Hello, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in July with a hba1c of 100, my weight was about 92kg. I was given Metformin and Atorvastatin (I declined to take gliclizide which was offered later). I went on a diet, two 800 calorie meals a day, breakfast and lunch, cut out junk food, Roy Taylor's book helped. By mid November had lost 10.5kg and a hba1c test and was 43. I continued with my diet and lost a further 5kg, I think in total about 16kg of weight loss and on 21st of February had a fructosamine test which was 268 which they said was a hba1c of 43, but when I checked online said 44? I requested this test as I have minor thalassaemia and its supposed to be more accurate, although it might not be significantly different. I'm pleased my hba1c has come down to the prediabetic range but puzzled why it didn't get any lower after a further 5kg of weight loss? I have decided to cut carbs, as previously I was eating a lot of carbs and some of that was refined carbs, hoping that might help. I'm seeing a consultant soon for advice, but just wondered if anyone has any thoughts?
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lost 5kg but hba1c the same
- Thread starter MarcR
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Well done on your amazing weight loss, and great to see the positive effect the new way of eating and weight loss has had on your HbA1c.
It seems a fairly common experience for Hba1c reduction to slow and level out after a while. Several members have found that once they reached their ‘running range’ additional reductions and tweaks to the menu had less dramatic effect. Losing the extra weight will have had health benefits, and will have reduced risk of various things independent of HbA1c though, so try not to feel disheartened that you’ve not seen the reduction you were hoping for. Low-mid 40s is a pretty solid result and evidence shows that your risks of developing diabetes complications will be massively reduced, and don’t really have much further to fall. Plus of course these are statistical risk reductions, not guarantees. So keeping your levels nicely steady, and not swinging about too much seems to confer more benefit than a lower HbA1c number achieved by bigger and more frequent swings up and down.
Congratulations on your results so far! Keep going
It seems a fairly common experience for Hba1c reduction to slow and level out after a while. Several members have found that once they reached their ‘running range’ additional reductions and tweaks to the menu had less dramatic effect. Losing the extra weight will have had health benefits, and will have reduced risk of various things independent of HbA1c though, so try not to feel disheartened that you’ve not seen the reduction you were hoping for. Low-mid 40s is a pretty solid result and evidence shows that your risks of developing diabetes complications will be massively reduced, and don’t really have much further to fall. Plus of course these are statistical risk reductions, not guarantees. So keeping your levels nicely steady, and not swinging about too much seems to confer more benefit than a lower HbA1c number achieved by bigger and more frequent swings up and down.
Congratulations on your results so far! Keep going
Thanks for the encouragement.
Well done on your amazing weight loss, and great to see the positive effect the new way of eating and weight loss has had on your HbA1c.
It seems a fairly common experience for Hba1c reduction to slow and level out after a while. Several members have found that once they reached their ‘running range’ additional reductions and tweaks to the menu had less dramatic effect. Losing the extra weight will have had health benefits, and will have reduced risk of various things independent of HbA1c though, so try not to feel disheartened that you’ve not seen the reduction you were hoping for. Low-mid 40s is a pretty solid result and evidence shows that your risks of developing diabetes complications will be massively reduced, and don’t really have much further to fall. Plus of course these are statistical risk reductions, not guarantees. So keeping your levels nicely steady, and not swinging about too much seems to confer more benefit than a lower HbA1c number achieved by bigger and more frequent swings up and down.
Congratulations on your results so far! Keep going
Just wondering how long did it take before you reached 40/41?
Leadinglights
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A bit more tweaking with your diet may do the trick, if you intend reducing carbs a bit more then this link may give you some ideas. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
Martin.A
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- In remission from Type 2
It took me 5 months from diagnosis to get to 41 and my next HbA1c was 35, but at the time I was hell-bent on getting to remission and was ruthless with my diet. More relaxed these days and the 40/41 sequence covers the last 4 years.
I'm curious what diet got you to 35? And what diet are you on now?
It will be interesting to see what my next blood results are after reducing carbs, I was eating probably 50% or more carbs but I'm aiming for 25% and see how it goes. I'm not sure I'm ready to go very low carb yet.
Leadinglights
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See how close that would be to the suggested good starting point for low carb of no more than 130g per day.
Some say low calorie and others say low carb, but
For breakfast I eat a bowl of muesli with oatmilk and berries also have fruits and nuts. For lunch one sandwich (2 slices of wholemeal bread) with butter vegan slices and mayo, also tin of vegetable soup and small tin of baked beans. Not sure how many carbs that is, but I've ordered the carbs and cals book.
Briefly, from my experience, similar numbers to yours: protein, moderate healthy fat, and vegetables is a good basic formula. Aim for protein of (say, subject to your research/experience) abou 1.2 g/day per kg/body weight and carbs of about 60-80g/day or less for weight loss (maybe less if you are like Drummer). FWIW I use Cronometer to track my nutrients.
I suggest you read this and follow this. Also the weight loss section in this and some intermittent fasting such as 5:2 may help.
I suggest you read this and follow this. Also the weight loss section in this and some intermittent fasting such as 5:2 may help.
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Leadinglights
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That is quite a lot of carbs as other than the berries everything is high carb. I think you may be shocked when you look in your Carbs and Cals book.
I would suggest you also have some digital scales to hand to weigh portions as with things like muesli it is easy to have a much more than you realise. Check for the carbs (not just sugar) on your packaging.
Ok will have to look at it, although it's less than I used to eat. I forgot about the lettuce in the sandwich but that probably doesn't make much difference.
Leadinglights
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The contents of the sandwich are less of a problem than the bread. Including protein and healthy fats in your sandwich you may be fine with what used to be very popular was an open sandwich using only 1 slice of bread. Depending on your bread it could be anything up to 40g carbs which plus the soup and beans another 40g carbs at least, would likely be adding up to more than your body can cope with in one meal.
I will have to add it all up, up to now I've only been counting calories, I've gone down from two to one sandwich so four slices to two. Perhaps I will have to go to half a sandwich!
To add to recent comments as well as my post. Protein and healthy fats are essential macro-nutrients, and make you feel full. Carbs are non-essential, and make you want more. Especially simple carbs rather than complex carbs. See, for example, choosing healthy carbs
Martin.A
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- Relationship to Diabetes
- In remission from Type 2
Low carb, ie less than 130g per day, and zero sweet stuff. Some claim that a low carb diet isn't sustainable long term but I'm still on less than 130g per day.