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Comment by Alan 1 hour ago

Nel - are you using the new sensors?

Comment by nel 17 hours ago

Pacific Blue Cross is very specific in replacing one's pump .I contacted them 2 ( ?) years , my 522 was out of warrenty and was told as long as the pump functions it will not be replaced .I was able to prove with the help from Specialist and MM , that CareLink could not be uploaded on my 522 ...this qualified me to upgrade to a Veo in Feb of 2012 .Interesting tidbit Alan about pumps OK through scanners , but not x-ray machines ?? It used to be the other way around ???

Comment by Alan on Monday

My Atlantic Blue Cross Insurance will no longer finance a new pump even if it is out of warranty, unless it is broke or the new pump is an upgrade. No more new pump automatically every 4 years. But moving from a MM 522 to a MM523 is an upgrade so I'm probably okay. Medtronic told me that their new pumps are now safe to go through body scanners, but still not safe through x-ray machines.

Comment by Terrie on June 12, 2013 at 7:17am

Ugh!! Try that again shall we. :)

"Our latest ( BC) Interior Health Authority form for A1C states : 4.0-6.0 .I have seen numbers in the past , which were directed to PWD and higher than 4.0- 6.0 , but I don't have the numbers at my finger tips :) !! My last HDL 1.61 ( > 1.30 mmol/L ) ...a bit over one year ago."

Hi Nel:

Boy, yours is even lower than ours. But as VS explained and you already knew, those are not the numbers that we need to be concerned with really, unless we want to be. And Yes, ours was higher in the past also. That's why I was wondering, "Who's messing with these numbers and why??".

That's a Fantastic HDL you have there Nel. You'll live forever. According to ours it's supposed to be >0.90. I've been getting my copy of test results for many years as you have and my HDL has been between 150 - 238 and my last one was 276. So I'll live forever also. If you believe that theory. Thanks for the information. Have a Good one Nel!! Sunny today and warmer(23 c).

Comment by Terrie on June 12, 2013 at 6:45am

"Now based on that, setting ideal goals for diabetics of say <6.0 (which is normal for non-diabetics) would set most diabetics up for failure, disappointment and frustration".

I agree with you Vancouversailor and that's what I've said also. It's fine for a Diabetic to have that goal and "Way to go", when they achieve it. Most, including Type 1's cannot stay under 6.0 for long or even reach it. They should not be made to feel bad if they try and can't make that goal. It's not written in stone for heavens sake. Some find it easier to do than others.

Thanks for mentioning that and why did I not know that? Of course the test is set up for non-Diabetics. I guess I always looked at the test results as what was expected for a Diabetic since I am one and non-Diabetics had a different test. LOL! I feel better about it now. Thanks!

That's why my Endo came into the office one day a couple of years back, while reading my test results which were all normal and declared, "Congratulations Terrie. You're cured!!" Then I explained that I had lots of lows to get that 5.3 A1c. He was a bit disappointed but he's always happy with me in the 6's. My last 2 A1c's: 6.8 and 7.0, haven't made me happy and he was surprised. The higher dose of Prednisone kicks my sugars up plus I'm eating more also because of the Pred. So we agreed to add a few more units to both my basal and bolus shots again.

You certainly have worked hard through the years to stay off of the meds and living healthily is the key. That must have been a challenge for you and depressing at times I imagine. Three thumbs up on your wonderful success!! And Yes, it did save you an extra chunk of living. :)

Comment by Vancouversailor on June 11, 2013 at 2:13pm

I am certain that the HbA1C of 4.0 to 6.0 standard Nel refers to is not meant to be a target range for diabetics, but is a normal range for non diabetics. In other words, someone within that range would not be diagnosed as diabetic if this was a first time diagnostic test. That said, it is not impossible for someone who is diabetic and in tight control to be within that range for a period of time, but very hard to stay that way for long without meds or insulin injections.

Comment by nel on June 11, 2013 at 12:33pm

Our latest ( BC) Interior Health Authority form for A1C states : 4.0-6.0 .I have seen numbers in the past , which were directed to PWD and higher than 4.0- 6.0 , but I don't have the numbers at my finger tips :) !! My last HDL 1.61 ( > 1.30 mmol/L ) ...a bit over one year ago .

Comment by Vancouversailor on June 11, 2013 at 8:57am

The reason there are different recommendations for blood sugar control, and specifically for HbA1C measurements, is that the standards are set by people who have quite different viewpoints.
A couple of years ago I read about a survey done by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists indicating that the average HbA1C of the American diabetic is around 9.0. Mind you that's an average so many people will be higher, some will be lower. Now based on that, setting ideal goals for diabetics of say <6.0 (which is normal for non-diabetics) would set most diabetics up for failure, disappointment and frustration. As well, given that one outcome of the recommendation is that it influences how many diabetics end up on medications as compared to those who manage with lifestyle changes, the perspectives of politicians and pharmaceutical companies would be quite different. Politicians are concerned with containing the ballooning cost of health care which to no small degree is driven by type II diabetes, while pharmaceutical companies are mainly motivated by profit, which is proportionate to the number of diabetics who are given prescriptions because their HbA1C is above the recommended level. So no surprise that the standard for what is considered good diabetics management and blood sugar control vary. At my diagnosis 15 years ago I was determined to manage with diet and exercise as long as possible, at whatever cost. So my personal goal was to stay below 6.0 with my HbA1C, which I did manage to do for 12 years. The cost was a carefully controlled diet based on the glycemic index, and dedicating three hours a day to walking, stair-walking and rowing exercises. Those who said that diabetes type II is progressive and that I would eventually expect to need meds may well have been right, as my last HbA1C was 6.7, but at least when the day comes that I do fill my first prescription I'll have a sense that I gave this disease a good run for the money. And as an added benefit, I have no doubt that those three hours a day for the past 15 years are going to translate into a good extra chuck of time lived.

Comment by Terrie on June 11, 2013 at 12:49am

True, <7.0 is better than <7.5. Can you tell me what is the "preferred range" on the HbA1c test results in Salmon Arm Nel? Over here, the preferred HbA1c range is 0.048 - 0.060. I've been in the 5's before. My lowest was 5.3 which was NOT good for me. Too many lows. That's why I am good with 6.6 - 6.0 and far fewer lows.

I just wanted to add the A1c preferred rates to show how confusing the A1c preferrances are in North America. Joslin - <7.5 to my lab 4.8 - 6.0. Confusing. I'm happy that you don't have any complications due to Diabetes, as you are Nel. Good for you. It must be all that "running" away from them. :D May I ask what number your HDL Cholesterol is?

Comment by nel on June 9, 2013 at 11:04am

Hi Terrie re your < 7.5 comment : I copied this from the Bayer website : The Canadian Diabetes Association recommends that everyone with diabetes try to achieve an A1C of less than 7%. Lower is better, that is between six-five if you can get there without having too much hypoglycemia. If your A1C is high, your health care team may change your diabetes plan to help you to better manage your blood glucose. Changes in your management plan should be expected from time to time and will help bring your A1C closer to normal....you have fantastic A1C results !!! ..I admit , mine are not comparable :) ..but 30 years later, in my seventies , no complications ...cheerio !!

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