My A1c's 1980-2011

Type 1 and LADA
1

I thought it might be interesting to some of you to see my A1c's starting in 1980. A1c testing was not available until 1976. My doc started A1c's with his patients in 1980. I was diagnosed in 1945 when I was 6 and I must have had very high blood sugar until about 1988. That is when my A1c's began improving. All that and I am alive after 66 years of Type 1, and I have no complications except for mild nerve damage. If you have a lot of high blood sugar that does not necessarily mean you will have diabetes complications. I am living proof of that. Do the very best you can and keep this in mind.

As part of my preparation for taking part in the Joslin Medalist Study I was supposed to have a listing of all my A1c's that have ever been done. My doctor was very cooperative, but there are several gaps in the list. The years 1990-1994 were not available.

Below are the A1c's that my doc was able to retrieve from his files. I have updated for 2010-2011.

1980...10.6, 9.6, 9.0
1981...11.8
1983...9.2
1984...9.2, 9.7, 8.9
1986...11.1
1987...8.0, 9.8, 10.3
1988...10.5, 7.7, 7.7
1989...7.3

1995...6.8
1997...6.0, 5.4
1998...6.5
1999...6.8, 6.7, 6.5
2000...6.3, 6.1, 5.5
2001...5.8, 6.0, 5.6, 6.0
2002...6.0, 6.4, 6.2, 6.0
2003...5.6, 5.4, 5.9
2004...5.9, 5.7, 5.8, 5.6
2005...5.6, 5.8
2006...5.6, 5.7
2007...5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 6.1
2008...5.7, 5.9, 5.7, 5.6
2009...5.6, 5.8, 5.8
2010...5.7, 5.6, 5.6, 5.4
2011...5.7, 5.7, 5.8, 5.5

Notice the drop from the 10's to the 7's in early 1988. That is when I read an article in a magazine that said diabetics should follow a low carb diet. My doctors never told me that. Then about the start of the new century I was permitted to use basal/bolus control. In 2007 I started pumping. My A1c's have been very good during the new century because I finally knew what to do to get good control.

I took only one injection of beef/pork insulin per day during my first 45+ years. Can you imagine what my A1c's would have been during those years? Those were the years before my doctor started having my A1c's done.

I feel so lucky to be alive and healthy, without complications. Is it good genes? Maybe the Joslin Study will help answer that question.

2

Wow Richard. Thanks for sharing. Your numbers are an inspiration, as is your personal history. It's reassuring to hear that a body can be so resilient despite years of high BG.

3

My Mom was still taking only one shot per day back in 1997 (at that time, she would have had diabetes for around 27 years) - I remember, because I was on two different insulins, twice a day, when pregnant with my son (I really don't remember what kind for sure) - she commented that she hoped she'd never have to take 2 shots a day! We lived a couple thousand miles apart, so I really don't know when she started on just the 2 a day. I do know when they switched her to Lantus and Humalog, they never taught her how to use them or how to count carbs. It's no wonder she died "young" (just short of her 71st birthday).
Great A1c's, by the way!

4

Wow it's amazing seeing the change in your numbers, I was on very briefly in 1985-1986 beef/pork...type insulin and had a HORRIBLE experience with it, and just about that time we moved to a much larger area and was seen and was put on Human insulin R and NPH, was also on 70/30 as well, and could never get very good control on those insulins. But good control finally started happening when I made the switch to Lantus and Humalog and then to a pump.

Im sure way back in the day early 80's...for a type 1 diabetic no one really thought much about the numbers u were running. So glad today we have better knowledge, better medications and better ways of using those medications to achieve such good control.

5

That’s a great chart Richard! I have a huge “black hole” in mine as I didn’t get an A1C done for a long time when I took a few years off going to the doctor.

6

I had really big A1C numbers until 2003. I found that I didnt develop issues of complications until I was 42. I was diagnosed in 1980 and I dont remember being told my A1C for the first 5 years. It good to see someone who hasnt developed complications.

7

Thanks for sharing, what an inspiration!