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Several people have told me lately how A1c results aren't all that important. I agree that A1c's aren't the ONLY lab test or number that diabetics need to be concerned over in their diabetes management. But it's also ingrained into me that A1c's are a very important number in diabetes control.

For about ten years, I went to a doctor who was directly involved in the DCCT trial. I researched the DCCT for a science fair project in 7th grade. I've seen the results. I've heard the stories. A1c results are valued by most endocrinologists in this field. Obviously, there is something to this.

For me, my A1c is one of the telling factors about my control. It's the guiding light at the end of the tunnel. There is an ultimate goal in my mind regarding my diabetes and regarding that number. It's important to me. I'd rather have a lower A1c than risk running at a higher result and increase my chances of diabetic complications.

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It's the end of my logging week again, so I'm sitting down to examine the logbook that I hold so dearly close to my diabetes management's heart. The time that I set apart for this goes something like this. First, I update the logbook with my most recent numbers, Lantus doses, and any important comments including new prescriptions, strange food choices, or exercise. Next, I tally daily averages as well as averages for time of day. After that, I analyze those averages compared to the last weeks averages and look for any resounding patterns that might need changing.

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One of my recent posts highlighted how diabetes can blind side us on any given day. It doesn´t fit into the mold of life, especially MY mold of life. This has me wondering, "What is diabetes control?"

Some people in my life have questioned whether or not I am out of control as a diabetic. They wonder if I know as much as I seem to know or if I actually practice what I preach. They wonder how I can blog about numbers like 47, if I truly manage this disease.

My statements to them are always the same: everyone´s diabetes is different. Mine is complicated by other health conditions. I also have a history of lows; lows that sneak up on you and catch you unaware.

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There are certain things in our lives that we do because we know they need to be done. No matter how physically or emotionally painful, we have to do them.

Like going to the dentist. Which is especially important for those of us with diabetes because diabetes can make a person twice as likely to develop gum disease, which can make blood sugar management more challenging, which makes the gum disease worse, which can lead to kidney failure and heart disease, etc., etc.

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Diabetes is never just one disease to handle. Sure, technically, medically, or definitively, diabetes is simply one disease. But in the daily management of the disease, it's a complex ball of diseases and risks.

Most of us understand the complications that come along with diabetes. We know that better control lowers our risk for all of those complications. We understand that those complications sometimes have a mind of their own, that despite years of good control they might still creep into our lives.

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As a young twenty-something, I'm very in tune with my inner Facebook(er). So I've noticed the trend of posting 25 random things about yourself, although I haven't quite given into it yet. However, I decided after this 25 random things post to create my own 25 random diabetes things.

So here's my 25 Random Things About My Life With Diabetes:

1. Diabetes is sometimes the best thing that's happened to me.

2. It's also often the worst.

3. I rarely follow any type of diabetes diet, although I'm sure it'd help my control.

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It's my time...to plan phase 2 of my healthcare team.

I'm a girl. A 21-year-old girl. A girl who has spent the last year listening to friend's talk about engagements, attending weddings of high school pals, and buying baby shower gifts for my already-coupled friends. Sometimes it feels like everywhere I turn, someone else is getting engaged or married or growing their family.

All that means that my mind is constantly confronted with the fact that potential coupledom and familyhood is in my future. That means I spend a lot of time thinking about this future, with these couples and families of my imagination. My mind trails in daydreams to consider the kind of guy I want to marry, getting pregnant, and growing old together.

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Back in February 2008, I started blogging for dLife. I'd written my own blogs before, but only on things like Xanga or Blogger or Facebook. It was never something that I could tally hundreds of people reading. And it certainly wasn't something visited by the very specialists themselves (by specialists, I mean each and every diabetic reading these posts).

When I first started, I thought I'd do fine. After all, I was a natural born writer. I loved to write. And diabetes seemed like an easy topic. But over the first months, I realized how hard it can be to put my diabetes life out there.

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Most people who read this set of symptoms think, "common cold" or today, "rhinovirus". But it also describes the symptoms suffered by many with seasonal or other allergies.

The general term is "histamine reaction" — and while these symptoms don't describe all histamine reactions (hives, localized swelling, and/or general bloating can also be present in a histamine reaction) — the correct diagnosis should be histamine reaction until an underlying cause (allergies, rhinovirus, influenza, etc.) is determined.

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