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Girlfriend needs higher levels to feel normal...

H

hogweed

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Hi all – I’ve recently started dating a 52-year-old woman who’s had Type 1 for about 30 years, so I’m trying to learn as much as I can about it. I do have some general medical knowledge.



Having known others who haven't controlled their blood sugar well, and have suffered as a result, what I’m trying to figure out is how well she controls hers, and what the outcome over years is likely to be. I think she might welcome a bit of support (end even nagging) here.



She tends to respond a bit vaguely to my tactful questions, but said that, to feel normal, she needs to keep it between about 6 and 9, which seems to be on the high side? She says her doctor tries to get her to keep it lower, but that she feels **** if she maintains it any lower than it is now.



What do you think? Is she risking her health? Do any of you find that you have to maintain your sugar higher than the doctor says to feel OK?



Thanks so much
 
Can't comment on her long-term risks, but I wonder if she likes to keep her bg levels above 6 as she has had bad experiences of hypo's in the past, get her to join up and the type 1 members here will try and advice her on any problems.
 
No, she does get hypos, but finds in general that even keeping her blood steady at the recommended level makes her feel bad all the time...
 
this warms my heart...........

its great your taking an interest and keep at her................:)

as noble says, fear of hypo may be a factor here and its not uncommon for diabetics to feel like this, I am only realizing this now.........

its hard trying to tell long term diabetics how to improve things if they have been doing the same thing for years but trying to get them down lower would be beneficial.........

if her target is between 6 and 9 then her post meal readings could be even higher, this may be something for you to find out........:).....

you do feel changes when going from long term higher levels to lower ones as the body gets acclimatized.......but the body will soon get used to the new numbers......
 
hogweed said:
No, she does get hypos, but finds in general that even keeping her blood steady at the recommended level makes her feel bad all the time...
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Her bg levels aren't high by any means if she keeps to between 6-9mmol (provided these aren't just pre-prandial levels and she's missing much higher levels between meals). Sometimes people who run high bg levels over a prolonged period can experience what they call False Hypo's when attempting to lower their bg levels,, they can feel out of sorts and do think they are going hypo, do get her to join up and we will see how we can help.
 
In all honesty 6-9 isn't very high at all, if she's in control and is testing regularly/has no complications it's really up to her what levels she keeps it at. She's had db for 30 years I'm sure if she was treating it badly she's know by now.
 
mooshk said:
In all honesty 6-9 isn't very high at all, if she's in control and is testing regularly/has no complications it's really up to her what levels she keeps it at. She's had db for 30 years I'm sure if she was treating it badly she's know by now.
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I agree!
 
I wouldn't consider 6-9 high at all! Many diabetics would be v happy with results between 6-9 and with regard to driving it's perfect sugar levels :) I try to keep my sugar levels within that range as I do feel rough below 6 and don't feel comfortable driving below 6 anyway :) I think she's doing a very good job and so are you!
 
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Do you know what her hba1c is? The BGs don't seem excessively high, but feeling bad below 6 doesn't sound great, TBH, and maybe implies she is hitting 9 pretty regularly.
 
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