Diabetes

[daugen]

Don, thanks, so far have had zero side effects
and all my labs are in range.
for me excess weight is my biggest risk factor other than recurring cancer.
can't do much about the latter other than eat healthier and take a lot of vitamins,
but I can try something new with my weight.
nothing else was working
I started out at lowest dose and it has quit working for me. Time to go higher, as per normal protocol.
seeing primary doc on Friday, will ask him what his experience has been in the practice.
5400 steps, busy day for me

 

[ArlyA]

Don, thanks, so far have had zero side effects
and all my labs are in range.
for me excess weight is my biggest risk factor other than recurring cancer.
can't do much about the latter other than eat healthier and take a lot of vitamins,
but I can try something new with my weight.
nothing else was working
I started out at lowest dose and it has quit working for me. Time to go higher, as per normal protocol.
seeing primary doc on Friday, will ask him what his experience has been in the practice.
5400 steps, busy day for me

Can you bump those step numbers higher?

 

[daugen]

Can you bump those step numbers higher?

no, limited by lower back pain aggravated by walking

 

[ArlyA]

On Monday I had one cataract eye lens replaced. Now I'm taking steroid eye drops to keep the inflammation down and I noted that my BG was running higher than normal. My eye doc said my eyes could be draining excess drops into my gut. I bumped up my units by 3.

 

[daugen]

picked up my Wegovy prescription today, double dosage from last time, effects had worn off.
last labs showed glucose drop from 105 to 87 taking semiglutide.
would have liked to see AIC results but that's next trip.
I'm down 13 pounds, another 13 to go
if I keep taking weight off I will continue, if not, I'll stop.

 

[newbury]

What do you people use for step counters? I tried a fit-bit years ago, it worked SOMETIMES, then just recently my son loaned me a fit-bit and it hardly counted my steps at all. Come to find out that one depended on arm-swings and most of the time that day I was carrying stuff back and forth, so my arm wasn't swinging.
/edit - because it was loaned I didn't have any instructions to read before I tried it.

 

[daugen]

I use my Iphone which I always, always carry with me
(I live alone, use it like a medic alert)
am headed out to suck up last of leaves before rain tonight and I'll be jiggling
along on the mower. Does that count as steps?
how smart is the Iphone?
does it know what is a step and what is just movement per se?

In your case Drew lose some weight
still good advice Buppies

I average about 2500 steps a day, pretty sedentary compared to many of you. Often do 5000 or 6000 if working outside,
but I always really hurt later. Don't want to take painkillers so guess I self limit. But my lower back is getting worse, I'm about four years overdue
for major surgery. I can't walk 1000 feet and up one flight of stairs without pain in back starting to move lower.
I've been off hydrocortisone for two weeks as a test and about to go back on. Too much hurts.
I know I need to do at least 5000 a day. Maybe I'll get a treadmill. Walk til it hurts too much.
But push it a little, try to build up stamina. More likely aggravate and worsen but willing to try.
everything I've read includes increased activity for good health. There is sure no magic pill for this
but at least for sugar, clocking an 87 when I used to be 105 certainly means this stuff works to some degree.

I started this thread because I knew friends here on TBN with real diabetes issues. One good friend died.
since my last labs show everything in range, I'm more relaxed about this.
But also realistic if I get off this wegovy, my numbers will go back up. One can only hope not so high.

am envious of the data/info those of you with glucose monitors have. I think that would be good for all of us to have if
only to know how foods affect our body.
always thought we should be born with a port, likely a few zerks and a full set of gauges.

 

[ArlyA]

I may have misstated my last a1c as lower that it was, my last was 6. Need to have it done again soon.

 

[daugen]

I already got the scrip to get AIC next time, on fridge with magnet so I don't lose it.
I asked doc about it and he said there was a limit of either three or four a year.
I get labs every six months and want to get it taken each time.
when I see my 6.1 go down, I will feel better.

 

[NorTracNY]

I already got the scrip to get AIC next time, on fridge with magnet so I don't lose it.
I asked doc about it and he said there was a limit of either three or four a year.
I get labs every six months and want to get it taken each time.
when I see my 6.1 go down, I will feel better.

Please be aware that the accuracy of the A1c test is several tenths.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Please be aware that the accuracy of the A1c test is several tenths.

So once I got to 7 the doc prescribed Metformin. The three A1C's that I've had since have been 6.4. I made no changes to my normal diet. I've always held back on sugar as I don't like it in excess. A little bit is ok but too much makes me feel irritable. My doc is not concerned about my numbers at all. He says it looks great. Maybe Canada's A1C scale is different from the US one.

 

[ArlyA]

So once I got to 7 the doc prescribed Metformin. The three A1C's that I've had since have been 6.4. I made no changes to my normal diet. I've always held back on sugar as I don't like it in excess. A little bit is ok but too much makes me feel irritable. My doc is not concerned about my numbers at all. He says it looks great. Maybe Canada's A1C scale is different from the US one.

I'm pretty sure they are the same.

 

[NorTracNY]

So once I got to 7 the doc prescribed Metformin. The three A1C's that I've had since have been 6.4. I made no changes to my normal diet. I've always held back on sugar as I don't like it in excess. A little bit is ok but too much makes me feel irritable. My doc is not concerned about my numbers at all. He says it looks great. Maybe Canada's A1C scale is different from the US one.

The scales are the same. The number is a percentage. I just looked it up and the test accuracy is about +/-0.5. So if you went from 7 to 6.4, it's likely just a small improvement and don't freak out if the next is 6.8. If you really want to understand if you're diabetic, a glucose challenge is a good test. I get the impression that many doctors don't know how to interpret it and it requires you to hang out around a lab so they can test multiple times over ~2hours. If you're A1c is mid 6s to 7, you're certainly not as healthy as you should be. You may want to find a nutritionist that has a success record of reversing T2D.

 

[pmsmechanic]

The scales are the same. The number is a percentage. I just looked it up and the test accuracy is about +/-0.5. So if you went from 7 to 6.4, it's likely just a small improvement and don't freak out if the next is 6.8. If you really want to understand if you're diabetic, a glucose challenge is a good test. I get the impression that many doctors don't know how to interpret it and it requires you to hang out around a lab so they can test multiple times over ~2hours. If you're A1c is mid 6s to 7, you're certainly not as healthy as you should be. You may want to find a nutritionist that has a success record of reversing T2D

My last three A1C's have all been 6.4. If the test accuracy is +/-.5 that means the actual could any where from 5.9 - 6.9. I'm ok with saying it's 6.4 for now.

I definitely need to lose some weight.... I've lost about 15lbs through the years and that's what I'm going to keep working on for now.

 

[ArlyA]

My last a1c was 6. I do need to have that checked again.

 

[daugen]

some interesting info on cgm monitoring
I found Gupta's results interesting, he had no sugar spike when eating blueberries, but his wife did.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/29/health/continuous-glucose-monitor-tirrell-wellness/index.html

 

[LHF2019]

some interesting info on cgm monitoring
I found Gupta's results interesting, he had no sugar spike when eating blueberries, but his wife did.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/29/health/continuous-glucose-monitor-tirrell-wellness/index.html

Because everything affects everybody differently. Eggs are a free food for type 1. My aunt however takes 1 unit per egg. Otherwise she spikes.

It would be interesting for me if I were to wear one. During the spring when making maple syrup. That’s all I drink during the day while boiling. Syrup and sap. Growing up would be nothing to drink it for hours on end just to repeat day after day.

 

[ArlyA]

my last a1c was 6.1

 

[Rmart30]

You guys with CGM. Can you post up a pic of your daily average/time in ranges like this of mine? Im curious to see how mine is compared to others.

 

[daugen]

before I chucked out the big Medicare booklet they send you I saw this under Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program
found it online:
sorry for poor cut and paste but just know this exists
group sessions sounds like Weight Watchers
devil in the details, what blood test ranges are they talking about?

The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) is a free program that helps people with prediabetes prevent or delay type 2 diabetes:

• What it includes
  The program consists of:
  

16–22 group sessions over 6 months with a trained coach


Practical training on healthy eating, physical activity, and weight control


Support from people with similar goals

Monthly follow-up sessions to help maintain healthy habits

• Who's eligible
  To qualify, you must:
  
  
  • • Have Medicare Part B
      
  • Have a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or more, or 23 or more if you're Asian
    
    
  • Have blood tests within certain ranges
    
    
  • Never have been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, or End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
    
    
  • Never have participated in the MDPP
    

• Benefits
  Lifestyle changes made through the program can:
  
  
  • Cut your risk of type 2 diabetes by more than 70%
    

• Help you manage other conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol
  

• Avoid other serious health problems like heart disease and kidney failure
  

The MDPP is part of the CDC's National Diabetes Prevention Program.