good news to report

[arlenecarol]

First of all, I have to say that it's only been 8 days since i saw my new Internist. He prescribed a change of medication (met 2times a day...breakfast, dinner and Avandia 4mg 1/2 hour before lunch). While my BS levels are still too high...i want to report that i've had a drop of over 145 points on average!! i was over 300+ before switching...i'm down to 171 two hours after eating... the biggest change has been the drop in my blood pressure as well. it's 125/65...i feel like a kid again!!

i'm sure that in the next few weeks, i'll be able to get the glucose levels down even more. it's nice to know that i still have some control over my body. this is very important for me psychologically.

the doctor wants me to have an HbA1c test...did i remember that right?
could someone please tell me more about that test. he said something about the results showing where my blood sugar/glucose levels have been for the last 3 months...i haven't a clue how that works... are any of you able to explain that to me?

thanks and i hope you all are able to get a handle on your disease and keep it under control. i'm just a newbie and don't have all the facts yet, but i know i'll learn as i go along.

for now, it's just a relief to see the numbers heading downhill!!

take care and stay healthy...

arlene

[liz32]

This is great news! :thumbsup: I'm so happy for you. It does help you psychologically to be in control. An A1C measures the average blood sugar for the last three months. I've been told that your body renews it's blood every three months so this test gives you an average for those three months. It lets you know how good your b/s has been. It's a good measuring stick. I hope things keep going well for you...keep up tthe good work! Boy, that sounded like a teacher's expression! Oh, well you know what I mean! Take care :king:

[Jamie]

Arlene ...

That is a great improvement for just 8 days! congrats!

Jamie

[Cinnabon]

Hey there Arlene,
Its Marlene here...LOL
It sounds awesome the way you have improved in such short time! (Cinnabon Claps!!!!!)

[am1977]

Hey, I'm very happy for you too! I'm sure you are feeling a LOT better and that's great news.
Hope you continue to see such positive things :)

[Middle Aged Man]

Congratulations on your great progress!

Here's a link to help you understand the A1C. As a diabetic, you basically want to have it under 7. I had seen a chart that showed the range of blood glucose for each A1C reading, but I haven't had success finding it tonight. Drop me a line if you need more info. Good luck. It sounds like you're on a great new course.U of Mich A1C Information (http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/aha/aha_hemoglac_crs.htm)

[arlenecarol]

Thank you ALL!
i need encouragement...and will take anything you can give!
i'm sort of alone here in the middle of nowhere so it's good to know
you're out there if i need you.

i have a couple of additional questions...

fructose...can i use it from time to time? what about artificial sweeteners?
frankly, i don't like them but iced tea and iced coffee without sweetness is pretty awful...

i don't understand the fluctuations in my BG/BS levels...fasting level this morning was 212! after one glucophage with breakfast and one avandia before lunch...two hours after eating my level was 217...another glucophage (sorry, that Metformin's brand name here) and AFTER dinner, it was 127.

i don't see any logic to these levels.

and...even though i'm taking Atacand for my blood pressure, i'm getting nutty readings on my wrist monitor (braun model) and i'm not sure what's going on with that...it may be that it needs batteries??!!

the other day, i had my FIRST potato in weeks...nothing happened...
my BS levels didn't jump...what does that mean? shouldn't they have jumped?

anyway...it seems i'm experiencing a roller coaster ride with my blood but since the numbers are so far down from the high of over 400 just about 5 weeks ago, i guess things are working themselves out.

somewhere in the back of my head, i think i'm going to be sabotaged eventually...but right now, i'm enjoying my naive successes...if only i can maintain them.

thanks again.

a.

[Peter Lee]

You are fighting with a number of problems. The situation for Type 2s is complex.

Your fasting figures are as a result of your liver fighting back and producing glucose - this is one of the things that the Metformin works to stop. Either you haven't been on Metformin long enough or your level needs increasing - this is one for your doctor.

I wouldn't like to comment on your after food readings because everyone is so different and I was told that in my case the important control reading was the overnight fasting one. During the day I am happy if I don't get any spikes above 180, which I don't.

I found it took about 8 weeks after changing any medication for things to settle down again. Maybe you should just give yourself time.

As far as the potato is concerned - this is good! Type 2s need to use complex carbohydrates to prevent spikes and glucose surges. The fact that you didn't see anything happen when you ate a potato means that your medication is working. Now please don't get hung up if the next time you eat a potato you get a sugar increase - that's life for us :cool:

I have been monitoring my blood pressure for years because one of my problems is hypertension. I have been consistently told by various nurses that the wrist meters don't give reliable enough readings and the best method is the arm band plus meter - this is what I use and have never had a problem getting reliable readings, even if I didn't like them

[arlenecarol]

thank you Peter...
my doctor has told me that (for now anyway) 2 hours after eating levels are what he's interested in....i guess he has his own methods and since i'm such a novice, i've got to listen to him...but yes, i always thought that morning readings were the most important. i've only been on Met since June 20...
so i guess it's too soon to know.

one thing i really try to avoid, and which in this case i'm unable to do, is the introduction of TOO MANY new things all at once.

when i had small babies, i remember always my mother's advice (and dr. spock as well)...NOT to introduce too many new foods at the same time because you'd never know WHICH food was good and which one was causing the problem..

i would think the same thing would apply with medications...but what do i know? my doctor is well educated and i feel fortunate to have located him..
plus he speaks english! when i see him on the 18th, i'll have more questions to ask him...i'm learning more every day...keeping current with the things i need to know...but sometimes, information is conflicting...so it's easy to get confused. i know that being an 'informed patient' makes for a 'difficult patient' but that's how i am....so far, it's served me well.

my father died because he listened to what his dentist said and forgot what his MD had said...i question everything! thank goodness i have a mind that functions on a number of levels at the same time...i can usually process info on different planes...if i were a doctor, i don't think i'd enjoy a patient like me! :wink:

arlene
______________

glucophage (metformin 850mg 2x) avandia 4mg 1x

[twocute64001]

How does my A1C reading compare to my daily blood sugar levels?

This chart is an example of how blood sugar compares to A1C. The numbers in this chart are for nonpregnant adults. "Take action" depends on your own plan, and your action steps should be talked about with your healthcare team. Some labs use different ways to test and a have different normal range. Talk to your healthcare team about your results.

A1C Reading Average Blood Sugar Level Your Blood Sugar Control
14% 360 mg/dL Very poor control, take immediate action to lower

10% 250 mg/dL Poor control, take action to lower

9% 210 mg/dL Poor control, take action to lower

8% 180 mg/dL Marginal control, take action to lower

7% 150 mg/dL Marginal, take action to lower

6.5%* 135 mg/dL Good control - target

6% 120 mg/dL Very good control

[Peter Lee]

Its looks as if you are well able to make balanced judgements about your condition :) So keep at it and as you say, keep questioning and good luck.