NEW YEARS: MONITOR BLOODSUGAR & WEIGHT

[BOZ]

wasn't that A1C? not sure what it stands for, but that's how i usually see it.

 

[Elodan]

wasn't that A1C? not sure what it stands for, but that's how i usually see it.

Coming from Type I land. A1c is one of a couple of glycohemoglobin tests. It checks the amount of sugars stuck to hemoglobin in the blood. It gives an average of what your blood sugars have been over the past 2 - 3 months. My doctor will usually say, your A1c was 8 which means you were averaging a blood sugar of 200. It's considered the best way to get an accurate reflection of your sugars as (someone already mentioned) home testing is really a point in time and depending on how often you test, it can be pretty limited. The ideal is to have an A1c of under 7.

Going from 9+ to 7.7 is great, it means you're on the right track (take it from someone who hasn't been under 8 in a while).

(All my numbers are based on U.S. measurements)

 

[kenobi65]

Megamania,

I can absolutely understand your disappointment at the A1C not being lower, but, as the others have already noted, getting it from a 9+ to 7.7 is an accomplishment. And, I concur, the fact that you were sick in the days leading up to the test undoubtedly didn't help matters.

Take a look at the chart on this page over on WebMD:
http://diabetes.webmd.com/guide/diabetes-how-test-blood-glucose?page=2

It shows how the A1C score relates to your average blood glucose level.

An A1C of 9 equates to an average glucose level of 214. A 7.7 would equate to an average glucose level of 170 or so. So, you've dropped your average number by at least 40 points, probably more (because you said your old number was "9-something").

 

[Scotley]

You are clearly moving in the right direction. I was pleased to see my latest A1c hit 7. I hover between 7 and 8 with two meds. Of course my first A1c at diagnosis was 11. You should be very pleased with your progress. You are obviously doing the right things. A little more work and you'll be there.

 

[xrpsuzi]

wasn't that A1C? not sure what it stands for, but that's how i usually see it.

It is. My dyslexia strikes again! My doctor has one of those neat charts in his office measuring the A1C of a normal person vrs. a diabetic, and no matter how many times I've seen it, I still type in the wrong thing.

-Suzi

 

[megamania]

Just got back from the doctors. He stressed the need for consistantcy. He figures my recent weight gain may be the big factor in my AC1 results. He wasn't happy that I "quit" monitoring / medicine after the results came in. I am on a strict and limited expense / income and seeing these results ticks me off.

He was surprisaed to see the results I was getting vs the AC1 number. He encouraged me to keep at it and maybe whatever the X-factor was that messed with the results will be gone.

Sigh.... so once I pay for my morgage ( over 2 weeks late now), car (10 days late now), bank loan (due 2 days ago) and car insurances (1 6 weeks late and the other 1 week) I will buy more medicine and give this another try.

 

[kenobi65]

I encourage you to not give up, mega. Financial problems are a big stressor for many people, and I certainly understand that the meds aren't cheap, either. As you know, diabetes is a disease that doesn't go away, and, as much of a pain as it is to monitor and "be good", if you don't, your problems are going to get worse.

 

[megamania]

Alright.... I'm still deeply disappointed in my AC1 number but it will only get worse if I don't get back on checking-



4/4/07 149 This is what happens with no medicine and not checking


4/5/07 112 Took Metaforum. Need to raise about 40 bucks to buy the rest. Prescription runs out on Wednesday. :\