• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDED

L

lilibet

Well-Known Member
Messages
515
Location
Bonnie Scotland
Hi all

Am in a state of shock. Just phoned to get 2nd A1c and its 5.1%!! :shock:
I cant believe its true, cause what it says on 'paper' would suggest it would be higher.

Rather than be delighted Ive just harassed Nurses to death to check that the ONLY thing that can explain it is good control. Also practically had to swear on my whole family that Ive only had a handful of hypos since dx.

Of course, was told if Im happy then thats fine but was warned that I will now become hypo unaware (talk about bursting your bubble) and they would prefer me to be nearer 7.

So I need some voice of diabetic reason from you all. Is hypo onawareness inevitable with tight control. I now have the fear of god in me that Im having them during the night and no knowing cause I absolutely did not expect such a result

L :
 
what's your average bg on your meter?

Just because you have tight control does not mean you will be hypo unaware... i can tell you now if a non-diabetic goes hypo's they know about it!! and they have really tight control (naturally, of course) lol.

i'd be well happy with a hba1c of 5.1 with no hypo's! actually i've be happy with 6 and no hypo's!

At the end of the day, it's not what "they" prefer your results to be, it's what YOU want and what YOU feel happy with and in control with.

I've found that GP's and Doctors are more forcefull about what they want and care less about what you want. Where-as a proper diabetes clinic who specialise in diabetes only, are far more relaxed and more accepting about what the patients wants and needs.

If you are worried about night hypo's (or nypo's as i like to call them) then wake up in the middle of the night at different times over the course of a week or so and test. At the end of the week you can put your results together and see if there are any times you are going hypo.
 
Well done for such a great result first of all Lilibet!

Secondly, the nurses sound as if they don't really understand a couple of basic points. Whether an HbA1c is 5 or 7% has little bearing on the number or severity of hypo's - the types of food eaten and the volume of insulin used will have a much greater influence. The trouble I find is that there's a basic assumtion that a diabetic's blood glucose levels will typically be a toboggan ride - up and down all the time so that a higher HbA1c = a higher mean, therefore a greater margin of error.
What that fails to recognise is that a very stable bs as a result of low carb consumption turns that scary toboggan into a much gentler 'teacup & saucer' ride!

Non-diabetics don't have to suffer high average blood sugars to be safe and healthy, so why should we?
 
congratulations ,as already said,its whatever your happy with, ive just got my lowest too which is 5.9 which is good enough for me keep up the good work
 
Sorry i forgot to say! Well done on the great HbA1c!!! lol

i dont like teacup and saucer rides, they make me feel sick.... all that spinning around and around. 8)
 
Well done Lilibet and Totsy. Great results, I bet you are both so pleased. All the hard work has paid off. Treat yourself to something nice.
 
That's absolutely brilliant!

Look at it this way, the closer you are to a normal A1c the more likely you are to have "normal" levels of complications.

Over time I've met a few Type 1s who like Fergus are able to approach this level of control without the "inevitable" hypos. You have to be pragmatic almost to the point of obsession, one takes anything between three and a dozen shots a day and always carries glucose tabs and tests routinely but manages to do stuff like cycling and aerobics. Age 70 and with an artificial hip many nondiabetics probably do less well.
 
Brillant!
Hana
Keep telling them you have a right to a non-diabetic HbA1c.
 
Thanks all

Stu, meter averages were about 6 and over, hence my surprise at the A1c.

Was happy to come from 7.7 after 6 week point to the 6's (and then to 5's eventually) but never imagined in a trillion years it would be that low! For me it just shows that if I get the occasional blip (ie over 8 or whatever 3hrs PP) then I wont need to be in my usual state of disarray and despondency. I am also still in honeymoon so might be contributory (funny how they say your control is too tight, but equally blame 'good' results on honeymoon. Makes you want to shout Hey Nurses, you CANT have it both ways). I worked hard I think but no harder than I did when keeping an eye on weight etc and not as low carb as some (but enough to work I assume)

Glad to hear Hypo unawareness not inevitable. I accept hypos happen but I of course dont want to be unaware - not least cause I use my car for work.

Thanks for all who responded, I can feel my happy dance mentality starting to kick in. Shame theres not more diabetics at work cause explaining to non diabetic pals just doesnt cut it

L x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…