Diabetes

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I meant 50 UNITS not cc.
Her A1C I just asked is in the 6's.

 

[ArlyA]

I meant 50 UNITS not cc.
Her A1C I just asked is in the 6's.

Ya, kinda figured that. Her a1c is kinda high. Has anyone spoke with her about getting a pump? She is seeing awful high glycogen swings.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

She's had an Endocrinologist & family Dr.
The point I was trying to make was her blood sugar levels were ok with 50 in am, 50 in pm. Then Glycoshield she uses less insulin. Yesterday zero insulin just Glycoshield. Hopefully with that no more insulin. The CGM charts blood sugar throughout the day and alarm does off too high or too low.

 

[newbury]

I meant 50 UNITS not cc.
Her A1C I just asked is in the 6's.

Size matters!
Reminds me of the old joke:
Farmer call his vet,
"Doc, my cat needs a laxative, he's all bound up"
vet "give him a half pint of castor oil"
a few hours later vet calls farmer "how is your calf doing?"
Farmer "I said CAT, and right now he's out back with 3 friends. One digging, one covering up, and one scouting for new territory"

 

[Larry Caldwell]

A big risk factor for type 2 diabetes is obesity. I have no idea why. Losing 90 lbs. made a big difference.

 

[ArlyA]

A big risk factor for type 2 diabetes is obesity. I have no idea why. Losing 90 lbs. made a big difference.

Carrying that extra weight requires more insulin to keep ones BG down and the more you need to take, the less sensitive you become to insulin and other negative factors.

 

[daugen]

thought I'd ask the AI gods how much worse a 6 AIC was versus a 5
very interesting response

Specific risks of moving from 5% to 6%
An A1C of 6% is not just a slightly higher number—it represents a distinct shift in your health status.

• Increased disease risk: Entering the prediabetes range (5.7% to 6.4%) significantly increases your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke.
• Cardiovascular damage: Studies have shown that even in individuals without diabetes, A1C levels of 6.0% or higher are associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Elevated blood sugar can damage blood vessels over time, which begins during the prediabetes phase.
• Kidney and nerve damage: High blood sugar, even in the prediabetes range, can begin to affect small blood vessels. This can lead to the early stages of kidney and nerve damage, though these complications are much worse in full-blown diabetes.
• Lifestyle changes are necessary: An A1C of 6% indicates that your body is having trouble processing sugar. While a level of 5% suggests a healthy status, reaching 6% is a signal that lifestyle changes—such as diet improvements, increased exercise, and weight management—are needed to prevent the condition from progressing to diabetes.

In summary, the difference between an A1C of 5% and 6% is the difference between being healthy and having a high-risk medical condition (prediabetes). While prediabetes can often be reversed with lifestyle changes, ignoring it can lead to a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes and severe, long-term health complications.

 

[NorTracNY]

That AI response agrees with everything I have learned. Pre-diabetes is NOT healthy. You should not be happy with fasting BG levels above 100. I have heard from many doctors that really don't like the way diabetes is being handled, even type 1. Just the other day, a doctor with type 1 was talking about if he's going to make a mistake, he wants it to be small. If you reduce your carbs, you'll reduce the variation of you BG. With smaller swings in BG, he's using smaller amounts of insulin. When I hear that people are comfortable with FBG numbers even above 120, I shake my head. I noticed that the standard range considered safe on CGMs is set so people don't panic after they eat some foods, but that doesn't mean it's health to stay in the upper range!

 

[ArlyA]

Here's a photo of our "take less humulin, eat more" program.

 

[ArlyA]

For the last 4 or so, all my dexcom 7 sensors have failed a few days early, so I'd guess they switched the formula or manufacture. Anyone else seeing that?

 

[ponytug]

For the last 4 or so, all my dexcom 7 sensors have failed a few days early, so I'd guess they switched the formula or manufacture. Anyone else seeing that?

Did you reach out to DexCom to let him know and get their response? At the very least, they should have an explanation, otherwise, that's a reportable item.

All the best, Peter

 

[ArlyA]

Did you reach out to DexCom to let him know and get their response? At the very least, they should have an explanation, otherwise, that's a reportable item.

All the best, Peter

Yes, we always do, Are you a dexcom user as well?

 

[ponytug]

Yes, we always do, Are you a dexcom user as well?

No, but I have known the company since they were founded.

All the best, Peter

 

[ArlyA]

If anyone here uses Dexocm 7's, do tell us how they are doing. All mine have flailed prematurely and before 10 days time, in the past three months.

 

[daugen]

worrisome to get repeated failures
hard to believe stringent QC on medical devices failed and they let a bunch of bad units out
what is failing; do they know? Is it the patch or the receiver? sounds like short battery life

 

[ArlyA]

Its the senor's that fail before there stated 10 day length. Seems they should be called 9 day sensor or maybe a 8. Dexom changed the formula for the string or its manufacturer did. Historically life expectancy seems good for a year or two, then something gets changed and they start to fail prematurely. My last 4 or 5 have done that. On didn't work at all after installation.

 

[daugen]

Arly, clearly you are just too sweet for these units...
may I assume there is a tiny lithium battery in there powering the transmitter?
too bad they don't make rechargeable ones, or do they?

 

[ArlyA]

Arly, clearly you are just too sweet for these units...
may I assume there is a tiny lithium battery in there powering the transmitter?
too bad they don't make rechargeable ones, or do they?

Dexom changed the formula for the sensing string or its manufacturer did. That's the part that does the actual BG sensing.

 

[daugen]

I was disappointed there was not more helpful info, just anecdotal stuff about gaming the system to
lower sugar reading.But clearly there is a growing awareness that sugar control is important.
I admit I'm curious and these things aren't expensive.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/02/health/video/glucose-monitor-tirrell-cnc-contd-digvid

 

[ArlyA]

I had my last one make it to the end of its cycle, which is first to do that in months. I didn't keep track if it was one from the drug store, or a replacement model.