I have had type II diabetes since at least 1993. In the past 6 months my PharmD. consultant has seen a remarkable improvement. My glipzide, and R insulin (metformin reduced from 1000mg twice a day to 500 mg twice a day). My Lantus insuline is reduced from 50 units to 25 units per day. My A1C has dropped to 6.1 Thus the reduction in my meds. What do you think is going on? I am 78 years old.
I have had type II diabetes since at least 1993. In the past 6 months my PharmD. consultant has seen a remarkable improvement. My glipzide, and R insulin (metformin reduced from 1000mg twice a day to 500 mg twice a day). My Lantus insuline is reduced from 50 units to 25 units per day. My A1C has dropped to 6.1 Thus the reduction in my meds. What do you think is going on? I am 78 years old.
Hi @lewismustard, congrats on the improvement and reduction of medication. As you will see I added your discussion to an ongoing conversation about diabetes. This is so you can connect with other people with diabetes. Have you done anything different as far as your diet is concerned?
@trellg132, I'm glad to hear that you want to get control of your condition. @dorisena and @howardm have been giving very wise and experienced advice and support. It must be hard to wait for further guidance and for the appointment with the endocrinologist. @howardm is right. There's plenty that you can do now to educate yourself and help you prepare for your consult with endocrinologist.
dorisena, I do not eat many carbs and hardly any sweets. I have been battling hypoglycemia episodes and therefore the reduction in metformin and insulin by half. So my A1C of 6.1 is not good. The hypo attacks cause more harm than a higher A1C of the 7's. My PharmD is cutting back my insulin to lessen the low sugar attacks. We'll see where this goes.
Yes, I understand the hypo attacks but I don't understand why an A1C of 6.1 is bad for that. I do know what it feels like when my blood sugar drops dangerously low and i can't function, and am in danger of passing out. My doctor was no help and a paramedic friend cautioned me to eat often. I followed the advice in a paper back book I found in a book store, and ate six times a day, skipping bread, pasta, and eating more fat. I ate loads of veggies from the garden and was very active and soon the problem was gone and forgotten. So I blamed it on marital stress which improved a little after I made demands for my fairness.
I haven't had low sugar attacks in years despite lowering my sugar and carb intake drastically, And I buried my stress source 14 years ago. Now I am thinking that my low blood sugar episodes were the beginning of a declining functioning of my pancreas and the beginning of the diabetes problem in my 1970's rather than being diagnosed officially in 2007. it was two sides of the same coin, and i baked too much to please my family, and ate too much myself.
Fortunately, my heart seems to be ticking better these days and my breathing is a little better than in the past. I believe more exercise would improve my condition, however my back surgery limits me considerably. Now if my blood sugar gets below 95 I get the shakes and need to eat. I am thinking of doing some physical therapy training and paying for it myself to try to improve my situation a little and to prevent more physical decline for a while. I can't travel safely during this pandemic. I want to die at home but that takes a lot of work and planning to be able to care for myself independently. I know my family isn't going to take me in as my daughter reminds me she didn't go to nurses \training. .Dorisena
Yes, I understand the hypo attacks but I don't understand why an A1C of 6.1 is bad for that. I do know what it feels like when my blood sugar drops dangerously low and i can't function, and am in danger of passing out. My doctor was no help and a paramedic friend cautioned me to eat often. I followed the advice in a paper back book I found in a book store, and ate six times a day, skipping bread, pasta, and eating more fat. I ate loads of veggies from the garden and was very active and soon the problem was gone and forgotten. So I blamed it on marital stress which improved a little after I made demands for my fairness.
I haven't had low sugar attacks in years despite lowering my sugar and carb intake drastically, And I buried my stress source 14 years ago. Now I am thinking that my low blood sugar episodes were the beginning of a declining functioning of my pancreas and the beginning of the diabetes problem in my 1970's rather than being diagnosed officially in 2007. it was two sides of the same coin, and i baked too much to please my family, and ate too much myself.
Fortunately, my heart seems to be ticking better these days and my breathing is a little better than in the past. I believe more exercise would improve my condition, however my back surgery limits me considerably. Now if my blood sugar gets below 95 I get the shakes and need to eat. I am thinking of doing some physical therapy training and paying for it myself to try to improve my situation a little and to prevent more physical decline for a while. I can't travel safely during this pandemic. I want to die at home but that takes a lot of work and planning to be able to care for myself independently. I know my family isn't going to take me in as my daughter reminds me she didn't go to nurses \training. .Dorisena
@dorisena That's interesting that you get the shakes when your blood sugar gets below 95, I always felt it had to be below 80 for that so I have tested myself some mornings when I feel that way and it has only been below 80 one time. Now I know it's legitimate for that to happen when it's higher than 80 too.
JK
@dorisena That's interesting that you get the shakes when your blood sugar gets below 95, I always felt it had to be below 80 for that so I have tested myself some mornings when I feel that way and it has only been below 80 one time. Now I know it's legitimate for that to happen when it's higher than 80 too.
JK
@dorisena That's interesting that you get the shakes when your blood sugar gets below 95, I always felt it had to be below 80 for that so I have tested myself some mornings when I feel that way and it has only been below 80 one time. Now I know it's legitimate for that to happen when it's higher than 80 too.
JK
@dorisena That's interesting that you get the shakes when your blood sugar gets below 95, I always felt it had to be below 80 for that so I have tested myself some mornings when I feel that way and it has only been below 80 one time. Now I know it's legitimate for that to happen when it's higher than 80 too.
JK
I have read that 80 is a nice normal number for fasting blood sugar but my body doesn't like it at my old age. Obviously things work less efficiently in late age and I am not in prime condition anymore, if I ever was at any time. I was no athlete and thought breaking into a sweat on a Rachmanovich piano piece was great exercise for my body, at least for my fingers and forearms. And I would skip meals to stay at the sewing machine which I had to share with my mother and sister. So we can't compare with today's physical standards.
Those shakes make me think of Parkinson's which is common at our age. I keep studying. Dorisena
I have read that 80 is a nice normal number for fasting blood sugar but my body doesn't like it at my old age. Obviously things work less efficiently in late age and I am not in prime condition anymore, if I ever was at any time. I was no athlete and thought breaking into a sweat on a Rachmanovich piano piece was great exercise for my body, at least for my fingers and forearms. And I would skip meals to stay at the sewing machine which I had to share with my mother and sister. So we can't compare with today's physical standards.
Those shakes make me think of Parkinson's which is common at our age. I keep studying. Dorisena
@dorisena I have no idea how old you are, but I'm 73, so no youngster either. I have found for a long time that some mornings I feel shaky but then when I test my blood sugar it's not that low. There have been mornings when I was actually afraid to take a shower before having breakfast because I felt so light-headed.
JK
@dorisena I have no idea how old you are, but I'm 73, so no youngster either. I have found for a long time that some mornings I feel shaky but then when I test my blood sugar it's not that low. There have been mornings when I was actually afraid to take a shower before having breakfast because I felt so light-headed.
JK
I have had the same occurrence on occasion when my blood sugar is only in the low 90’s. Part of it might be simply not having any fuel in your body. You might just try eating a cheese stick, as that helps me but does not raise the blood sugar level.
If it is due to low blood sugar, I sometimes have one small hard candy like werthers (hard, not filled) or lifesavers. They are low in carbs (about 4 to 5 grams) but will raise your blood sugar enough to make a difference. (Full disclosure, I’m 65.)
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I have had type II diabetes since at least 1993. In the past 6 months my PharmD. consultant has seen a remarkable improvement. My glipzide, and R insulin (metformin reduced from 1000mg twice a day to 500 mg twice a day). My Lantus insuline is reduced from 50 units to 25 units per day. My A1C has dropped to 6.1 Thus the reduction in my meds. What do you think is going on? I am 78 years old.
Hi @lewismustard, congrats on the improvement and reduction of medication. As you will see I added your discussion to an ongoing conversation about diabetes. This is so you can connect with other people with diabetes. Have you done anything different as far as your diet is concerned?
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1 Reactiondorisena, I do not eat many carbs and hardly any sweets. I have been battling hypoglycemia episodes and therefore the reduction in metformin and insulin by half. So my A1C of 6.1 is not good. The hypo attacks cause more harm than a higher A1C of the 7's. My PharmD is cutting back my insulin to lessen the low sugar attacks. We'll see where this goes.
Yes, I understand the hypo attacks but I don't understand why an A1C of 6.1 is bad for that. I do know what it feels like when my blood sugar drops dangerously low and i can't function, and am in danger of passing out. My doctor was no help and a paramedic friend cautioned me to eat often. I followed the advice in a paper back book I found in a book store, and ate six times a day, skipping bread, pasta, and eating more fat. I ate loads of veggies from the garden and was very active and soon the problem was gone and forgotten. So I blamed it on marital stress which improved a little after I made demands for my fairness.
I haven't had low sugar attacks in years despite lowering my sugar and carb intake drastically, And I buried my stress source 14 years ago. Now I am thinking that my low blood sugar episodes were the beginning of a declining functioning of my pancreas and the beginning of the diabetes problem in my 1970's rather than being diagnosed officially in 2007. it was two sides of the same coin, and i baked too much to please my family, and ate too much myself.
Fortunately, my heart seems to be ticking better these days and my breathing is a little better than in the past. I believe more exercise would improve my condition, however my back surgery limits me considerably. Now if my blood sugar gets below 95 I get the shakes and need to eat. I am thinking of doing some physical therapy training and paying for it myself to try to improve my situation a little and to prevent more physical decline for a while. I can't travel safely during this pandemic. I want to die at home but that takes a lot of work and planning to be able to care for myself independently. I know my family isn't going to take me in as my daughter reminds me she didn't go to nurses \training. .Dorisena
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2 Reactions@dorisena That's interesting that you get the shakes when your blood sugar gets below 95, I always felt it had to be below 80 for that so I have tested myself some mornings when I feel that way and it has only been below 80 one time. Now I know it's legitimate for that to happen when it's higher than 80 too.
JK
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1 ReactionI also feel that way when mines get below 90s I am going to ask the doctor about that thursday when I go back for my first month check up
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1 ReactionEveryone reacts differently. I start to feel tired and sluggish below 70, but I don't get the shakes until I am below 60.
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2 ReactionsI have read that 80 is a nice normal number for fasting blood sugar but my body doesn't like it at my old age. Obviously things work less efficiently in late age and I am not in prime condition anymore, if I ever was at any time. I was no athlete and thought breaking into a sweat on a Rachmanovich piano piece was great exercise for my body, at least for my fingers and forearms. And I would skip meals to stay at the sewing machine which I had to share with my mother and sister. So we can't compare with today's physical standards.
Those shakes make me think of Parkinson's which is common at our age. I keep studying. Dorisena
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Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@dorisena I have no idea how old you are, but I'm 73, so no youngster either. I have found for a long time that some mornings I feel shaky but then when I test my blood sugar it's not that low. There have been mornings when I was actually afraid to take a shower before having breakfast because I felt so light-headed.
JK
I have had the same occurrence on occasion when my blood sugar is only in the low 90’s. Part of it might be simply not having any fuel in your body. You might just try eating a cheese stick, as that helps me but does not raise the blood sugar level.
If it is due to low blood sugar, I sometimes have one small hard candy like werthers (hard, not filled) or lifesavers. They are low in carbs (about 4 to 5 grams) but will raise your blood sugar enough to make a difference. (Full disclosure, I’m 65.)