How Much Blood Glucose Control Is ENOUGH For You? | DiabetesTeam

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How Much Blood Glucose Control Is ENOUGH For You?
A DiabetesTeam Member asked a question 💭

Controlling our blood sugar is how we work to try and prevent or minimize Diabetic Complications.

Sheryl made a good comment in response to my post from the other day. She said "Not many of us can be as controlled and disciplined as you are good for you"

I thought about that for a bit and she is correct.

Not everyone is willing/comfortable or even capable to manage themselves down to normal blood sugar levels and that is "ok" - you don't want to become obsessed or so stressed and upset that… read more

posted February 24, 2022
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A DiabetesTeam Member

I appreciate all the responses to Graham’s excellent article. I, too, try to be my own best coach. I am 73 years old and certainly would like to live into my 80’s without complications. I keep my FBS between 5.5 and 5.9, and many days it is lower. I exercise daily and take my medications religiously. I live an active life with tennis, golf, weightlifting, biking, walking, reading, hiking, and belonging to two non profit groups. I hope each day that I am doing enough for my health and well being. My diet consist of a modified Mediterranean diet as reported before. I miss eating some of the bad food items, but the longer I am away from those foods the less I want them.
Thank you all for all you do to individually inspire all of us.

posted February 25, 2022
A DiabetesTeam Member

Hi all you diabetes warriors,

I try to keep my fasting blood glucose numbers 105-115 (5.8-6.4), because that is the lowest I can control to.

My 2 hour numbers, if I limit my carbs to less than 5 per meal are about 135-140 (7.5-7.8) at this time. But that will be about 10 (8.1-8.4)points higher, even with limiting carbs to 2-3 per meal, after I receive my second shingles shot next week and will be elevated at least a month.

But I will do what's necessary, and adjust.

My parents' bad example will not be me. I will not make my family grieve for me, for something preventable. I will control my diabetes journey. I won't let diabetes control me. Baby steps. I can do baby steps.

I will enjoy my life on my terms. I will have more good days than bad and have many exceptional days too.

I will never give up, never surrender, never ever.
You got this.
Have a blessed day.

posted February 24, 2022
A DiabetesTeam Member

@A DiabetesTeam Member sounds like you have that part figured out - we simply need to make a plan - think of it as "life goals".

To do your heart in with "uncontrolled sugars" takes about 20 years. So I do the math - I need control until at least age 62 to keep my heart working until Life Expectancy.

Can toast your kidneys in 15 years (but it takes "worse control" to hurt them) BUT I already have reduced kidney function so I need to keep my highest sugars below 8.7 (the line that crossing it starts to mess with kidneys, eyes and brain) closer to age 70 - that does not bode well for a "pizza party" on my 65th birthday 😂

And you just go about it like that if you want to lay out a "game plan" because regardless of what anyone believes, if you are willing to pop or shoot enough meds, you can maintain control to the level you need to meet your targets.

It is practically unlimited in how much insulin you can shoot especially if you opt for the "human insulins" when the time comes that you need them. The only danger is the risk of overdose which can not be minimized.

But with the treatments available today there is NO Reason that everyone can't gain "good enough control" to live to their target year, at least from a Diabetic perspective.

posted February 24, 2022
A DiabetesTeam Member

That is a well thought out idea, and I think that people need to become self informed about what's going on in their lives with this disease. Doctors can lay the smackdown to a patient all they want, but if someone is in denial or just doesn't want to hear it, the information will fall on deaf ears. Unfortunately, some people would prefer to keep their heads in the sand. We all must travel the road on our own. Always helps to have other people that are going on the same journey as you are, though.

posted February 24, 2022
A DiabetesTeam Member

Extremely insightful, gracious and wisely measured as usual @A DiabetesTeam Member. Your posts always make me think.

Another factor, is that life isn't all about “just you.” As we've learned from two years of Covid, we are interwoven as a society. The decisions you make for you affect others and even our entire system. People have the freedom to make all kinds of personal choices, but those choices affect not only you but others. For example, I have a stubborn relative who refuses to take care of his health such as seeing proper doctors, taking the right meds, eating right, exercising...literally the basics. To top it off, he won't stop driving and has caused previous accidents. He literally can get himself and passengers and bystanders killed by his negligence (he has sleep apnea and can fall asleep while driving, we have reported him to the DMV). He doesn't believe any of his actions will affect others such as his family, friends, bystanders, the ER, doctors, hospitals, caregivers, etc. who have to take care of him let alone the financial repercussions. In considering the potential consequences of a course of action, consider others. I'm talking to myself here. I'm in the same boat as I come to grips with how my diabetes is affecting/going to affect my immediate family so I have to make decisions for me and for them too.

posted February 24, 2022

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