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Complications with Diabetes


Callen, there is no reason why you can't have children and see them grow up IF you take good care of yourself. We need to take extra care of ourselves when we have diabetes to avoid real bad complications and the most important way we do that is by keeping our blood sugar levels to within non diabetic numbers, if possible, that is what I try to do and I do feel better for it. I'm not on insulin so I'm unable to comment on that but, from what I have read on this site I believe T2s have been able to stop insulin with good care, but that would be between you and your doctor. I think it's normal to feel low and depressed at times and then the outlook seems gloomy, but there are people here who are winning their own war on diabetes and there is no reason why you can't be one of them. It's just a matter of finding your own personal balance to stay healthy.

Oh, and welcome!
 
Thank you so much for sharing this with me... I totally agree with you... After speaking to you, I have a more positive and optimistic approach to life thank you

Callen Naidoo
 
Now it's on 6.5 before meals and about 8ish after meals... I really don't know how the carb counting works to be honest, all my doctor said was if it doesn't go to 5 I need to increase my insulin to 6 more units... I didn't do this however(getting terrible headaches when my sugar is less than 6)

Callen Naidoo
 
Callen

You will never get a flat rate of 5 ever. I think your gp is trying to scare the **** out of you.

First of, you must be ABOVE 5 to drive.
2nd blood machines can be up to 20% inaccurate- so when your machine says 5 it could basically be 4 and heading you toward hypo's or it could be 6.0.. Some machines read higher, some lower....

If your gp looking at a hba1c of 5.0 - well that is too low for a young man and you would be having more hypo's, which of course, aren't nice.

My superb consultant at MK hospital likes my hba1c to be no lower than 6.3 but ideally at 6.5 to 6.8. These levels minimise hypo's for me.. And that's important.

I don't know what your daily rate of insulin is, but no consultant has ever told me to alter by 6 units.. They have always advised on injections... 1-2 units a maximum at a time.

I think your doctor is being too harsh with you and some advice is being a little extreme...


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6.5 could be slightly lower but a rise to 8ish after meals is really, really good.. It means that you haven't got much variance or peaking with the food you eat. The peak would be better if it peaked at less than 8.0 but at this point its the pre meal level that could be very slightly lower which would then make your peak less than 8.0.

Well done, and I am really glad that you are feeling more positive. Honest, life is what people make it, but thank goodness for the forums etc nowadays where you can find out for yourself, that doom n gloom isn't a necessary part of diabetes! Well done, really proud that you are more positive.


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I also agree with what DD has said in her last msg as well. Telling diabetics to be on 5mmol before eating food is all very well but the action time of many bolus insulins is about 4 to 5 hrs and for many, trying to be on 5mmol b4 eating and then being on 7.5mmol 2 .5hrs later, will usually cause a low bg level to come by 3.5hrs and will need a small snack to stop it or face a very low bg by the time 4hrs has gone by. If bolus insulins had an acting time of 3hrs, then tighter control could be achieved without too much risk of low bg, but as yet these insulins are not available.




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A goodish hba1c for many is 6.7 to 7.2%. I have been able to stay within that range for most of my life with type 1 which is 1 year away from 50yrs. I havent suffered from any nerve damage to my legs or feet or needed laser for eye damage. This isnt down to luck, its down to looking after myself with the food that I eat and the insulin I inject and meeting diabetes half way.


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Getting headaches at 5.0 is probably or could be the start of hypo symptoms..especially if you've had higher levels for a while. Headaches may disappear as your levels become stabilised... But you may have a headache as a symptom of hypo's...


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