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Clarification on what is Save levels vs. Desired levels vs. Realistic levels

M

Mslone

Member
Messages
5
Location
Katy TX
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Exercise... Work...
Hello,

I have asked a few different Doctors and People with Diebetes that are Type 1. and get a range of answers... I'm trying to figure out what Range I should try to Maintain...

Doctors that do not have Diebetes have told me 100 is Normal and I should try to stay near 100.

Another Doctor said 140 is the goal range. andthen Later told me to Stay between 90 - 170.

Some Friends and Family that are Type 1 said they just try to stay under 200. and Live in the 170 Range on Average...

I would say right now I'm prolly living in the 160-180 range with some swings through out the day down to 120's up to 220... I ussually give my self a shot once over 200 but at 190 I just try to go for a walk...etc.

I'm not sure if the diesese is damaging organs at 150- or 190 or >200 ???

Anyway like I said I only have about 4-5 Opinions. And I dont trust text books... and interent articles... I trust people that have had this and lived with it for 20yrs?

So I would really appreciate ya'lls opinions on What is the Safe vs. Desired vs. Realistic Range I need to try to stay in... Because I may need to shot up more insulin if I need to lower my Range.

Thanks in Advance!

Michael
 
Jenny Ruhl covers this very well in her book 'Diabetes 101'. I would advise reading it, but what she essentially says is this (and its backed up by clinical data, which she cites); to have 'safe' blood sugars, one should aim for levels that are as close to normal as possible. For a non diabetic, normal is 83 mg/dl as a fasting level. After food, a non diabetic will rarely if ever rise above 140 mg/dl. To be sure to avoid complications, these are the best levels to aim for. Her own personal goal is to be in 'The 5% Club'. This means having an HBA1C under six, as well as not seeing blood sugars rise above 140 mg/dl (or 7.8 mmol/l in non american measurements).
 
Also, I know you say you don't trust text books but I really would check this one out. The author, Jenny Ruhl, is a diabetic herself and has been since 1998. And if you want a really, really in depth guide to diabetic control, look out Dr Richard Bernstein's complete diabetic solution. Dr Bernstein has been a type 1 diabetic since childhood. He is now in his 80s. He trained as a doctor in his 40s, because no one in the medical community was willing to publish his findings about diabetic control, and how to avoid complicatjons. The man lives and breathes diabetic control, but his book is very, very in depth. It's hard going at times, but at least checking it out is a good idea.
 
Michael, bg targets are an individual matter and should be discussed with your diabetes team, it would be wrong for anyone to tell you what range you should stay with. much depends on your personal circumstances.
 
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