Diabetes UK at the O2 Bodyworlds

[Sugarbum]

Wotcha everyone!

Just thought Id drop you a quick line about and tell you about my afternoon! I took advantage of the readers offer in Blanace magazine (the now 'infamous' issue which printed THAT letter!) for a free Diabetes UK tour around bodyworlds and free entry.

It was really good, we were taken around by one of the care advisors who knew her stuff really well, except (correct me if Im wrong) she said your HbA1c should be under 7.5%, shouldnt it be 6.5% and under? But anyway, she was really cool......and as well as all those dead bodies plasticated (or whatever its called) they had a giraffe and horse!

At the end they had a health assessment for diabetes risk and some leaflets and stuff. My only disapointment was that they completely missed the oportunity for a donation as there was no collection box. I would have happily put the price of the 2 tickets in their pot.

I was suprised to hear you get a medal if you have diabetes for 50 years and another if you have it for 60! Oh well, aim high!!

Just thought Id share!
Cheers, Louisa x

 

[aymes]

Glad you enjoyed it, I was thinking of visiting.

It was really good, we were taken around by one of the care advisors who knew her stuff really well, except (correct me if Im wrong) she said your HbA1c should be under 7.5%, shouldnt it be 6.5% and under?

The advice is usually 6.5 but I have had a consultant tell me he is 'happy' with a reading under 7.5. I think the rationale at that time was when I was on mixed insulin as control can be really difficult on those so 7.5 was, he felt, and achievement for someone under those conditions.

I think generally speaking though the lower the better (assuming that's not as a result of lots of hypos) and 6.5 and below seems to be the common advice.

 

[runner]

I was told 7.5 is good - hope so becaue that's where I'm usually at! Had test today, so wil find out in a couple of weeks.!

 

[sweetsatin]

My doc said that it was 6.5 but happy at 7.5

 

[Mand]

Glad you enjoyed your afternoon, Louisa. My son's last one was 8.5 so you can imagine how much i am hoping the pump helps him to get better control and bring that number down. But worryingly for the other kids, we have been told that although it is a bit too high it is still one of best at his clinic! 😱

 

[Steff]

For most people with diabetes, the HbA1c target is below 6.5 per cent, since evidence shows that this can reduce the risk of developing diabetic complications, such as nerve damage, eye disease, kidney disease and heart disease.

Individuals at risk of severe hypoglycaemia should aim for an HbA1c of less than 7.5 per cent. However, any reduction in HbA1c levels (and therefore, any improvement in control), is still considered to have beneficial effects on the onset and progression of complications.

thats what i found out on it

 

[Northerner]

I found this very good page about HbA1c. It includes a graph showing how the risk of complications increase with higher levels:

http://www.diabetesuffolk.com/Complications/HbA1c.htm

You can see that the graph starts to curve up just before 7.0%, then climbs quite steeply.

 

[katie]

I found this very good page about HbA1c. It includes a graph showing how the risk of complications increase with higher levels:

http://www.diabetesuffolk.com/Complications/HbA1c.htm

You can see that the graph starts to curve up just before 7.0%, then climbs quite steeply.

thanks for that Northerner 😛

 

[runner]

Glad you enjoyed your afternoon, Louisa. My son's last one was 8.5 so you can imagine how much i am hoping the pump helps him to get better control and bring that number down. But worryingly for the other kids, we have been told that although it is a bit too high it is still one of best at his clinic! 😱

Mand, he is heading in the right direction and comparatively seems to be doing well - good on him and you 🙂

Thanks for the link Northerner - interesting link to flu jabs and possbile Tamiflu vaccination too from that site. It looks like my 7.5 is too high, but I was getting quite a few hypos to start with. I will check what my individual target should be again - got an apointment in 2 weeks.

 

[Mand]

Thanks Runner. 🙂

 

[Sugarbum]

Glad you enjoyed your afternoon, Louisa. My son's last one was 8.5 so you can imagine how much i am hoping the pump helps him to get better control and bring that number down. But worryingly for the other kids, we have been told that although it is a bit too high it is still one of best at his clinic! 😱

Goodness me! It must be very strange to hear that? One hand are they trying to reasuure you its not easy to achieve, or on the other hand- they dont expect you son to achieve good range???! The range at my clinic is recommended 6.5% and under (I checked today at work) and last year I got one at 10.1%! BAD HEY! I am 7.4% at the mo. I find it really hard to stay at 7.4 % though, its so hard. Feel sorry for Bev/Alex today with their result too, its hard hard work I know. ho-hum 😉