Target HbA1c

[amylo]

Well I got my HbA1c result back today. I knew it would be high but....9.4.

Im so disapointed with myself for turning into the 'rebelious student' i often get grouped with :afraid:

Anyway, should i be trying to get it down to about 5 for next time or should i reduce it gradually? Ive got a dr appointment for thursday...im scared

On a more positive note, i got a 1st for my last uni assesments!! Im doing something right!!

[amylo]

sorry, think i've put this in the wrong place...

[someone]

Your a1c reflects your readings from the last 3 months. Just keep your readings around 100 give or take 20, and your a1c will begin to go down. Just don't try to get it down by being low all of the time, that is not good either.

[JediSkipdogg]

I would try to bring it down slowly. The problem with dropping it fast from a 9.4 is that you will experience some headaches and such quite often until your body adjusts to you running at the new level. Also, if you have quite a few lows, then dropping your A1C might make those lows occur more often and could cause problems (including some ambulance rides.)

[amylo]

Sorry, does anyone know what 100 is in British levels?

That explains the headaches over the last week or so then. Ive been trying really hard and giving myself extra insulin as and when. The problem is that i dont have much of a routine so to have the same insulin every day doesnt really work and i find it hard to stop my bs from swinging. Im guessing that swinging from low to high is just as bad as having it permenantly high?

Thanks for the advice x

[Erin]

100 mg/dl (american) is roughly 5.5 mmol (The rest of the world)

For future reference:

http://www.onlineconversion.com/blood_sugar.htm

[am1977]

Amy,

I would aim to bring that A1c down slowly. To drop to 5 all of a sudden would be quite a big jump and you don't want to do that by risking having a lot of lows. Not to mention, that it's good to have this goal of bringing your A1c down, but it's easier said than done. To have these lofty goals, might only lead to disappointment. Try setting a small goal and taking small steps to get there. One thing I'd suggest is testing more often. That way you can treat if need be or leave things as is. It gives you the feedback if action is needed.

Good luck (and btw welcome :laugh: )

[Erin]

What kind of insulin are you taking? It may be the kind of insulin you're on isn't working with your lifestyle.

And, personally, I wouldn't try for an a1c of 5 while being a student. The lifestyle just doesn't lend itself to having that kind of tight control. Yes, you should shoot for something lower than 9, but I think having an A1c of 6-7 would be quite acceptable. That of course is MY perspective, and each person should make their own decisions about their health and control.

[someone]

i am a student, and i have 5.4. being a student is no excuse. :)

[amylo]

thankyou for that converter, ive saved it :smile:

Can i just say thankyou for everyones quick relpys, its nice to know that there are people willing to support a stranger :thumbsup:

Im currently on Humalog x3 and Humalin I x1, and i take extra Hulamlog when i need it

Since last tues ive been testing like a mad woman! My fingers dont know whats hit them!! Ive had an average of 10.4 mmol, ranging from 3.4 to 22 odd. Another question i have is, can Humalin be taken before u go to bed when ur still up. What i mean is, at the weekends i work late untill about 2am. That means by the time i get home to have my nighttime insulin my bs is really high. Would it be ok to have it about 11pm while im still at work? Or is it not designed for that kind of usage?

[amylo]

I never said being a student WAS an excuse

Im a dance student. As everyone knows its hard enough going to the gym once a week and working out how much insulin to have/how much to eat, let alone dancing for several hours a day then working tll 2am. I just said that i dont have a normal 9-5 routine

[Erin]

i am a student, and i have 5.4. being a student is no excuse. :)

you're also on a pump.... WHOLE different ball game.

And as i said, it's up to every individual (and their doctors) to make those decisions about their health.

[Erin]

Since last tues ive been testing like a mad woman! My fingers dont know whats hit them!! Ive had an average of 10.4 mmol, ranging from 3.4 to 22 odd. Another question i have is, can Humalin be taken before u go to bed when ur still up. What i mean is, at the weekends i work late untill about 2am. That means by the time i get home to have my nighttime insulin my bs is really high. Would it be ok to have it about 11pm while im still at work? Or is it not designed for that kind of usage?

10.4 isn't terrible... but I'd shoot for single digits. The odd 3 or 22 happens, the key is to fix it ASAP. I take my Lantus at 11pm regardless of where I am or what I'm doing (assuming I remember). I've not noticed any problems taking it when I'm still up and being active, and I think Humalin is pretty similar in function to Lantus, so I think taking it at the right time is more important than what you are doing at that time.

[amylo]

I take my Lantus at 11pm regardless of where I am or what I'm doing

Thats good to know, think i'll take it to work with me and do it there. I always asumed i could only do it when i went to bed :hmmmm2:

[someone]

Sorry, does anyone know what 100 is in British levels?

That explains the headaches over the last week or so then. Ive been trying really hard and giving myself extra insulin as and when. The problem is that i dont have much of a routine so to have the same insulin every day doesnt really work and i find it hard to stop my bs from swinging. Im guessing that swinging from low to high is just as bad as having it permenantly high?

Thanks for the advice x

Here, i wrote this small converter to convert back and forth.
http://sdev.eotz.com/other/bgconvert.php

[amylo]

Thanks, I appriciate the help :0)

[someone]

No problem.. just took 5 minutes :D I figured it was worth doing.

[SugaryOne]

Don't worry too much about it, there have been times when my HbA1c got up to 11.3 - just work on getting your numbers down gradually, next time aim for 8.0 or 8.5.

[amylo]

Im trying not to worry, it would help if i could see my specialist but cant get an appointment (havnt seen him for almost 2 yrs), seems hes snowed under with diabetics.

Im going to try and get it down, so far so good but Im a bit stressed at the mo, im in my final yr at uni so things are a bit heavy. Also i start rehersals for my dance tour which will mean dancing from 9am-5pm every day, something i havnt done before so god knows what will happen to my BS, still im not going to let it stop me!

Thanks for the suppport by everyone x

[Ailsa]

Hi Amylo,
Don't know much about humalin but assume its similar to protophane which has a 12 hour profile & needs to be taken at regular times. As Erin suggests you could try taking it at 11pm & see if that helps. You should be able to get a graph of its activity profile if you do a web search.

Long acting insulins need to be taken at regular times. If you are taking it too late you will run out & get a high reading followed by an overlap if the next one is too soon afterwards with hypos occuring
It could be that Lantus might work better for you so that may be worth checking out.
It's pretty hard to get an A1c below 7.0 on MDI. I agree with Erin. It's not good to be too ambitious & it takes a while for your results to drop. Just aim to do a little better each time & you'll get to a place where you are comfortable.

[maggiewjk]

Sorry, does anyone know what 100 is in British levels?

That explains the headaches over the last week or so then. Ive been trying really hard and giving myself extra insulin as and when. The problem is that i dont have much of a routine so to have the same insulin every day doesnt really work and i find it hard to stop my bs from swinging. Im guessing that swinging from low to high is just as bad as having it permenantly high?

Thanks for the advice x
the answer is 5.3 and i am not that clever! go to Diabetes information centre
on the web and i printed out this conversion chart . I hope this helps you.
I am fron Ireland although now living in australia and our reading here are the same as you.

[Cinnabon]

Amylo you will get it down in no time. Slowly is best.

Jeez, Someone.. chill out a bit... lol.

[lelggren]

Bring it down gradually. Miracles won't happen overnight. I had a 9.4 in October last year, and It scared me something fierce....I had an 8.4 in January this year, and so it is coming down. If you expect to have a perfect number next time, and it doesn't happen, you will just beat yourself up for it. Definately, do all that you can to bring it down as much as possible because we both know that 9.4 is really really high. But, any progress is some progress :)

[rzrbks]

With your schedule I know it's very difficult, but you could try and standardize
your eating patterns.

When I have to spend time traveling, I carry stufff to eat with me, even if it's just granola bars and fruit, that way I stick as close to a regimen as I can.

That way, I'm less likely to have hypers and hypos, and I do make sure that I take my Basal at the same time every night (+ - 30 minutes).

If I miss my basal time, I know that I'm going to be off the next day.

[gettingby]

I don't know if I have responded to any of your posts before so, if I haven't...Hello and Welcome.
I've learned through 20+ years experience that it is best to bring A1C's down slowly. In a year's time, I managed to bring mine down from being in the 9's to 7.2 before jumping back up to 8.1 (working on that though). It's gonna take time. In dealing with diabetes as long as I have, I have learned one thing. There ARE NO QUICK FIXES !! It takes time and dedication but your posts show that you are dedicated and that's a big plus.
Take care of yourself and continue to post often.:D
*Disclaimer: This is the way I do things. What works for me may not work for all.Take my advice as just that, ADVICE*

[amylo]

I must appologise, I didnt realise people were still relpying to this post, so thats why I havnt answered.

Thankyou for your support, as long as I get it down a bit for next time I'll be happy. having said that they've just put me on lantus so with a new regeme it may take awhile!

Amy xx