Re: question on A1c levels

[Guest guest]

Terry,

at first, I thought kind of the same, as long as I felt good, who really cares

what numbers say, afterall, the numbers are not the ones who is taking shots, or

taking meds, or eating, or not eating what is good, and what is not good...

but after much experiences, I've learned that numbers really do count, because

the numbers tell how my " inner " self is really doing;you see, at times our bodies

can play tricks on us, by feeling a certain way, when in fact what we feel, and

how we are actually doing can tell the differnce.

so I hope I didn't blabber on and on, just know that you are not alone in all of

this crazy stuff, smile

sugar

~To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.

-Sugar

Re: question on A1c levels

Hi Terrie,

To convert mg/dl (American units) to mmol/L (the units we use here in Canada

and most other parts of the world), you divide the number by 18. To convert

the other way (from mmol/L or Canadian units to mg/dl or American units) you

multiply by 18. So your reading of 14 would be approximately 252 in American

units. Your 27.7 would be 500 in American units and that one is most

definitely sky high. I personally wouldn't consider 13-14 sky high, but then

I am type 1 and see those numbers on a fairly regular basis.

Diabetes is different from most other chronic conditions because of the

degree of management we as the patients must put in. It is a 24/7 job and it

is as much an emotional disease as it is a physical one, as far as taking

care of ourselves. However, most doctors do not have time nor training to

meet our emotional needs. My endocrinologist specializes in hormonal systems

and this is what I expect him to know. There are other professionals, such

as counsellors or psychologists or even many diabetes educators, who

specialize in helping people with emotional needs. Of course, some doctors

are also good at this, but it can be difficult for them to ask how we are

doing emotionally in an appointment that may only be ten minutes long. A

doctor is primarily concerned with your physical well-being and, like it or

not, what determines this is how well you are controlling diabetes and other

health conditions. Most conditions rely on numbers, but most of the time the

patient themselves doesn't have to worry about them so much. If you have a

problem with your thyroid your doctor will give you pills and do blood tests

every few months and tell you when it's under control. With diabetes, that's

mostly your job, and the doctor can only play a supporting role.

This is part of the reason I love the online diabetes community. I get

support here even just by reading messages from other people and knowing I'm

not alone. There are also in-person support groups which can be valuable

experiences. I forget where in Canada you live, but there are some here in

Vancouver which I have been to. I don't go regularly, but knowing they are

there if I need them is nice. I have also read a lot of books about

diabetes, especially autobiographies written by people with diabetes, as a

source of support.

Jen

[Guest guest]

Terry,

at first, I thought kind of the same, as long as I felt good, who really cares

what numbers say, afterall, the numbers are not the ones who is taking shots, or

taking meds, or eating, or not eating what is good, and what is not good...

but after much experiences, I've learned that numbers really do count, because

the numbers tell how my " inner " self is really doing;you see, at times our bodies

can play tricks on us, by feeling a certain way, when in fact what we feel, and

how we are actually doing can tell the differnce.

so I hope I didn't blabber on and on, just know that you are not alone in all of

this crazy stuff, smile

sugar

~To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.

-Sugar

Re: question on A1c levels

Hi Terrie,

To convert mg/dl (American units) to mmol/L (the units we use here in Canada

and most other parts of the world), you divide the number by 18. To convert

the other way (from mmol/L or Canadian units to mg/dl or American units) you

multiply by 18. So your reading of 14 would be approximately 252 in American

units. Your 27.7 would be 500 in American units and that one is most

definitely sky high. I personally wouldn't consider 13-14 sky high, but then

I am type 1 and see those numbers on a fairly regular basis.

Diabetes is different from most other chronic conditions because of the

degree of management we as the patients must put in. It is a 24/7 job and it

is as much an emotional disease as it is a physical one, as far as taking

care of ourselves. However, most doctors do not have time nor training to

meet our emotional needs. My endocrinologist specializes in hormonal systems

and this is what I expect him to know. There are other professionals, such

as counsellors or psychologists or even many diabetes educators, who

specialize in helping people with emotional needs. Of course, some doctors

are also good at this, but it can be difficult for them to ask how we are

doing emotionally in an appointment that may only be ten minutes long. A

doctor is primarily concerned with your physical well-being and, like it or

not, what determines this is how well you are controlling diabetes and other

health conditions. Most conditions rely on numbers, but most of the time the

patient themselves doesn't have to worry about them so much. If you have a

problem with your thyroid your doctor will give you pills and do blood tests

every few months and tell you when it's under control. With diabetes, that's

mostly your job, and the doctor can only play a supporting role.

This is part of the reason I love the online diabetes community. I get

support here even just by reading messages from other people and knowing I'm

not alone. There are also in-person support groups which can be valuable

experiences. I forget where in Canada you live, but there are some here in

Vancouver which I have been to. I don't go regularly, but knowing they are

there if I need them is nice. I have also read a lot of books about

diabetes, especially autobiographies written by people with diabetes, as a

source of support.

Jen

[Guest guest]

Terry,

at first, I thought kind of the same, as long as I felt good, who really cares

what numbers say, afterall, the numbers are not the ones who is taking shots, or

taking meds, or eating, or not eating what is good, and what is not good...

but after much experiences, I've learned that numbers really do count, because

the numbers tell how my " inner " self is really doing;you see, at times our bodies

can play tricks on us, by feeling a certain way, when in fact what we feel, and

how we are actually doing can tell the differnce.

so I hope I didn't blabber on and on, just know that you are not alone in all of

this crazy stuff, smile

sugar

~To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.

-Sugar

Re: question on A1c levels

Hi Terrie,

To convert mg/dl (American units) to mmol/L (the units we use here in Canada

and most other parts of the world), you divide the number by 18. To convert

the other way (from mmol/L or Canadian units to mg/dl or American units) you

multiply by 18. So your reading of 14 would be approximately 252 in American

units. Your 27.7 would be 500 in American units and that one is most

definitely sky high. I personally wouldn't consider 13-14 sky high, but then

I am type 1 and see those numbers on a fairly regular basis.

Diabetes is different from most other chronic conditions because of the

degree of management we as the patients must put in. It is a 24/7 job and it

is as much an emotional disease as it is a physical one, as far as taking

care of ourselves. However, most doctors do not have time nor training to

meet our emotional needs. My endocrinologist specializes in hormonal systems

and this is what I expect him to know. There are other professionals, such

as counsellors or psychologists or even many diabetes educators, who

specialize in helping people with emotional needs. Of course, some doctors

are also good at this, but it can be difficult for them to ask how we are

doing emotionally in an appointment that may only be ten minutes long. A

doctor is primarily concerned with your physical well-being and, like it or

not, what determines this is how well you are controlling diabetes and other

health conditions. Most conditions rely on numbers, but most of the time the

patient themselves doesn't have to worry about them so much. If you have a

problem with your thyroid your doctor will give you pills and do blood tests

every few months and tell you when it's under control. With diabetes, that's

mostly your job, and the doctor can only play a supporting role.

This is part of the reason I love the online diabetes community. I get

support here even just by reading messages from other people and knowing I'm

not alone. There are also in-person support groups which can be valuable

experiences. I forget where in Canada you live, but there are some here in

Vancouver which I have been to. I don't go regularly, but knowing they are

there if I need them is nice. I have also read a lot of books about

diabetes, especially autobiographies written by people with diabetes, as a

source of support.

Jen

[Guest guest]

Hi Dave and Terrie,

That is one of the hard things about diabetes: you must be motivated to put

in the work for the rest of your life. There isn't really a timeline because

there is never a day off. I have a habit of getting nice, tight control and

then thinking, " Ah, finally I've achieved it! " and then slacking off just

the tiniest bit ... and BAM! Things go out of whack and then I have to start

all over at regaining control.

I would highly recommend keeping a journal of your blood sugar readings,

foods you eat, medications, exercise, and anything else unusual in the day,

along with the times all of these happen. It's a lot of work but it can be

really motivating to find out how different things affect your blood sugar

and be able to take control of some of those things.

Jen

>

>

> As long as it takes. Seriously, I can't answer that. As a type 1, I check

> my bg 8 times a day, 365 days a year, and have done so for many years. I

> think you're a type 2, and your bg swings will not come close to those of us

> with type 1. Once you see what's going on, and this might involve keeping a

> log or journal, you should begin to see patterns. The bottom line to long

> term health with a diabetic, type 1 or type 2, is keeping blood sugar levels

> as close to a normal range as possible. High blood sugar is detrimental to

> blood cell health, which means, high blood sugars harm internal organs and

> blood vessels. The more information you can learn about your own body,

> meaning, what makes your blood sugar rise, the better off you will be since

> you will then know the things to avoid, or how to handle them when the

> occur.

>

>

> Dave

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Dave and Terrie,

That is one of the hard things about diabetes: you must be motivated to put

in the work for the rest of your life. There isn't really a timeline because

there is never a day off. I have a habit of getting nice, tight control and

then thinking, " Ah, finally I've achieved it! " and then slacking off just

the tiniest bit ... and BAM! Things go out of whack and then I have to start

all over at regaining control.

I would highly recommend keeping a journal of your blood sugar readings,

foods you eat, medications, exercise, and anything else unusual in the day,

along with the times all of these happen. It's a lot of work but it can be

really motivating to find out how different things affect your blood sugar

and be able to take control of some of those things.

Jen

>

>

> As long as it takes. Seriously, I can't answer that. As a type 1, I check

> my bg 8 times a day, 365 days a year, and have done so for many years. I

> think you're a type 2, and your bg swings will not come close to those of us

> with type 1. Once you see what's going on, and this might involve keeping a

> log or journal, you should begin to see patterns. The bottom line to long

> term health with a diabetic, type 1 or type 2, is keeping blood sugar levels

> as close to a normal range as possible. High blood sugar is detrimental to

> blood cell health, which means, high blood sugars harm internal organs and

> blood vessels. The more information you can learn about your own body,

> meaning, what makes your blood sugar rise, the better off you will be since

> you will then know the things to avoid, or how to handle them when the

> occur.

>

>

> Dave

>

>

[Guest guest]

NO, Sugar, YOU did NOT as YOU put it blabber ON and ON. YOU and JENNIFER put it

in a nutshell. That is a GOOD thing.

I KNOW I just keep ON trying TO get the levels DOWN as LOW as I can and I feel

like I am NOT getting very far. OH, well, I guess I will have TO try SOMETHING

different. I am eating the right things FOR my BODY SO I DON't have adverse

REACTIONS and I am NOT eating that much, I am exercising and all the things I

SHOULD be DOING, and yet I just can't get the levels TO GO DOWN. I will just

keep trying.

Terrie

Re: question on A1c levels

Hi Terrie,

To convert mg/dl (American units) to mmol/L (the units we use here in Canada

and most other parts of the world), you divide the number by 18. To convert

the other way (from mmol/L or Canadian units to mg/dl or American units) you

multiply by 18. So your reading of 14 would be approximately 252 in American

units. Your 27.7 would be 500 in American units and that one is most

definitely sky high. I personally wouldn't consider 13-14 sky high, but then

I am type 1 and see those numbers on a fairly regular basis.

Diabetes is different from most other chronic conditions because of the

degree of management we as the patients must put in. It is a 24/7 job and it

is as much an emotional disease as it is a physical one, as far as taking

care of ourselves. However, most doctors do not have time nor training to

meet our emotional needs. My endocrinologist specializes in hormonal systems

and this is what I expect him to know. There are other professionals, such

as counsellors or psychologists or even many diabetes educators, who

specialize in helping people with emotional needs. Of course, some doctors

are also good at this, but it can be difficult for them to ask how we are

doing emotionally in an appointment that may only be ten minutes long. A

doctor is primarily concerned with your physical well-being and, like it or

not, what determines this is how well you are controlling diabetes and other

health conditions. Most conditions rely on numbers, but most of the time the

patient themselves doesn't have to worry about them so much. If you have a

problem with your thyroid your doctor will give you pills and do blood tests

every few months and tell you when it's under control. With diabetes, that's

mostly your job, and the doctor can only play a supporting role.

This is part of the reason I love the online diabetes community. I get

support here even just by reading messages from other people and knowing I'm

not alone. There are also in-person support groups which can be valuable

experiences. I forget where in Canada you live, but there are some here in

Vancouver which I have been to. I don't go regularly, but knowing they are

there if I need them is nice. I have also read a lot of books about

diabetes, especially autobiographies written by people with diabetes, as a

source of support.

Jen

[Guest guest]

NO, Sugar, YOU did NOT as YOU put it blabber ON and ON. YOU and JENNIFER put it

in a nutshell. That is a GOOD thing.

I KNOW I just keep ON trying TO get the levels DOWN as LOW as I can and I feel

like I am NOT getting very far. OH, well, I guess I will have TO try SOMETHING

different. I am eating the right things FOR my BODY SO I DON't have adverse

REACTIONS and I am NOT eating that much, I am exercising and all the things I

SHOULD be DOING, and yet I just can't get the levels TO GO DOWN. I will just

keep trying.

Terrie

Re: question on A1c levels

Hi Terrie,

To convert mg/dl (American units) to mmol/L (the units we use here in Canada

and most other parts of the world), you divide the number by 18. To convert

the other way (from mmol/L or Canadian units to mg/dl or American units) you

multiply by 18. So your reading of 14 would be approximately 252 in American

units. Your 27.7 would be 500 in American units and that one is most

definitely sky high. I personally wouldn't consider 13-14 sky high, but then

I am type 1 and see those numbers on a fairly regular basis.

Diabetes is different from most other chronic conditions because of the

degree of management we as the patients must put in. It is a 24/7 job and it

is as much an emotional disease as it is a physical one, as far as taking

care of ourselves. However, most doctors do not have time nor training to

meet our emotional needs. My endocrinologist specializes in hormonal systems

and this is what I expect him to know. There are other professionals, such

as counsellors or psychologists or even many diabetes educators, who

specialize in helping people with emotional needs. Of course, some doctors

are also good at this, but it can be difficult for them to ask how we are

doing emotionally in an appointment that may only be ten minutes long. A

doctor is primarily concerned with your physical well-being and, like it or

not, what determines this is how well you are controlling diabetes and other

health conditions. Most conditions rely on numbers, but most of the time the

patient themselves doesn't have to worry about them so much. If you have a

problem with your thyroid your doctor will give you pills and do blood tests

every few months and tell you when it's under control. With diabetes, that's

mostly your job, and the doctor can only play a supporting role.

This is part of the reason I love the online diabetes community. I get

support here even just by reading messages from other people and knowing I'm

not alone. There are also in-person support groups which can be valuable

experiences. I forget where in Canada you live, but there are some here in

Vancouver which I have been to. I don't go regularly, but knowing they are

there if I need them is nice. I have also read a lot of books about

diabetes, especially autobiographies written by people with diabetes, as a

source of support.

Jen

[Guest guest]

Terri

thanks, all i can say to you, is that, I will be saying a prayer for you as

well, I know how hard it is to get where not only you want to be, but to be at a

level that our doc's say we should be;with this being said, every diabetic is

different and unique, and at times our doc's don't seem to understand that,

instead they catagorize us all in one nut shell, which is not fair.

Just do what you are doing, and I have faith that you will be just fine.

remember, like me, if you've been " out of control " whatever that means,

gigglegiggle for some time, then it will take some time to get back on track,

but as long as you do what is needed, and what is expected, but most of all what

yu feel good doing, then at the end, God will see you through.

Keep up the fine job!

hugs

Sugar

~To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.

-Sugar

Re: question on A1c levels

Hi Terrie,

To convert mg/dl (American units) to mmol/L (the units we use here in Canada

and most other parts of the world), you divide the number by 18. To convert

the other way (from mmol/L or Canadian units to mg/dl or American units) you

multiply by 18. So your reading of 14 would be approximately 252 in American

units. Your 27.7 would be 500 in American units and that one is most

definitely sky high. I personally wouldn't consider 13-14 sky high, but then

I am type 1 and see those numbers on a fairly regular basis.

Diabetes is different from most other chronic conditions because of the

degree of management we as the patients must put in. It is a 24/7 job and it

is as much an emotional disease as it is a physical one, as far as taking

care of ourselves. However, most doctors do not have time nor training to

meet our emotional needs. My endocrinologist specializes in hormonal systems

and this is what I expect him to know. There are other professionals, such

as counsellors or psychologists or even many diabetes educators, who

specialize in helping people with emotional needs. Of course, some doctors

are also good at this, but it can be difficult for them to ask how we are

doing emotionally in an appointment that may only be ten minutes long. A

doctor is primarily concerned with your physical well-being and, like it or

not, what determines this is how well you are controlling diabetes and other

health conditions. Most conditions rely on numbers, but most of the time the

patient themselves doesn't have to worry about them so much. If you have a

problem with your thyroid your doctor will give you pills and do blood tests

every few months and tell you when it's under control. With diabetes, that's

mostly your job, and the doctor can only play a supporting role.

This is part of the reason I love the online diabetes community. I get

support here even just by reading messages from other people and knowing I'm

not alone. There are also in-person support groups which can be valuable

experiences. I forget where in Canada you live, but there are some here in

Vancouver which I have been to. I don't go regularly, but knowing they are

there if I need them is nice. I have also read a lot of books about

diabetes, especially autobiographies written by people with diabetes, as a

source of support.

Jen

[Guest guest]

Terri

thanks, all i can say to you, is that, I will be saying a prayer for you as

well, I know how hard it is to get where not only you want to be, but to be at a

level that our doc's say we should be;with this being said, every diabetic is

different and unique, and at times our doc's don't seem to understand that,

instead they catagorize us all in one nut shell, which is not fair.

Just do what you are doing, and I have faith that you will be just fine.

remember, like me, if you've been " out of control " whatever that means,

gigglegiggle for some time, then it will take some time to get back on track,

but as long as you do what is needed, and what is expected, but most of all what

yu feel good doing, then at the end, God will see you through.

Keep up the fine job!

hugs

Sugar

~To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.

-Sugar

Re: question on A1c levels

Hi Terrie,

To convert mg/dl (American units) to mmol/L (the units we use here in Canada

and most other parts of the world), you divide the number by 18. To convert

the other way (from mmol/L or Canadian units to mg/dl or American units) you

multiply by 18. So your reading of 14 would be approximately 252 in American

units. Your 27.7 would be 500 in American units and that one is most

definitely sky high. I personally wouldn't consider 13-14 sky high, but then

I am type 1 and see those numbers on a fairly regular basis.

Diabetes is different from most other chronic conditions because of the

degree of management we as the patients must put in. It is a 24/7 job and it

is as much an emotional disease as it is a physical one, as far as taking

care of ourselves. However, most doctors do not have time nor training to

meet our emotional needs. My endocrinologist specializes in hormonal systems

and this is what I expect him to know. There are other professionals, such

as counsellors or psychologists or even many diabetes educators, who

specialize in helping people with emotional needs. Of course, some doctors

are also good at this, but it can be difficult for them to ask how we are

doing emotionally in an appointment that may only be ten minutes long. A

doctor is primarily concerned with your physical well-being and, like it or

not, what determines this is how well you are controlling diabetes and other

health conditions. Most conditions rely on numbers, but most of the time the

patient themselves doesn't have to worry about them so much. If you have a

problem with your thyroid your doctor will give you pills and do blood tests

every few months and tell you when it's under control. With diabetes, that's

mostly your job, and the doctor can only play a supporting role.

This is part of the reason I love the online diabetes community. I get

support here even just by reading messages from other people and knowing I'm

not alone. There are also in-person support groups which can be valuable

experiences. I forget where in Canada you live, but there are some here in

Vancouver which I have been to. I don't go regularly, but knowing they are

there if I need them is nice. I have also read a lot of books about

diabetes, especially autobiographies written by people with diabetes, as a

source of support.

Jen

[Guest guest]

Terri

thanks, all i can say to you, is that, I will be saying a prayer for you as

well, I know how hard it is to get where not only you want to be, but to be at a

level that our doc's say we should be;with this being said, every diabetic is

different and unique, and at times our doc's don't seem to understand that,

instead they catagorize us all in one nut shell, which is not fair.

Just do what you are doing, and I have faith that you will be just fine.

remember, like me, if you've been " out of control " whatever that means,

gigglegiggle for some time, then it will take some time to get back on track,

but as long as you do what is needed, and what is expected, but most of all what

yu feel good doing, then at the end, God will see you through.

Keep up the fine job!

hugs

Sugar

~To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.

-Sugar

Re: question on A1c levels

Hi Terrie,

To convert mg/dl (American units) to mmol/L (the units we use here in Canada

and most other parts of the world), you divide the number by 18. To convert

the other way (from mmol/L or Canadian units to mg/dl or American units) you

multiply by 18. So your reading of 14 would be approximately 252 in American

units. Your 27.7 would be 500 in American units and that one is most

definitely sky high. I personally wouldn't consider 13-14 sky high, but then

I am type 1 and see those numbers on a fairly regular basis.

Diabetes is different from most other chronic conditions because of the

degree of management we as the patients must put in. It is a 24/7 job and it

is as much an emotional disease as it is a physical one, as far as taking

care of ourselves. However, most doctors do not have time nor training to

meet our emotional needs. My endocrinologist specializes in hormonal systems

and this is what I expect him to know. There are other professionals, such

as counsellors or psychologists or even many diabetes educators, who

specialize in helping people with emotional needs. Of course, some doctors

are also good at this, but it can be difficult for them to ask how we are

doing emotionally in an appointment that may only be ten minutes long. A

doctor is primarily concerned with your physical well-being and, like it or

not, what determines this is how well you are controlling diabetes and other

health conditions. Most conditions rely on numbers, but most of the time the

patient themselves doesn't have to worry about them so much. If you have a

problem with your thyroid your doctor will give you pills and do blood tests

every few months and tell you when it's under control. With diabetes, that's

mostly your job, and the doctor can only play a supporting role.

This is part of the reason I love the online diabetes community. I get

support here even just by reading messages from other people and knowing I'm

not alone. There are also in-person support groups which can be valuable

experiences. I forget where in Canada you live, but there are some here in

Vancouver which I have been to. I don't go regularly, but knowing they are

there if I need them is nice. I have also read a lot of books about

diabetes, especially autobiographies written by people with diabetes, as a

source of support.

Jen

[Guest guest]

in canada you take your blood sugar , multiply by eighteen and you get the

american reading. karen in canada

Re: question on A1c levels

Hi Terrie,

To convert mg/dl (American units) to mmol/L (the units we use here in Canada

and most other parts of the world), you divide the number by 18. To convert

the other way (from mmol/L or Canadian units to mg/dl or American units) you

multiply by 18. So your reading of 14 would be approximately 252 in American

units. Your 27.7 would be 500 in American units and that one is most

definitely sky high. I personally wouldn't consider 13-14 sky high, but then

I am type 1 and see those numbers on a fairly regular basis.

Diabetes is different from most other chronic conditions because of the

degree of management we as the patients must put in. It is a 24/7 job and it

is as much an emotional disease as it is a physical one, as far as taking

care of ourselves. However, most doctors do not have time nor training to

meet our emotional needs. My endocrinologist specializes in hormonal systems

and this is what I expect him to know. There are other professionals, such

as counsellors or psychologists or even many diabetes educators, who

specialize in helping people with emotional needs. Of course, some doctors

are also good at this, but it can be difficult for them to ask how we are

doing emotionally in an appointment that may only be ten minutes long. A

doctor is primarily concerned with your physical well-being and, like it or

not, what determines this is how well you are controlling diabetes and other

health conditions. Most conditions rely on numbers, but most of the time the

patient themselves doesn't have to worry about them so much. If you have a

problem with your thyroid your doctor will give you pills and do blood tests

every few months and tell you when it's under control. With diabetes, that's

mostly your job, and the doctor can only play a supporting role.

This is part of the reason I love the online diabetes community. I get

support here even just by reading messages from other people and knowing I'm

not alone. There are also in-person support groups which can be valuable

experiences. I forget where in Canada you live, but there are some here in

Vancouver which I have been to. I don't go regularly, but knowing they are

there if I need them is nice. I have also read a lot of books about

diabetes, especially autobiographies written by people with diabetes, as a

source of support.

Jen

[Guest guest]

in canada you take your blood sugar , multiply by eighteen and you get the

american reading. karen in canada

Re: question on A1c levels

Hi Terrie,

To convert mg/dl (American units) to mmol/L (the units we use here in Canada

and most other parts of the world), you divide the number by 18. To convert

the other way (from mmol/L or Canadian units to mg/dl or American units) you

multiply by 18. So your reading of 14 would be approximately 252 in American

units. Your 27.7 would be 500 in American units and that one is most

definitely sky high. I personally wouldn't consider 13-14 sky high, but then

I am type 1 and see those numbers on a fairly regular basis.

Diabetes is different from most other chronic conditions because of the

degree of management we as the patients must put in. It is a 24/7 job and it

is as much an emotional disease as it is a physical one, as far as taking

care of ourselves. However, most doctors do not have time nor training to

meet our emotional needs. My endocrinologist specializes in hormonal systems

and this is what I expect him to know. There are other professionals, such

as counsellors or psychologists or even many diabetes educators, who

specialize in helping people with emotional needs. Of course, some doctors

are also good at this, but it can be difficult for them to ask how we are

doing emotionally in an appointment that may only be ten minutes long. A

doctor is primarily concerned with your physical well-being and, like it or

not, what determines this is how well you are controlling diabetes and other

health conditions. Most conditions rely on numbers, but most of the time the

patient themselves doesn't have to worry about them so much. If you have a

problem with your thyroid your doctor will give you pills and do blood tests

every few months and tell you when it's under control. With diabetes, that's

mostly your job, and the doctor can only play a supporting role.

This is part of the reason I love the online diabetes community. I get

support here even just by reading messages from other people and knowing I'm

not alone. There are also in-person support groups which can be valuable

experiences. I forget where in Canada you live, but there are some here in

Vancouver which I have been to. I don't go regularly, but knowing they are

there if I need them is nice. I have also read a lot of books about

diabetes, especially autobiographies written by people with diabetes, as a

source of support.

Jen

[Guest guest]

in canada you take your blood sugar , multiply by eighteen and you get the

american reading. karen in canada

Re: question on A1c levels

Hi Terrie,

To convert mg/dl (American units) to mmol/L (the units we use here in Canada

and most other parts of the world), you divide the number by 18. To convert

the other way (from mmol/L or Canadian units to mg/dl or American units) you

multiply by 18. So your reading of 14 would be approximately 252 in American

units. Your 27.7 would be 500 in American units and that one is most

definitely sky high. I personally wouldn't consider 13-14 sky high, but then

I am type 1 and see those numbers on a fairly regular basis.

Diabetes is different from most other chronic conditions because of the

degree of management we as the patients must put in. It is a 24/7 job and it

is as much an emotional disease as it is a physical one, as far as taking

care of ourselves. However, most doctors do not have time nor training to

meet our emotional needs. My endocrinologist specializes in hormonal systems

and this is what I expect him to know. There are other professionals, such

as counsellors or psychologists or even many diabetes educators, who

specialize in helping people with emotional needs. Of course, some doctors

are also good at this, but it can be difficult for them to ask how we are

doing emotionally in an appointment that may only be ten minutes long. A

doctor is primarily concerned with your physical well-being and, like it or

not, what determines this is how well you are controlling diabetes and other

health conditions. Most conditions rely on numbers, but most of the time the

patient themselves doesn't have to worry about them so much. If you have a

problem with your thyroid your doctor will give you pills and do blood tests

every few months and tell you when it's under control. With diabetes, that's

mostly your job, and the doctor can only play a supporting role.

This is part of the reason I love the online diabetes community. I get

support here even just by reading messages from other people and knowing I'm

not alone. There are also in-person support groups which can be valuable

experiences. I forget where in Canada you live, but there are some here in

Vancouver which I have been to. I don't go regularly, but knowing they are

there if I need them is nice. I have also read a lot of books about

diabetes, especially autobiographies written by people with diabetes, as a

source of support.

Jen

[Guest guest]

Hello Terry,

Yes, you may feel like you a number, but those numbers are very important.

Keeping your BG numbers down in as normal a possible range is very important

to you. As others have suggested, keeping record of what youeat and your BG

before and after you eat that particular food will help you see what foods

affect you-and how much food. For instance , an ear of corn might not raise

your BG too much, 2 ears might raise it dramatically. You will learn these

things after a while and all of life is a learning game.

Re: question on A1c levels

OH, Cy, YOU understand What I was talking ABOUT. It is a relief TO KNOW that

SOMEONE KNOWS what I mean. My GP treats me as an entire PERSON, but the

DOCTORS WHO study these things DON'T, maybe that is why I DON't have an

ENDOCHRONOLOGIST. I did GO TO the diabetic clinic ONCE, but i can't recall

the name OF the DOCTOR I saw a year AGO. But, she said OH, YOUR NUMBERS are

NOT as bad as we usually see, but YOU are definitely diabetic. I said, SO,

what DO YOU Mean by that? She said " OH,YOUR numbers are NOT GOOD meaning

they are NOT what we WOULD call NORMAL, but they are nOT sky high. Well,

within the year, I have seen them GO up TO 20 and 26.7 and 27.7 and 14 which

FROM what I understand WOULD be OVER 200 by YOUR AMERICAN scale. The 14 was

calculated by the nurse AT SEEING Eye FOR ME. She TOLD ME that they TOOK my

14 and did SOMETHING using the number 18. I DON't KNOW what, but it came up

OVER 200. and just the OTHER day it was 13. NOW, if THOSE aren't Sky high,

what are they? TO me they are.

I find this disease FOR lack OF a different WORD CONFUSING ENOUGH.

I am still learning. DO we ever KNOW all there is TO KNOW?

Terrie with Jade and Bunny.

email FOR THOSE WHO want TO Write OFF list: shineyDOGshaw (DOT)

<mailto:shineyDOG%40shaw.ca> ca

H:

Re: question on A1c levels

, have you ever considered a pump? I was never called " brittle "

(personally I really dislike that term, because I think *all* type 1s are

" brittle " ... we are trying to take the place of an organ, after all!), but

lows to highs and back again pretty much sums up my control before. The pump

helped so much because you are able to deliver a variable basal rate. People

without diabetes don't have a completely flat level of insulin in their

bodies -- which is what Lantus provides -- they produce insulin in the

amounts their bodies need, which you can do with a pump. There are also much

finer bolusing increments. I used to never correct a high blood sugar before

bed unless it was say 12 or above, because I would go low. Now with the pump

I can give a tiny bolus like 0.3 of a unit, and I usually correct anything

above 8. Also, and this has made a *huge* difference, if you notice you are

running high or low you can change the pump's basal rate and those changes

kick in after only a few hours. With Lantus making changes in the dose takes

three days to take effect, so by the time the changes take effect the

problem you've responded to may be gone entirely!

I was never able to get my A1c any lower than 7.1 on Lantus no matter how

hard I tried. Now with the pump, my last A1c was 7.1 and I'm not happy with

that, that's m own fault it's high from slacking off. The one before that

was 6.6, and I'm aiming for 6.5 although I'm not sure I can get that low

without using a CGMS because I have too many lows. The pump isn't perfect,

of course, and doesn't guarantee perfect numbers. There are still days I

ping pong everywhere, like yesterday when I was from 2.9 to 22.3. But now

when that happens I can usually find a reason for it. Many days I can stay

between 4 and 10 the entire day, which was impossible before. Before the

pump seeing lows and high teens every day was routine. There are things that

influence my blood sugar, like hormones, which cause me to alternately crash

and skyrocket every two weeks, which I never realized had any effect on me

because my control was never stable enough until I got the pump.

Having said that great stuff about the pump, there are also some definite

disadvantages, especially for a blind person. It's very high tech and you

have to be comfortable with computers to use it, be willing to memorize the

menu layouts so you can navigate them without vision, and also have to be

willing to test more often and learn the ins and outs of pump therapy which

is more complicated than multiple daily injections. Also, if anything

happens to cut off insulin delivery you have to troubleshoot the problem,

which can sometimes be really frustrating, especailly when you've got very

high blood sugar at the same time (which you probably do if you have

delivery problems)!

Jen

[Guest guest]

Hello Terry,

Yes, you may feel like you a number, but those numbers are very important.

Keeping your BG numbers down in as normal a possible range is very important

to you. As others have suggested, keeping record of what youeat and your BG

before and after you eat that particular food will help you see what foods

affect you-and how much food. For instance , an ear of corn might not raise

your BG too much, 2 ears might raise it dramatically. You will learn these

things after a while and all of life is a learning game.

Re: question on A1c levels

OH, Cy, YOU understand What I was talking ABOUT. It is a relief TO KNOW that

SOMEONE KNOWS what I mean. My GP treats me as an entire PERSON, but the

DOCTORS WHO study these things DON'T, maybe that is why I DON't have an

ENDOCHRONOLOGIST. I did GO TO the diabetic clinic ONCE, but i can't recall

the name OF the DOCTOR I saw a year AGO. But, she said OH, YOUR NUMBERS are

NOT as bad as we usually see, but YOU are definitely diabetic. I said, SO,

what DO YOU Mean by that? She said " OH,YOUR numbers are NOT GOOD meaning

they are NOT what we WOULD call NORMAL, but they are nOT sky high. Well,

within the year, I have seen them GO up TO 20 and 26.7 and 27.7 and 14 which

FROM what I understand WOULD be OVER 200 by YOUR AMERICAN scale. The 14 was

calculated by the nurse AT SEEING Eye FOR ME. She TOLD ME that they TOOK my

14 and did SOMETHING using the number 18. I DON't KNOW what, but it came up

OVER 200. and just the OTHER day it was 13. NOW, if THOSE aren't Sky high,

what are they? TO me they are.

I find this disease FOR lack OF a different WORD CONFUSING ENOUGH.

I am still learning. DO we ever KNOW all there is TO KNOW?

Terrie with Jade and Bunny.

email FOR THOSE WHO want TO Write OFF list: shineyDOGshaw (DOT)

<mailto:shineyDOG%40shaw.ca> ca

H:

Re: question on A1c levels

, have you ever considered a pump? I was never called " brittle "

(personally I really dislike that term, because I think *all* type 1s are

" brittle " ... we are trying to take the place of an organ, after all!), but

lows to highs and back again pretty much sums up my control before. The pump

helped so much because you are able to deliver a variable basal rate. People

without diabetes don't have a completely flat level of insulin in their

bodies -- which is what Lantus provides -- they produce insulin in the

amounts their bodies need, which you can do with a pump. There are also much

finer bolusing increments. I used to never correct a high blood sugar before

bed unless it was say 12 or above, because I would go low. Now with the pump

I can give a tiny bolus like 0.3 of a unit, and I usually correct anything

above 8. Also, and this has made a *huge* difference, if you notice you are

running high or low you can change the pump's basal rate and those changes

kick in after only a few hours. With Lantus making changes in the dose takes

three days to take effect, so by the time the changes take effect the

problem you've responded to may be gone entirely!

I was never able to get my A1c any lower than 7.1 on Lantus no matter how

hard I tried. Now with the pump, my last A1c was 7.1 and I'm not happy with

that, that's m own fault it's high from slacking off. The one before that

was 6.6, and I'm aiming for 6.5 although I'm not sure I can get that low

without using a CGMS because I have too many lows. The pump isn't perfect,

of course, and doesn't guarantee perfect numbers. There are still days I

ping pong everywhere, like yesterday when I was from 2.9 to 22.3. But now

when that happens I can usually find a reason for it. Many days I can stay

between 4 and 10 the entire day, which was impossible before. Before the

pump seeing lows and high teens every day was routine. There are things that

influence my blood sugar, like hormones, which cause me to alternately crash

and skyrocket every two weeks, which I never realized had any effect on me

because my control was never stable enough until I got the pump.

Having said that great stuff about the pump, there are also some definite

disadvantages, especially for a blind person. It's very high tech and you

have to be comfortable with computers to use it, be willing to memorize the

menu layouts so you can navigate them without vision, and also have to be

willing to test more often and learn the ins and outs of pump therapy which

is more complicated than multiple daily injections. Also, if anything

happens to cut off insulin delivery you have to troubleshoot the problem,

which can sometimes be really frustrating, especailly when you've got very

high blood sugar at the same time (which you probably do if you have

delivery problems)!

Jen

[Guest guest]

Hello Terry,

Yes, you may feel like you a number, but those numbers are very important.

Keeping your BG numbers down in as normal a possible range is very important

to you. As others have suggested, keeping record of what youeat and your BG

before and after you eat that particular food will help you see what foods

affect you-and how much food. For instance , an ear of corn might not raise

your BG too much, 2 ears might raise it dramatically. You will learn these

things after a while and all of life is a learning game.

Re: question on A1c levels

OH, Cy, YOU understand What I was talking ABOUT. It is a relief TO KNOW that

SOMEONE KNOWS what I mean. My GP treats me as an entire PERSON, but the

DOCTORS WHO study these things DON'T, maybe that is why I DON't have an

ENDOCHRONOLOGIST. I did GO TO the diabetic clinic ONCE, but i can't recall

the name OF the DOCTOR I saw a year AGO. But, she said OH, YOUR NUMBERS are

NOT as bad as we usually see, but YOU are definitely diabetic. I said, SO,

what DO YOU Mean by that? She said " OH,YOUR numbers are NOT GOOD meaning

they are NOT what we WOULD call NORMAL, but they are nOT sky high. Well,

within the year, I have seen them GO up TO 20 and 26.7 and 27.7 and 14 which

FROM what I understand WOULD be OVER 200 by YOUR AMERICAN scale. The 14 was

calculated by the nurse AT SEEING Eye FOR ME. She TOLD ME that they TOOK my

14 and did SOMETHING using the number 18. I DON't KNOW what, but it came up

OVER 200. and just the OTHER day it was 13. NOW, if THOSE aren't Sky high,

what are they? TO me they are.

I find this disease FOR lack OF a different WORD CONFUSING ENOUGH.

I am still learning. DO we ever KNOW all there is TO KNOW?

Terrie with Jade and Bunny.

email FOR THOSE WHO want TO Write OFF list: shineyDOGshaw (DOT)

<mailto:shineyDOG%40shaw.ca> ca

H:

Re: question on A1c levels

, have you ever considered a pump? I was never called " brittle "

(personally I really dislike that term, because I think *all* type 1s are

" brittle " ... we are trying to take the place of an organ, after all!), but

lows to highs and back again pretty much sums up my control before. The pump

helped so much because you are able to deliver a variable basal rate. People

without diabetes don't have a completely flat level of insulin in their

bodies -- which is what Lantus provides -- they produce insulin in the

amounts their bodies need, which you can do with a pump. There are also much

finer bolusing increments. I used to never correct a high blood sugar before

bed unless it was say 12 or above, because I would go low. Now with the pump

I can give a tiny bolus like 0.3 of a unit, and I usually correct anything

above 8. Also, and this has made a *huge* difference, if you notice you are

running high or low you can change the pump's basal rate and those changes

kick in after only a few hours. With Lantus making changes in the dose takes

three days to take effect, so by the time the changes take effect the

problem you've responded to may be gone entirely!

I was never able to get my A1c any lower than 7.1 on Lantus no matter how

hard I tried. Now with the pump, my last A1c was 7.1 and I'm not happy with

that, that's m own fault it's high from slacking off. The one before that

was 6.6, and I'm aiming for 6.5 although I'm not sure I can get that low

without using a CGMS because I have too many lows. The pump isn't perfect,

of course, and doesn't guarantee perfect numbers. There are still days I

ping pong everywhere, like yesterday when I was from 2.9 to 22.3. But now

when that happens I can usually find a reason for it. Many days I can stay

between 4 and 10 the entire day, which was impossible before. Before the

pump seeing lows and high teens every day was routine. There are things that

influence my blood sugar, like hormones, which cause me to alternately crash

and skyrocket every two weeks, which I never realized had any effect on me

because my control was never stable enough until I got the pump.

Having said that great stuff about the pump, there are also some definite

disadvantages, especially for a blind person. It's very high tech and you

have to be comfortable with computers to use it, be willing to memorize the

menu layouts so you can navigate them without vision, and also have to be

willing to test more often and learn the ins and outs of pump therapy which

is more complicated than multiple daily injections. Also, if anything

happens to cut off insulin delivery you have to troubleshoot the problem,

which can sometimes be really frustrating, especailly when you've got very

high blood sugar at the same time (which you probably do if you have

delivery problems)!

Jen

[Guest guest]

Find another doctor-someone who is willing to work with you.

Re: question on A1c levels

well if the pump manufacturer, s mind can be changed, how about the doctor

who is now against it. karen

Re: question on A1c levels

, have you ever considered a pump? I was never called " brittle "

(personally I really dislike that term, because I think *all* type 1s are

" brittle " ... we are trying to take the place of an organ, after all!), but

lows to highs and back again pretty much sums up my control before. The pump

helped so much because you are able to deliver a variable basal rate. People

without diabetes don't have a completely flat level of insulin in their

bodies -- which is what Lantus provides -- they produce insulin in the

amounts their bodies need, which you can do with a pump. There are also much

finer bolusing increments. I used to never correct a high blood sugar before

bed unless it was say 12 or above, because I would go low. Now with the pump

I can give a tiny bolus like 0.3 of a unit, and I usually correct anything

above 8. Also, and this has made a *huge* difference, if you notice you are

running high or low you can change the pump's basal rate and those changes

kick in after only a few hours. With Lantus making changes in the dose takes

three days to take effect, so by the time the changes take effect the

problem you've responded to may be gone entirely!

I was never able to get my A1c any lower than 7.1 on Lantus no matter how

hard I tried. Now with the pump, my last A1c was 7.1 and I'm not happy with

that, that's m own fault it's high from slacking off. The one before that

was 6.6, and I'm aiming for 6.5 although I'm not sure I can get that low

without using a CGMS because I have too many lows. The pump isn't perfect,

of course, and doesn't guarantee perfect numbers. There are still days I

ping pong everywhere, like yesterday when I was from 2.9 to 22.3. But now

when that happens I can usually find a reason for it. Many days I can stay

between 4 and 10 the entire day, which was impossible before. Before the

pump seeing lows and high teens every day was routine. There are things that

influence my blood sugar, like hormones, which cause me to alternately crash

and skyrocket every two weeks, which I never realized had any effect on me

because my control was never stable enough until I got the pump.

Having said that great stuff about the pump, there are also some definite

disadvantages, especially for a blind person. It's very high tech and you

have to be comfortable with computers to use it, be willing to memorize the

menu layouts so you can navigate them without vision, and also have to be

willing to test more often and learn the ins and outs of pump therapy which

is more complicated than multiple daily injections. Also, if anything

happens to cut off insulin delivery you have to troubleshoot the problem,

which can sometimes be really frustrating, especailly when you've got very

high blood sugar at the same time (which you probably do if you have

delivery problems)!

Jen

[Guest guest]

Find another doctor-someone who is willing to work with you.

Re: question on A1c levels

well if the pump manufacturer, s mind can be changed, how about the doctor

who is now against it. karen

Re: question on A1c levels

, have you ever considered a pump? I was never called " brittle "

(personally I really dislike that term, because I think *all* type 1s are

" brittle " ... we are trying to take the place of an organ, after all!), but

lows to highs and back again pretty much sums up my control before. The pump

helped so much because you are able to deliver a variable basal rate. People

without diabetes don't have a completely flat level of insulin in their

bodies -- which is what Lantus provides -- they produce insulin in the

amounts their bodies need, which you can do with a pump. There are also much

finer bolusing increments. I used to never correct a high blood sugar before

bed unless it was say 12 or above, because I would go low. Now with the pump

I can give a tiny bolus like 0.3 of a unit, and I usually correct anything

above 8. Also, and this has made a *huge* difference, if you notice you are

running high or low you can change the pump's basal rate and those changes

kick in after only a few hours. With Lantus making changes in the dose takes

three days to take effect, so by the time the changes take effect the

problem you've responded to may be gone entirely!

I was never able to get my A1c any lower than 7.1 on Lantus no matter how

hard I tried. Now with the pump, my last A1c was 7.1 and I'm not happy with

that, that's m own fault it's high from slacking off. The one before that

was 6.6, and I'm aiming for 6.5 although I'm not sure I can get that low

without using a CGMS because I have too many lows. The pump isn't perfect,

of course, and doesn't guarantee perfect numbers. There are still days I

ping pong everywhere, like yesterday when I was from 2.9 to 22.3. But now

when that happens I can usually find a reason for it. Many days I can stay

between 4 and 10 the entire day, which was impossible before. Before the

pump seeing lows and high teens every day was routine. There are things that

influence my blood sugar, like hormones, which cause me to alternately crash

and skyrocket every two weeks, which I never realized had any effect on me

because my control was never stable enough until I got the pump.

Having said that great stuff about the pump, there are also some definite

disadvantages, especially for a blind person. It's very high tech and you

have to be comfortable with computers to use it, be willing to memorize the

menu layouts so you can navigate them without vision, and also have to be

willing to test more often and learn the ins and outs of pump therapy which

is more complicated than multiple daily injections. Also, if anything

happens to cut off insulin delivery you have to troubleshoot the problem,

which can sometimes be really frustrating, especailly when you've got very

high blood sugar at the same time (which you probably do if you have

delivery problems)!

Jen

[Guest guest]

Find another doctor-someone who is willing to work with you.

Re: question on A1c levels

well if the pump manufacturer, s mind can be changed, how about the doctor

who is now against it. karen

Re: question on A1c levels

, have you ever considered a pump? I was never called " brittle "

(personally I really dislike that term, because I think *all* type 1s are

" brittle " ... we are trying to take the place of an organ, after all!), but

lows to highs and back again pretty much sums up my control before. The pump

helped so much because you are able to deliver a variable basal rate. People

without diabetes don't have a completely flat level of insulin in their

bodies -- which is what Lantus provides -- they produce insulin in the

amounts their bodies need, which you can do with a pump. There are also much

finer bolusing increments. I used to never correct a high blood sugar before

bed unless it was say 12 or above, because I would go low. Now with the pump

I can give a tiny bolus like 0.3 of a unit, and I usually correct anything

above 8. Also, and this has made a *huge* difference, if you notice you are

running high or low you can change the pump's basal rate and those changes

kick in after only a few hours. With Lantus making changes in the dose takes

three days to take effect, so by the time the changes take effect the

problem you've responded to may be gone entirely!

I was never able to get my A1c any lower than 7.1 on Lantus no matter how

hard I tried. Now with the pump, my last A1c was 7.1 and I'm not happy with

that, that's m own fault it's high from slacking off. The one before that

was 6.6, and I'm aiming for 6.5 although I'm not sure I can get that low

without using a CGMS because I have too many lows. The pump isn't perfect,

of course, and doesn't guarantee perfect numbers. There are still days I

ping pong everywhere, like yesterday when I was from 2.9 to 22.3. But now

when that happens I can usually find a reason for it. Many days I can stay

between 4 and 10 the entire day, which was impossible before. Before the

pump seeing lows and high teens every day was routine. There are things that

influence my blood sugar, like hormones, which cause me to alternately crash

and skyrocket every two weeks, which I never realized had any effect on me

because my control was never stable enough until I got the pump.

Having said that great stuff about the pump, there are also some definite

disadvantages, especially for a blind person. It's very high tech and you

have to be comfortable with computers to use it, be willing to memorize the

menu layouts so you can navigate them without vision, and also have to be

willing to test more often and learn the ins and outs of pump therapy which

is more complicated than multiple daily injections. Also, if anything

happens to cut off insulin delivery you have to troubleshoot the problem,

which can sometimes be really frustrating, especailly when you've got very

high blood sugar at the same time (which you probably do if you have

delivery problems)!

Jen

[Guest guest]

Thanks Sugar. Terrie WHO will ALSO be praying that the sugars GO DOWN even

MORE.

Re: question on A1c levels

Hi Terrie,

To convert mg/dl (American units) to mmol/L (the units we use here in Canada

and most other parts of the world), you divide the number by 18. To convert

the other way (from mmol/L or Canadian units to mg/dl or American units) you

multiply by 18. So your reading of 14 would be approximately 252 in American

units. Your 27.7 would be 500 in American units and that one is most

definitely sky high. I personally wouldn't consider 13-14 sky high, but then

I am type 1 and see those numbers on a fairly regular basis.

Diabetes is different from most other chronic conditions because of the

degree of management we as the patients must put in. It is a 24/7 job and it

is as much an emotional disease as it is a physical one, as far as taking

care of ourselves. However, most doctors do not have time nor training to

meet our emotional needs. My endocrinologist specializes in hormonal systems

and this is what I expect him to know. There are other professionals, such

as counsellors or psychologists or even many diabetes educators, who

specialize in helping people with emotional needs. Of course, some doctors

are also good at this, but it can be difficult for them to ask how we are

doing emotionally in an appointment that may only be ten minutes long. A

doctor is primarily concerned with your physical well-being and, like it or

not, what determines this is how well you are controlling diabetes and other

health conditions. Most conditions rely on numbers, but most of the time the

patient themselves doesn't have to worry about them so much. If you have a

problem with your thyroid your doctor will give you pills and do blood tests

every few months and tell you when it's under control. With diabetes, that's

mostly your job, and the doctor can only play a supporting role.

This is part of the reason I love the online diabetes community. I get

support here even just by reading messages from other people and knowing I'm

not alone. There are also in-person support groups which can be valuable

experiences. I forget where in Canada you live, but there are some here in

Vancouver which I have been to. I don't go regularly, but knowing they are

there if I need them is nice. I have also read a lot of books about

diabetes, especially autobiographies written by people with diabetes, as a

source of support.

Jen

[Guest guest]

Thanks Sugar. Terrie WHO will ALSO be praying that the sugars GO DOWN even

MORE.

Re: question on A1c levels

Hi Terrie,

To convert mg/dl (American units) to mmol/L (the units we use here in Canada

and most other parts of the world), you divide the number by 18. To convert

the other way (from mmol/L or Canadian units to mg/dl or American units) you

multiply by 18. So your reading of 14 would be approximately 252 in American

units. Your 27.7 would be 500 in American units and that one is most

definitely sky high. I personally wouldn't consider 13-14 sky high, but then

I am type 1 and see those numbers on a fairly regular basis.

Diabetes is different from most other chronic conditions because of the

degree of management we as the patients must put in. It is a 24/7 job and it

is as much an emotional disease as it is a physical one, as far as taking

care of ourselves. However, most doctors do not have time nor training to

meet our emotional needs. My endocrinologist specializes in hormonal systems

and this is what I expect him to know. There are other professionals, such

as counsellors or psychologists or even many diabetes educators, who

specialize in helping people with emotional needs. Of course, some doctors

are also good at this, but it can be difficult for them to ask how we are

doing emotionally in an appointment that may only be ten minutes long. A

doctor is primarily concerned with your physical well-being and, like it or

not, what determines this is how well you are controlling diabetes and other

health conditions. Most conditions rely on numbers, but most of the time the

patient themselves doesn't have to worry about them so much. If you have a

problem with your thyroid your doctor will give you pills and do blood tests

every few months and tell you when it's under control. With diabetes, that's

mostly your job, and the doctor can only play a supporting role.

This is part of the reason I love the online diabetes community. I get

support here even just by reading messages from other people and knowing I'm

not alone. There are also in-person support groups which can be valuable

experiences. I forget where in Canada you live, but there are some here in

Vancouver which I have been to. I don't go regularly, but knowing they are

there if I need them is nice. I have also read a lot of books about

diabetes, especially autobiographies written by people with diabetes, as a

source of support.

Jen

[Guest guest]

Thanks Sugar. Terrie WHO will ALSO be praying that the sugars GO DOWN even

MORE.

Re: question on A1c levels

Hi Terrie,

To convert mg/dl (American units) to mmol/L (the units we use here in Canada

and most other parts of the world), you divide the number by 18. To convert

the other way (from mmol/L or Canadian units to mg/dl or American units) you

multiply by 18. So your reading of 14 would be approximately 252 in American

units. Your 27.7 would be 500 in American units and that one is most

definitely sky high. I personally wouldn't consider 13-14 sky high, but then

I am type 1 and see those numbers on a fairly regular basis.

Diabetes is different from most other chronic conditions because of the

degree of management we as the patients must put in. It is a 24/7 job and it

is as much an emotional disease as it is a physical one, as far as taking

care of ourselves. However, most doctors do not have time nor training to

meet our emotional needs. My endocrinologist specializes in hormonal systems

and this is what I expect him to know. There are other professionals, such

as counsellors or psychologists or even many diabetes educators, who

specialize in helping people with emotional needs. Of course, some doctors

are also good at this, but it can be difficult for them to ask how we are

doing emotionally in an appointment that may only be ten minutes long. A

doctor is primarily concerned with your physical well-being and, like it or

not, what determines this is how well you are controlling diabetes and other

health conditions. Most conditions rely on numbers, but most of the time the

patient themselves doesn't have to worry about them so much. If you have a

problem with your thyroid your doctor will give you pills and do blood tests

every few months and tell you when it's under control. With diabetes, that's

mostly your job, and the doctor can only play a supporting role.

This is part of the reason I love the online diabetes community. I get

support here even just by reading messages from other people and knowing I'm

not alone. There are also in-person support groups which can be valuable

experiences. I forget where in Canada you live, but there are some here in

Vancouver which I have been to. I don't go regularly, but knowing they are

there if I need them is nice. I have also read a lot of books about

diabetes, especially autobiographies written by people with diabetes, as a

source of support.

Jen

[Guest guest]

what do you like your bedtime reading to be. i was five point zero last night

took my usual lantis and half a gluacon tablet. this morning apon waking i was

one point nine. too low. please advise, karen

Re: question on A1c levels

Hi Terrie,

To convert mg/dl (American units) to mmol/L (the units we use here in Canada

and most other parts of the world), you divide the number by 18. To convert

the other way (from mmol/L or Canadian units to mg/dl or American units) you

multiply by 18. So your reading of 14 would be approximately 252 in American

units. Your 27.7 would be 500 in American units and that one is most

definitely sky high. I personally wouldn't consider 13-14 sky high, but then

I am type 1 and see those numbers on a fairly regular basis.

Diabetes is different from most other chronic conditions because of the

degree of management we as the patients must put in. It is a 24/7 job and it

is as much an emotional disease as it is a physical one, as far as taking

care of ourselves. However, most doctors do not have time nor training to

meet our emotional needs. My endocrinologist specializes in hormonal systems

and this is what I expect him to know. There are other professionals, such

as counsellors or psychologists or even many diabetes educators, who

specialize in helping people with emotional needs. Of course, some doctors

are also good at this, but it can be difficult for them to ask how we are

doing emotionally in an appointment that may only be ten minutes long. A

doctor is primarily concerned with your physical well-being and, like it or

not, what determines this is how well you are controlling diabetes and other

health conditions. Most conditions rely on numbers, but most of the time the

patient themselves doesn't have to worry about them so much. If you have a

problem with your thyroid your doctor will give you pills and do blood tests

every few months and tell you when it's under control. With diabetes, that's

mostly your job, and the doctor can only play a supporting role.

This is part of the reason I love the online diabetes community. I get

support here even just by reading messages from other people and knowing I'm

not alone. There are also in-person support groups which can be valuable

experiences. I forget where in Canada you live, but there are some here in

Vancouver which I have been to. I don't go regularly, but knowing they are

there if I need them is nice. I have also read a lot of books about

diabetes, especially autobiographies written by people with diabetes, as a

source of support.

Jen

[Guest guest]

what do you like your bedtime reading to be. i was five point zero last night

took my usual lantis and half a gluacon tablet. this morning apon waking i was

one point nine. too low. please advise, karen

Re: question on A1c levels

Hi Terrie,

To convert mg/dl (American units) to mmol/L (the units we use here in Canada

and most other parts of the world), you divide the number by 18. To convert

the other way (from mmol/L or Canadian units to mg/dl or American units) you

multiply by 18. So your reading of 14 would be approximately 252 in American

units. Your 27.7 would be 500 in American units and that one is most

definitely sky high. I personally wouldn't consider 13-14 sky high, but then

I am type 1 and see those numbers on a fairly regular basis.

Diabetes is different from most other chronic conditions because of the

degree of management we as the patients must put in. It is a 24/7 job and it

is as much an emotional disease as it is a physical one, as far as taking

care of ourselves. However, most doctors do not have time nor training to

meet our emotional needs. My endocrinologist specializes in hormonal systems

and this is what I expect him to know. There are other professionals, such

as counsellors or psychologists or even many diabetes educators, who

specialize in helping people with emotional needs. Of course, some doctors

are also good at this, but it can be difficult for them to ask how we are

doing emotionally in an appointment that may only be ten minutes long. A

doctor is primarily concerned with your physical well-being and, like it or

not, what determines this is how well you are controlling diabetes and other

health conditions. Most conditions rely on numbers, but most of the time the

patient themselves doesn't have to worry about them so much. If you have a

problem with your thyroid your doctor will give you pills and do blood tests

every few months and tell you when it's under control. With diabetes, that's

mostly your job, and the doctor can only play a supporting role.

This is part of the reason I love the online diabetes community. I get

support here even just by reading messages from other people and knowing I'm

not alone. There are also in-person support groups which can be valuable

experiences. I forget where in Canada you live, but there are some here in

Vancouver which I have been to. I don't go regularly, but knowing they are

there if I need them is nice. I have also read a lot of books about

diabetes, especially autobiographies written by people with diabetes, as a

source of support.

Jen

[Guest guest]

what do you like your bedtime reading to be. i was five point zero last night

took my usual lantis and half a gluacon tablet. this morning apon waking i was

one point nine. too low. please advise, karen

Re: question on A1c levels

Hi Terrie,

To convert mg/dl (American units) to mmol/L (the units we use here in Canada

and most other parts of the world), you divide the number by 18. To convert

the other way (from mmol/L or Canadian units to mg/dl or American units) you

multiply by 18. So your reading of 14 would be approximately 252 in American

units. Your 27.7 would be 500 in American units and that one is most

definitely sky high. I personally wouldn't consider 13-14 sky high, but then

I am type 1 and see those numbers on a fairly regular basis.

Diabetes is different from most other chronic conditions because of the

degree of management we as the patients must put in. It is a 24/7 job and it

is as much an emotional disease as it is a physical one, as far as taking

care of ourselves. However, most doctors do not have time nor training to

meet our emotional needs. My endocrinologist specializes in hormonal systems

and this is what I expect him to know. There are other professionals, such

as counsellors or psychologists or even many diabetes educators, who

specialize in helping people with emotional needs. Of course, some doctors

are also good at this, but it can be difficult for them to ask how we are

doing emotionally in an appointment that may only be ten minutes long. A

doctor is primarily concerned with your physical well-being and, like it or

not, what determines this is how well you are controlling diabetes and other

health conditions. Most conditions rely on numbers, but most of the time the

patient themselves doesn't have to worry about them so much. If you have a

problem with your thyroid your doctor will give you pills and do blood tests

every few months and tell you when it's under control. With diabetes, that's

mostly your job, and the doctor can only play a supporting role.

This is part of the reason I love the online diabetes community. I get

support here even just by reading messages from other people and knowing I'm

not alone. There are also in-person support groups which can be valuable

experiences. I forget where in Canada you live, but there are some here in

Vancouver which I have been to. I don't go regularly, but knowing they are

there if I need them is nice. I have also read a lot of books about

diabetes, especially autobiographies written by people with diabetes, as a

source of support.

Jen