The Rule when it comes to managing diabetes is maintaining a blood sugar between 80 and 120 mg/dL by all means necessary. This does not take into consideration that some people might function better with a higher blood sugar. For all intents and purposes this is for safety reasons. Clocking in at no higher than 120 mg/dL is evidenced to delay the onset of long-term diabetic complications.
However, in my blog about Jeff the Trucker, in order for Jeff to be considered safe to drive -- the Federal Standards said that he must maintain blood sugars between 140 and 200. Whereas conventional medicine says the safest range for blood sugars is between 80 and 120. If Federal Standards say that you can function better with a higher sugar - why is it that we are encouraged to keep them lower? I understand this from a clinical perspective this is to delay the onset of complications. But in reality - the complications result from the fluctuations in blood sugar level and not so much the level at which it is sustained.
So herein lies my question for all diabetics out there - do you feel better or worse when your blood sugar is 80 compared to a blood sugar of 130? Compare being high and being low - what are the strengths and weaknesses of each?
I'll start - I prefer my blood sugar to be higher (<120 mg/dL) rather than lower (<80 mg/dL). When I am higher I know I am never on the verge of being disoriented, uncoordinated, or likely to lose my ability to think clearly. Having a higher blood sugar allows me to continue on without worrying if I'm too close to having a reaction. My weakness of being high is the inconvenience of needing water - ice, cold water. Now how do you all feel about your highs and your lows? It's okay. I know it's frustrating as H-E-double hockey sticks to test, treat, and repeat - only to find that your numbers aren't always perfect. Tell me about it. No, really -- please, do!!
1. I also prefer mine being higher. There are times when 80 causes me to feel shaky ( although most times it begins in the sixties) and below 80 actually creates a frame of mind where I cannot concentrate a much as when I'm between 120 - 150
Posted at 8:15PM on Apr 5th 2007 by Friedrich5