7.5%
As I expected, my A1c went up. I just didn’t expect it to go up *that* much. For almost two years, my A1c has been below 7%. It’s a lot of work, but totally worth it.
I admit that I rebelled a bit. I also got lazy. I was just so tired of the tight control and limitations. I went a little nuts. I have the weight gain and lousy A1c to show for it.
All other tests were good. BP was “excellent” according to Dr. S. He also said that I’d *lost* two pounds since my last appointment. This just doesn’t seem right, but I wasn’t about to argue. He gave me a list of group meetings and events (read: support groups) for Type 1s and encourage me to attend. I don’t know if I will – I admit that it would be nice to meet some other Type 1s in person, though.
As I mentioned yesterday, I wanted to talk to Dr. S. about Symlin. After looking at my A1c, Dex graphs, and logbook, his initial feeling was to further increase my basals. Since I had decided that I was not going to let that happen, I needed to find an alternative. See, *I* think my basals are too high as it is. The highs I’m experiencing aren’t the result of too-low basal settings; it’s because I’ve been eating like shit for months and, more often than not, SWAG bolusing. So, I’m high because I didn’t count carbs correctly. Sure, I correct, but once I’m high, it’s so hard to get back down.
Which, once again, led me to the Symlin talk. I’d tried it once before and gave up after a few days. I was told that it is not indicated for pregnant women, and since we were actively trying at that point (and blissfully unaware of our fertility issues), I decided that it was best to stop. To be honest, I was not heartbroken to lose the awful nausea that accompanied it. But, the thing is, I never really gave it a chance.
In preparation for my appointment, I did a bunch of research. I learned that the nausea goes away pretty quickly and that the key is to stick with it. I learned that some people have lost huge amounts of weight thanks to it. I learned that most decrease their boluses by at least half. All of these facts solidified my resolve to give it another shot.
So, just before dinner last night, I dialed up the minimum 15mcg and gave myself the shot. I ate my meal slowly (I did notice that I got fuller faster) and waited. I carefully calculated the carbs in what I ate (49 grams total), and programmed a 60-minute extended bolus. And I waited.
Sure, I felt a little nauseated, but nothing too extreme (I definitely didn’t feel like I was going to puke or anything). I wasn’t hungry either, which was nice. I often feel hungry even after eating a decent meal. Dex showed almost no movement in my BG for over an hour. Since I was super exhausted yesterday, I went to bed early.
At 11:53pm, Dex beeped. The dreaded low alarm. I looked at the screen: 68 mg/dl. Not too bad, but I did a finger stick to confirm: 66 mg/dl. Since Dex indicated a downward trend, I decided to drink a juice box. Then, I did something really stupid. I programmed a temp basal of 50%. I was spooked; I admit it. I didn’t want to have a horrible low that would be difficult to treat because of the Symlin (I’d read that this happens). I wanted to play it safe.
Just as any sane person would expect, a few hours later, my BG started to climb. Nothing drastic – I was sitting at 150ish. Then my usual Dawn Phenomenon kicked in (I have a basal rate that is more than two times greater during the hours of 5am-8am). A temp basal of 50% was not going to make a dent in that train wreck. After my shower, I was sitting at 180 mg/dl and climbing.
Since the pod was due for a change, I swapped it out and canceled that stupid temp basal. Now, as I write this at 9:16am, I am at 189 mg/dl. This is despite two decent correction boluses. I know the crash is coming, and I’m ready for it. I’m just pissed off at myself for giving in to the fear. It’s the fear of lows that gives me a 7.5% A1c. It’s unacceptable.
Ugh, diabetes, I hate you.
**UPDATE**
As I wrote this post, I got a call from the fertility doc’s office. They wanted to tell me that they’d received a copy of my A1c (which the nurse described as “elevated”), and that for conception, they want it to be under 6%. As if I didn’t already feel shitty enough.







