One of the tests T1 diabetics live by, (or should live by), is our quarterly A1C test. In laymen’s terms, this is the test that tells us if we are “in control” of our disease. A figure of 7.0 or less is a “good” number and something we strive to attain. It means less visits to the doctor, and honestly, it means less complications in the long run. But what it doesn’t really mean is that you feel much different on a daily basis.
What it tests is the level of sugar in the blood over the last three months. For the real tech info, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycated_hemoglobin, but for my purposes, and the bottom line, if it’s not under 7.0 I get reprimanded by the doctor and I have to go back to the drawing board to figure out my insulin regiment. Or… it means I was really stressed over the last 3 months… OR I was really bad with what I ate or my carb counting was way wrong OR I had was sick a bunch of times… OR… OR… that’s right, hopefully by now you’re learning that there is alot that is out of our control (even though we are desperately trying to get under control).
I joined an online diabetic social networking site a few months back. The site, like many others had the ability to put a signature at the bottom of your posts. But what was different about these signatures is that most of them were proudly displaying their A1C numbers:
– 04/21: 4.5 — 01/17: 6.2 – 11/15: 6.8 — 01/13: 6.3 — 04/12: 5.5 — 08/23: 6.8 — 11/12: 6.4 –
It is an accomplishment that goes unrecognized outside the diabetic world. Many do not understand how hard it it to achieve numbers below 7. How many sacrifices we have to make to get in control. There is no magic formula, no rhyme, no reason and no equation that the doctor tells you to follow. Each type 1 diabetic is different. There are no Time Outs. The A1C never lies.
We each have our own regiments and reactions to different foods. As much as a doctor is there to guide us, it is up to us to notice the patterns, keep our food diaries, count our carbs, and never let our guard down.
The saying “a moment on your lips, forever on your hips” doesn’t apply to Type 1′s as much as “a moment on your lips, forever on your A1C”does. But! That doesn’t mean we should skip the test. We just have to deal with the results. And keep on trying.
I salute all diabetics that are struggling to get their A1c’s in check. I acknowledge how hard each have to work to get those numbers down, and how sometimes, even if you’ve given it your all, tried your best, that darn quarterly number comes back at 7.2. Oh so close… but oh… soo… far…
And so, in the spirit of sharing, here are my A1Cs over the last 3 years:
April 2006: 7.4 — July 2006: 8.3 — November 2006: 6.7 — February 2007: 6.8 — June 2007: 6.8 — August 2007: 6.4 — January 2008: 7.8 — May 2008: 6.8 — August 2008: 6.5 — November 2008: 6.8 — February 2009: 6.8 — June 2009: 7.2 — August 2009: 7.0 — November 2009: 7.0
That’s the real deal with diabetes, one sugar cube at a time.
