- Messages
- 2
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
Hi
I've had Type 1 Diabetes since September 1980. I am currently on a Humalog and Lantus regime (I would prefer to be on a quicker acting insulin than Humalog - but can't persuade my prescribers to alter it). I am told that I cannot yet have an Insulin Pump (despite meeting the criteria), as I need training on Counting Carbs first - and there is a 1 year+ waiting list for this! I am baffled why I need this training - I have been counting carbs since September 1980....
I'm afraid that my control has not been as good as I would have liked. Since I retired (in 2018) I have really tried to improve my control. I aim to do a minimum of 10,000 steps a day (and sometimes do 12 miles+ walks). I am a keen cook, and have a diet rich in wholegrains, pulses etc. I eat 30+ different plants a week and most of these are veg and not fruit. I have radically cut back on drinking alcohol, and currently aren't drinking alcohol at all. My HbA1C results were typically around 63 and always above 58.
I have been using Freestyle Libre from before it was available on prescription, and have found it to be the most useful thing that I have had, to help my diabetes control. I have asked for Dexcom - as I have heard that it's more accurate, but I can't persuade my prescribers to prescribe a Dexcom...
Last year (against my better judgement) I agreed to accept support from my local team of Diabetes specialists - and let them see my Freestyle Libre results. My specialist told me that my highs were caused by preceding lows, and correctly pointed out that if your blood sugar ever drops below 4, you will not have good control the following day.
However, her advice was to drastically cut all my insulin. I was taking 18 units of Lantus - she cut this to 10 units. Similar drastic cuts were made to my Humalog doses.
Predictably (to my mind) my blood sugars went through the roof! My HbA1Cs have never been higher (over 70) and I have lost over 6 kgs in weight! She told me that I shouldn't worry about HbA1C results and Glucose Variability is far more important. I have read a recent paper that supports this suggestion.
I have given up following her advice, and wonder what others think?
I've had Type 1 Diabetes since September 1980. I am currently on a Humalog and Lantus regime (I would prefer to be on a quicker acting insulin than Humalog - but can't persuade my prescribers to alter it). I am told that I cannot yet have an Insulin Pump (despite meeting the criteria), as I need training on Counting Carbs first - and there is a 1 year+ waiting list for this! I am baffled why I need this training - I have been counting carbs since September 1980....
I'm afraid that my control has not been as good as I would have liked. Since I retired (in 2018) I have really tried to improve my control. I aim to do a minimum of 10,000 steps a day (and sometimes do 12 miles+ walks). I am a keen cook, and have a diet rich in wholegrains, pulses etc. I eat 30+ different plants a week and most of these are veg and not fruit. I have radically cut back on drinking alcohol, and currently aren't drinking alcohol at all. My HbA1C results were typically around 63 and always above 58.
I have been using Freestyle Libre from before it was available on prescription, and have found it to be the most useful thing that I have had, to help my diabetes control. I have asked for Dexcom - as I have heard that it's more accurate, but I can't persuade my prescribers to prescribe a Dexcom...
Last year (against my better judgement) I agreed to accept support from my local team of Diabetes specialists - and let them see my Freestyle Libre results. My specialist told me that my highs were caused by preceding lows, and correctly pointed out that if your blood sugar ever drops below 4, you will not have good control the following day.
However, her advice was to drastically cut all my insulin. I was taking 18 units of Lantus - she cut this to 10 units. Similar drastic cuts were made to my Humalog doses.
Predictably (to my mind) my blood sugars went through the roof! My HbA1Cs have never been higher (over 70) and I have lost over 6 kgs in weight! She told me that I shouldn't worry about HbA1C results and Glucose Variability is far more important. I have read a recent paper that supports this suggestion.
I have given up following her advice, and wonder what others think?