Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Natasha Bowlds on January 31, 2012 at 10:30am

My endo sets a goal for us of 6-8, and she said she would be concerned if it were over 8.5. Personally I like it to be in the low 7s. My son is 11 and hasn't started puberty yet either.

Permalink Reply by sarhow on January 31, 2012 at 10:30am

7.2 is great! Puberty will make it harder to control. As an adult with type 1, I have a hard time getting mine below 6.5 even without puberty. The only time to really shoot for low 6s would be if she wants to get pregnant someday in the future. But for the next few years, I'd expect it to be higher, no matter what you do! It will also depend on if she has any functioning beta cells; a c-peptide test can determine that.

Permalink Reply by Kelly on February 6, 2012 at 3:06pm

Thanks:) I'm hoping the fluxuations won't be too hard to control. The doctor thinks maybe she still has some beta cell function due to the amount of Lantus she requires...says that at 12u, this is the case. She thinks if she didn't, she would need more units.

Permalink Reply by daneenm on January 31, 2012 at 10:36am

I would say that you should be very happy with 7s. Below 8 is what we are looking for with my 11 year old son (he usually runs in the low 7s). I will warn you, though, any time he has gone for his endo visit during or right after an illness (cold, ear infection, etc), his A1C is much higher than normal. This is because his numbers have been very erratic and usually high during an illness. I strongly believe that the A1C 'favors' the most recent 2 weeks, even though it is said to be an indicator of the last 3 months or so.

Permalink Reply by Serena on January 31, 2012 at 11:27am

I've noticed this too, and I asked my brother (also a T1, for 30 years) if he's noticed it. He said he had, and was happy to hear that someone else thought so too!

Permalink Reply by Kelly on February 6, 2012 at 3:03pm

Thanks for that info. I'll have to watch that the next time she is sick, and see if she has a higher A1C, even though her numbers don't explain it. So much to know!!

Permalink Reply by Serena on January 31, 2012 at 11:23am

The American Diabetes Association sets the goal for teens (and your daughter's almost there) at 7.5 or less. Once puberty sets in, you'll see more fluctuations in her numbers. Growth spurts also can wreak havoc on her A1C. The big thing is to not focus so much on a good A1C that she ends up having a lot of lows. Ask her doc at your next appt. where he/she would like to see your daughter's A1C. Sounds like you're doing just fine though. =D

Permalink Reply by Kelly on February 6, 2012 at 3:01pm

Thanks:)

Permalink Reply by Hockey Mom on February 6, 2012 at 2:35pm

My son's endo targets 6.5 - 7.0 but realizes it is harder with growing, hormal children and teenagers. When my A1C reached 6.5, I was considered pre-diabetic but he loves it when my diabetic son is at that level.

It is hard to get a Type 1 child under 6.0 because you would never want them to send them to bed at a "normal" (80- 100) blood glucose level - it's too dangerous since they cannot self adjust - so they are already higher than normal for a big part of their day. He does try to eat a bedtime snack and adjust to an acceptable 110 -120 bedtime range and we have some increases through the night that take care of some of the hormal shifts so that he wakes at about 110.

Permalink Reply by Kelly on February 6, 2012 at 3:00pm

That sounds like what we are doing also. I always have her eat something if she's below 120, just to be safe. At our last support meeting (area type 1's meet with parents once a month), many of the moms said that they weren't anywhere near that A1C level. They also thought my daughter takes a lot of insulin, compared to their kids. Syd takes 12 units of Lantus and is at a 1/20 ratio for carbs. She gets 12-18 units of Humalog. I don't get the impression from the doctor that it's a lot...in fact she thinks Syd is still honeymooning because she is only taking 12u of Lantus.