Went for my second HbA1c this morning....

[Lucylemonpip]

Well, I now have two holes in the crook of my arm, as the DN had trouble finding a vein, in either arm, but it was okay, as I know it’s not always easy and she kept apologising. Lol. So, I just have to wait for her to ring me now...... Fingers crossed it will be 48 or below; I hope!

Went out for lunch today and had Scampi, chips and salad. Very bad, I know. Just took my BG and it was 8.6, which is high for me, but not surprised. Hadn’t tested prior to food, so don’t know what it went up by, but was probably by 3. I’ve just got off the exercise bike after cycling 3 miles, which should bring the BG down a bit. Will test again in a bit. I’ll then do another 3 miles later on this evening.

I told the DN that I still use a BG monitor and she still felt this was not necessary. However, I think it is necessary and it is also a constant daily visual reinforcement to keep on the straight and narrow (with the occasional blip, as above). One thing she did say, when I said I am following a low carb, high fat diet, is that she said this was good and is contrary to what people were told years ago; this is something which has been talked about on the forum here many times. So it was nice to hear a health professional say this, even though she doesn’t go along with monitoring, initially. However, she did say that she felt it would be more worth it in the future, as and when I need medication and closer monitoring when things start to deteriorate, neuropathy etc. That was heartening, I can tell you! I hope to ward those things off for a long while yet.

A lot of people on the forum have managed to avoid neuropathy etc for a long while, but is it inevitable, however much we try to ward it off? I suppose one cannot really say, as we are all individual and who knows what will happen in the future, but it made me wonder......

 

[trophywench]

No - it isn't inevitable, neither is eyesight damage. kidney failure or anything else some lay at diabetes door.

 

[Lucylemonpip]

@trophywench - thank you! I feel better now, plus realising that it is also down to me to make sure these things don’t happen or at least, to mitigate them from happening. 🙂

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

All those things are a ‘risk’ of living with diabetes.

You can do everything you can, and have all the right numbers in the right boxes, and still get unlucky... so we should never apportion blame, or suggest someone should have ‘looked after themselves a bit better’ because there are no guarantees.

But having said that, it is completely true to say that diabetes nasties are NOT inevitable, and that you can massively reduce your risk by managing your diabetes as best you can.

It’s a balance of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors.

Put it this way... there’s a risk every time you cross the road. And the more times you cross with your eyes shut, the more at risk you put yourself. I think of a BG meter as keeping your eyes open when you cross. Not a guarantee... but a huge help.

 

[Lucylemonpip]

@everydayupsanddowns - Thank you Mike 🙂 Reassuring words from you and Jenny
( @trophywench ). It’s odd how a lot of HCP’s just don’t seem to ‘get’ the benefits of bg testing. I am really glad that I joined this website and have learned a lot.

Good luck with your upcoming blood test Mike, which I think is tomorrow? I hope they find a vein easier than they did mine this morning? Ouch! Lol.

 

[Browser]

I test quite frequently as it keeps me on my guard and gives me a good view of the bigger picture. A lot of my friends and family, out of ignorance and meaning well, often question the need to constantly test. They argue that, if I have previous data on the effect of certain foods, I am wasting time and money to keep retesting. But we all know that diabetes and it’s behaviour is not an exact science and, in my mind, full knowledge of what’s happening to my body on a daily basis is how I cope with and keep on top of my condition. My daughter, who is a GP and who toes the ‘party line’ in terms of testing etc., jokes about my ‘anorak’ approach. However, I know ( and she fully admits to me) that she is happy and relieved that I am as conscientious and proactive as I can be in my coping with diabetes.

 

[Sharron1]

All those things are a ‘risk’ of living with diabetes.

You can do everything you can, and have all the right numbers in the right boxes, and still get unlucky... so we should never apportion blame, or suggest someone should have ‘looked after themselves a bit better’ because there are no guarantees.

But having said that, it is completely true to say that diabetes nasties are NOT inevitable, and that you can massively reduce your risk by managing your diabetes as best you can.

It’s a balance of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors.

Put it this way... there’s a risk every time you cross the road. And the more times you cross with your eyes shut, the more at risk you put yourself. I think of a BG meter as keeping your eyes open when you cross. Not a guarantee... but a huge help.

I like to think the Diabetes clearly isn't responsible for every ache and pain. These arrive with the aging process and might well have occured with or without Diabetes

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Good luck with your upcoming blood test Mike, which I think is tomorrow?

Bloods and results are in Lucy. https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/guess-the-hba1c.85015/page-3#post-952327

My toe tickling and MOT is this afternoon. I am eagerly awaiting being told what a naughty boy I’ve been

 

[PurplePammie]

I’m reasonably new to researching and addressing issues around diabetes even though I’ve had type 2 for well over a decade. I was complacent and happy to follow Doctors and Diabetic Nurses advice. This is No longer my mind set. Sadly In my experience I was given bad advice and had medication increased and received little or no support.

 

[Lucylemonpip]

Bloods and results are in Lucy. https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/guess-the-hba1c.85015/page-3#post-952327

My toe tickling and MOT is this afternoon. I am eagerly awaiting being told what a naughty boy I’ve been

@everydayupsanddowns. Awww, thanks for the link Mike. That was a good number tho, when you think what it could be and I’m sure that the next 3 months will be better, although we do have Easter in the middle! Eek! I’ve not had a foot examination yet. Will have that in August apparently. I could actually take a feather in, as I have two Cockatiels and have loads of pretty feathers to choose from. Perhaps I should take one in, just as a joke? Lol. I’ll let you know what my HbA1c result is next week, when the DN rings me. Hope your toe tickling and MOT went okay?