Preconception BG targets please help!

meela83

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Hello everyone
I haven't posted for a long time as I had forgotten my username, but have been reading posts with interest for the last couple of months. At christmas time my HbA1c was over 14%, today, 4 weeks post DAFNE it is 8.9%. I know to some of you this will still seem really high but for me it is a huge achievement. Have had my first appt at preconception clinic today and have been given targets of 3.5-5.9 pre-meals and below 7.8 1 hour after meals. The pre-meal I can and have been achieving but I have no idea how to get to the 7.8 1 hour after meals, I really don't want to cut out carbs completely but am happy to cut down (currently eating about 40-60g carb with each meal). I know that my body doesn't like chips as the other night I went from 5.4 pre-meal to 15.4 2 hours after. I really want to get my body in the best shape possible for babies and would really appreciate any help or advice. Thank you.
 

sugarless sue

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I am not a type 1 but surely 3.5 is hypo territory? Seems very low ,is there a reason for this?
I would suggest trying to reduce your carbs to say 30 per meal and see if this makes a difference but be careful with your insulin doses as well.If you can tolerate lower, say 60-90 gm per day so much the better but just take it a step at a time.This will lower your post meal readings.
You really need to discuss these low figures with your health team though.
 

meela83

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Thanks sugarless sue, have discussed with preconception team and they have said 3.5 is the very lower end of the target and they prefer 4-5 but 3.5 is the minimum, 0.1mmol under and classed as a hypo! Will try reducing the carbs gradually.
 

noblehead

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The lower figure of 3.5 pre-meal is way to low, this could be a start of a hypo, and I would not be happy injecting insulin when this low. The 5.9 figure is really good, and I for one would be more than happy with this.

The post-meal level of 7.8 sounds reasonable 1 hour after eating, and this would continue to fall by the 2-3 hour mark. Should you achieve bg's within this range, I would imagine your Hba1c would fall into a acceptable level.

Congratulations are in order for bringing your Hba1c down from 14 last christmas, to a recent result of 8.9, this is one big step and should be commended. I have recently cut back the amount of carbs I eat at each meal and seen big improvements in the control, and when I do eat carbs I always make sure that they are low GI foods that slowly release starch into the body. Potatoes are a high GI food, and therefore chips will undoubtedly raise bg's after a meal.

Good luck with your plans on starting a family, and improving your control will benefit you in the coming events. Best wishes.

Nigel