Guest guest Posted July 20, 2006 Report Share Posted July 20, 2006 Can someone give me a conversion factor like a number to convert UK readings into USA numbers? I had lots of research data to answer this question, but I emphasize " had " . I lost all of the data in the computer crash. I will be glad to start researching once again. Cholesterol numbers > Hey everyone, > > I know some people here know a lot about cholesterol. I don't know a lot. > I know the basic, basic stuff (i.e., that some is good, some is bad, > overall you want it low, and it increases risk of heart problems, etc.). > But can someone enlighten me with an explanation of what all the numbers > are? At my last endocrinologist appointment he told me my overall > cholesterol was high " for a diabetic " (but apparently not for a normal > person), but he said that my " good " cholesterol was really high and the > " bad " was low, so he wasn't too worried and said he wouldn't start > medication. > > I have no idea what these mean, and internet searches haven't turned up > much (partly because I'm so busy and don't have time to do tons of > research), but my overall cholesterol was 4.3 and he said it should be > below 4.0. My " good " was 1.7 which he said is good, he said most diabetics > have it below 1.0. I didn't ask what the other numbers were, but I might > phone and ask if I can get an explanation of what they all mean. > > My A1c was 7.3. It's very frustrating that I can't get it lower. Most of > my daytime blood sugars are good, the only ones that are often high are > overnight and morning (even when I go to bed normal), and often evening > (we think Lantus is running out before 24 hours is up, although I've fixed > the evening problem by eating dinner later). Having a crazy, variable > schedule with school and such doesn't help, either. He said if I get a > pump this should fix the dawn phenomenon problem, and he thinks that is > the only thing that is keeping my A1c too high. (When I switched to Lantus > from NPH last year it dropped from 8.3 to 7.1 with no particular effort on > my part, and I think if I switch to the pump it may have the same effect > and drop it another 1% to where I want it.) > > Thanks for any explanation of this stuff! > > Jen > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2006 Report Share Posted July 21, 2006 I looked it up, and you multiply or divide by 39 to convert from Canada/UK to US measurements, according to one website I found. What is the normal range? Jen Cholesterol numbers > Hey everyone, > > I know some people here know a lot about cholesterol. I don't know a lot. > I know the basic, basic stuff (i.e., that some is good, some is bad, > overall you want it low, and it increases risk of heart problems, etc.). > But can someone enlighten me with an explanation of what all the numbers > are? At my last endocrinologist appointment he told me my overall > cholesterol was high " for a diabetic " (but apparently not for a normal > person), but he said that my " good " cholesterol was really high and the > " bad " was low, so he wasn't too worried and said he wouldn't start > medication. > > I have no idea what these mean, and internet searches haven't turned up > much (partly because I'm so busy and don't have time to do tons of > research), but my overall cholesterol was 4.3 and he said it should be > below 4.0. My " good " was 1.7 which he said is good, he said most diabetics > have it below 1.0. I didn't ask what the other numbers were, but I might > phone and ask if I can get an explanation of what they all mean. > > My A1c was 7.3. It's very frustrating that I can't get it lower. Most of > my daytime blood sugars are good, the only ones that are often high are > overnight and morning (even when I go to bed normal), and often evening > (we think Lantus is running out before 24 hours is up, although I've fixed > the evening problem by eating dinner later). Having a crazy, variable > schedule with school and such doesn't help, either. He said if I get a > pump this should fix the dawn phenomenon problem, and he thinks that is > the only thing that is keeping my A1c too high. (When I switched to Lantus > from NPH last year it dropped from 8.3 to 7.1 with no particular effort on > my part, and I think if I switch to the pump it may have the same effect > and drop it another 1% to where I want it.) > > Thanks for any explanation of this stuff! > > Jen > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2006 Report Share Posted July 22, 2006 4.3/1.7=2.53. Most people, even nondiabetics, would like to have a ratio of 2.53. This indicates that your risk of a heart attack is low. Cholesterol numbers > Hey everyone, > > I know some people here know a lot about cholesterol. I don't know a lot. > I know the basic, basic stuff (i.e., that some is good, some is bad, > overall you want it low, and it increases risk of heart problems, etc.). > But can someone enlighten me with an explanation of what all the numbers > are? At my last endocrinologist appointment he told me my overall > cholesterol was high " for a diabetic " (but apparently not for a normal > person), but he said that my " good " cholesterol was really high and the > " bad " was low, so he wasn't too worried and said he wouldn't start > medication. > > I have no idea what these mean, and internet searches haven't turned up > much (partly because I'm so busy and don't have time to do tons of > research), but my overall cholesterol was 4.3 and he said it should be > below 4.0. My " good " was 1.7 which he said is good, he said most diabetics > have it below 1.0. I didn't ask what the other numbers were, but I might > phone and ask if I can get an explanation of what they all mean. > > My A1c was 7.3. It's very frustrating that I can't get it lower. Most of > my daytime blood sugars are good, the only ones that are often high are > overnight and morning (even when I go to bed normal), and often evening > (we think Lantus is running out before 24 hours is up, although I've fixed > the evening problem by eating dinner later). Having a crazy, variable > schedule with school and such doesn't help, either. He said if I get a > pump this should fix the dawn phenomenon problem, and he thinks that is > the only thing that is keeping my A1c too high. (When I switched to Lantus > from NPH last year it dropped from 8.3 to 7.1 with no particular effort on > my part, and I think if I switch to the pump it may have the same effect > and drop it another 1% to where I want it.) > > Thanks for any explanation of this stuff! > > Jen > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2006 Report Share Posted July 22, 2006 Hi Harry, That's good to know. I'm only 24 so if I was at risk for a heart attack already that definitely wouldn't be good! He said based on my test results, other than my A1c, no one would know I've had diabetes for 15 years. Thanks for the articles that explain what the types of cholesterol are as well. Jen Cholesterol numbers > Hey everyone, > > I know some people here know a lot about cholesterol. I don't know a lot. > I know the basic, basic stuff (i.e., that some is good, some is bad, > overall you want it low, and it increases risk of heart problems, etc.). > But can someone enlighten me with an explanation of what all the numbers > are? At my last endocrinologist appointment he told me my overall > cholesterol was high " for a diabetic " (but apparently not for a normal > person), but he said that my " good " cholesterol was really high and the > " bad " was low, so he wasn't too worried and said he wouldn't start > medication. > > I have no idea what these mean, and internet searches haven't turned up > much (partly because I'm so busy and don't have time to do tons of > research), but my overall cholesterol was 4.3 and he said it should be > below 4.0. My " good " was 1.7 which he said is good, he said most diabetics > have it below 1.0. I didn't ask what the other numbers were, but I might > phone and ask if I can get an explanation of what they all mean. > > My A1c was 7.3. It's very frustrating that I can't get it lower. Most of > my daytime blood sugars are good, the only ones that are often high are > overnight and morning (even when I go to bed normal), and often evening > (we think Lantus is running out before 24 hours is up, although I've fixed > the evening problem by eating dinner later). Having a crazy, variable > schedule with school and such doesn't help, either. He said if I get a > pump this should fix the dawn phenomenon problem, and he thinks that is > the only thing that is keeping my A1c too high. (When I switched to Lantus > from NPH last year it dropped from 8.3 to 7.1 with no particular effort on > my part, and I think if I switch to the pump it may have the same effect > and drop it another 1% to where I want it.) > > Thanks for any explanation of this stuff! > > Jen > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2006 Report Share Posted July 22, 2006 Now I encourage you to get that A1C nearer 5.0 than closer to 7.0. If you are a carb counter and a user of Humalog or Novolog, you can do it. If you decide to go with a pump, which cost quite a bit, be sure it is one of those pumps that give a continuous read out of your bs level, and one that can warn you when it goes above a reading of 160 or lower than 70, what ever that is in moles. Otherwise a two hour post prandial bs monitor reading is required with the old fashion finger prick, which happens to me on average four times per day or more. If your bs reading is 120 or less after a two hour post prandial delight, then your bs or A1C reading in three or four months will be 5.5 or lower. I realize that type 1 diabetics have a harder time doing this, since it requires close monitoring of the normal range and the type 1 is more susceptible to having a more severe low sugar reaction than a type 2. I say this to you to help prevent diabetic complications. Daubbenmire a former lister and a type 1 diabetic, who taught me how to master blood glucose level control went blind with an A1C level around 6.0. Cholesterol numbers > > > Hey everyone, > > > > I know some people here know a lot about cholesterol. I don't know a > lot. > > I know the basic, basic stuff (i.e., that some is good, some is bad, > > overall you want it low, and it increases risk of heart problems, > etc.). > > But can someone enlighten me with an explanation of what all the > numbers > > are? At my last endocrinologist appointment he told me my overall > > cholesterol was high " for a diabetic " (but apparently not for a normal > > person), but he said that my " good " cholesterol was really high and the > > " bad " was low, so he wasn't too worried and said he wouldn't start > > medication. > > > > I have no idea what these mean, and internet searches haven't turned up > > much (partly because I'm so busy and don't have time to do tons of > > research), but my overall cholesterol was 4.3 and he said it should be > > below 4.0. My " good " was 1.7 which he said is good, he said most > diabetics > > have it below 1.0. I didn't ask what the other numbers were, but I > might > > phone and ask if I can get an explanation of what they all mean. > > > > My A1c was 7.3. It's very frustrating that I can't get it lower. Most > of > > my daytime blood sugars are good, the only ones that are often high are > > overnight and morning (even when I go to bed normal), and often evening > > (we think Lantus is running out before 24 hours is up, although I've > fixed > > the evening problem by eating dinner later). Having a crazy, variable > > schedule with school and such doesn't help, either. He said if I get a > > pump this should fix the dawn phenomenon problem, and he thinks that is > > the only thing that is keeping my A1c too high. (When I switched to > Lantus > > from NPH last year it dropped from 8.3 to 7.1 with no particular effort > on > > my part, and I think if I switch to the pump it may have the same > effect > > and drop it another 1% to where I want it.) > > > > Thanks for any explanation of this stuff! > > > > Jen > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2006 Report Share Posted July 22, 2006 It sounds like you are having a rebound effect due to low glucose levels during the night. Do you know how many bs points your Lantus causes you to drop? What is your dose of bedtime Lantus? I know it is different for a type1, which you are, as it is for a type2, which I am. I presently dose 39 units of Lantus at bedtime or around 9-10PM. I calculate a bedtime sugar level to be around 135-145, because my dose of Lantus will drop my bs some 65-75 points for my fasting bs in the morning. If I were to dose Lantus at your beddtime bs reading of 6.1, a mole reading converted to a USA reading of 109.8, I would definitely have a rebound effect, shooting my bs sky high. How many carbs grams does it take to raise your bs level up. To determine this take a 4 carb glucose tablet. First measure your bs level, then take the tablet without taking any other carbs in liquid or food items for at least 2.5 hours and get another bs reading. I prefer to do it in the morning, but it can be done at any time. Several measurements will need to be made. Just be sure when doing this experiment that it has been at least three hours after your last dose of Humalog or Novolog. Once you know exactly how many points 4 grams of carbs raises your bs, then you can determine how many points one gram of carb will raise your bs level. Having said this, I prefer to use USA numbers, since there a lot more of those numbers on the scale and no decimal points to deal with. In other words I can get a finer measurement, since there are 18 points USA for every 1 point mole. Of course one could just go around multiplying or dividing the number by 18 to convert from one measurement USA or Uk. Re: Cholesterol numbers > Hi Harry, > > Yes, I am already carb counting using Humalog and Lantus. I started last > year when I switched from NPH to Lantus, and it along with Lantus brought > my A1c down from the 8s to the 7s. A huge problem with me is not so much > my before- or after-meal readings (yesterday my highest before-meal > reading was 7.1, and I usually do after-meal readings once in a while to > make sure my insulin:carb ratio is okay, the one I did yesterday was 6.5) > but rather my overnight readings. I can go to bed with a reading of 6.1, > have a reading of 11.0 at 3:00 AM, and wake up with a reading of 13.2, > which happened the other day. Or go to bed with a reading of 7.3, test at > 3:00 AM with a reading of 11.0, and then wake up in the morning with a > reading of 7.2! Or go to bed with a reading of 5.8, go low overnight > (which I usually don't wake up for anymore) and wake up at 16.6. It > depends on how much exercise I've gotten and what my bedtime reading is; > sometimes I need a snack, sometimes snacks make me high, but sometimes if > I don't eat them I go low and then rebound even higher. I've managed to > get it so that it's not common that I wake up over 13 (on NPH I used to > wake up at 15-17 almost every second day, and the other days I'd wake up > low), but readings of 8-13 are still common no matter what I do. My > endocrinologist believes that this combination of not waking up for lows > which cuase rebounds some nights and the dawn phenomenon every night, is > what is keeping my A1c high, and it's not something I can control with > Lantus, but I would be able to with a pump. I've had this problem with > combined high and lows overnight for years, and even though Lantus is > still better than NPH was, it can't fix it totally. > > Controlling overnight blood sugars, and also to make accomodating variable > mealtimes (and foods) and exercise more easily without going high or low, > is why I'm considering a pump if I can afford one. I wouldn't be able to > afford one of the CGMS systems, though. The CGMS system itself costs only > $1,000 which, since I'm going to have to pay the $6,000 for the pump > anyway (I'll be approaching a service club), the sensors and supplies > needed for the CGMS aren't covered by the government or any insurance, and > they're even more expensive than pump supplies, which are covered for the > most part. Hopefully in a few years the CGMS will become the " standard " > with pumps so that more people can use them. > > An A1c of 5.5 seems like a huge goal for me. Right now I'm aiming for 6.5 > or below. I don't think I've ever had an A1c below that. When I was > younger my A1cs were always between 6.5-7.5, which for the time was > excellent. Then I slacked off during my late teens and early 20s and my > A1c was above 8 for about five years. And then I decided to get back on > track and, even though my A1c dropped from 8.7 to 8.3 when I put a lot of > effort into it, I wasn't able to get it below 8. Finally I switched to > Lantus which brought it down into the low 7s. I am hoping the pump will do > the same and bring it to the low 6s, which I would be happy with. After > that it wouldn't take much to get it below 6. Of course, I'll also be the > first person to admit that I could be getting more exercise and eating > better than I am right now, which I blame my school schedule for, but it > would probably help (though even last summer when I dedicated myself to > losing 20 pounds and eating much healthier my A1c was 7.1, it's > frustrating). > > Jen > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2006 Report Share Posted July 22, 2006 Hi harry; different subject but am wondering if eating an average amount of meat would cause a problem re my type 2 diabetis? A couple of days ago, I had a pound of juicy tender steak! Now I'm not so sure that I should have eaten it. Ken b with thanks Re: Cholesterol numbers > > >> Hi Harry, >> >> Yes, I am already carb counting using Humalog and Lantus. I started last >> year when I switched from NPH to Lantus, and it along with Lantus brought >> my A1c down from the 8s to the 7s. A huge problem with me is not so much >> my before- or after-meal readings (yesterday my highest before-meal >> reading was 7.1, and I usually do after-meal readings once in a while to >> make sure my insulin:carb ratio is okay, the one I did yesterday was 6.5) >> but rather my overnight readings. I can go to bed with a reading of 6.1, >> have a reading of 11.0 at 3:00 AM, and wake up with a reading of 13.2, >> which happened the other day. Or go to bed with a reading of 7.3, test at >> 3:00 AM with a reading of 11.0, and then wake up in the morning with a >> reading of 7.2! Or go to bed with a reading of 5.8, go low overnight >> (which I usually don't wake up for anymore) and wake up at 16.6. It >> depends on how much exercise I've gotten and what my bedtime reading is; >> sometimes I need a snack, sometimes snacks make me high, but sometimes if >> I don't eat them I go low and then rebound even higher. I've managed to >> get it so that it's not common that I wake up over 13 (on NPH I used to >> wake up at 15-17 almost every second day, and the other days I'd wake up >> low), but readings of 8-13 are still common no matter what I do. My >> endocrinologist believes that this combination of not waking up for lows >> which cuase rebounds some nights and the dawn phenomenon every night, is >> what is keeping my A1c high, and it's not something I can control with >> Lantus, but I would be able to with a pump. I've had this problem with >> combined high and lows overnight for years, and even though Lantus is >> still better than NPH was, it can't fix it totally. >> >> Controlling overnight blood sugars, and also to make accomodating >> variable >> mealtimes (and foods) and exercise more easily without going high or low, >> is why I'm considering a pump if I can afford one. I wouldn't be able to >> afford one of the CGMS systems, though. The CGMS system itself costs only >> $1,000 which, since I'm going to have to pay the $6,000 for the pump >> anyway (I'll be approaching a service club), the sensors and supplies >> needed for the CGMS aren't covered by the government or any insurance, >> and >> they're even more expensive than pump supplies, which are covered for the >> most part. Hopefully in a few years the CGMS will become the " standard " >> with pumps so that more people can use them. >> >> An A1c of 5.5 seems like a huge goal for me. Right now I'm aiming for 6.5 >> or below. I don't think I've ever had an A1c below that. When I was >> younger my A1cs were always between 6.5-7.5, which for the time was >> excellent. Then I slacked off during my late teens and early 20s and my >> A1c was above 8 for about five years. And then I decided to get back on >> track and, even though my A1c dropped from 8.7 to 8.3 when I put a lot of >> effort into it, I wasn't able to get it below 8. Finally I switched to >> Lantus which brought it down into the low 7s. I am hoping the pump will >> do >> the same and bring it to the low 6s, which I would be happy with. After >> that it wouldn't take much to get it below 6. Of course, I'll also be the >> first person to admit that I could be getting more exercise and eating >> better than I am right now, which I blame my school schedule for, but it >> would probably help (though even last summer when I dedicated myself to >> losing 20 pounds and eating much healthier my A1c was 7.1, it's >> frustrating). >> >> Jen >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2006 Report Share Posted July 22, 2006 Good wholesome red meat or white meat is good for you, as long as you have some fat with it. A pure protein diet is toxic to one's body, and that is why eating pure protein without fat is bad for you or any body. The only bad meat to eat is that which is colored green blue or black. A good steak or hamburger is filling, and besides it taste good. So eat and enjoy. Also it contains practically no carbs. Re: Cholesterol numbers >> >> >>> Hi Harry, >>> >>> Yes, I am already carb counting using Humalog and Lantus. I started last >>> year when I switched from NPH to Lantus, and it along with Lantus >>> brought >>> my A1c down from the 8s to the 7s. A huge problem with me is not so much >>> my before- or after-meal readings (yesterday my highest before-meal >>> reading was 7.1, and I usually do after-meal readings once in a while to >>> make sure my insulin:carb ratio is okay, the one I did yesterday was >>> 6.5) >>> but rather my overnight readings. I can go to bed with a reading of 6.1, >>> have a reading of 11.0 at 3:00 AM, and wake up with a reading of 13.2, >>> which happened the other day. Or go to bed with a reading of 7.3, test >>> at >>> 3:00 AM with a reading of 11.0, and then wake up in the morning with a >>> reading of 7.2! Or go to bed with a reading of 5.8, go low overnight >>> (which I usually don't wake up for anymore) and wake up at 16.6. It >>> depends on how much exercise I've gotten and what my bedtime reading is; >>> sometimes I need a snack, sometimes snacks make me high, but sometimes >>> if >>> I don't eat them I go low and then rebound even higher. I've managed to >>> get it so that it's not common that I wake up over 13 (on NPH I used to >>> wake up at 15-17 almost every second day, and the other days I'd wake up >>> low), but readings of 8-13 are still common no matter what I do. My >>> endocrinologist believes that this combination of not waking up for lows >>> which cuase rebounds some nights and the dawn phenomenon every night, is >>> what is keeping my A1c high, and it's not something I can control with >>> Lantus, but I would be able to with a pump. I've had this problem with >>> combined high and lows overnight for years, and even though Lantus is >>> still better than NPH was, it can't fix it totally. >>> >>> Controlling overnight blood sugars, and also to make accomodating >>> variable >>> mealtimes (and foods) and exercise more easily without going high or >>> low, >>> is why I'm considering a pump if I can afford one. I wouldn't be able to >>> afford one of the CGMS systems, though. The CGMS system itself costs >>> only >>> $1,000 which, since I'm going to have to pay the $6,000 for the pump >>> anyway (I'll be approaching a service club), the sensors and supplies >>> needed for the CGMS aren't covered by the government or any insurance, >>> and >>> they're even more expensive than pump supplies, which are covered for >>> the >>> most part. Hopefully in a few years the CGMS will become the " standard " >>> with pumps so that more people can use them. >>> >>> An A1c of 5.5 seems like a huge goal for me. Right now I'm aiming for >>> 6.5 >>> or below. I don't think I've ever had an A1c below that. When I was >>> younger my A1cs were always between 6.5-7.5, which for the time was >>> excellent. Then I slacked off during my late teens and early 20s and my >>> A1c was above 8 for about five years. And then I decided to get back on >>> track and, even though my A1c dropped from 8.7 to 8.3 when I put a lot >>> of >>> effort into it, I wasn't able to get it below 8. Finally I switched to >>> Lantus which brought it down into the low 7s. I am hoping the pump will >>> do >>> the same and bring it to the low 6s, which I would be happy with. After >>> that it wouldn't take much to get it below 6. Of course, I'll also be >>> the >>> first person to admit that I could be getting more exercise and eating >>> better than I am right now, which I blame my school schedule for, but it >>> would probably help (though even last summer when I dedicated myself to >>> losing 20 pounds and eating much healthier my A1c was 7.1, it's >>> frustrating). >>> >>> Jen >>> >>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2006 Report Share Posted July 22, 2006 Now wait a minute Harry, let's not forget about good aged beef. If you leave the beef half hanging for 21 days in a cooler the outside of the meat will, in fact, be sorta black but, oh my goodness, is it ever tender and delicious. That is how the good meat markets and restaurants of yesteryear managed to serve steaks worth remembering.... Cy, the Ancient Okie.... Re: Cholesterol numbers Good wholesome red meat or white meat is good for you, as long as you have some fat with it. A pure protein diet is toxic to one's body, and that is why eating pure protein without fat is bad for you or any body. The only bad meat to eat is that which is colored green blue or black. A good steak or hamburger is filling, and besides it taste good. So eat and enjoy. Also it contains practically no carbs. Re: Cholesterol numbers >> >> >>> Hi Harry, >>> >>> Yes, I am already carb counting using Humalog and Lantus. I started last >>> year when I switched from NPH to Lantus, and it along with Lantus >>> brought >>> my A1c down from the 8s to the 7s. A huge problem with me is not so much >>> my before- or after-meal readings (yesterday my highest before-meal >>> reading was 7.1, and I usually do after-meal readings once in a while to >>> make sure my insulin:carb ratio is okay, the one I did yesterday was >>> 6.5) >>> but rather my overnight readings. I can go to bed with a reading of 6.1, >>> have a reading of 11.0 at 3:00 AM, and wake up with a reading of 13.2, >>> which happened the other day. Or go to bed with a reading of 7.3, test >>> at >>> 3:00 AM with a reading of 11.0, and then wake up in the morning with a >>> reading of 7.2! Or go to bed with a reading of 5.8, go low overnight >>> (which I usually don't wake up for anymore) and wake up at 16.6. It >>> depends on how much exercise I've gotten and what my bedtime reading is; >>> sometimes I need a snack, sometimes snacks make me high, but sometimes >>> if >>> I don't eat them I go low and then rebound even higher. I've managed to >>> get it so that it's not common that I wake up over 13 (on NPH I used to >>> wake up at 15-17 almost every second day, and the other days I'd wake up >>> low), but readings of 8-13 are still common no matter what I do. My >>> endocrinologist believes that this combination of not waking up for lows >>> which cuase rebounds some nights and the dawn phenomenon every night, is >>> what is keeping my A1c high, and it's not something I can control with >>> Lantus, but I would be able to with a pump. I've had this problem with >>> combined high and lows overnight for years, and even though Lantus is >>> still better than NPH was, it can't fix it totally. >>> >>> Controlling overnight blood sugars, and also to make accomodating >>> variable >>> mealtimes (and foods) and exercise more easily without going high or >>> low, >>> is why I'm considering a pump if I can afford one. I wouldn't be able to >>> afford one of the CGMS systems, though. The CGMS system itself costs >>> only >>> $1,000 which, since I'm going to have to pay the $6,000 for the pump >>> anyway (I'll be approaching a service club), the sensors and supplies >>> needed for the CGMS aren't covered by the government or any insurance, >>> and >>> they're even more expensive than pump supplies, which are covered for >>> the >>> most part. Hopefully in a few years the CGMS will become the " standard " >>> with pumps so that more people can use them. >>> >>> An A1c of 5.5 seems like a huge goal for me. Right now I'm aiming for >>> 6.5 >>> or below. I don't think I've ever had an A1c below that. When I was >>> younger my A1cs were always between 6.5-7.5, which for the time was >>> excellent. Then I slacked off during my late teens and early 20s and my >>> A1c was above 8 for about five years. And then I decided to get back on >>> track and, even though my A1c dropped from 8.7 to 8.3 when I put a lot >>> of >>> effort into it, I wasn't able to get it below 8. Finally I switched to >>> Lantus which brought it down into the low 7s. I am hoping the pump will >>> do >>> the same and bring it to the low 6s, which I would be happy with. After >>> that it wouldn't take much to get it below 6. Of course, I'll also be >>> the >>> first person to admit that I could be getting more exercise and eating >>> better than I am right now, which I blame my school schedule for, but it >>> would probably help (though even last summer when I dedicated myself to >>> losing 20 pounds and eating much healthier my A1c was 7.1, it's >>> frustrating). >>> >>> Jen >>> >>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2006 Report Share Posted July 22, 2006 But Harry, I only eat the small amount of fat belonging to this steak! I'll have to keep this info in my crop grin; Ken b Re: Cholesterol numbers >>> >>> >>>> Hi Harry, >>>> >>>> Yes, I am already carb counting using Humalog and Lantus. I started >>>> last >>>> year when I switched from NPH to Lantus, and it along with Lantus >>>> brought >>>> my A1c down from the 8s to the 7s. A huge problem with me is not so >>>> much >>>> my before- or after-meal readings (yesterday my highest before-meal >>>> reading was 7.1, and I usually do after-meal readings once in a while >>>> to >>>> make sure my insulin:carb ratio is okay, the one I did yesterday was >>>> 6.5) >>>> but rather my overnight readings. I can go to bed with a reading of >>>> 6.1, >>>> have a reading of 11.0 at 3:00 AM, and wake up with a reading of 13.2, >>>> which happened the other day. Or go to bed with a reading of 7.3, test >>>> at >>>> 3:00 AM with a reading of 11.0, and then wake up in the morning with a >>>> reading of 7.2! Or go to bed with a reading of 5.8, go low overnight >>>> (which I usually don't wake up for anymore) and wake up at 16.6. It >>>> depends on how much exercise I've gotten and what my bedtime reading >>>> is; >>>> sometimes I need a snack, sometimes snacks make me high, but sometimes >>>> if >>>> I don't eat them I go low and then rebound even higher. I've managed to >>>> get it so that it's not common that I wake up over 13 (on NPH I used to >>>> wake up at 15-17 almost every second day, and the other days I'd wake >>>> up >>>> low), but readings of 8-13 are still common no matter what I do. My >>>> endocrinologist believes that this combination of not waking up for >>>> lows >>>> which cuase rebounds some nights and the dawn phenomenon every night, >>>> is >>>> what is keeping my A1c high, and it's not something I can control with >>>> Lantus, but I would be able to with a pump. I've had this problem with >>>> combined high and lows overnight for years, and even though Lantus is >>>> still better than NPH was, it can't fix it totally. >>>> >>>> Controlling overnight blood sugars, and also to make accomodating >>>> variable >>>> mealtimes (and foods) and exercise more easily without going high or >>>> low, >>>> is why I'm considering a pump if I can afford one. I wouldn't be able >>>> to >>>> afford one of the CGMS systems, though. The CGMS system itself costs >>>> only >>>> $1,000 which, since I'm going to have to pay the $6,000 for the pump >>>> anyway (I'll be approaching a service club), the sensors and supplies >>>> needed for the CGMS aren't covered by the government or any insurance, >>>> and >>>> they're even more expensive than pump supplies, which are covered for >>>> the >>>> most part. Hopefully in a few years the CGMS will become the " standard " >>>> with pumps so that more people can use them. >>>> >>>> An A1c of 5.5 seems like a huge goal for me. Right now I'm aiming for >>>> 6.5 >>>> or below. I don't think I've ever had an A1c below that. When I was >>>> younger my A1cs were always between 6.5-7.5, which for the time was >>>> excellent. Then I slacked off during my late teens and early 20s and my >>>> A1c was above 8 for about five years. And then I decided to get back on >>>> track and, even though my A1c dropped from 8.7 to 8.3 when I put a lot >>>> of >>>> effort into it, I wasn't able to get it below 8. Finally I switched to >>>> Lantus which brought it down into the low 7s. I am hoping the pump will >>>> do >>>> the same and bring it to the low 6s, which I would be happy with. After >>>> that it wouldn't take much to get it below 6. Of course, I'll also be >>>> the >>>> first person to admit that I could be getting more exercise and eating >>>> better than I am right now, which I blame my school schedule for, but >>>> it >>>> would probably help (though even last summer when I dedicated myself to >>>> losing 20 pounds and eating much healthier my A1c was 7.1, it's >>>> frustrating). >>>> >>>> Jen >>>> >>>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2006 Report Share Posted July 22, 2006 We can't figure out if it's rebounding overnight or if it's a dawn phenomenon which makes my blood sugar rise overnight and in the morning. Most likely it's a combination of both of those. I take 21 units of Lantus right now, up for 19 a few weeks ago because I was having very high readings in the morning (14-20 or 250-360). Putting it up seems to have helped, but I may put it back down to 20 in the next few days. I've never done the test you mentioned, but 1 gram of carbs raise my blood sugar by about 0.2 mmol/L which would be 4 mg/dl in US measurements. I've found this when treating lows and/or pushing my blood sugar up to where I want it before exercise. I'm not sure how much Lantus makes it go down, it varies each night. I usually eat a snack if I'm below 6 (or 108 in US measurements). I test at 3:00 AM one or two days a week to see what's happening in the middle of the night. I may pick a night and test more often. At night Lantus seems to wear off a bit for me and so after 8:00 my blood sugar will often go up on its own, and stays steady betwen 10:00pm and 2:00am. (I know this only because I often stay up late or else can't get to sleep and end up testing to find out where my blood sugar is.) If I go low overnight I'm most likely to go low between 2:00 and 4:00 in the morning, which is why I usually pick 3:00 to test at night. If you're up for trying to make some sense of my overnight blood sugars, I'm up for posting the numbers from the last little while. My endocrinologist says a pump would help a lot because we could set it so that it gives me less insulin early on when I tend to go low, but more towards the morning when I often shoot high (even if I haven't gone low). I'm not sure what could be done with Lantus to fix them. Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2006 Report Share Posted July 22, 2006 good, that little bit of fat makes the steak taste better. Re: Cholesterol numbers >>>> >>>> >>>>> Hi Harry, >>>>> >>>>> Yes, I am already carb counting using Humalog and Lantus. I started >>>>> last >>>>> year when I switched from NPH to Lantus, and it along with Lantus >>>>> brought >>>>> my A1c down from the 8s to the 7s. A huge problem with me is not so >>>>> much >>>>> my before- or after-meal readings (yesterday my highest before-meal >>>>> reading was 7.1, and I usually do after-meal readings once in a while >>>>> to >>>>> make sure my insulin:carb ratio is okay, the one I did yesterday was >>>>> 6.5) >>>>> but rather my overnight readings. I can go to bed with a reading of >>>>> 6.1, >>>>> have a reading of 11.0 at 3:00 AM, and wake up with a reading of 13.2, >>>>> which happened the other day. Or go to bed with a reading of 7.3, test >>>>> at >>>>> 3:00 AM with a reading of 11.0, and then wake up in the morning with a >>>>> reading of 7.2! Or go to bed with a reading of 5.8, go low overnight >>>>> (which I usually don't wake up for anymore) and wake up at 16.6. It >>>>> depends on how much exercise I've gotten and what my bedtime reading >>>>> is; >>>>> sometimes I need a snack, sometimes snacks make me high, but sometimes >>>>> if >>>>> I don't eat them I go low and then rebound even higher. I've managed >>>>> to >>>>> get it so that it's not common that I wake up over 13 (on NPH I used >>>>> to >>>>> wake up at 15-17 almost every second day, and the other days I'd wake >>>>> up >>>>> low), but readings of 8-13 are still common no matter what I do. My >>>>> endocrinologist believes that this combination of not waking up for >>>>> lows >>>>> which cuase rebounds some nights and the dawn phenomenon every night, >>>>> is >>>>> what is keeping my A1c high, and it's not something I can control with >>>>> Lantus, but I would be able to with a pump. I've had this problem with >>>>> combined high and lows overnight for years, and even though Lantus is >>>>> still better than NPH was, it can't fix it totally. >>>>> >>>>> Controlling overnight blood sugars, and also to make accomodating >>>>> variable >>>>> mealtimes (and foods) and exercise more easily without going high or >>>>> low, >>>>> is why I'm considering a pump if I can afford one. I wouldn't be able >>>>> to >>>>> afford one of the CGMS systems, though. The CGMS system itself costs >>>>> only >>>>> $1,000 which, since I'm going to have to pay the $6,000 for the pump >>>>> anyway (I'll be approaching a service club), the sensors and supplies >>>>> needed for the CGMS aren't covered by the government or any insurance, >>>>> and >>>>> they're even more expensive than pump supplies, which are covered for >>>>> the >>>>> most part. Hopefully in a few years the CGMS will become the >>>>> " standard " >>>>> with pumps so that more people can use them. >>>>> >>>>> An A1c of 5.5 seems like a huge goal for me. Right now I'm aiming for >>>>> 6.5 >>>>> or below. I don't think I've ever had an A1c below that. When I was >>>>> younger my A1cs were always between 6.5-7.5, which for the time was >>>>> excellent. Then I slacked off during my late teens and early 20s and >>>>> my >>>>> A1c was above 8 for about five years. And then I decided to get back >>>>> on >>>>> track and, even though my A1c dropped from 8.7 to 8.3 when I put a lot >>>>> of >>>>> effort into it, I wasn't able to get it below 8. Finally I switched to >>>>> Lantus which brought it down into the low 7s. I am hoping the pump >>>>> will >>>>> do >>>>> the same and bring it to the low 6s, which I would be happy with. >>>>> After >>>>> that it wouldn't take much to get it below 6. Of course, I'll also be >>>>> the >>>>> first person to admit that I could be getting more exercise and eating >>>>> better than I am right now, which I blame my school schedule for, but >>>>> it >>>>> would probably help (though even last summer when I dedicated myself >>>>> to >>>>> losing 20 pounds and eating much healthier my A1c was 7.1, it's >>>>> frustrating). >>>>> >>>>> Jen >>>>> >>>>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 23, 2006 Report Share Posted July 23, 2006 Good going. I was looking for the exact amount your blood sugar raises by one gram of carb, and it seems that for most type 1 diabetics the average is around 4 points. I am a type 2 diabetic and one gram of carb raises my bs 7.5 points, which is probably due to all the insulin resistance I have built up over the years, being a sugar addict. This is what I recommend as an experiment. At bedtime take a bs reading. Be sure you take enough carbs to raise the reading up to 180 or a mole reading of 10.0 or higher before you go to sleep and before you dose your regular Lantus dosage of 21 units. Research shows, using a continuous read out glucose meter, that the average time for consumed carbs to peak is 72 minutes±23 minutes. So this means that you can take a bs reading and make a record of it and consume enough carbs to raise your bs level to at least 180 USA or higher or a mole of 10.0UK or higher. Now take two bs readings after consuming the carbs however the amount you need to take. This means you would need to take another bs reading one hour after consuming the carbs and 1.5 hours after consuming the carbs. Now make a record of these readings and dose your regular amount of Lantus 21 units. You can test as often as you like during the night and record those readings to be sure the highest bs reading is recorded. You can just go to sleep and have good dreams, knowing that in the morning you will learn something about your body. At least 9 or 10 hours after your last consumption of carbs last night. , Now it is time to take a fasting blood glucose level before you eat breakfast. Hopefully, we will be able to determine how many points your bs drops as a result of taking Lantus 21 units. Also hopefully, it is hoped you will not have a rebound effect during the night as you sleep. One can never determine definitively how many points one's bs level drops by doing a single experiment, but several such experimentations may soon tell the story. Good luck and good going! Re: Cholesterol numbers > We can't figure out if it's rebounding overnight or if it's a dawn > phenomenon which makes my blood sugar rise overnight and in the morning. > Most likely it's a combination of both of those. I take 21 units of Lantus > right now, up for 19 a few weeks ago because I was having very high > readings in the morning (14-20 or 250-360). Putting it up seems to have > helped, but I may put it back down to 20 in the next few days. > > I've never done the test you mentioned, but 1 gram of carbs raise my blood > sugar by about 0.2 mmol/L which would be 4 mg/dl in US measurements. I've > found this when treating lows and/or pushing my blood sugar up to where I > want it before exercise. I'm not sure how much Lantus makes it go down, it > varies each night. I usually eat a snack if I'm below 6 (or 108 in US > measurements). I test at 3:00 AM one or two days a week to see what's > happening in the middle of the night. I may pick a night and test more > often. At night Lantus seems to wear off a bit for me and so after 8:00 my > blood sugar will often go up on its own, and stays steady betwen 10:00pm > and 2:00am. (I know this only because I often stay up late or else can't > get to sleep and end up testing to find out where my blood sugar is.) If I > go low overnight I'm most likely to go low between 2:00 and 4:00 in the > morning, which is why I usually pick 3:00 to test at night. > > If you're up for trying to make some sense of my overnight blood sugars, > I'm up for posting the numbers from the last little while. My > endocrinologist says a pump would help a lot because we could set it so > that it gives me less insulin early on when I tend to go low, but more > towards the morning when I often shoot high (even if I haven't gone low). > I'm not sure what could be done with Lantus to fix them. > > Jen > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 23, 2006 Report Share Posted July 23, 2006 I have done this. The problem is that some nights it's low in the middle of the night, and some nights it's high, and some nights it's at a good level and then high in the morning, which overall makes no sense. But Harry has offered to try and brainstorm together so we can perhaps figure out what is happening overnight. If not, I will know in the next few months or so whether or not I can go on a pump, and hopefully that would help as well (my endocrinologist thinks it will). Jen Re: Cholesterol numbers We can't figure out if it's rebounding overnight or if it's a dawn phenomenon which makes my blood sugar rise overnight and in the morning. Most likely it's a combination of both of those. I take 21 units of Lantus right now, up for 19 a few weeks ago because I was having very high readings in the morning (14-20 or 250-360). Putting it up seems to have helped, but I may put it back down to 20 in the next few days. I've never done the test you mentioned, but 1 gram of carbs raise my blood sugar by about 0.2 mmol/L which would be 4 mg/dl in US measurements. I've found this when treating lows and/or pushing my blood sugar up to where I want it before exercise. I'm not sure how much Lantus makes it go down, it varies each night. I usually eat a snack if I'm below 6 (or 108 in US measurements). I test at 3:00 AM one or two days a week to see what's happening in the middle of the night. I may pick a night and test more often. At night Lantus seems to wear off a bit for me and so after 8:00 my blood sugar will often go up on its own, and stays steady betwen 10:00pm and 2:00am. (I know this only because I often stay up late or else can't get to sleep and end up testing to find out where my blood sugar is.) If I go low overnight I'm most likely to go low between 2:00 and 4:00 in the morning, which is why I usually pick 3:00 to test at night. If you're up for trying to make some sense of my overnight blood sugars, I'm up for posting the numbers from the last little while. My endocrinologist says a pump would help a lot because we could set it so that it gives me less insulin early on when I tend to go low, but more towards the morning when I often shoot high (even if I haven't gone low). I'm not sure what could be done with Lantus to fix them. Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 23, 2006 Report Share Posted July 23, 2006 Harry, A long, long time ago that was the customary method of broiling a steak. The point was to sere the meat so the juices would no be wasted. After both sides were sealed then you settled down to cooking the steak at a reasonable temp (375 or so) so the juices would really meld into the meat. When I lived in Denver I was fortunate to find an old fashioned meat market which would hang and cut a hand quarter for me. Man, was that meat tender.... Now you have gone and done it! I now have a craving for a really good aged hunk of Prime Rib...... Oh Woe Is Me! Cy, the Ancient Okie...p Re: Cholesterol numbers Cy, I must admit you have a very good point. I love to eat my aged beef medium rare. In fact I prefer Pittsburg style, where the steak is almost burned on both sides, but is completely rare in the middle. Another advantage of requesting a pittsburg style steak is you usually get a thicker steak in order to be sure it is rare in the middle. Re: Cholesterol numbers >>> >>> >>>> Hi Harry, >>>> >>>> Yes, I am already carb counting using Humalog and Lantus. I started >>>> last >>>> year when I switched from NPH to Lantus, and it along with Lantus >>>> brought >>>> my A1c down from the 8s to the 7s. A huge problem with me is not so >>>> much >>>> my before- or after-meal readings (yesterday my highest before-meal >>>> reading was 7.1, and I usually do after-meal readings once in a while >>>> to >>>> make sure my insulin:carb ratio is okay, the one I did yesterday was >>>> 6.5) >>>> but rather my overnight readings. I can go to bed with a reading of >>>> 6.1, >>>> have a reading of 11.0 at 3:00 AM, and wake up with a reading of 13.2, >>>> which happened the other day. Or go to bed with a reading of 7.3, test >>>> at >>>> 3:00 AM with a reading of 11.0, and then wake up in the morning with a >>>> reading of 7.2! Or go to bed with a reading of 5.8, go low overnight >>>> (which I usually don't wake up for anymore) and wake up at 16.6. It >>>> depends on how much exercise I've gotten and what my bedtime reading >>>> is; >>>> sometimes I need a snack, sometimes snacks make me high, but sometimes >>>> if >>>> I don't eat them I go low and then rebound even higher. I've managed to >>>> get it so that it's not common that I wake up over 13 (on NPH I used to >>>> wake up at 15-17 almost every second day, and the other days I'd wake >>>> up >>>> low), but readings of 8-13 are still common no matter what I do. My >>>> endocrinologist believes that this combination of not waking up for >>>> lows >>>> which cuase rebounds some nights and the dawn phenomenon every night, >>>> is >>>> what is keeping my A1c high, and it's not something I can control with >>>> Lantus, but I would be able to with a pump. I've had this problem with >>>> combined high and lows overnight for years, and even though Lantus is >>>> still better than NPH was, it can't fix it totally. >>>> >>>> Controlling overnight blood sugars, and also to make accomodating >>>> variable >>>> mealtimes (and foods) and exercise more easily without going high or >>>> low, >>>> is why I'm considering a pump if I can afford one. I wouldn't be able >>>> to >>>> afford one of the CGMS systems, though. The CGMS system itself costs >>>> only >>>> $1,000 which, since I'm going to have to pay the $6,000 for the pump >>>> anyway (I'll be approaching a service club), the sensors and supplies >>>> needed for the CGMS aren't covered by the government or any insurance, >>>> and >>>> they're even more expensive than pump supplies, which are covered for >>>> the >>>> most part. Hopefully in a few years the CGMS will become the " standard " >>>> with pumps so that more people can use them. >>>> >>>> An A1c of 5.5 seems like a huge goal for me. Right now I'm aiming for >>>> 6.5 >>>> or below. I don't think I've ever had an A1c below that. When I was >>>> younger my A1cs were always between 6.5-7.5, which for the time was >>>> excellent. Then I slacked off during my late teens and early 20s and my >>>> A1c was above 8 for about five years. And then I decided to get back on >>>> track and, even though my A1c dropped from 8.7 to 8.3 when I put a lot >>>> of >>>> effort into it, I wasn't able to get it below 8. Finally I switched to >>>> Lantus which brought it down into the low 7s. I am hoping the pump will >>>> do >>>> the same and bring it to the low 6s, which I would be happy with. After >>>> that it wouldn't take much to get it below 6. Of course, I'll also be >>>> the >>>> first person to admit that I could be getting more exercise and eating >>>> better than I am right now, which I blame my school schedule for, but >>>> it >>>> would probably help (though even last summer when I dedicated myself to >>>> losing 20 pounds and eating much healthier my A1c was 7.1, it's >>>> frustrating). >>>> >>>> Jen >>>> >>>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 23, 2006 Report Share Posted July 23, 2006 Yum yum, talking about it makes my mouth water and crave a good steak. Woe is both of us. My favorite steak is a prime rib. RE: Cholesterol numbers > Harry, > A long, long time ago that was the customary method of broiling a steak. > The point was to sere the meat so the juices would no be wasted. After > both > sides were sealed then you settled down to cooking the steak at a > reasonable > temp (375 or so) so the juices would really meld into the meat. > When I lived in Denver I was fortunate to find an old fashioned meat > market > which would hang and cut a hand quarter for me. > Man, was that meat tender.... > Now you have gone and done it! I now have a craving for a really good aged > hunk of Prime Rib...... > Oh Woe Is Me! > Cy, the Ancient Okie...p > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 23, 2006 Report Share Posted July 23, 2006 At any time a type 1 reaches a low of 70 or a mole of 3.9 I would recommend taking at least one, if not two, glucose tablet. This can prevent the drastic plunge that many type 1's have. Only bs monitoring can tell you when this point is reached. Re: Cholesterol numbers > > We can't figure out if it's rebounding overnight or if it's a dawn > phenomenon which makes my blood sugar rise overnight and in the morning. > Most likely it's a combination of both of those. I take 21 units of > Lantus > right now, up for 19 a few weeks ago because I was having very high > readings > in the morning (14-20 or 250-360). Putting it up seems to have helped, > but I > may put it back down to 20 in the next few days. > > I've never done the test you mentioned, but 1 gram of carbs raise my > blood > sugar by about 0.2 mmol/L which would be 4 mg/dl in US measurements. I've > found this when treating lows and/or pushing my blood sugar up to where I > want it before exercise. I'm not sure how much Lantus makes it go down, > it > varies each night. I usually eat a snack if I'm below 6 (or 108 in US > measurements). I test at 3:00 AM one or two days a week to see what's > happening in the middle of the night. I may pick a night and test more > often. At night Lantus seems to wear off a bit for me and so after 8:00 > my > blood sugar will often go up on its own, and stays steady betwen 10:00pm > and > 2:00am. (I know this only because I often stay up late or else can't get > to > sleep and end up testing to find out where my blood sugar is.) If I go > low > overnight I'm most likely to go low between 2:00 and 4:00 in the morning, > which is why I usually pick 3:00 to test at night. > > If you're up for trying to make some sense of my overnight blood sugars, > I'm > up for posting the numbers from the last little while. My endocrinologist > says a pump would help a lot because we could set it so that it gives me > less insulin early on when I tend to go low, but more towards the morning > when I often shoot high (even if I haven't gone low). I'm not sure what > could be done with Lantus to fix them. > > Jen > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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