[Eddy]

I've cut back on testing frequency, from about 15x/day to about 9x/day.

Mid-February was rough, with a week of 200 mg/dL excursions; Lantus and I just weren't getting along so well.

My most-recent 30 day moving average is about 100 -- which is 5 to 10 points higher than I'd like. (In all fairness, my January 30-day was in the mid- to high-80s IIRC.)

I thought my A1c would come back in the 5.5% to 5.7% range; higher would have been upsetting... particularly after my bad control earlier this week.

Nope. 5.2% This is a definite morale boost, and comes at a time when I don't mind getting one. I'm not going to play fast and loose, but I can relax a bit more about my numbers.

Now, then... I'm enjoying the greater consistency (fewer hypos!) that Levemir is giving me... so I shall have to see how the next few months pan out.

[art]

Relax!!!
Those are great numbers.
My A1C is usually around 6.0 and I almost never test below 100 and I've got the "Dawn" thing going on.
Live your life and don't let "our thing" control your life.

Art

[shiftzor]

Thats a very good A1c, i can only dream of that. 15x a day is an awful lot but worth it if you can get an A1c that low. Don't let the D rule your life too much.

[davef]

Congratulations on a great A1c result!

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by shiftzor

15x a day is an awful lot

Down to 8-9 now. I hope to get to consistent 6x.

Originally Posted by shiftzor

Don't let the D rule your life too much.

There is truth to this. I'm 26 days shy of my one-year DXiversary. This year has been one of extensive learning, research, and testing. I just have to know what I can do, what it takes to do so, and what I can expect.

That said, it'll be nice to redirect some energy into bigger, more-important challenges.

(Although I'm still strongly interested in diluting, and opposed to pumping, for those who have followed my other threads. )

[princesslinda]

Good job Eddy! You should be proud! Seems you've done very well in your first year of dealing with "the D."

[notme]

Great job Eddy. Do you have a lot of lows? I have often wondered how a type one can get such a great A1C without lows. I worked very hard and could only get my A1C down to about 6.3. I can't imagine a 5.2%.

Congratulations on a job well done.

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by notme

Do you have a lot of lows?

For a while, I'd hit 60 or so on a daily basis. This annoyed me... but not as much as hitting 120.

The reason I started mixing R and N (June and July 2007, respectively) into my rapid was because straight Humalog was just too brutal. I'd inevitably crash into the 40s, even the 30s, an hour after injecting. It was tearing me up, so I began dabbling with slower-acting mixes.

Although it's probably premature to say _too_ much about Levemir versus Lantus (transition completed only a couple weeks ago), here are my observations so far of Levemir:

• fewer lows
• lows not as low
• no more 30-50 mg/dL drop every evening after basal
• better waking/fasting consistency
• highs don't feel as bad
• more energy.

Recent readings, going back in time (all times in GMT):

04/03 1605 = 86
04/03 1241 = 80
04/03 0735 = 79
04/03 0459 = 120
04/03 0149 = 90
04/03 0003 = 84
04/03 2012 = 67
04/02 1801 = 111
04/02 1644 = 177 (stressed)
04/02 1252 = 139 (stressed)
04/02 0352 = 88
04/02 0206 = 118
04/01 2244 = 198 (very angry)
04/01 1833 = 136 (no excuse that i can recall)
04/01 1226 = 95
04/01 0345 = 68
04/01 0052 = 203 (toward the end of a very bad Monday that included coffee and anger)

My 7-day moving average is 115... which I believe is the highest I've had since about the first month post-DX.

Originally Posted by notme

I have often wondered how a type one can get such a great A1C without lows. I worked very hard and could only get my A1C down to about 6.3. I can't imagine a 5.2%.

I don't know. I inquired about a c-peptide test, to see if maybe I should establish a baseline for residual beta cell function. The doctor questioned the need. (I'll have to get back and debate.)

My basal seems to be 31U, regardless of whether I'm 70 kg or 84 kg.

Originally Posted by notme

Congratulations on a job well done.

Thanks.

The reason I initially joined here was to see what others "typically" (if such a word dare be used) applies. I have no idea how much of a daily high/low spread I "should" expect. I don't know how often people go hypo.

[notme]

I wish I had your ability to keep such a great log. I am not as organized as many on this site. I have started in the past few days, trying to keep better records and will get an A1C done the second week in May. Eeeesh.

I go hypo at least four times a week.

[Pote05]

Great Job, Hope I can get there next time....

[Eddy]

A quick note about lows:

Part of their siren song is that they're more quickly corrected than highs.

Re what might be coming into play for A1c values:

After a 200 Monday (I do not do well with sleep deprivation and coffee), I shot a 3U aspart correction. Normally, aspart finishes in 1:15 to 1:30. However, as BlueSky has often indicated, something about hyperglycemia affects insulin activity; 1:20 after my correction, I was only down to 180.

When I'm high, I tend to stay high or go higher.

When I'm low, I tend to stay low or go lower.

I find it easier to keep control than to regain it.

I do my darnedest to have good overnight numbers. Not only does it make a huge difference in sleep quality, but there's 1/3 of the A1c value right there. I'm fortunate not to have DP or other temporal basal variations.

I test obsessively with frequently-eaten foods, trying to determine the correct rapid/R/N mix for each.

I try to be more observant of food allergies. As much as I enjoy mushrooms, excursions to 200 mg/dL just aren't worth it.

Except for rare occasions, I've quit the caffeine. It's too hard on my system, causing my BG to rise by as much as 50 mg/dL per hour.

For several years, my hands turned leather steering wheels black. I now am keen to shower soon after getting much above 140, because my sweat is gross... even corrosive.

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by notme

I wish I had your ability to keep such a great log. I am not as organized as many on this site. I have started in the past few days, trying to keep better records and will get an A1C done the second week in May. Eeeesh.

Great log? Sorry to have mislead you. I just flipped through most-recent meter numbers. That's the first time I've done so. It doesn't interface with the computer... I generally fly by the seat of my pants, remembering "recent enough to be of concern" food and boluses.

I tried to start keeping detailed logs, but it was too time-consuming. What you might do instead is to experiment with individual foods, seeing how your body reacts to specific items. I think of foods in terms of "a little more rapid next time", "not so much R", "better start eating ten minutes later", et cetera.

I'm now quite familiar with favorites: bananas, dates, Kashi cookies, pancakes, potato-based soups, raisins, rice (brown and wild), spaghetti.

Of course, I believe part of my high Monday afternoon readings were due to seriously-underestimated potato consumption at lunch... so "falling out of the habit" of certain foods carries a price.

Originally Posted by notme

I go hypo at least four times a week.

I was daily, with a sub-50 or two each week. Fortunately, my lows now are about 10 mg/dL higher since changing basals.

IIRC: The first six weeks of the year, I only had one >200 reading, and four sub-40s. Not long after, things got uglier...

[Dimes]

Nice job Eddy, that is a sweet (as in good) number, and very consistent numbers overall since diagnosis.

[Scrabblechick]

Good going on the A1C! Glad to hear the good results.

[Kim_in_TN]

Congratulations! A 5.2 is fabulous!!! Keep up the good work!