HbA1c, Testing, etc.-Lynn: was- Re: Hi Lynn

[Guest guest]

Lynn,

My comments interspersed in your text:

>>> Thanks for the welcome, !

It wasn't fasting at diagnosis. I had had breakfast and it was 430.

Breakfast was coffee with Carnation creamer, toast and an egg. No, I sure

don't

eat that now! LOL <<<

The creamer I'm looking at has the first ingredient " corn syrup " , spell that

" sugar " !!!

Hi-Glycemic index, I'd say. Two grams of carbs/tablespoon, so not too many

carbs, but the ones that are there are bad.

Toast: typical slices of bread run from 15-20grams of Hi-GI carbs per slice.

Each gram of carbs can raise your bg from 3-5mg/dl.

So, if you take worst case for that breakfast (5mg/dl x 22grams = 110mg/dl)

that breakfast should have raised your bg's 110mg/dl at the most. So, it

appears that your pre-breakfast/fasting bg was pretty high, like maybe

320mg/dl.

When I was diagnosed, my fasting was 350mg/dl & my HbA1c was 15.5%, so

you're pretty close to where I was at diagnosis.

After diagnosis, I did a short bout with the Dr's prescribed meds that I

decided pretty quickly wasn't working, resulting in hi-lo roller-coaster bg's.

So, I started eating very low-carb (Bernstein), & was able to maintain normal

non-diabetic bg's (fasting 70-110mg/dl & HbA1c <6%) for 7+ years on D & very

little E.

So, that may be possible for you also.

>>> I don't know what the Glycosylated Hemoblobin A1c was. I never knew

there was such a thing. <<<

Glycosylated Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is a blood test that shows what your

" average " bg has been for the past 3-months, with emphasis on the most recent

weeks. It's expressed as a percent and normal non-diabetics have a range 4%-6%,

tending toward the lower end of that range. Diabetics have HbA1c's above

6.0%. Your Dr probably didn't do this test when you were diagnosed because it's

pretty obvious that you're diabetic & the result would have been " high " . My

HbA1c at diagnosis was 15.5%!

It would be a good idea if you asked for this test at the next time you see

your Dr, maybe 3 months after diagnosis to see how you're progressing.

>>> I test twice a day right now. Fasting and after lunch one day and

before bed the next. <<<

Your testing is a very important part of your " diabetic education " program.

" Occasional testing " (that's how I'd describe your testing pattern) tells you

very little.

The most important thing testing can teach is how your food effects your

bg's. To do that, you need to test before & 1 & 2 hours after you eat. So,

while

you are in the process of learning to control, there are those 9 pre &

post-meal tests plus a fasting first thing in the morning & one at bedtime, for

a

total of 11 tests per day.

I know that seems like a lot, but without the knowledge gained by doing

those tests, gaining control is kind of a hit-or-miss proposition.

After you've learned how many foods effect your bg's, you can reduce the

testing to much less, & use it when you eat or do something different.

Many Drs think diabetics are resistant to testing & will not prescribe

enough test strips to do the testing described above. It's up to you to be your

own advocate & ask for a prescription for sufficient strips. Explain what

you're trying to do & that you're motivated to gain " tight-control " , & many Drs

will prescribe the # of strips you request (mine did). Insurance companies

(most) will provide the amount of strips prescribed, so it's up to the Dr to

write a prescription for the amount you need.

>>> I take Metformin (the one you all have been talking about. I have the

worst time remembering the correct name). It's 500 mg and I take it twice a

day. <<<

Yes, it's " Metformin " , you've got the name correctly. Metformin is the

generic name. There's other names that are " brand-names " , like Glucophage.

Generic

is cheaper!

>>> No exercise to speak of but from reading your posts I can see that is

something to add. <<<

Exercise will help reduce bg's. I don't do enough, but I'm now trying to

start up again.

>>> My bg readings right now are around 155. That is a huge improvement in

only a week, and I'm hoping not to have to inject insulin before the

surgery. But, if I do, I will do it. My doctor will be getting my bg readings

tomorrow and then call to advise me. It would be great if I can eventually

control this with WOE and exercise, but I'll be happy if just the oral meds

will

do it, frankly. I am so afraid of the horrible complications that go with

this disease! Like Vicky, I intend to have none of them so I'm going to be

darn

good about taking care of it. :-)

Lynn >>>

Lynn, you've got one of the biggest hurdles crossed already as you seem

motivated to do what's necessary to get control of " our " disease. Many, after

being diagnosed spend much time in denial & hope the disease will go away by

ignoring it. Unfortunately, since diabetes is largely a symptomless disease

it's

easy to ignore.

That is, until one or more of the horrendous complications rears it's ugly

head: Blindness, kidney failure, limb amputation, cardio-vascular problems &

many more.

So, it sounds like you are on the right track. Keep up the good work!

*****************************************

, T2, dx'ed 4/98 with Fasting bg 350mg/dl & HbA1c 15.5%

Controlling until last month with LC-D & very little E

Average Fasting bg 105mg/dl, Last HbA1c 6.0%

7+ Year Historical HbA1c 5.6%-6.0%

Now Experimenting with Metformin, Glyburide & " Merlot Therapy " for HbA1c

nearer 5.0%

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Welcome Lynn,

Glad you found us, but sorry for the reason that brought you here.

There are lots of folks here that are willing to share their

experiences at

living with diabetes & their experiences trying to control it. Ask any

questions that come to mind & please, give us a little background

information---What was your fasting bg at diagnosis? HbA1c

(Glycosylated Hemoblobin A1c)? Do

you have a tester & if so, how often do you test & when? What are your

bg

readings presently?

I'll not comment on books, because I'm sure Vicki (whimsy2) will

chime-in

here soon with her " newbie letter " which contains recommendations for

some

excellent books and much more useful information.

Good to hear that you've realized the effects that carbs have on blood

glucose (bg). That's an important hurdle that many folks don't get

around to until

way later in their diabetic journey.

Depending on how high your bg's & HbA1c were at diagnosis, you may be

able

to totally control with diet (WOE) & exercise. If not there are other

things

to do such as oral meds & there are some here controlling with

excellent

results on insulin. OK, don't be horrified because I mention insulin!

There is

some credible research that indicates that using insulin sooner rather

than as a

" last resort " is beneficial for T2's. But that discussion is probably

a long

way off for you at this early stage.

I've controlled, maintaining " normal non-diabetic bg's) for over 7

years now

with carb-control & a little exercise (too little!). I've just recently

started experimenting with two of the older oral meds to further

improve my HbA1c

& further minimize complication risks (see signature lines).

Enough for now. Looking forward to hearing more from you.