[Debbie Sue]

It was 13.3% = 360 average for the last 3 months. Geeze Louise! I'm also definitely a type 2. Liver sonogram was determined fatty liver and will be discussed further in my next visit. She did say my cholesterol is high, but it should go down if I keep on with the way I am now.

I also had my all time low after lunch today... 159! Stooping the pop, candy, pastries, etc. is paying off. I do feel I need to get my eyes examined again. Things are really blurry up close now.

[fgummett]

OK. Not a great A1c but not surprising really as you are just starting out. What it does, is give you a benchmark... so now you can shoot for lower next time; and it sounds like you are already on track for that.

You need to get your cholesterol numbers and not just accept they are "high". These also give you a benchmark... and as the major player in determining how you can improve them (meds maybe, but diet and exercise too) you need to know the actual values.

[Debbie Sue]

The last time I had my cholesterol level checked, it was around 260 I believe. It's been a year since the test and my memory isn't as good as I'd like it.

What is th highest an A1c # can get before it's lethal? I'm just trying to get an idea of how high on the scale I am.

[Lloyd]

The affects of a high glucose are cumulative. So how high for how long is the kind of thing you should be thinking about.

-Lloyd

[Hammer]

Originally Posted by Debbie Sue

What is th highest an A1c # can get before it's lethal? I'm just trying to get an idea of how high on the scale I am.

I don't know if there is an A1c that is lethal. My BG numbers were over 500 when I started, so that's higher than your numbers and I'm still here.....so far.

I don't know what my A1c numbers are since I haven't had one, so I don't know what the comparison is.

[fgummett]

Originally Posted by Debbie Sue

The last time I had my cholesterol level checked, it was around 260 I believe. It's been a year since the test and my memory isn't as good as I'd like it.

What is th highest an A1c # can get before it's lethal? I'm just trying to get an idea of how high on the scale I am.

Keep a log book (or if computer savvy an Excel spreadsheet) for all your lab results to see how they improve over time. "Cholesterol" is actually more than one value.

A1c or HbA1c is an "average" of your BS over about the last 90 days. When were you diagnosed and when did you start treatment? If you are now getting a post meal BS of 150 mg/dl then I suspect your next A1c will be much lower. That is the important number to focus on, not this one.

I am not aware that there is a "lethal" level of BS... this A1c merely shows that you have been running high for some time... but that, as they say, is water under the bridge now. It is a wake up call to get on and continue working to improve your health from here on in.

[howdysf]

Originally Posted by Debbie Sue

I'm just trying to get an idea of how high on the scale I am.

It's very very high... A1c goes up in 1/10 increments... people are strive for the low 5's... You'll definitely be much better next time, but 13+ is very high...


I was 14.1 when I was diagnosed, 6 months later, after lots of hard work, I got it down to 5.4 (which is somewhat remarkable), my last one was 6.6...

[Debbie Sue]

Originally Posted by fgummett

When were you diagnosed and when did you start treatment?

I was diagnosed on a Monday and started treatment the same week on Wednesday.

[fgummett]

Originally Posted by Debbie Sue

I was diagnosed on a Monday and started treatment the same week on Wednesday.

I meant, how long ago..?

[fgummett]

Originally Posted by howdysf

...A1c goes up in 1/10 increments... people strive for the low 5's...

A1c... is expressed as a percentage. Normal (as in Non-Diabetic) may be in the low 5% range, but the recommendation for those of us with D is below 7%, or below 6% if possible without risk of too many hypoglycemic reactions.

[slipperyelm]

At diagnosis my A1c was 13.2, very similar to yours. I was able to get it all the way down to 5.4 by my next A1c check ----without meds. However, I let my health go later and then it was harder to get it down to 5.4 again and required meds and low carb eating to do it. Fifteen years after diagnosis though, I'm still at 5.4.

We are all different though, and discover our diabetes at different points in our lives and different things to contend with. But I just want you to know that it is possible that knowing you have diabetes just might be the thing that propels you to have better health than you ever would have had otherwise.

[davef]

Originally Posted by Debbie Sue

It was 13.3% = 360 average for the last 3 months. Geeze Louise! I'm also definitely a type 2. Liver sonogram was determined fatty liver and will be discussed further in my next visit. She did say my cholesterol is high, but it should go down if I keep on with the way I am now.

I also had my all time low after lunch today... 159! Stooping the pop, candy, pastries, etc. is paying off. I do feel I need to get my eyes examined again. Things are really blurry up close now.

Debbie,

As, ok not a great A1c but it is your starting point, no looking back now, look forward to a healthier future and the fact that you got a new all time low is great and shows progress your next A1c will be better. My A1c was 11.9% at DX, just got it down to 6.1% at my check last week. My advice is don't think about how high an A1c can go, you have a starting point, higher than some people, lower than other people but this is your starting point, we are all different, now focus on getting the numbers down.

I tend to live by my meter (well 98% of the time ) on the basis that if I keep my numbers down then my A1c will follow suit. Keep up the good work, watch the carbs, eat healthy, exercise, enjoy a healthier life and watch that A1c number tumble!

[BrianSCohen]

Debbie Sue,

Good job getting in to get this test done. The news is not good, but at least you know where to start. With your levels that I would personally ask for some insulin to at least get you back in the normal range. Your poor pancreas is probably just pooped. You need to really get down to work on your blood sugars. Get your diet in order, exercise. Make sure your test regularly, finding out what foods do to your blood sugar. I would really like to see you get your blood sugar readings all under 150 mg/dL as soon as possible.

Please keep us up to date with things. Don't hesitate to look to others for support and encouragement.

[Scrabblechick]

Well Debbie Sue, as some of the others have said, your A1C isn't ideal. The good news is: you can do something about it! You've started a lot of positive changes already, and I promise it WILL come down!

Another great way to get that BG down is moderate exercise. Start walking, maybe 10 minutes, if that's all you can do, and work up to say, 20 minutes in a month. Then shoot for 30 minutes. You will be amazed at the results!

Keep up the good work and let us know how you're doing. We care!

[Debbie Sue]

Originally Posted by fgummett

I meant, how long ago..?

I was diagnosed just this month. I'm real new at this.