The A1C is certainly the gold standard to see how well we are controlling our diabetes. But even gold isn't good enough for us.
The A1C doesn't show our glycemic variability. For those of us who have our blood glucose levels under reasonably good control, our glycemic excursions are even more imp...
New Way to Control Glycemic Variability
6/10/09 10:27pm
At my last appt. I told the doc I was experiencing some high swings that last much longer than the 2 hrs recommended. My A1c is hanging around 6.3 for six months now so he doesn't want to adjust it yet. I know it's in good part under control because I get in exercise but still, I don't like seeing a 180+ 3 hours after supper.
6/11/09 8:36am
People with extremely good control should know that the Glycomark test only works when your BG levels go high enough that you're spilling glucose in the urine. This is usually around 180 mg/dL, but some people have lower or higher renal thresholds.
The reason is that the test involves competition between glucose concentrations in the renal tubules and the compound that is being measured.
7/ 1/09 10:31am
Are you kidding? That's useless. As a tight tolerance person my target is 85 - before, during and after meals. In fact, I don't eat carbs if I'm higher than 110 period. I fix it first.
180 makes me sick as a dog - headache, nausea, fatigue or hyperactivity, etc. And I test my blood sugar 15 times a day so the last thing I need is something that tells me I hit 180.
I'm saddened that so many diabetics are that high so often and many think it is OK. Thanks for filling in the blank on this product.
Doris J. Dickson
7/ 1/09 10:26am
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Thanks, as always, for the helpful information David. Did the endocrinologists you interviewed give you any parameters they are using re: interpreting the results? If a glycomark test result is elevated, how soon should it be rechecked?
Dear Karen,
Excellent questions -- as usual! None of the endos mentioned testing more often than they test A1C. But one of the doctors told me that if his patient had considerable glycemic variability, he would put him on insulin right away.
Best regards,
David