Type 1: What are your HbA1c test results?

[Fern Hopper]

Mine is 37%. About 5.5. This after 57 years of Type 1. I think I could be past the honeymoon phase. My BMI is 21.5. I have very few hypos. I haven't needed help because of a hypo for more than 30 years.
I am still learning!

 

[scaryblueberry]

This is just a reminder that Hba1c is just an average. The same hbA1c could be great or terrible depending on if your sugars are stable or not. So really, at least for type 1s, it only gauges the bad stuff by saying either ‘yes your control is bad’ Or ‘this has the potential for not being bad but it still might be’

 

[Fern Hopper]

Is a better guage time in target? 99% last 7 days. Daily patterns? Very level.

 

[rhodzy]

HbA1c a year ago (when I was first diagnosed) was 91. As of today my latest results show my HbA1c as 44.

Over the moon with the drop!

 

[JemQuijano43]

Mine 12.8% - 116mmol/mol
It's quite high and ive been struggling with high Hba1c since i was diagnosed at age 26.
I'm 43 now

 

[Marie 2]

@JemQuijano43 Unfortunately being too high can cause complications down the road.

It really is about counting carbs and giving the right dose for those carbs. Timing, prebolusing helps too. Some people are better at it than others for whatever reason. But I am wondering, how about a loop pump?? Omnipod 5, newer Tandem or Medtronic pumps make adjustments themselves and make it easier to deal with keeping your numbers in control. It sounds like you would be a perfect candidate for it. It adjusts your basal rate so you aren't as likely to drop too low and it adjusts it higher if you need more. You still have to enter what carbs you eat, but some pumps even do that easier with saying higher or lower carb meal. And it still has to be programmed initially, but your Doctor should be able to help with that.

Why don't you ask your doctor about a loop pump??? I'm not sure what's available where you live, that can vary.

If you have specific questions about how to help with BG control, a lot of us here are more than happy to try to help!

 

[Antje77]

Mine 12.8% - 116mmol/mol
It's quite high and ive been struggling with high Hba1c since i was diagnosed at age 26.
I'm 43 now

Hi @JemQuijano43 , welcome to the forum.

From your profile, I see you're in the Netherlands.
Have you ever heard about diabetes revalidatie in Beatrixoord?

This may be just the thing you need to get help starting to get a grip on your diabetes.

https://www.umcg.nl/-/diabetesrevalidatie

Good luck!

 

[In Response]

It really is about counting carbs and giving the right dose for those carbs. Timing, prebolusing helps too. Some people are better at it than others for whatever reason. But I am wondering, how about a loop pump?? Omnipod 5, newer Tandem or Medtronic pumps make adjustments themselves and make it easier to deal with keeping your numbers in control. It sounds like you would be a perfect candidate for it. It adjusts your basal rate so you aren't as likely to drop too low and it adjusts it higher if you need more. You still have to enter what carbs you eat, but some pumps even do that easier with saying higher or lower carb meal. And it still has to be programmed initially, but your Doctor should be able to help with that.

Why don't you ask your doctor about a loop pump??? I'm not sure what's available where you live, that can vary.

How does closed loop help with carb counting?

 

[EllieM]

How does closed loop help with carb counting?

I was assured by the medtronic rep that their pump is very forgiving of inaccurate carb counts. (Not sure if I entirely believe her, but I think the idea is that basal is increased or decreased to compensate?)

 

[Marie 2]

The newer Medtronic, Tandem and the Omnipod 5 will make correction decisions, based on predicted higher or lower trends/readings from the CGM you wear. But they are limited on how much extra they can give, so I'm not sure they can fully deal with high high numbers and that varies per brand of pump. But it most certainly helps. They literally will give an extra dose, in the MiniMed 780G case it can give an extra dose every 5 minutes. They also will adjust/stop basal rate given on prediction of going too low.

They take away some of the management decisions of corrections, so it makes it easier. If your pump is programmed right, and that does take some initial work, you feasibly enter your carbs and being a couple off won't matter as much since it adjusts. Plus those corrections we make when we are off, it might be able to take care of that too. It makes life easier for a lot.

I don't have a looped pump because I am kind of OCD about management. I like my numbers too much lol!!! (5.2 or 32) But if I get burn out or am tired of the micro management, a loop system usually makes life easier.

Here's a page on the MiniMed about adjustments

MiniMed™ 780G System | Medtronic

Learn more about the MiniMed 780G insulin pump system with real-time insulin adjustments and corrections all day and night.

www.medtronicdiabetes.com

And Tandem Control IQ

https://support.tandemdiabetes.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500011432722-Automatic-Correction-Bolus

Omnipod 5 Skip down to Automated Mode

Tips for Managing Glucose Levels on Omnipod® 5 | Omnipod

www.omnipod.com

 

[IanA123]

Re: What are your H test results?

Hi Darren. By H results, I assume you mean HbA1c? This is one of the key tests and looks at your average blood sugars over 3 months (sort of anyway!) Without wanting to sound picky, this test is measured as a %, NOT in mmol so I wonder if you're getting mixed up? The mmol tests are the one-off blood sugar tests we can do on our meters. It's worth clarifying your results so you can compare properly with other tests in the future and see how you're getting on. My Hba!c was 8.2 when I was diagnosed, but fortuinately down to 5.9 when I was tested 4 months later.
Good luck!

7.4% or 57mmol, spot on according to diabetes team

 

[oldgreymare]

Latest 6.6% 48 mmol/mol, up from 6.1% 43 mmol/mol last November. Still getting used to using a pump (Omnipod DASH since January).

 

[Zinadane]

Latest 6.6% 48 mmol/mol, up from 6.1% 43 mmol/mol last November. Still getting used to using a pump (Omnipod DASH since January).

A tad disappointing for you, but early days I guess.
Will stick with it?
NHS prescription pump?
Good luck!

 

[kkapo18]

A tad disappointing for you, but early days I guess.
Will stick with it?
NHS prescription pump?
Good luck!

What is your experience of getting a pump on NHS? Hearing its nigh on impossible at initial diagnosis!

 

[oldgreymare]

A tad disappointing for you, but early days I guess.
Will stick with it?
NHS prescription pump?
Good luck!

Hi @Zinadane,
Absolutely will stick with the pump. I was in SE Asia for 3 weeks in March - 35+ deg and 90% humidity and so reverted to MDI while there as it was simply easier. Also I allowed myself more carbs this year, but pragmatically that experiment failed, as I can never adequately get timing and dosage right for bolus (pen or pump) and always end up on the steep high/low rollercoaster.

Last couple of weeks back to much stricter keto/low carb so mostly bolusing for protein. Getting much better control (TIR 80+ %, avg BG 6.5 mmol). Just need to stay on track, also figure out how to manage for my very erratic exercise habits.

I self fund my Dexcom G7 CGM, but was approved for a NHS pump last November mostly due to consistent evidence from my CGM of too frequent hypos and dawn phenomenon. Approval took about 10 months from when first submitted.

 

[oldgreymare]

What is your experience of getting a pump on NHS? Hearing its nigh on impossible at initial diagnosis!

Hi @kkapo18,

Sadly this is true except for young T1 children and pregnancy related diabetes diagnoses (both are at the top of pump priority lists).

A lot will depend on external circumstances - where are you based - the NHS postcode lottery is real, where in the UK are you living? Also NHS Scotland has significantly different strategy.

With respect to personal considerations, I have been seen by the local specialist hospital endocrinology unit since 2018 to date while using MDI treatment as well as religiously attending all GP diabetes checkups. I also have completed a DAFNE carb counting course - I believe still a requisite for any NHS pump approval. What made the big difference was self funding my CGM (Dexcom G6, now G7). But you as Type 1 should be eligible for a GP issued CGM - do chase and really understand what the info gives you. This is key to raising your chances of pump approval.

See my reply above to @Zinadane.

 

[eventhorizon]

Just got myself a 6.5% / 48. A personal best for me in 24 years of T1. My first test since I started HCL with a Tslim 3 months ago.