Freshly Diagnosed

[EllsBells]

Found out last week when my HbA1c came in at a whopping 88 (it was normal 3 years ago). To be fair - not really that surprising considering the crud I consume - I think the killer has been 2l bottles of fanta/tango and 1l plus pure fruit juice a day (yes, I know). I'm only just coming to the realisiation of the scale of this condition.

I took the test because I was experiencing symptoms - over last 6 months have been drinking and urinating loads which gave me a heads up that something might not be right. Also had some headaches, 1 what I suspect was a hyper, blurry vision and and my vulva exploded - seriously, like having eczema but on your fanny - THE ITCHING - oh my God. I put all of those down to other things.

So 9 days days in, my GP has issued me with a temporary blood monitoring thingy and has agreed to let me try diet controlled management before moving on to medication, if required. I have cut out all cakes and sweet stuff, any drinks not tea or water and am working hard on portion control and whittling out any overt carbs. I'm already pretty certain that wheat is my mortal enemy.

Have to say, my GP surgery is red hot on it. Am signed up to a course and they are referring me for an eye test and all sorts. The medical attention is a bit bewildering as I regularly go for years without any interaction with them.

The itch has already stopped!!

In 2 days of glucose testing my readings have been between 7.6 and 12.1 - they're not going down much overnight and then building up during the day as I am wfh tied to the PC. However, have a raging sore throat this morning - can that affect levels?

Long term goal, 1. Get sugars down by portion control and carb management (trying to dodge calorie counting as it is soul destroying). 2. Bring down HbA1c for my next test in mid-February. 3. As a by-product of above, lose weight, 4. Consider 800 diet for the future to attempt remission.

Any help and support gratefully accepted!

43, female, 19st, HbA1c - 88

 

[Maca44]

Sounds like you have a good plan but try taking a BG reading just before eating then 2 hours after and you will soon see what makes your BG go up. Focus on carbs not calories and like me you will be surprised to see that full fat foods are lower in carbs than low fat one's, an example is Greek yogurt, much better with full fat than low.

Carbs is the demon so you will need to cut back or remove some foods. Can't help you with the exploding vulva but can tell you that once you make changes you eyesight will get better, took me about a month before it was 100 % again so don't rush out for new glasses like I did.

 

[EllsBells]

Ye

Hi. Welcome to the Forum. You seem to have got yourself pretty clued-up already on what you need to do and can I say your GP deserves a round of applause for letting you have a crack at diet control. Most would have put you straight on to medication following an HbA1c of 88.

Martin

yeah - that happened to a friend of mine a couple of years ago - and he was only just over. I'm seriously grateful to them for allowing me to attempt it.

 

[EllsBells]

Sounds like you have a good plan but try taking a BG reading just before eating then 2 hours after and you will soon see what makes your BG go up. Focus on carbs not calories and like me you will be surprised to see that full fat foods are lower in carbs than low fat one's, an example is Greek yogurt, much better with full fat than low.

Carbs is the demon so you will need to cut back or remove some foods. Can't help you with the exploding vulva but can tell you that once you make changes you eyesight will get better, took me about a month before it was 100 % again so don't rush out for new glasses like I did.

Currently testing like mad waking, before and after meals, before bed. After a reading of 11.1 last night, I went for an hour long walk but reading was still above 8 afterwards. Am hoping to wrangle with the numbers again tonight to bring it down more.

 

[trophywench]

Sympathies with your vulva - too high BG = an ideal breeding ground for fungi - look up 'vaginal thrush' and itching down below is usually the first noticeable symptom of it, bearing in mind most of us rarely inspect ourselves in a mirror between our legs and thus notice the 'white fluffy flecks' - of course a Dr or nurse does as soon as they clap eyes on it.

If you happen to get athlete's foot - it's the same ruddy fungus. I remember my sister's mother in law getting thrush, she'd be about 60 odd at the time and her doctor told her this same info to which she commented that she was appalled - .'I've never let an athlete anywhere near me!'

 

[EllsBells]

Sympathies with your vulva - too high BG = an ideal breeding ground for fungi - look up 'vaginal thrush' and itching down below is usually the first noticeable symptom of it, bearing in mind most of us rarely inspect ourselves in a mirror between our legs and thus notice the 'white fluffy flecks' - of course a Dr or nurse does as soon as they clap eyes on it.

If you happen to get athlete's foot - it's the same ruddy fungus. I remember my sister's mother in law getting thrush, she'd be about 60 odd at the time and her doctor told her this same info to which she commented that she was appalled - .'I've never let an athlete anywhere near me!'

Hahaha! As for the athlete's foot, Ima gonna pretend I didn't hear that. *fingers in ears* lalala.

 

[trophywench]

PS 'Canesten Once' over the counter at any pharmacy but not like mega cheap - works well for the lady sort. No idea if it does for blokes - but if you are in a partnership even if he's a couch potato - we can pass it on to our blokes so both of us need to be treated to kill it dead full stop.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Long term goal, 1. Get sugars down by portion control and carb management (trying to dodge calorie counting as it is soul destroying). 2. Bring down HBA1 for my next test in mid-February. 3. As a byproduct of above, lose weight, 4. Consider 800 diet for the future to attempt remission.

Welcome to the forum @EllsBells

And well done on the great start you‘ve made already.

Good to see your BGs reducing, hope you see that continue.

Best of luck with your excellent goals. Keep us posted with how you are doing 🙂

 

[trophywench]

@Anitram 's HbA1c was well over 100 to begin with, and he never needed to resort to the '800 a day' routine - but OK - keep it in reserve - I just don't want any bit of your brain to think it's going to become inevitable, is all !

 

[Drummer]

I used low carb eating to go from Hba1c of 91 to 41 in 6 months and am still there over 3 years later.
No need for low calorie regimes.

 

[EllsBells]

I used low carb eating to go from Hba1c of 91 to 41 in 6 months and am still there over 3 years later.
No need for low calorie regimes.

That is really encouraging to hear. I'd rather not go down that route if I can avoid it.

 

[EllsBells]

Welcome to the forum @EllsBells

And well done on the great start you‘ve made already.

Good to see your BGs reducing, hope you see that continue.

Best of luck with your excellent goals. Keep us posted with how you are doing 🙂

T

Welcome to the forum @EllsBells

And well done on the great start you‘ve made already.

Good to see your BGs reducing, hope you see that continue.

Best of luck with your excellent goals. Keep us posted with how you are doing 🙂

Getting a lot of readings in the 7s now going up to 10 about once a day and my first 5.5! Only because I was 2 hours late eating lunch though. I have a ferocious cough (not corona) so not beating myself up too much by being outside optimal range.

 

[EllsBells]

Update - since cutting out the wholemeal bread, my readings have come down to just above Type 2 guidelines and all within single figures. Still have a horrible cough with lots of brown/green gunk so not feeling 100% and not been out exercising as a result. Brain fog has gone, need to nap during the day has pretty much gone and I've dropped about 10lbs. Apart from the bit between clavicle and cheek bone, I feel great!

I'm not measuring carbs as such but as sticking to low GI etc, I think I'm pretty safely in the right ball park.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

That’s great progress @EllsBells

Sounds like you’ve found a system that is working well for you. Sorry to hear about the lingering throat goop, but the numbers and lack of brain fog sound great 🙂

 

[EllsBells]

That’s great progress @EllsBells

Sounds like you’ve found a system that is working well for you. Sorry to hear about the lingering throat goop, but the numbers and lack of brain fog sound great 🙂

Yep - been playing about with basmati rice and it seems as though I'm ok with it. 100g reheated basmati under 0.5 post-prandial rise after lunch. This is a huge relief. This week, I'm testing potato as soup base. Next week tomatoes. Fingers crossed!

 

[EllsBells]

Update: my interim HbA1c last week has come back with a reading of 63. This is slightly better than I hoped after only a 6 week period. GP very pleased so next test in 3 months time and to keep what I am doing going. He also wants me to exercise my socks off. "If you're not sweating, you're not doing enough. You want to double your heart rate". Fun times. I'll see you in resus.

 

[adrian1der]

Well done @EllsBells

Great result!

 

[grovesy]

Well done.