to pick any where he wanted to eat. Until reminded it was raining and since the birthday person was on cruthces they did not always work so good on wet floors!

I too tend to splurge the day I get my A1c drawn. Even alow myself a piece of chocalate for several days after.:D

[MJB]

As a diabetic, I would never consider 5.8 as a bad A1c.

And neither does my doc. :D