Diabetes Type 1 Support Group

Hi branbran12

Don't be too hard on yourself, a year isn't very long. What are your actual test results like, the ones you take each day? Sometimes a HBA1C test doesn't reflect them, for example a good HBA1C could mean good blood sugars, or it could mean a lot of highs and a lot of lows and so the average was good. So you need to look at your daily test results too. How is your diet and exercise? Do you carb count?

I think it is important to have contact with other diabetics. You have come here so that is good. Are there any diabetes charities where you are? If so join them. Check out the bulletin boards at your hospital or clinic for any activity where you could meet other diabetics, and ask about education courses too.

I don't think you should be worried. It takes a long time to come to terms with diabetes. Don't beat yourself up, instead try to look at results without emotion attached and see where you could improve or what questions you have.

My a1c was 9 and it is now 7. My doctor said I was doing good. I still need to get it better than 7. Don't be too hard on your self. It takes time to get the hang of this thing. So you wear the insulin pump? I have had the pump now for 20 years and it has changed my life.

my dr wants my a1c around 7. you are doing wonderfully. i wish i could have been around 7 my first years!!!!! i`ve had diabetes for 37 years.

Thanks guys. I'm not on the pump, I would like to later though. I don't need much insulin right now. I do carb count and when I check my blood its usually pretty good. I'm usually between 100 to 180, but at night I wake up and I feel hot and kind of shakey not the low shakey but like the inside of my body feels that way so I can tell that I'm high but I'm half asleep and ignore it. So now I will pay more attention and take care of it. Half the time I cant tell if I'm high or low. It's weird but I heard a lot of Diabetics feel that way. I really appreciate your guys advice. The only diabetic groups around here are mostly for type 2 but I will ask around more. Thanks again.

Hey welcome branbran12!

My word you are doing absolutely wonderful for being in the first year and not a pumper! I know of very few people that get beneath a 7 without the aid of a pump. It's doable but man do have to be on the ball!

My primary doctor is happy with me as long as I am 7 or under. My endocrinologist however always complains no matter what it is! I once came in with a 5.6 and he said it could be a bit better but then again I was in baby making mode then. I once came in with a 5.2 but due to the numerous lows I had then he didn't like that either.

Don't be surprised if they always find something you could do better as I think they feel obligated to give you advice on how to live longer. One time I was told loose more weight, another gain more. Once eat more leafy greens then another more protein. When they look at my log book they can always find a day to gripe on me about as I was either to high or too low. You get the idea. :-D

It is good to keep in mind like Lizzie said that if you are really high and really low that a1c number can still look good but not be. This doesn't sound like your case though so great job and keep up the wonderful work!

Hallo again branbran

Glad to hear you are doing so well. Type 2s do seem to be catered for more, probably because there are more of them. Maybe you could find a diabetes charity, I think there is one called the American Diabetes Association? But am not sure since I am in the UK. I don't usually test over night, unless I feel weird or am ill.

Hey branbran12. I have been diabetic for about 13 years. I actually started out really well myself--I'm not sure why other than I kept to a very regular schedule for a while. Trust me, though, I am NOT a saint of diabetes care! I went through some family turmoil, started having some difficulty and that ended up being the slow start of some pretty bad times. I was lucky and never ended up in the hospital for my blood sugars, but there was a time my husband (then boyfriend) told me he'd give me a prize if I kept my sugars below 300 for a week. (I did it, by the way, and have yet to see my prize!) ;) Anyway, I've been clawing my way back the last few years. I've been learning things along the way...

A1C is not the end-all of how well you are doing. I've never known why but, even when I was at my worst, my A1C has never been very high.

Doctors do not know everything. In fact, some are very ill-informed. If it sounds odd or wrong, ask others. Ask here, or another doc, but ask!

No matter how great you are you are never going to be perfect. There are far too many things that affect BS levels. Stress can, so if you stress out over a level that you don't understand it will just make it worse. Don't let your doctor get you down. As smith101 said, they may always pick at something. Find one who tries to get you as healthy as possible, who doesn't make you feel like crap if you mess up and just looks at where to go from there.

Good luck!