Type 1: What are your HbA1c test results?

[x Carol x]

Why would you want to do 'better'?
Your hba1c is well below the prediabetic level, completely normal. Unless you got this hba1c through lots of highs and lows, I can understand wishing to improve that. But the hba1c in itself can't be much better than it is to my thinking.

Thanks, I am happy with this figure, just Dr Bernstein talks about 5.2% or lower being the standard for much less likely to get long term side effects and I do know I can achieve that if I tracked hormones a bit better lol.

 

[x Carol x]

My HbA1c is just above yours in the comments and is at 38 as of recently. I am on an Insulin Pump specifically a hybrid closed loop system Medtronic 780g with G4 Sensor and I have a pretty "heavy" carb diet, We're talking maybe 150-200g of carbs daily, sometimes less sometimes more depending on the day. I only eat 2 meals a day and then random snacks between.

Wow that's really impressive. It's certainly doable then. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Aj1981]

My HbA1c was 82 mmol/mol in Nov 2021, so was put on Metfomin tablets, but then it went up to 120 mmol/molin March 2022, so was diagnosed as T1 and put on Insulin.

At present my HbA1c is 68 mmol/mol

 

[RoughcutAU]

Yesterdays HbA1c 6.1/43. Much happier with this result then the last. Hopefully the Endo agrees next week at my appointment.

Interesting side note Libreview was spot on with its estimate this time instead of just being close.

 

[Bikester]

Had my diabetic review this week. Latest hba1c is 36 which is 5.4%. I'm very happy with that but I know I can do even better. I eat mainly carnivore and do MDI. I don't think I could achieve a good hba1c eating a 'normal' carb diet unless I went on a pump. I'd be very interested to know if anyone has a similar hba1c to mine but is eating carbs and if so are you on a pump?

I had exactly the same HbA1c as you (36). I was very pleased with the result as I am not using pump. My diet consists of youghurt, rye bread, cheese, olive oil and mainly vegetarian dishes. Also a bar of chocolate now and then, especially during long biking trips. I do avoid dishes which raise blood sugar rapidly. Such as buns, cakes and basically all treats made mainly of wheat. Never spaghetti or pizza for me. I consume protein rich food only restricted amounts as it is hardfor me to figure out the time when they start to raise BG.
Now the surprising and sad part of my story.... Last visit to doctor was very stressing and infuriating for me. Nothing that I do is enough for her, despite that all blood test results were in the normal range (scale for healthy people). The insulin type is wrong(according to her) and I do not use cholesterol lowering medication due to side effect of causing insulin resistance and worse BG control. I shall change the doctor. After three annual reviews we have every time the same discussions and disapprocal attitude to my choices.
Please, tell how your doctor reacts to your choices regarding diet and medication. Do you feel empowered or run down after the visit?

 

[rubypops]

Mine is 7.3% (56)

Little depressing reading all these replies… everyone on around 5%

I have a high intensity job. I eat two slices of brown bread for breakfast, an apple for mid-morning snack, soup and a bread roll for lunch, and something similar for dinner.

Despite being incredibly focused on blood sugars I can’t help wild spikes and drops. Any suggestions?

I have a high intensity job which burns a lot of energy (hence the need for some bread) and I also don’t have a lot of time or money for making fancy/expensive breakfasts etc

Thanks

 

[Westley]

I know what you mean. Reading through these numbers makes it seem like sub 6 is common among T1s, but this thread is far from a random sample.
The people active on forums like this, and wanting to talk about their numbers are going to be doing better than the typical T1. According to this most T1s around the world are >7.5, so you're doing better than average.

That much bread does sound challenging to dose for.
Greek yoghurt can be good for a low prep low carb but still calorific breakfast. Eggs are great - for speed those little pots for microwaving them can be good. Overnight oats are cheap and easy - they do give me a substantial raise in BG, but at least it's slower than bread.

 

[Zinadane]

Mine is 7.3% (56)

Little depressing reading all these replies… everyone on around 5%

I have a high intensity job. I eat two slices of brown bread for breakfast, an apple for mid-morning snack, soup and a bread roll for lunch, and something similar for dinner.

Despite being incredibly focused on blood sugars I can’t help wild spikes and drops. Any suggestions?

I have a high intensity job which burns a lot of energy (hence the need for some bread) and I also don’t have a lot of time or money for making fancy/expensive breakfasts etc

Thanks

Sounds similar lifestyle to me I think. The CGM with readout on my watch though has enabled me to tame my spikes and see the lows coming. I used to be in 7s, but now 6.3 is fairly easy.

 

[Bikester]

Mine is 7.3% (56)

Little depressing reading all these replies… everyone on around 5%

I have a high intensity job. I eat two slices of brown bread for breakfast, an apple for mid-morning snack, soup and a bread roll for lunch, and something similar for dinner.

Despite being incredibly focused on blood sugars I can’t help wild spikes and drops. Any suggestions?

I have a high intensity job which burns a lot of energy (hence the need for some bread) and I also don’t have a lot of time or money for making fancy/expensive breakfasts etc

Thanks

When I was working, I also had much much worse HbA1c than now on pension. High BG in the morning until noon and every stressful day raised the sugar to high levels. Stress affects s lot and the situations when you cannot focus on the treatment fully. Do not blame yourself!
After retiring everything was changed to much better for me. Next year I have had T1 diabetes 50 years... In my country we do not get a medal. Probably I shall get more scolding from my GP ..hah! .I read somewhere that in the UK a medal is delivered if you manage to survive that long . Is It true?

 

[ert]

Mine is 7.3% (56)

Little depressing reading all these replies… everyone on around 5%

I have a high intensity job. I eat two slices of brown bread for breakfast, an apple for mid-morning snack, soup and a bread roll for lunch, and something similar for dinner.

Despite being incredibly focused on blood sugars I can’t help wild spikes and drops. Any suggestions?

I have a high intensity job which burns a lot of energy (hence the need for some bread) and I also don’t have a lot of time or money for making fancy/expensive breakfasts etc

Thanks

If you eat normally then your HbA1c is really difficult to get below 6.5% which is at the level recommended by NICE. My specialists recommend as a type 1 that I should eat whatever I like. However, to get a HbA1c of 5% like mine I eat keto or low carb which is not recommended by the current medical world.

 

[Zinadane]

Agreed!
I eat fairly normally (within my own sort of boundaries) and I hover around the 6.3 mark, with cgm on watch and making corrective adjustments.
To get below that I would need to go low carb.
Question is, should I accept 6.3 or should I be targeting lower. The million dollar question I guess!

 

[Ashintheuk]

After listening to Prof Partha Kar and Dr Iain Cranston at the diabetes wellness and research foundation day at Kenilworth a couple of weeks ago, They asserted that HbA1C is less relevant than 'time in range' of which 70% should be aimed for due to daily fluctuations in levels
Interesting take from the people who advise NICE and are responsible for bringing CGMs to prominance in the NHS

 

[jaywak]

In may at my annual review my HbA1C was 43 and my consultant told me this could be dangerous for a type 1 to be that low and I should aim for 50 , I didn't go low that often but took his advice and with the aid of my new Libre 2 I have an estimated Hb1AC of 51 and I will say with the better control this has given me I have never felt better !

 

[In Response]

If you eat normally then your HbA1c is really difficult to get below 6.5% which is at the level recommended by NICE. My specialists recommend as a type 1 that I should eat whatever I like. However, to get a HbA1c of 5% like mine I eat keto or low carb which is not recommended by the current medical world.

I disagree.
I eat normally. I do not use Closed Loop (although I do have a pump).
I live a very active life with travel for work (including meals out with customers), lots of exercise and I eat what I want.
After 20 years of Type 1 diabetes, I have no complications and a HBA1C under 6.5%.
I don't find it difficult. I just learnt how to use my insulin for my lifestyle.

 

[x Carol x]

Please, tell how your doctor reacts to your choices regarding diet and medication. Do you feel empowered or run down after the visit?

Hi Bikester, thanks for sharing. Great a1c result! I feel the visit to the DSN for my diabetic review is a waste of time and just an appointment to find out the results. I've never had any decent advice. I don't typically see my doctor. They are happy with the type of insulin I'm on and they just ask how many units I inject and don't ask questions re what diet I eat so they don't know!

 

[ert]

I disagree.
I eat normally. I do not use Closed Loop (although I do have a pump).
I live a very active life with travel for work (including meals out with customers), lots of exercise and I eat what I want.
After 20 years of Type 1 diabetes, I have no complications and a HBA1C under 6.5%.
I don't find it difficult. I just learnt how to use my insulin for my lifestyle.

Of course there are exceptions - well done you. But for a large number, dosing for carbs is difficult. Fewer than 30% of type 1's reach their HbA1c target:

https://www.gettingitrightfirsttime.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GIRFT-diabetes-report.pdf

 

[Bluey1]

I'm normally high 7's to low 10's. My record was 5.5 many years ago with CGM, but I have found CGM to be very unreliable and unpredictable so I no longer use it.

 

[EllieM]

Well, a couple of weeks ago I had my best ever hba1c since I was pregnant (my son is 31) and the pregnancy hba1c was accompanied by a drastic/life threatening loss of hypo awareness. I was surprised , since my cgm suggested my usual 50 ish, and I would have been delighted with a 48.

I went to see my consultant this week (first visit since 2020) and she agreed that my love hate relationship with lantus had got ridiculous (lots of night time hypos) and persuaded me to try a pump. Only problem, need to go through a lot of hoops in New Zealand if your hba1c is less than 53. The DNs suggested I use their machine for a quick fingerprick hba1c check, as it "reads high" (I kid you not).

The result came in at 53 so be prepared for a lot of posts from me on the insulin pump forum.

Still have no idea what my actual hba1c was but this just goes to show that there are times when 53 is better than 45 (at least in New Zealand)

 

[Antje77]

Well, a couple of weeks ago I had my best ever hba1c since I was pregnant (my son is 31) and the pregnancy hba1c was accompanied by a drastic/life threatening loss of hypo awareness. I was surprised , since my cgm suggested my usual 50 ish, and I would have been delighted with a 48.

I went to see my consultant this week (first visit since 2020) and she agreed that my love hate relationship with lantus had got ridiculous (lots of night time hypos) and persuaded me to try a pump. Only problem, need to go through a lot of hoops in New Zealand if your hba1c is less than 53. The DNs suggested I use their machine for a quick fingerprick hba1c check, as it "reads high" (I kid you not).

The result came in at 53 so be prepared for a lot of posts from me on the insulin pump forum.

Still have no idea what my actual hba1c was but this just goes to show that there are times when 53 is better than 45 (at least in New Zealand)

That's amazing news, exciting times ahead @EllieM !
And this nurse sounds like a keeper, that's some useful creative thinking.
I don't want a pump but if it would be the only way to get rid of Lantus I would reconsider.

 

[EllieM]

And this nurse sounds like a keeper, that's some useful creative thinking.

Apparently they sometimes suggest to their patients that they have another hba1c test in 2 weeks time and consider eating a lot of ice cream in that period (New Zealand ice cream is delicious but lethal on the blood sugar, mine at least).