Go me.
I realize this is the last thing a lot of you want to read about (I know it because some of you are nice enough to tell me), but I have a bit of good news about the Beedies. Well, my Beedies in particular. Can’t help you with yours, sorry.
There is a test for long-term blood sugar levels called the Hemoglobin A1c that measures glucose levels over a period of time. The instant test that I generally take, the one that involves stabbing my finger (”Ow…”), tells you how you’re doing at that moment, but it’s not a great measuring tool for averages. I could eat a couple of donuts and take the test, and it would probably show that I am about to die.
The A1c, on the other hand, comes up with an average by measuring the amounts that stick in red blood cells. Since red blood cells only live for about 90-120 days, the A1c can be administered every three months to give you an accurate measurement.
So for all you non-diabetics out there, the average percentage is from 4 to 6 percent. The American Diabetes Association considers a patient’s diabetes to be under control when the A1c result is 7 percent or less. More than 8, not so good. More than like 15, I think you go to the hospital.
When I was first diagnosed, I was at about 10. Three months ago, I was down to 8.5.
Today? 6.9, baby. According to the big brains at the ADA, my diabetes is officially under control.
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3 opinions for Go me.
sympt
Sep 12, 2006 at 6:46 am
The A1c is more importnat than just one time measurements. it really gives you the idea of god contorl. Also check your feet and avoid traumas and infections
David
Sep 12, 2006 at 12:25 pm
Congrats, Rob! I wish you a steady decline (in your numbers, of course).
Sympt, that is definitely true. An even better measure than A1c is blood sugar variance. The ability to measure the standard deviation of blood sugars will become easier to measure with the prevalence of continuous glucose monitors.
Anyway, again, congrats!
Susan
Sep 13, 2006 at 3:14 am
So in getting your blood sugar under control, has all of the ickiness of glucophage gone away, or at least reduced? I’m really afraid to try it (glucophage) again after my last painful bout with it, but I also really want more controlled blood sugar. Once you got used to your meds, did they still make you miserable?
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