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Blood sugar levels, what's normal.

LucyM88

Well-Known Member
Messages
101
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
One thing I've noticed massively on here is everyone is so different with their levels and what they consider normal or high or low. Considering we apparently all need to aim for the same target! Just now at 4:35pm my blood sugar is 8.4 - I'm well pleased with that!
but some people thinks that's high...weird! Just wanted to start a convo with this really as its always interested me.
 
good subject choice
I will jump straight in and start by saying that we first of all are different people and view things differently , have different experiences , fears , and find ourselves with this condition at different times in our lives , which can affect how we view our levels..

for me , having had D for 43 years i am continually striving for as low as I can get.

i would say an 8.4 is acceptable 2 hours post meal as my highest number , but that is about the only time.

I am always at my happiest when in the 4's and 5's.
 
Normal is always below six. That's not to say we spend enough time there...
 
@LucyM88 Type 1s and Type 2s have different targets for 'good' levels.
 
My 8.4 was roughly 3 hrs after my lunch. I always consider anything that's 5-10 good levels. Sometimes I'm still happy with a 11-12.
 
i aim to stay below 8 two hours after eating for normal meals. If I'm eating out or there are other circumstances that will make that harder, I may push that limit up to 9.

Before meals, I like to be below 6, but it depends on what I'm doing and how much I've tested. So that can extend to under 7 if things are hard.

I adjust those limits if I'm driving or doing something like exercise or swimming in the sea or whatever I want a bit of a 'cushion' with.

Those are my aims, but like everyone I don't get 100% success! : D
 
I was always taught 5-7 but that was in the 80s. Stuck with that theory but sometimes easier said than done.
 
Ideally. 4.8 to 7.6/.8 at a push.. (As non D as poss.)
(Driving. I stay within the law. "5 to drive".)

I've had enough criticism as a kid with a random pee test Dulux wall chart.. So far be it for me to tell any type "how it is."

Though I do respectfully disagree with how the NHS feels it should be, regarding the "ideal" HbA1c for me..
 
My last HB1AC was 64mmol / 8.0% that was done in October
 
One of the things you will discover on your journey here is that we all have slightly different journeys in the bad ship lollipop.
LucyM88 said:
My 8.4 was roughly 3 hrs after my lunch. I always consider anything that's 5-10 good levels. Sometimes I'm still happy with a 11-12.
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I look at mine in a slightly different way. I try to get my levels down as best I can, but I try not to get anal about it. I do not carb count, I select things in the supermarket by looking at the carbs/100 gm figure, and if 10 or less I consider it. If I get a spike, I just shrug my shoulders, and mentally note what may have caused it so i can reduce it next time.

You are the captain of your ship, so you go for whatever figures you feel comfortable with. At the figures you quote, you are less likely to have a hypo, so that solves a major worry. I used the same excuse myelf, and my GP and I used to have a laugh when he had to warn me that the change in medication could lead to hypo. Now I live much closer to Hypoland, it has less fears for me, and I have learnt to deal with it as necessary. But i still refuse to carb count.
 
Oh I'm so glad I've come across another diabetic that doesn't carb count! Felt like I was the only one! But I have to say, I am considering it because I want children in the future. Don't like the thought of it...but I want tight control for my future child.
 

Your decision, and it sounds good. Even though you are a T1D, you may find a low Carb diet would help. I do LCHF, and there are some T1D's also doing it. But there are other diets that also do the job.


Edited by a mod as the OP is a Type 1 on mixed insulin
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Why don't you like the thought of it? I'm asking out of interest not to be rude

I'd be miserable (and confused) without carb counting. It means I can eat what I want (within reason, of course) and still have very good control. I was lucky enough to be taught it at diagnosis and now it's pretty much automatic.

Bear in mind that some Type 2s might not have to carb count in the same way as a Type 1 (or others who need to too)
 
agree with @azure in the sense that counting the carb value of what you eat is directly related to the spikes in post prandial BG's
so if you know what goes in you can dose for it and minimise spikes
 
I don't like the thought of it because I don't want to be restricted even more. I was told when I was diagnosed in 2001 that I do not have to have a specialist diet, in moderation I can eat what I want. As long as I do my insulin!
I'm **** at maths as well!


I just don't want my life to be consumed by numbers
 
Dr Bernstein says true normal is 4.6 before meals, 5.6 afterwards.
 
LucySW said:
Dr Bernstein says true normal is 4.6 before meals, 5.6 afterwards.
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Based on the various Libre graphs from Non-Ds that I've seen, I'd take what Dr Bernstein says with a very large pinch of salt. He also says Normal Hba1Cs are <5%, which again doesn't fit with the evidential norm, which is 4.9% to 5.2%
 
LucyM88 said:
I'm **** at maths as well!
Click to expand...

You don't need to be good at maths to carb count @LucyM88

Have a look at and register with the following, its an on-line carb counting course which is similar to what is taught on DAFNE, without knowing the carb content of your food your always going to be swinging from high to low as it's impossible to get the insulin dose right:

http://www.bdec-e-learning.com/
 
My target is to be under 5.5 mmol at all times which is achievable but is not for everyone. I don't want to 'gamble' with complications so sticking to non-diabetic levels is my approach.
 
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