They now have a self check at home thing from Bayer.

They give you two tests. Of course I screwed up the first one by not pressing down on the thing the right way and I got no reading.

Waiting one hour till the monitor cleared.

Did the second test.

7.8

Hadn't had an a1c in a long time.

Last one was 6.6 but of course I was on Lantus at the time.

So tonight, (because I'm not stupid and I did try), I'm going back on the Lantus (but taking it at night).

So at least I fought the good fight.

Did everything I could do (by diet alone).

I gather, at my age, this is not gonna happen.

But hey, I gave it my best shot.

Not tonight, I give it another shot!!!

lol

I'm glad I can laugh.

Tomorrow is my birthday. I wanted to have a birthday present of a 6.

I'll do another test in 3 months.

I wonder, if losing the weight that I have lost since September 21, will have an impact? I don't think so.

I think my pancreas just had it too long.

So if any of you are a lot younger than I am, and you have been thinking of doing what I did (with doctor approval of course), don't wait until you are in your 60's like I did.

Melody

P.S. I read the back of the a1c box that this test came in. They have various degrees of how you should interpret the reading.

So when I looked at the back of the box it says 'WHAT DOES YOUR A1C NUMBER MEAN, I just read that I have to MONITOR CLOSELY.

Between a reading of 7 - 8 (mine was 7.8), it indicates MONITOR CLOSELY and it indicates the numbers as being 154 to 183. So on average (they say this is a 2 to 3 month indicator), before September 21, when I was down to 8 units (and then one day on 5 of the Lantus), my morning reading was 118 to 124 and my post prandial was 127. That's why I said "I can go off the Lantus and do it by diet alone.


A reading of over 8, it indicates "elevated levels" So I'm not there yet.

So I have a decision to make. The doctors at Cornell, when I asked them if I should take a pill or go back on Lantus, they said "oh, go back on Lantus and take it at bedtime". So of course, this is an option. And I have fresh bottles in my home so no problem there.

Now about going on orals. I have a multitude of them to choose from .

The only ones I would even consider is the one that won't make me gain weight. But they work differently on every one.

YEARS ago, I took metformin. The only think it did for me was affect my stomach.

The Lantus was the real deal.

But it's expensive.

I have a friend who is on a multitude of pills and also on Lantus.

She had extra pills and she just gave me 30 of the 4mg Glimepiride (Amaryl).

I have never taken this before. My primary care doctor had told me 'Any time you want to switch from Lantus to a pill, just tell me". Also Cornell had told me this a long time ago.

But I did well on the Lantus and ultimately tried to do it by diet alone.

But now that I have to do SOMETHING (I do have to do SOMETHING, right?, or can I wait a bit until I lose the last 10 or so pounds), I mean, I'm not going to go into a diabetic coma or anything right?

The other day I was down to 147 in the afternoon (after lunch), so my body DOES WORK a bit.

So I just googled Glimeperide and I read all the reviews that patients gave it.

Oh my goodness. 90% of the said "Severe weight gain", but it controls the sugar. Who the heck wants weight gain after all the hard work I have done?

And one person well, after she took this pill, the next morning her sugar was 29, she landed in the hospital. But she is on other meds also.

So I'm not going to be taking this pill, that's for sure.

I honestly don't know what I should do? I just don't want to screw up m health if I wait but I want to lose the last 10 or so pounds and get to a somewhat normal weight.

Do I have a shot. I have no diabetes in my eyes so that's good.

I feel fine, so that's good.

I just want to weigh what I'm supposed to weigh.

so any advice (Mrs. D??) would be welcome.

I have a big decision to make here.

Thanks much

it would seem that to have the "low" that is causing the dumping of glucose from the liver....you would have had to have a "high" that caused more insulin to be released which over shot the desired levels....this would explain why the Lantus works, ie preventing that high from occurring. Now, how do you propose to prevent that high from occurring? you mentioned crackers, I think, as part of your evening snack? perhaps you dont need those carbs at that hour? I remember reading, years ago, that a brittle diabetic is likely to have food allergies interferring with control.....perhaps an elimination diet would help? Perhaps a rigorous low refined carbs and low carbs in general?
good luck.....by the way, Ha1c has just been dropped to <5.7 being normal.

Hi, trust me, I have eliminated everything from my diet that needs to be eliminated. Took me 2 years to do this. And about the Lantus. I tried no crackers before bed. I tried eating a bit before bed. I tried not eating anything before bed. After going off the Lantus, my morning sugar went up and after a while my afternoon sugar reading went up. I then decided to do the a1c and got the 7.8.

I did a lot of research over the past 6 weeks. I looked at if I should go on an oral pill. Then I read that orals burn out your beta cells. Got a bit scared at that because I haven't been on anything oral in over 6 years.

So after conferring with the people at Cornell, I decided to take a shot of Lantus last night. Only 8 units. For the past 5 weeks every morning it was 180 to 198 (sometimes 200)

So this morning it was 158.

Tonight will be 24 hours since the shot last night.

I shall then see what happens.

I read where taking insulin gives the pancreas a rest.

Hey, I'm 63, my diet is NO REFINED CARBS WHATSOEVER, and only complex carbs and extremely healthy eating AND I MEAN EXTREMELY.

I can do this. Been doing this for 2 years. It's no problem for me. I don't miss anything. I enjoy the sprouts and the protein and I'm fine with the diet.

I don't want to have to eat anything at bed time.

I have honestly tried various ways to have a good fasting blood sugar in the a.m.

In my case, I think it's best that I am back on the Lantus. Cost and all, it's what I need to do for my body IN THE LONG RUN.

So I made a decision. I gave myself a birthday present.

I hope that by continuing to have better control of my blood sugar, that my next a1c will show just that.

One can only try.

Everything else is good in my body. Good numbers, I'm thinner, I achieved certain goals.

My next goal is to weigh 145 lbs.

I'll never hit that goal.

Maybe when I'm 80???? lol lol lol

Yeah, that and learning how to hula hoop. Never mastered that one either.

But I believe we can do whatever we want to do, we just have to try.

lol

Melody

P.S. Way to go on your a1c. Good number

pps. I also just read where there was a 20 year study that says no person's a1c should be below 7. Can you believe that?

They think 7 is perfectly normal.

I thought 5 was normal, but I read where a diabetic should not try to get too low an a1c, (something to do with blood vessels) And I was in the Accord program and they had to cancel the intensive part of it because people's a1c dropped to below 6 and some people died.

I then read that these people were older people who were diabetic A LONG TIME, and were severely overweight. Honestly, one can never truly believe everything you read when you read about studies and determinations.

We have to know our own bodies. They really do talk to us.

Mine says "today Melody is going out for Japanese food on her birthday"

That food NEVER raises my blood sugar.

lol

ask for brown rice at the restaurant....it has a lower glycemic index.

Many places are using brown rice now, and I get Sushi (no raw seafood), with it about once a week at Kroger's now.

You can control blood sugar with fat content. Using good fats, with each meal, slows the stomach emptying and keeps blood sugars from spiking so high. Also smaller portions, and snacks instead of 3 squares, help. Nuts are a good choice too.

I think elderly need some complex low glycemic carbs. The liver does not do a good job as we age either.

Hi Mrs. D.

Been doing the brown rice thing EVERY time we go to Japanese. I love it. They won't do California rolls with brown rice. Some places do, but not the one around the corner from my house.

Oh, guess what happened this morning when I went out for breakfast? One of the other patrons bought me breakfast for my birthday. I had been teaching her some computer skills and how to use youtube. She's over 70, and had never heard of youtube. She wanted to see Mary Martin and Enzio Pinza in South Pacific. Well, she has discovered a whole new world on the internet. She said "Oh my god, all the musicals I love, all the people, well they are all up on youtube"!! It's so exciting to see an older person learning new stuff, and even better, having a conversation with someone who is not constantly texting.

So she said: "I'm buying Melody breakfast"

How cool was that?

Anyway, thank god I can go back to 3 meals and two snacks. I did perfectly fine on that and on Lantus.

If I only need 8 or 5, I'll do it. At my age, I'm not experimenting any more.

I did what I had to do.

I wonder though if someday they will invent an oral insulin pill.

Wouldn't that be something?

lol

Have a great day.

It's pouring here in Brooklyn and we are going out for Japanese food.

Melody

Good fats with each meal? I gather you mean things like Carotina oil (which I put on my sprout salads), and some grilled salmon on top of the salad?

I can't do nuts. They constipate me and I hate that. I'll do other stuff. But not nuts.

So what other kinds of good fats should I be eating at each meals.

Oh, I had this bison burger last night with a side of brussel sprouts, and other veggies. Absolutely delicious.

I was supposed to be getting a birthday party tonight. But the person fell down the porch, broke her arm, 3 ribs and is in the hospital. But she's on the mend.

So you know I'm not eating any birthday cake tonight.

They'll throw me a party when she gets out of the hospital. I then will have a small piece of birthday cake.

I mean, we have to live and enjoy life. And that is what I plan to do for the next 63 years.

lol

Melody