For the last maannny years, I have been between 5.3 and 6.8. The 2 extremes 5.3 caused by opioid lows and the 6.8 last winter caused by a steroid injection (plus daily Pred. which I can usually control). The other years of the 5.7 - 6.5's were with mostly normal/better numbers.
You have found that opioids cause you low blood sugars, Terrie?
OOPps! I just noticed that I forgot to add my last A1C. In June, it was 6.4.
Not in the normal way Zoe. I was on the higher dose and it made me really dizzy, and nausea most of the time. So I could only eat about 1/3 of a plate of food later in the day. I lost 17 pounds of weight that I didn't want to. The same thing happened to me when I tried a blood pressure medication that I didn't need.
Mine last one was 6.1 I get my next one in aug
One question on A1c's: Mine used to be taken from blood drawn from my veins. Then they started drawing it by the finger prick method. From that time on, my A1c's have been .2-.5 higher, even though before they even took the blood by finger prick they said, somewhat defensively, I thought,that there is no difference in the test results. Anyone else had this experience?
Which brings me to my next question: What good are A1c's if there are so many variables, such as the one I mentioned and the ones others of you have mentioned, such as having a good night's rest and having good numbers for two weeks prior to the test? Should you just keep good records of your blood sugar results and dismiss the A1c as a nice little gadget to report nice numbers in a neat little package?
I will say that it seems pumps and CGMs help produce lower A1c numbers. If I weren't so vain that i HATE the things stuck on me,I'd go with them (I even tried the Freestyle Navigator once, but,fortunately, it went out of existence in the U.S. so I had an excuse to say "what a shame" as I gladly tore if off of me with my red skin it produced for the last time.
I had my A1C done both in the clinic with the fingerstick and in the lab on the same day. The clinic was 6.2% and the lab was 6.1% which I guess is not statistically significant as far as results go. Now they have a "home A1C test" which they are advertising, I assume it is similar to the ones they have in the clinic but I am not sure how accurate they are.
I think that A1C's do have a lot of variables. My own experience is a good example in that I got two different 5.7's (6 months apart) one the result of great control, the other the result of averaging out too many highs and too many lows! But despite that, I think they are just more data. Because they are 3 months worth (if unevenly distributed)they are more significant than any one blood sugar, but I also look at the averages that my pumps record (another good thing with a pump!). Just more data not the end of the world.
My understanding, Clare is that the home tests meet the same standards as lab tests and are in the high 90's in reliability.
I agree about the people who respond. I'm only too happy to tell everyone my A1cs, but you'll never hear me volunteering my weight. Or my IQ.
Ah, that makes sense. Hope those things stay in the past for you!
Since diagnosis 4 months ago, I had:
11.3%, 8.8%, 6.5%, and 5.9% (and yes, I had one A1c a month or I would never be able to sleep).
That's a nice trend Jan - I hope you are sleeping better.
I am! And the injury I had while my blood sugar was super high is healing nicely, at last. :)
Good to hear, both on the sleeping and the healing part as well.
Last one 5.8! Started @ 6.5
Though I am at 6.1% now, it was definitely a long, uphill battle for years for me to get there. I would definitely be open and honest about my A1cs over the years. For many years, I could not get my number below 8% no matter what I did. I'm not entirely sure that my A1c dipping below 8% finally was my doing- just happened suddenly and I've (thankfully) been able to keep it there for 2 years.
I've been type 1 for 14 years and the majority of those years were closer to the 10% A1cs. It took a while for me to get my diabetes act together, stop ignoring the disease, and put myself first above everything else.
Living with diabetes for 30 years in 2013 , no complications and an A1C not often below 7 .Wear a pump and use CGMS often . My last A1C included time on holidays in Hawaii and a visit to my home country( cheese , ha, ha ??) ...usually being away from home creates some BG havoc for me set on by jet lag, overall a little less movement etc.?? I promised myself not to stop travelling ; I do promise myself to carry on to the best of my capabilities . I am not a low carber , however I continue to choose mindful eating , cooking from scratch as I have done since well before being diagnosed in 1983. My weight has been steady for years . I know a GP , who lives with type 1 diabetes over 50 years and reminds his audience when he is a Speaker, including being at IDF conferences 1)aim for normal BP,2)aim for normal chol levels .
Just had my first A1C test since my DX and it came in at 5.3%, which I was really happy with. My CDE saw a few lows, but not many but she did say that I’m probably testing more than I need to and am being a little too rigid in my diet.
I understand her point of view that I should cut myself some slack and not let my numbers stress me out too much, but I don’t feel that’s the case. I don’t mind testing quite a bit and I certainly don’t mind eating low-carb - aside from the good test result I feel better on a healthier diet and I figure that tight control and watching my BG closely isn’t a bad thing as long as I don’t let it keep me from enjoying my life. In fact, it puts me at ease knowing my levels and I’ve been able to get back to exercising and riding my bike without feeling limited.
I totally agree with you Oakville. That's a great job and I would tell the doc/ CDE to buzz off. I get sort of peevish about the suggestion that people who test a lot are "stressed" or "obsessive". I don't get stressed out about testing at all. I want to know what my BG is 24-7, except maybe not when I'm asleep.
A lot of it with me is that I'm either planning a run, running, or recovering from a run. Or cross-training 2x days/ week which, these days, is lifting and jumping rope, which also seems to do a good job pounding my BG.
The at home A1cNow kits are not very accurate. They are usually within 1% of the lab results. I would only use the A1cNow kits if you don't have insurance and haven't tested in a long while, but need to have a general idea of where your A1c is. I had to use those kits a few times when I went without insurance.