Hi,
Thank you for the question. First of all, as a diabetes nurse, I would like to congratulate you to decrease A1C levels from 9.3 to 7.3 in just 2 months. It is really a great achievement. Also congratulations for checking your blood sugar in regular intervals. According to American Diabetes association A1C should be under 7% and according to American Academy of Endocrinologists, it should be under 6.5%. Anyway, A1C goals should be mended according to the factors including risk of low blood sugar levels. Unfortunately, you haven’t mentioned anything about low blood sugar. So, here I would like to advise you to work on your NP in changing insulin dosage you take. It seems that your bed time sugar readings are on the higher side. So, you have to tweak your bed time carb intake a little or adjust your bed time insulin a little. A combination of both can also be tried. It is recommended to check blood sugar levels in every two hours after meals and see whether things have changed or not. It is advised to take a generally similar carb diet every day. Please consult with a dietician who is specializing in diabetes for more detailed diet planning. Being your bedtime carbs are over twice in count than that of morning, it is recommended to change it a bit.
Your breakfast before a 50 mile drive is also a matter of concern. It is strongly recommended to check blood sugar level before a long drive to prevent you from going to a low sugar level while on drive. Ask your NP about your required pre-driving sugar level. Better keep some snacks and treatment facility for a low blood sugar level, stocked in your car itself.
Spike you saw with sugar levels is not to be surprised. Both the foods you took: cider and donut hole contains simple sugary carbohydrates which tend to increase sugar levels to spikes of heights. This is more evident when you eat these alone without other heavy snacks. Half a cup of cider can also be used to rapidly increase sugar level when one is in a low sugar level. If you wish to eat these again, ask your NP and dietician for diet plan and insulin coverage. A rapid acting insulin coverage will allow you to eat all these without much hassle. Alternatively, you may limit amounts of these foods you like to take.
Stay healthy. Wish you good luck.