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Do you have any diabetes-related achievements from 2020 that you’re proud of? Tell us in the comments!
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This year I learned about Time in Range and began a concerted effort to improve mine. I now have days where I exceed 85% in range, at the beginning of the year, I was averaging 74%. In the process I have brought my A1C to 6.2%. Not too bad for having T1D for 64 years.
Achieved surviving this Covid-19 pandemic year as a T1D, upgraded to the Dexcom CGM6. Now hopeful that over 2021 we will stay safe, continue to wear our masks and social distance, and indulge in some good hand cream since many of us will need to give our hands some TLC after all these months of frequent hand washing!
Kept my A1c around 6.6 and increased time in range to over 80% most of the time.
Time in range and A1c of 6.1
I figured out how to set some Loop overrides for distance cycling and tennis games and practice. I can now spend hours on the bike pedaling and on the court playing with minimal interference from my blood sugars.
Got my A1c down to 6.1 with Tandem/ Dexcom! Planning to get into the 5’s in 2021!!
It has been a year of learning how to live during a world wide pandemic and stay safe. So I have achieved avoiding the ER and will continue to do so. I avoid public places and do curb side pick up, drive thru, and have achieved cutting my own hair. You also have to achieve the mental health depression of solitude by exercising, eating right, sleeping well, and keeping up with the diabetic routines which never end. I am thankful to still be here and feeling well this morning. Happy New Year to all and may 2021 bring us more vaccines so we can get back to seeing our families and grandchildren again.
Started using the Dexcom G6. Learned more about my OmniPod functions, that I thought I understood but did not. Participated in more surveys and listened to diabetes panel discussions. Attempted to cook more and eat out less.
Our Lions District JDRF walk team raised over $7000. Also our district has applied for a $60,000 grant to renovate the cabins at Camp Ho Mita Koda, a camp for diabetic kids in Ohio. All indications are the grant will be awarded in January. Some of the Lions Clubs in the district promote diabetes education and some clubs partner with health organizations to arrange screening events. I hope to resume leading a class for prediabetic individuals at the Y.
Better time in range!
Submitted Granite and Gannett Peaks (MT and WY) also 10 lesser peaks. Working on summiting all 50 state high points!
Whole year with A1C under 6 after 40 yrs with T1D
Learned to manage my pump with control IQ and increased my time in range to 86% of the time.
Considering what a stressful year this was – sold our home, many of our possessions, and moved to a one bedroom apartment in the city to reduce our bills. Worked at my place of employment all through the various shut downs. This is not where I thought I would be in my mid 60’s – but throughout all of that kept my A1C in the mid 6’s, and am grateful to still be employed.
I have learned to manage my T1D better with CIQ,. My a1c is below 6.4 and my time in range is usually 90% or greater.
I spent a lot of time figuring out how to control food cravings, moods, pain, depression and family drama. There was a lot to deal with anyway, but being a T1D, having limited access to Dr.’s, supplies of all types and refiguring my mental health balance was NOT easy. My inner support ‘system’ is non-existent, except for my love, so to have my dog die in the middle of it all was a trauma too. Covid19 insecurities only made me more paranoid. My family’s pressure to visit for holiday gatherings was NOT helpful. Although I love them all, my best interest was NOT at heart. I had to be clear and say “It isn’t that I don’t want to be there, I just can’t expose myself to such large groups this year”. I just don’t see how those around me can’t respect my decisions in this regard. I’ve had T1D over 35 years, I’m stage 3 CKD and have other complications. I know T1D is SEVERELY MISUNDERSTOOD, but seriously, isn’t there any way to promote some common sense thinking-chronically sick or not??? I worry for the elderly, I worry for others worse off than I am. I have found that meditation, my pets, social media groups (specific to my true interests (even if I can’t do them in ‘real life’) and reading or Audible are great ways to stay sane <3 "D Good Luck & Godspeed to all in 2021
Although my achievements don’t come up to level of some of the ones posted, I was especially proud this year that my A1C dropped below 6 for the first time since my doctor started measuring it (about 30 years ago). Thanks to Dexcom!
Diabetes-related achievements are very specific. And narrow. ( ͡ಥ ͜ʖ ͡ಥ)👎 ( ͡ಥ ͜ʖ ͡ಥ)👎 ( ͡ಥ ͜ʖ ͡ಥ)👎 Every achievement this year—staying above ground, staying uninfected, staying away from cynicism and depression—is done despite of, not because of, the diabetic condition, the pandemic, or the economy. You’ve got to make something out of life Avant-la-lettre, not cry in your beer. ┻┳| ┳┻| _ ┻┳| •.•) ┳┻|⊂ﾉ ┻┳|
I put together a short video clip of my climbing outings in Oman for World Diabetes Day upon request from the clinic I visit in Muscat: https://youtu.be/YDTsHFcD7i8
I participated in two T1D research studies. Neither benefited me directly and they were a real pain, but I believe they will help people in the future.
Recently got a Dexcom G6 CGM. Self-taught to use it, and current Time In Range is 93%
I survived! I also started on the Libre 2 and the Omnipod
I think that every day of living with diabetes is a success and an accomplishment to say the least. I truly happy to be healthy and in more or less control of my T1D for close to 50 years now. All that we all truly need is a full fledged cure to this damn disease. 🤞🙏
I got my A1C down to 6.0 with 90% in range, which is the lowest I’ve ever been. It is usually around 6.4. My next goal is to get below a 6.0 for 2021.
My last A1C was 6.0!
After going through breast cancer surgery I have since dropped 20 pounds by cutting back on portions and exercising more. My insulin usage has dropped and I feel more in control of my diabetes.
Loop and lower a1c
Not an achievement but wanted to share my experience moving to the Medtronic 770 and how I learned the importance of the integration of cgm and insulin pumps. I originally started my pump therapy with Medtronic then went to Animas + Dexcom and back to Medtronic. The primary reason back to Medtronic was due to United health care forcing the decision BUT that is not the purpose of the comment. Through the years I have maintained the ADA goals for A1C’s through injections and pumps yet until my recent switch from the 670 to 770 I had no idea my body has changed and how much the CGM integration has helped. I setup the 770 with the same settings as I transferred from the 670 which in transferred from the Animas pump and thought the few days of no integrated cgm would be a piece of cake… unfortunately/fortunately they were not with blood sugars 300’s and 400’s. P.s. Thanksgiving didn’t help it much😀. Sugars at night were all over the place then I got back into ‘Automode’ where the integration adapts to the amount of insulin your body needs and it was like a light switch of getting sugars back to them ADA goals and sleeping at night without constant fear of those high and lows. And by no means does that mean no nights with highs or lows but much, much less. Wow this is great technology!!!
Survived! Not setting the bar high, but more poignant in a pandemic when I have been seeing half the patients in person. Raised 20,000+ for JDRF for a virtual walk- less than last year but despite COVID. With T-Slim with CIQ I see on average 94% TIR with 2% hypo- that would never ever have been possible without it! Perhaps most important- seeing so many of my T1D patients do so well with the modern tools, or at least better. That gives me great joy…
Got my A1C down to 5.7! I love my Dexcom!
I am Thankful for another year of great Diabetes care and that includes all personnel at my Diabetes Clinic. Thankful for another year in this great nation which leads the way in goodness. And another year with my family despite the rigors of being a T1D.
Yes! I survived another year (57 yrs total) with diabetes! Yay! And am continuing to work full time!
My A1c results were 7.4 in the summer, then in September, they were 7.1. These are the lowest numbers I have ever had!!
I survived so far and my 88 year old Dad has too so far. Not proud so much as grateful. Happy New Year’s Eve everyone.
Yes – A1C from 7.2 down to 6.8 – the lowest it has been in years! With CIQ TIR is improving everyday between 78 to 88% and very few low BGs. I have carefully and mindfully maintained my health and inner self equilibrium in the midst of the daily chaos thrown at us by the election and the COVID pandemic, even while working as a nurse in health care settings.
Oh – and I celebrated TID 59th year diaversary on 12/28/2020. Woohoo!!!
This year after a long and intense battle with insurance I was finally able to replace my failing Animas Vibe pump with a Tandem t:slim X2. Using Control IQ I’m now in range 88% of the time without the many lows I was experiencing before. After 65+ years living with T1, this improvement in my quality of life is a major achievement.
Observed 50 years with T1D, and my last A1c (albeit in February) was 5.6%.
I actually answered know before I read any of the comments. However, after reading comments I would say that an achievement is that I did get through this challenging year being safe and I am almost to the 60 years with diabetes Mark. I also have been able to get my hemoglobin A-1 C down from the low sevens to 6.6 but I/O that pretty much entirely to the Dexcom G6 Which I finally got through Medicare last January. By making decisions with much more accurate blood glucose information my control is better. My time in range is around 82%. I always have tried as hard as possible to do everything right to manage my diabetes but with newer technologies the results just keep getting better and better. I am so thankful for all of the new technologies and the ones that are in the pipeline. I still have to manage my insulin pump manually as none of the current pumps with automated systems are accessible to people with low vision and blindness of which I am one.
I got my Joslin 50 year medal this year.
I achieved the T:slim/Dexcom device that as many of you know makes life as a T1D MUCH, MUCH more doable!
So excited for those who have lived with it so long and keep getting better and better. I’m a LADA type 1, so just 10 yrs at age 63. I achieved great A1C, but lotta lows. Was thinking of waiting for Tandem’s patch (like Omnipod) coming end of 2021 possibly. I feel wasteful getting T-Slim for just a year. But I think I should get over it. Go for it. If it’ll help stay in range 88% of the time, as one of you said. Wow. Let’s live it up in 2021!!!
I finally found new sensor insertion sites. I only had one side of my abdomen available thanks to a colostomy and started using my arms. I have little body fat and do not want scar tissue to stop me from using pump and sensors.
I kept my a1c under 6.5 for the past 18 months!
I was able to lose ten pounds and stay at the new weight.
Lowest A1C ever @ 6.9 with CGM use & pump
For the first time in the 22 years I’ve had T1D (12 years with a pump), I really dug into my pump settings (basal and bolus) on my own. My endo seemed confident that I’d be fine on my own, and I was! I also started pre-bolusing regularly -at long last haha. Time in range increased and confidence increased!
So many: 1. From A1c of 13 at time of diagnosis, I had two readings in 2020 of 7. 2. Maintained weight loss of over 40 lbs. for year. (maybe a bit more wt.) 3. Wrote gratitude list daily which pointed me positively. 4. Made many delicious homemade meals that were healthy 5. Prioritized setting & keeping boundaries to support my mental health 6. Continued to go to supportive meetings on zoom throughout 7. Used the paid version of MyFitnessPal to track food for over 6 months 8. Able to match foods to blood sugars more readily & easily 9. Able to emotionally separate from abusive situation 10. Began to clear emotional & physically crowded spaces
I got the pump in 2020 and improved my blood sugars. But it is very expensive and not all supplies are covered by insurance.