• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Insulin Dosages

It is definitely not too low as long as you are not frequently having hypos or losing hypo awareness. They are concerned because statistically this is a risk associated with near normal HBa1c. So it depends if you want to be treated like a statistic or not.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Depends how many and how severe any hypo's you are having. Or hypers.

I had a gp tell me recently that my levels were too high... And yet my consultant and two other gp's say they are good for a type 1 as the lower my hba1c the more frequent my hypo's are...


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
benjygirl said:
I have been a Type 1 for only 3 years and I have managed by myself to have a good control - or so I thought. Last year my Hba1c was 6.5 and I was praised for my good control. I had my annual review for this year and again my Hba1c was 6.5. I then had a phone call from my GP to tell me that this was much too low and I was to use less insulin . (I am on Novorapid and Levimir. ) She wants me to have BS readings above 8 !! I have a feeling that she really doesn't understand diabetes at all. I phoned my DN to ask her opinion and she told me to do as the GP said. IS an Hba1c reading of 6.5 in your opinions too low ?
Click to expand...


My last two HbA1c have been 6.5 and I am very proud of it. Ignore your GP, unless your HbA1c is based on serious lows and major highs. Contact the hospital for peace of mind. 6.5 is at the higher end of being non-diabetic - I would say well done!



Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Thanks for your replies. I have only ever had 1 hypo in the 3 years (2.8) and my readings very rarely go above 11. Think I'll carry on doing my own thing, but in a few weeks after I've had the retest of my Hba1c that my GP has requested. I'm hoping it will be higher as I don't want her on my back, even though it's nice to think that she cares !!


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
benjygirl said:
Thanks for your replies. I have only ever had 1 hypo in the 3 years (2.8) and my readings very rarely go above 11. Think I'll carry on doing my own thing, but in a few weeks after I've had the retest of my Hba1c that my GP has requested. I'm hoping it will be higher as I don't want her on my back, even though it's nice to think that she cares !!


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
Click to expand...

She might care but her ignorance is shocking and will put you at risk of serious complications. 6.5% with very few hypos is perfectly in line with medical guidelines - a little too high in my opinion, but certainly not too low! Stick with it! Your doctor should be congratulating you on being one of the few per cent of Type 1s who have HbA1cs within range! Well done!

Smidge
 
Diabetesyoyo, thank you for your story. It is certainly very similar to most of the stories told by the Type 1s I was on a DAFNE course with a couple of months ago. Shocking really. No wonder 95% of Type 1s fail to reach NICE targets with their control.

Smidge
 
Hi smidge, I've now got a pump which I adore and I am aiming for 6 in old money with being able to exercise and dealing with DP. I agree with you- type 1s need to aim for lower but obviously without major swings from high to low.



Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
benjygirl said:
Thanks for your replies. I have only ever had 1 hypo in the 3 years (2.8) and my readings very rarely go above 11. Think I'll carry on doing my own thing, but in a few weeks after I've had the retest of my Hba1c that my GP has requested. I'm hoping it will be higher as I don't want her on my back, even though it's nice to think that she cares !!


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
Click to expand...

Please, please ignore your GP. Your HbA1c is great. As you have few hypos there is no reason whatsoever to raise it.

The study upon which diabetes care is currently based, the DCCT, demonstrated that the lower your HbA1c the lower your risk of all complications is. The lower range of HbA1c's in the DCCT was 6.1%.

Your GP's advice is way off!

Best

Dillinger
 
Dillinger said:
Please, please ignore your GP. Your HbA1c is great. As you have few hypos there is no reason whatsoever to raise it.

The study upon which diabetes care is currently based, the DCCT, demonstrated that the lower your HbA1c the lower your risk of all complications is. The lower range of HbA1c's in the DCCT was 6.1%.

Your GP's advice is way off!

Best

Dillinger
Click to expand...
To be fair to the GP, the concern is that below 7% Hba1c the increasing statistical likelihood of hypos starts to outweigh the diminishing improvement in complications. Statistically. But if there is no problem with hypos and hypo awareness in an individual, that individual is better having a lower hba1c. The trick is in getting the doc to treat you as an individual rather than a statistic.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Back
Top