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Newbie - HBA1C 109

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Archie'sWalker

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Type 2
Hi newbie to this forum. Was diagnosed last year with HBA1C 83, have been quite poorly recently. Dr called first thing this morning and my HBA1C is 109.

Feeling overwhelmed and quite frightened right now. Have an appointment on the 12th to discuss further medication
 
Welcome @Archie'sWalker 🙂 You say “further medication” - what’s meds are you on now? And do you test your own blood sugar at home?
 
Hi am on metformin 2 tablets twice a day. I did start testing sugars but stopped, so I need to get this going again.

I don't know which meds at the moment, the Dr said it was a discussion for face to face first. She indicated this would be further tablets.
 
I’d definitely recommend getting the blood testing up and running again. It’s really useful to see how various foods affect your blood sugar. That way you can try to choose the best meals for blood sugar control.

I can quite imagine why you’re scared. Needing medication for anything is frightening, but if it helps get your blood sugar down then that will be beneficial long-term and also hopefully make you feel better in yourself. Your HbA1C is high, yes, but others here have had similar HbA1C results and improved them hugely so don’t be disheartened.
 
Inka said:
I’d definitely recommend getting the blood testing up and running again. It’s really useful to see how various foods affect your blood sugar. That way you can try to choose the best meals for blood sugar control.

I can quite imagine why you’re scared. Needing medication for anything is frightening, but if it helps get your blood sugar down then that will be beneficial long-term and also hopefully make you feel better in yourself. Your HbA1C is high, yes, but others here have had similar HbA1C results and improved them hugely so don’t be disheartened.
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Thank you so much for your encouragement
 
Would Archie be your doggy's name, perchance - in which case would it be fair to assume from that, that you certainly get some walking done approx twice a day, even when it's raining - if nothing in particular else? And, do you need to shed any weight?
 
Archie'sWalker said:
Hi newbie to this forum. Was diagnosed last year with HBA1C 83, have been quite poorly recently. Dr called first thing this morning and my HBA1C is 109.

Feeling overwhelmed and quite frightened right now. Have an appointment on the 12th to discuss further medication
Click to expand...
My doctor's first response was to prescribe a couple of pills which made me feel really ill.
My Hba1c went down to normal eating a low carb diet.
I got a blood glucose meter, the Spirit Healthcare Tee 2 + and by the time it arrived I was already heading for normal levels after eating. I had thrown out the pills as I never needed them in the first place.
In 80 days I had dropped from 91 to 47 and at 6 months was down to 41, and my after meal readings sank gently to below 8mmol/l, then to below 7.
That was over 4 years ago now, and all seems well.
The problem is the heavy carb content in the modern diet. If you can't cope with it things can become rather nasty, but cut down to what you can deal with and all seems well.
 
trophywench said:
Would Archie be your doggy's name, perchance - in which case would it be fair to assume from that, that you certainly get some walking done approx twice a day, even when it's raining - if nothing in particular else? And, do you need to shed any weight?
Click to expand...
Archie is our dog. My husband had been doing most of them, but since beginning of September I have slowly taken up most of them and now doing approx 3 miles a day. Still building this up, have gone from nearly nothing working from home.

I do need to shed weight, aiming for 2 1/2 stone to start with. My main obstacle is me, I need to change my relationship with food.
 
Drummer said:
My doctor's first response was to prescribe a couple of pills which made me feel really ill.
My Hba1c went down to normal eating a low carb diet.
I got a blood glucose meter, the Spirit Healthcare Tee 2 + and by the time it arrived I was already heading for normal levels after eating. I had thrown out the pills as I never needed them in the first place.
In 80 days I had dropped from 91 to 47 and at 6 months was down to 41, and my after meal readings sank gently to below 8mmol/l, then to below 7.
That was over 4 years ago now, and all seems well.
The problem is the heavy carb content in the modern diet. If you can't cope with it things can become rather nasty, but cut down to what you can deal with and all seems well.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the encouragement and wow what a difference you have made. Hubby and I are sitting down tonight to put together some menus and start to fill the freezer of some go to meals opposed to something out of a bag and on to the tray.
 
It can be a bit tricky finding things at the moment - breakfast this morning for me was pate and a tomato, then a mug of coffee with cream.
Even though it is against all accepted 'knowledge' eating a low carb diet with the normal fat which comes as standard, weightloss can be far easier than when cutting down on calories.
I lost over 50 lb without even trying - I stopped weighing myself 6 months before diagnosis, and I was almost spherical, but I did not realise I was losing weight until my clothes started to slide south - luckily when alone at home.
My freezer gets stocked up with meat and fish, sometimes with cheese and butter - they do freeze well. I also have packs of frozen berries and veges for when the fresh things are used up.
Cooking low carb is simpler than when using carbs. A cauliflower cheese, for instance, is cauliflower and cheese, with some herbs or spice if you like them - no making a sauce etc.
 
Thank you for those tips, I have been very low carb so far today, I think this will work better if I plan and shop to that plan. Am not great at veggies so will work with the ones I will eat to start with.
 
Hi Nikkie
A newbie here too - welcome 🙂
As for veggies they say those that grow under the earth should be avoided (occasional treat perhaps - but you will need to check if you spike after eating any, some do, some don't) but above ground are good to go on the whole. Loads of low carb recipes around the internet. I keep a free-to-use online food diary, logging everything I eat and drink, that really helps me keep on track. Good luck - and remember no question or concern is ever silly.
 
Don't go at it too hard - you have probably been having some high numbers to push your Hba1c so high and you might find that you go a bit wobbly - they are termed false hypos - if you lower your numbers too quickly. Low carb can be very effective, a bit too much of a shock if you are too keen.
One thing I have been enjoying now that the weather is cooler is bubble and squeak made with swede.
I cook the whole thing when I cook any, then what is left over plus some veges and eggs are mixed up and cooked next morning. I put it in a smallish pan after cooking bacon and once the underneath is cooked I put it under the grill to brown the top. I have thought of trying it with some diced onion as the mixed in vege and baking it gently with cheese on top, but never had enough left over for that.
Swede is under 4 percent carbs, far less than potato.
 
Welcome to the forum @Archie'sWalker

Hope the appointment with your Dr goes well, and you get a good feel for a positive way forward.

Sounds like you are making some great changes. And there’s no massive hurry. It’s likely that you’ve been running high levels for a while, and it can be easier on the body‘s systems to bring them down gradually.

It can be hard on the eyes and nerve endings for some people if it all happens too quickly.

Good luck, and keep us posted 🙂
 
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