Okay, i am completely confused about tests results for A1C. I had an A1C of 5.4 with ABS of 101 while my sister in another town had an A1C of 5 with ABS of 107. I thought the ABS multiplied by 18 gave you the A1C. If so, both of these numbers/A1C are incorrect. So how do I know if I am doing okay or need to do better? Also, for those type 2's who are on insulin, how long did it take you before the oral medications failed and you needed to begin insulin or byetta? Is this an individual thing like everything else in the diabetic world? Do lab standards for A1C vary so widely from place to place
The times 18 caculation is the conversion between the US standard and the International standard - That would be the International standard times 18 to get the US standard. The A1c number is a percent of red blood cells that have become glycosolated(spelling) averaged ove 90 days There is a scale between the two, but they mean something different altogether.
How long before a type 2 has to go on insulin - there really isn't an answer to that. It depends on so many things that there is no answer. It depends on each persons individual situation.
type 2 - dx 12/04
metformin 500mg 3x - avandia 2mg 2x
How long before a type 2 has to go on insulin - there really isn't an answer to that. It depends on so many things that there is no answer. It depends on each persons individual situation.
type 2 - dx 12/04
metformin 500mg 3x - avandia 2mg 2x
I knew I had to be missing something.....it was too confusing. Thanks for your reply.
Jeanne,
The time to go on insulin as determined by your doctor is when your oral medications, diet and exercise just aren't keeping your numbers in an acceptable range. All in all, no matter how you get there, you need to keep your numbers in line. It may be from lots of exercise, strict diet and meds or if you are like me, (I have fibromyalgia and exercise is very painful.)careful diet and meds along with Lantus, a long acting insulin.
I was terrified to start insulin, and thought it was the begining of the 'slide into the grave'! Dumb me! I can now eat correctly and healthfully, have great numbers, my eyes have quit changing, and it's easier than putting on mascara! My Lantus dosage is at 15 units each night and I take my other meds during the day. My sugars have never been better and I'm feeling better, too. I am especially happy that I'm not drinking gallons of water all the time anymore. Since my sugars got in line I drink water like a normal person.
~ Jeannie
"People are like stained glass windows: They sparkle and shine when the sun's out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is light within."
- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
The time to go on insulin as determined by your doctor is when your oral medications, diet and exercise just aren't keeping your numbers in an acceptable range. All in all, no matter how you get there, you need to keep your numbers in line. It may be from lots of exercise, strict diet and meds or if you are like me, (I have fibromyalgia and exercise is very painful.)careful diet and meds along with Lantus, a long acting insulin.
I was terrified to start insulin, and thought it was the begining of the 'slide into the grave'! Dumb me! I can now eat correctly and healthfully, have great numbers, my eyes have quit changing, and it's easier than putting on mascara! My Lantus dosage is at 15 units each night and I take my other meds during the day. My sugars have never been better and I'm feeling better, too. I am especially happy that I'm not drinking gallons of water all the time anymore. Since my sugars got in line I drink water like a normal person.
~ Jeannie
"People are like stained glass windows: They sparkle and shine when the sun's out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is light within."
- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
Jeannie, so you take only one shot of insulin a day - a measured dose? For how long a time has it held your sugars in check? Since being diagnosed 6 months ago I am still doing fine with two fortamet 500mg, 45 minutes of exercise daily, and eating correctly. I guess I am just beginning to worry about a time when the regular routine won't hold it any longer. Are there people who stay on the same routine for years and years, or is there a natural progression to a need for insulin? Or does it depend on the individual?
Is my A1C of 5.4 and my average blood sugar of 101 good or does it need continued improvement? What goal am I trying to achieve? With your insulin and medications, what A1C and average blood sugar are you able to achieve?
I am so thankful for this forum where I can be paranoid and voice my fears. Thank you all.
Is my A1C of 5.4 and my average blood sugar of 101 good or does it need continued improvement? What goal am I trying to achieve? With your insulin and medications, what A1C and average blood sugar are you able to achieve?
I am so thankful for this forum where I can be paranoid and voice my fears. Thank you all.
Hi JGriffin,
It really depends on the individual. Look at Dr Bernstein (not that Im recommending his regimen to anyone, its really pretty severe). He held his diabetes in check for years and years through diet and exercise. Genetics can also play an important role. I certainly didn't fit the stereotype of a type 2 when I was diagnosed, but Im convinced my genetics failed me and I needed chemical help to get my blood sugar under control. 500mg of fortamet twice a day is minimal in terms of diabetic meds and if you watch what you eat and exercise and do all the good things that you should AND are blessed with good genes, well, you may just stay where you are forever.
Oral meds do have a history of failing over time, so the typical type II person would eventually progress to stronger meds. The key is to do everything to protect your beta cell function NOW and you may never get to that point. If you do, however, its still not a big deal as you can increase your meds or even go onto insulin like jeannie and live a long very healthy life!
Warren- It's not that some people have willpower and some don't. It's that some people are ready to change and others are not. - James Gordon, M.D.
I can only please one person per day, today is not your day...tomorrow doesn't look good either.
Thanks Warren. I focus on the "what could happen" sometimes and get a little scared. But today after researching on the web a lot, I feel like I am doing everything I can do anything about. I guess that's what it is about anyway I look at it. Because the genetics are not fixable...at least not yet.
My genetics are very much against me and I was very scared about the insulin. Now that I see how the Lantus works and how my sugars are holding just fine I'm a happy camper. I hope to drop my insulin or my meds a bit when I can get back to swimming again at the Y. We had some financial reversals awhile back and I had to give up my membership. Hopefully there is going to be some improvement on my horizon. If not... I'm ok with what I've been dealt.
~ Jeannie
"People are like stained glass windows: They sparkle and shine when the sun's out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is light within."
- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
~ Jeannie
"People are like stained glass windows: They sparkle and shine when the sun's out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is light within."
- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross