A post meal reading of 180, two hours after eating, is the highest it should be allowed to go. Of course, the reading should go down after that time. A fasting reading of above 124 is considered diabetic these days. While I don't usually check after eating, when I do, it seldom exceeds 140. My usual fasting reading is about 93-101.
The problem with high blood sugar is that it damages the capillaries because the blood is more viscous. This can cause problems with blood circulation throughout the body, but especially in the extremities, and can cause problems with blood vessels in the eyes, which could lead to blindness. If the capillaries in the legs, for example, are severely damaged, it could mean that amputation is required in the case of injuries.
What is your A1C? It should be less than 7, preferably less than 6.
Yah, the ADA says keep it under 180 after eating. I usually manage to keep it under 145, but once in a while I miss and wind up at 160, 180, or occasionally over 200 (not often). My fasting level is kinda random-seeming -- anywhere from 60 to 140 -- which confuses me.
I was familiar with the complications, but hadn't been sure of the mechanism. (I'd suspected, because the samples I feed to the glucometer seem more runny when I wind up getting a low number.) My dad lost a leg to diabetes fairly late in life, but had serious problems with neuropathy in his feet for years and years before that. What I'm not entirely certain of, but think is the case, is that the wee damage from each hyperglycemic incident is cumulative (as opposed to healing fully if there's enough time between high-sugar occasions). Which is why I said, "I need a way of pushing my body toward sleep that doesn't involve a gradual poison."
I'll try to find that web site I was reading again, that says we should try to keep it below 140 after meals. His argument is that the "deterioration and complications are inevitable and the best we can do is slow them down" approach to diabetes is connected to the 180 target, and that below 140 no damage accumulates. Again, I've no real knowledge of how trustworthy the site and the information on it really are ...
I don't have a recent A1C, but a couple of years ago and the year before that were both in the six-point-something-small range, IIRC. I'll be getting another one Real Soon Now (but probably won't hear the results for three months).
(no subject)
The problem with high blood sugar is that it damages the capillaries because the blood is more viscous. This can cause problems with blood circulation throughout the body, but especially in the extremities, and can cause problems with blood vessels in the eyes, which could lead to blindness. If the capillaries in the legs, for example, are severely damaged, it could mean that amputation is required in the case of injuries.
What is your A1C? It should be less than 7, preferably less than 6.
(no subject)
I was familiar with the complications, but hadn't been sure of the mechanism. (I'd suspected, because the samples I feed to the glucometer seem more runny when I wind up getting a low number.) My dad lost a leg to diabetes fairly late in life, but had serious problems with neuropathy in his feet for years and years before that. What I'm not entirely certain of, but think is the case, is that the wee damage from each hyperglycemic incident is cumulative (as opposed to healing fully if there's enough time between high-sugar occasions). Which is why I said, "I need a way of pushing my body toward sleep that doesn't involve a gradual poison."
I'll try to find that web site I was reading again, that says we should try to keep it below 140 after meals. His argument is that the "deterioration and complications are inevitable and the best we can do is slow them down" approach to diabetes is connected to the 180 target, and that below 140 no damage accumulates. Again, I've no real knowledge of how trustworthy the site and the information on it really are ...
I don't have a recent A1C, but a couple of years ago and the year before that were both in the six-point-something-small range, IIRC. I'll be getting another one Real Soon Now (but probably won't hear the results for three months).