My A1c's 1980-2009

[Richard157]

I thought it might be encouraging to some of you parents to see my A1c's starting in 1980. A1c testing was not available until 1976. My doc started A1c's with his patients in 1980. I was diagnosed in 1945 when I was 6 and I must have had very high blood sugar until about 1988. That is when my A1c's began improving. All that and I am alive after almost 66 years of Type 1, and I have no complications except for mild nerve damage. If your children have a lot of high blood sugar that does not necessarily mean they will suffer diabetes complications. I am living proof of that. Do the very best you can with your diabetic children and keep this in mind. ;)

As part of my preparation for my taking part in the Joslin Medalist Study I was supposed to have a listing of all my A1c's that have ever been done. My doctor was very cooperative, but there are several gaps in the list. The years 1990-1994 were not available.

Below are the A1c's that my doc was able to retrieve from his files. I have updated for 2010-2012.

1980...10.6, 9.6, 9.0
1981...11.8
1983...9.2
1984...9.2, 9.7, 8.9
1986...11.1
1987...8.0, 9.8, 10.3
1988...10.5, 7.7, 7.7
1989...7.3

1995...6.8
1997...6.0, 5.4
1998...6.5
1999...6.8, 6.7, 6.5
2000...6.3, 6.1, 5.5
2001...5.8, 6.0, 5.6, 6.0
2002...6.0, 6.4, 6.2, 6.0
2003...5.6, 5.4, 5.9
2004...5.9, 5.7, 5.8, 5.6
2005...5.6, 5.8
2006...5.6, 5.7
2007...5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 6.1
2008...5.7, 5.9, 5.7, 5.6
2009...5.6, 5.8, 5.8
2010...5.7, 5.6, 5.6, 5.4
2011...5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.6
2012...6.1, 6.1, 6.0

Notice the drop from the 10's to the 7's in early 1988. That is when I read an article in a magazine that said diabetics should follow a low carb diet. My doctors never told me that. Then about the start of the new century I was permitted to use basal/bolus control. In 2007 I started pumping. My A1c's have been very good during the new century because I finally knew what to do to get good control. I was very successful for several years before pumping too, but the Minimed pump makes good control so much easier.

I took only one injection of beef/pork insulin per day during my first 40+ years. Can you imagine what my A1c's would have been during those years? Those were the years before my doctor started having my A1c's done.

I feel so lucky to be alive and healthy, without complications. Is it good genes? Maybe the Joslin Study will help answer those questions.

Richard

[buggle]

Thanks, Richard. This really helps for me to keep things in perspective.

I can't wait to see the results from the Joslin Medalist Study.

[ecs1516]

Amazing!
:)

[Becky Stevens mom]

Richard, this is so encouraging to us parents and young people with type 1 diabetes! Thank you for posting this and sharing your early life with d. The thing for everyone to remember is that your Mother did the best she could do with you at the time and here you are happy and healthy teaching others how to live well with type 1 d. I so admire you:cwds:

[Gaia]

Thanks, Richard. This really helps for me to keep things in perspective.

I can't wait to see the results from the Joslin Medalist Study.

Yes, it really does. Thanks :cwds:

[Hollyb]

Thanks so much for this. It's not only heartening for the future of our kids, it helps us to see that wow, we really are making progress in treating this disease (and so are you -- what a nice string of A1cs in recent years!)

[wdhinn89]

Thank You Richard! :)

[2type1s]

Thanks so much for posting that! It's heartening to see for sure!

[WestinsMom]

Very interesting stuff. How many years then did you do pork or beef insulin? You know, those had c peptide. I have to wonder if that helped at all.

[Richard157]

Michelle, that is definitely one of the ongoing studies. C-peptide has been found in small amounts in some of the Joslin Medalists. So even after 50 years of diabetes C-peptide and active beta cells are sometimes present. There is a Swedish company that is currently in phase 2 of testing a product that contains C-peptide. It would be given orally as a med instead of being placed in the insulin.

[WestinsMom]

I am glad to hear that someone is moving forward with some sort of cpeptide replacement. :)

[HarleyGuy]

Just wanted to thank you Richard for all you do to inspire us Type 1's. Nice to see you on here as well. Yea, I'm here, just not steady.;)

[StillMamamia]

Thanks for this Richard.:)

[Barbzzz]

Richard, thanks for sharing! Fantastic numbers on your A1Cs this century. ;) You are an inspiration to us all. :cwds:

[My_Dana]

Great info and insight..thanks!

[ShanaB]

Thank you for posting this Richard. The information is very valuable and just what I needed to hear (although completely recognize there are no guarantees with this disease!).

[Adinsmom]

Michelle, that is definitely one of the ongoing studies. C-peptide has been found in small amounts in some of the Joslin Medalists. So even after 50 years of diabetes C-peptide and active beta cells are sometimes present. There is a Swedish company that is currently in phase 2 of testing a product that contains C-peptide. It would be given orally as a med instead of being placed in the insulin.

Thank you for sharing Richard. :cwds: I personally believe c-peptide plays a huge part in developing complications. When Adin was diagnosed with diabetes I contacted Dr. L Philipson about testing him for the kir6.2 mutation. He gracefully agreed to test him. They specifically asked about his c-peptide results at diagnosis. Being newly diagnosed I didn't understand what he was asking for but upon further study I believe it plays a vital role.

Do you believe you still have a measurable amount of c-peptide? I find you and your A-1C's an inspiration.

[Richard157]

Shelley, my doc agreed to have my C-peptide tested in Oct. It is less than 0.1 so I know it is highly unlikely that my good health is due to C-peptide at the present time. There was plenty of C-pep in the beef/pork insulin I used for almost 50 years. I am convinced that is why I had no complications until after I started modern day insulins. The insulins I have used for about 20 years now do not have C-pep. I therefore did start having some neuropathy and retinopathy. All that has disappeared due to my pumping. Keeping my BG within a more narrow range (70-130) about 90% of the time has eliminated the complications i had before. A diabetic can have A1c's that are consistently below 6.0 and still have long range complications if there are big swings in the BG's with many highs and lows.

[Adinsmom]

Shelley, my doc agreed to have my C-peptide tested in Oct. It is less than 0.1 so I know it is highly unlikely that me good health is due to C-peptide at the present time. The C-pep in the beef/pork insulin I used for almost 50 years had plenty of C-pep. I am convinced that is why I had no complications until after I started modern day insulins. The insulins I have used for about 20 years now do not have C-pep. I therefore did start having some neuropathy and retinopathy. All that has disappeared due to my pumping. Keeping my BG within a more narrow range (70-130) about 90% of the time has eliminated the complications i had before. A diabetic can have A1c's that are consistently below 6.0 and still have long range complications if there are big swings in the BG's with many highs an lows.

Your experience confirms what I was thinking too. :cwds: I read that modern day insulin's actually throw out the c-peptide as a bi product instead of leaving it in the insulin.

I also agree that the wild bg swings that my son experiences is just as detrimental as a high A1C. Unfortunately because of his age and my decision to let him have kid experiences without bringing attention to his diabetes in some instances (school activities or birthday parties) makes it hard. I am constantly working at tightening his bg swings while at home and overnight to compensate.

Do you eat low carb? Or do anything else that you find helpful in lowering your A1C and bg swings?

Thank you again for sharing your insight and experiences. :cwds:

[Richard157]

I probably ate 500+ carbs per day when I was still growing. It was not much better until I found, in 1988, that a diabetic should follow a low carb diet. Therefore my blood sugar was almost always very high. The C-pep was probably protecting me then. I started reducing my daily carbs and keeping records so I would know how each food affects me. Then, a few years later, I was carb counting and using basal/bolus instead of a mix in a pen. Things kept on improving and I had fewer highs and lows. In the meantime, while using Humalog, I started gaining weight. Modern day insulins can result in weight gain.

Then there were more highs, more weight gain and more insulin. It was a vicious cycle. My weight gain caused me to have insulin resistance, like a Type 2. I am a "double diabetic" now. I then started taking a Type 2 med to control the reistance, but continued the Humalog. To lose the weight I further reduced my carbs to 130g per day. I avoid foods like white bread, pasta from corn flour, cereal, Mexican and Chinese food since they are so high in carbs and require so much insulin. I increased my exercise as well. I am 70 but I walk 2.5 miles in an hour each day, or use my treadmill. I have lost more than half of my weight gain. I began pumping in 2007 and that has helped me have more steady BG's. There are a few other things I do, but the ones listed are the primary reasons why I have good control, even though I no longer have any C-pep.

[heamwdevine]

Thank you so much for sharing. You are an inspiration and I loved reading about your A1Cs and how they have changed so drastically. It's great that you have such better control on the pump.

[willie's mom]

Whew..... that is great news. Thanks for the positive note. There is enough negativity dealing with this disease.;)

[alismom]

Thank you so much, very inspiring.

[actualreality86]

I'm impressed. I hope the study goes well. Is it a national study? I can see how much your A1c's have come down. I hope for the near future that mine do come down.

[Richard157]

Yes it is a national study even though the Joslin Medals are awarded to diabetics all over the world after they have had diabetes for 50 years, or more. The study will conclude in 2011 after they have examined 750 USA medalists. They hope to determine why some of us long term Type 1's have lived so long and have no serious complications. The ultimate hope is to then develop a treatment that will enable young type 1's to also live long and be healthy and complication free. I am so pleased to be able to take part in the study.

[mamamccoy87]

Richard, you are an inspiration to all of us parents of children with diabetes, as I'm sure to Type 1s themselves. There is hope. You have awesome control with those A1Cs. You are an ispiration to not only diabetics, but non=diabetics as well

[Demi's mom]

Everytime I read one of your postings...it gives me hope that my daughter will live a long, healthy and happy life. Her A1c was 11.25, at diagnoses, nearly two months ago. You are a true inspiration to all of us. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us.:)

[victoria]

Notice the drop from the 10's to the 7's in early 1988. That is when I read an article in a magazine that said diabetics should follow a low carb diet. My doctors never told me that. Then about the start of the new century I was permitted to use basal/bolus control. In 2007 I started pumping. My A1c's have been very good during the new century because I finally know what to do to get good control.
Richard

Thank you Richard for sharing this information. I was wondering about the low carb diet, when you started the low carb diet, did your insulin regiment change and are you still controlling your carb intake or did you increase your carbs when you started pumping.

Thanks and best of luck!

[Richard157]

Hi Victoria. I started eating fewer carbs in the late 1980's. I still had a lot of high blood sugar but it steadily improved as I reduced my carb intake. I also restricted foods that cause a fast spike. Portion control is strongly advisable with breads, crackers, cereal, pasta, potatoes and other foods with a high glycemic number. I rarely eat bread but i do buy loaf bread (oatmeal bread) that has only 8g of carbs per slice. I never eat cereal.

When I started using basal/bolus control and carb counting I started having A1c's below 6.0. That is a non diabetic level. I did not increase my carb level because that requires more bolus insulin and the increased insulin causes weight gain. I need to lose 23 pounds so I keep my daily carb intake at 130g and I exercise. Pumping has also been very helpful in greatly reducing my number of highs and lows. I recently started using the Dexcom CGMS. I am sure that will help too.

[thebestnest5]

Thank you for sharing this Richard. I find this thread very interesting. I was not aware of the C-peptide in beef & pork insulins.

[MommaRetta]

WOW!!!! :)
I would LOVE for my son to meet you. What an inspiration your story is to all of us...

Thank you SO MUCH for sharing. Very encouraging, :cwds:.

[grantsmom]

thank you for posting this!

Wonderful to hear you are doing GREAT!

[FatCatAnna \\^^//]

So glad that you have your results from back then Richard! I sadly, only have records given to me by my endo when he was needing room in his files ('91 and up). Like you say, back in our days, we were experimental guinea pigs (I've been T1D since I was 6 for those of you who don't know me). The methods we used for keeping ourselves "in the zone" were primitive ... but they worked - as Richard is living proof that he is doing well after all these years.

I have to admit - after 47 years with T1D - I've only recently started looking more closely at my carb intake - but I still love evil foods (like those chocolate chip cookies I made the other day - bolus, bolus, yum, yum).

I figured, might as well make the most of my time on our big blue marble, and enjoy all life has to offer (well - except for bungie jumping or sky diving - have yet to do that).

So, nothing should stop your children from doing whatever they set their minds to - and having great parents behind them for support (tho' my parents still think that apple juice is sugar free - it's like ... no ... it still has sugar - sadly my parents didn't have groups like this to help them out - so we just did whatever the hospital that took care of T2D's told them to do - oh - and have me give insulin of 1 shot a day <lol>).