Diabetes Talking

Question:

Bob said this… My understanding is that the first is a percentage of blood cells contaminated by glucose (mine 6.8), while the second is a measure of glucose in blood volume (2.4 – 17 recently).  Presumably I should want my HbA1C to tend to zero, while keeping my BG 5-8 ish

An a1c of zero would mean you are dead. The non-diabetic norms of between 5 and 6 are the ideal. Blood cells pick up some glucose in a normal person. Ratty — www.flyingrat.net

Response:

I once came here claiming to be in the 5% club thinking that 5. something on my meter was what it meant. I now know different BUT I AM now in the 5% club…… JUST….. last hba1c 5.9 yaaaaaay

Congratulations Bri Snail, good work!! AND I am doing nothing special except cheating only sometimes….the rest of the time I follow a sensible diet. It’s a pain but it is also a bonus. need to get to Sushi boy’s 5.1 it seems.

Cheating only sometimes? It wouldn’t be a lot of fun if we didn’t I have a couple of friends in the freezer right now, a Mr Ben, and a Mr Jerry, they come to visit occasionally Cheers Nigel

Response:

 said this… 5.9 is fantastic and it might be perfect for you. i do eat some pretty non tastey things tho – but if you ever want i will post my daily diet – complete with blood levels if you want. i notice you said you only eat sensible – do you exercise? if not make that your first change dont worry about who’s A1C is better.  i must admit tho i am very competitive and i do want the lowest A1C I can get while being healthy. Sushi

I can’t see anything wrong at all with your motivation there. We’ve calmly and reasonably debated here why some of us don’t think a <5 a1c is particularly good, but having something to aim at is half the battle. With me, it was the hard climb back down from a ridiculous volume of insulin I needed to balance my numbers (210u a day and spikes into the 300s US/20 UK). So by all means shoot for the lowest a1c you can. You may not get there, to the low 4s, but the least you can expect is to maintain the good start you have made. Just be conscious of what’s been said, an a1c in the low 4s might indicate you have a nutritional deficiency somewhere. Just my opinions as ever. And well done that man to Brian! Ratty — www.flyingrat.net

Response:

: I once came here claiming to be in the 5% club thinking that 5. something on : my meter was what it meant. : I now know different : BUT : I AM now in the 5% club…… JUST….. last hba1c 5.9 yaaaaaay : : Well i can now claim a place there LOL : : so if I can do it etc etc blah blah : : AND I am doing nothing special except cheating only sometimes….the rest of : the time I follow a sensible diet. It’s a pain but it is also a bonus. need : to get to Sushi boy’s 5.1 it seems. : : Bri Snail first of all congrats to you for making the 5% club. dont judge your sucess on what others have done. find a A1C that fits your lifestyle. i have posted some pretty outragous meals that i have eaten maybe if you seen those meals, you might think what i done came easy.  it did not.  most of the time i just eat 5 if not more small meals. if you are not against dietitians tell one you want to improve on those numbers just to see what he/she says.  but i will tell you what i have done. most of the time i eat 5 small meals.  sometimes they are not even meals. if i must run out of the house to see a client.  i eat a couple of whole grain rye crackers to hold me a while.  some more things i do is i dont like veggies and to cook them i feel kills way to much nutrition. i throw 2 in a blender with some water enough to thin to my liking and drink it like i would vitamins.  if you tend to have fewer larger meals inorder to get below your 5.9 you may have to go low blood sugar at times. – so dont do it that way. lol sorry about the dribble.  il make it short and sweet. dont bother reading what  i wrote above. too late eat many small meals a day actually when i do reduce my meds i am going to try to eat 10 meals a day – it will almost be like taken vitamins.  I know its over kill but i have to change my mind and love for food. food is only fuel and you should refuel your self only when you need it.  yes i will have general tso from time to time.  my goal is a healthy 4% club .  for me to get there will require – exercise – and eating healthy. I WILL BE IN THE 4% WITH OUT MEDS. i know i know dont promise things i can not keep.  truth is i know myself and i refuse to just sit down after eating and allow my blood sugar to climb. some might say " sushi but what will you do if the numbers climb" the answer is very simple.  I have 2 choices 1 – sit down test and watch my numbers climb. 2 – hop on my stationary bike – take the clothes off my stepper machine and use it – climb the stairs in my building. go for a walk. do some cleaning — I will do anything to prevent my numbers from going diabetic. 5.9 is fantastic and it might be perfect for you. i do eat some pretty non tastey things tho – but if you ever want i will post my daily diet – complete with blood levels if you want. i notice you said you only eat sensible – do you exercise? if not make that your first change dont worry about who’s A1C is better.  i must admit tho i am very competitive and i do want the lowest A1C I can get while being healthy. Sushi : :

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I once came here claiming to be in the 5% club thinking that 5. something on my meter was what it meant. I now know different BUT I AM now in the 5% club…… JUST….. last hba1c 5.9 yaaaaaay Well i can now claim a place there LOL so if I can do it etc etc blah blah AND I am doing nothing special except cheating only sometimes….the rest of the time I follow a sensible diet. It’s a pain but it is also a bonus. need to get to Sushi boy’s 5.1 it seems.

No you don’t (and congrats too!!). There’s no evidence that running below the average for a none diabetic is beneficial. As you’re right bang in the middle, you’re doing as well as you need to be, and FAR Better than most diabetics of any persuasion. 5.9 is fucking wonderful. Beav

Response:

I once came here claiming to be in the 5% club thinking that 5. something on my meter was what it meant. I now know different BUT I AM now in the 5% club…… JUST….. last hba1c 5.9 yaaaaaay Well i can now claim a place there LOL so if I can do it etc etc blah blah AND I am doing nothing special except cheating only sometimes….the rest of the time I follow a sensible diet. It’s a pain but it is also a bonus. need to get to Sushi boy’s 5.1 it seems. Bri Snail

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