I noticed that I’ve been getting a little too lackadaisical with my diabetes management. Recently, a woman on one of my support groups on Facebook asked what target standard deviation people shoot for. I responded that I’m just trying to get through the day! There is so much we can proactively do to tighten our numbers, but it just seems life always gets in the way.
Well, no more excuses. If I’m getting lazy now, what will happen in 5 years from now? 10? I have to get back the motivation to go the extra step to better my health.
Here are 5 surefire ways to help lower your A1c:
1. Timing of Insulin
This is important because insulin works in your body for a certain amount of time and then is done. I noticed I’ve been steadily creeping up at night without snacking. I am currently splitting my Basaglar and was taking my morning shot around 7-8 but wouldn’t take my evening shot till about 10-11, leaving this huge gap of when my body wasn’t getting enough long-acting insulin! Also, making sure you pre-bolus before your meals will help ensure you won’t spike and crash later.
2. Know Your Insulin Sensitivity Factor (ISF)
Figuring out your ISF is something you can easily get a handle on and will help you in moments of distress. If your blood glucose is high and you need to correct, knowing your ISF can help avoid a blood sugar rollercoaster.
3. Know Your Insulin-to-Carb Ratio
For information on how to determine this, please click here. This is another way to prevent your blood sugar from swinging too much in one direction. You do, however, need to factor in fat and protein too. It may take a lot of trial and error but getting the right ratio can make eating what you want a lot more manageable.
4. Test Your Basal
While testing your basal is a little tedious, it can certainly make your life easier. Many try to troubleshoot their highs and lows by looking at fast-acting insulin, what foods they are eating, etc., but without knowing if your baseline is correct, you can’t really pinpoint where any other issues may lie.
5. Treat Your Lows Wisely
It is very easy to use a low as an excuse to eat something delicious. And the feeling of panic that sets in with a low doesn’t help. I highly recommend glucose tabs but personally find them unpalatable. Make sure whatever it is you are using is portioned out so you don’t overdo it.
While diabetes tends to have a mind of its own at times, we can proactively take some control back. I hope you use some of these tips and see the results in your A1c!
Do you have any tips or tricks you find help improve your A1c? Please share and comment below!