• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

5 years and can't get hbac down

D

Daisies

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Pronouns
She/Her
I'm 46.
South Asian gal.
Hbac has gone from 58 to 53 and now is 67 over last 5 years.

Have battled to exercise and d low carb.

Included resistance training since November 2024.

Very anaemic.

I'm having a bit of meltdown so to speak. I know I have to get up and restart the exercise. I have lost weight I've the last 2 months. So strength training is crucial.

I have been firm on not taking Metformin.

Now resigned to take it.

Hoping that if it gets my hbac to norm level, I can slowly get off it and the exercise and new bicycling I have started will help

I don't what advice I need. I'm just sitting miserable on my bed ATM
 
That does seem a big jump but if you are anaemic then the HbA1C is not particularly accurate but there is another test which would give a better indication but not often done, you could ask for the fructoseamine test.
Are you monitoring your blood glucose with a home monitor as that would give you an indication of how well you tolerate your meals.
You mention low carb but how many carbs per day or per meal do you aim at as if it is still too much then that would explain an increase in HbA1C.
You may need to be a bit stricter with carb intake if you want to avoid metformin or other oral medication.
Plenty of protein and healthy fats can replace much of the carbs and help with your anaemia and building muscle.
Have a look at this link to see how it compares to you current low carb regime. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
 
I think around 30g carbs.

What type of cows milk should I drink?
I do have a mug of milky tea, no sweeteners. Use whole milk.

Other than that. Its one slice of sourdough dark rye.

I think I need help with advice on how much to exercise. Was doing 15 minutes strength training a day
.
 
Daisies said:
I think around 30g carbs.

What type of cows milk should I drink?
I do have a mug of milky tea, no sweeteners. Use whole milk.

Other than that. Its one slice of sourdough dark rye.

I think I need help with advice on how much to exercise. Was doing 15 minutes strength training a day
.
Click to expand...
So 30g per meal? so I expect with drinks that is not coming to more than 130g per day. Whole milk or cream or any type of cows milk you prefer is fine but if it is a lot then count it in your daily carbs.
Would you like to give some example of your meals and people may spot any problem foods.
 
No per day.

Morning 2 eggs, 1/8 slice of avocado, 2 cubes of feta and slice of dark rye sourdough

Will have green tea and mint tea throughout the day

One mug of milky tea using mostly 2 parts milk and 1 part water.

Snacks are handful of nuts or pear and berries

Dinner is what I cook for family, veg or chicken or meat dish. They have chapatis. Half mg plate is salad no chapattis.
 
Daisies said:
No per day.

Morning 2 eggs, 1/8 slice of avocado, 2 cubes of feta and slice of dark rye sourdough

Will have green tea and mint tea throughout the day

One mug of milky tea using mostly 2 parts milk and 1 part water.

Snacks are handful of nuts or pear and berries

Dinner is what I cook for family, veg or chicken or meat dish. They have chapatis. Half mg plate is salad no chapattis.
Click to expand...
Do you have a home testing blood glucose monitor so you can test with a finger prick as with such a low carb diet your HbA1C is surprisingly high so there may be something going on which need investigating. If you do home testing you could show that is not consistent with the HbA1C you have.
You really are at Keto level of carbs.
 
Sorry to hear you are feeling rather downhearted by your results, despite your best efforts. I can understand how frustrating it must be to have made such huge changes to your menu, but to see your results going up :(

Do you think your very low carb approach may have possibly increased your insulin resistance? This can happen with some people at keto levels.

Metformin works by reducing insulin resistance, so it may be a help for you. We do have members who are keen to avoid meds if at all possible (which isn’t an option I ever had as a T1), but perhaps it might be worth trying for a period of time. Many can take Metformin without significant side effects, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be forever. Some members have been on meds, and eventually were able to reduce and then come off them.

Sometimes it’s a question of making the decision that’s the right thing for the moment. And then reviewing and adjusting as time goes on.
 
Thank you for replying.

Only thing is I have PCOS. So maybe that's the struggle plus really bad anaemia.

I gave a lot of thoughts to your post.

1. Scared to take meds cause I know how my GPS are sticklers for keeping people on. And I know you can't just go cold turkey on Metformin.

2. Will have to take meds to get my hbac down as I am worried about long term repercussions of high hbac. And like you said get it down in addition to eating and active lifestyle so I can slowly wean off meds when it's time.

I wish we had a local group like a weight watchers, but for those with diabetes. I think that would help cause reading through the forum it's not the GP advice helping us through this but people's experiences.

Is there a PCOS group with diabetes on this forum?
 
Hi @Daises, really pleased you joined the Forum will all of our friendly members to provide support. Diabetes can be such a pain in the bottom and some days I get very frustrated with it 😡, Glad you're feeling more positive today. Have a lovely weekend 🙂
 
Daisies said:
And everyone thank you for your contributions and helping a stranger.

I was truly miserable yesterday. But I'm up this morning and I'm ready to battle through this struggle.
Click to expand...
Hello @Daisies sorry to read you feeling you way you are. I am also south Asian and 43 so similar age to you. If you read my signature you will see I started with triple figures in November 2024 being diagnosed for first time and just last week in 4 months got HbA1C. Was major lifestyle and diet change, however due to triple figure number start I am on medications although really hope can come off medications in due course by putting into remission. This forum has been amazing source of support and advice for me when you can feel really lonely and find whole process overwhelming. Exercise wise I only do walking however I have increased steps so hitting as average of 15k a day. Some days I do more and some days I do less. I have found with my body I have to move in the day otherwise my next morning fasting reading is higher than when I have done next to nothing steps. Please reach out if you need further support 🙂
 
Daisies said:
Only thing is I have PCOS. So maybe that's the struggle plus really bad anaemia.
Click to expand...
Have you measured and tracked your BG readings either with finger pricks or a CGM such as Libre?
The reason I ask is that anaemia can affect HBa1C.
This study concluded "Treatment of iron deficiency anemia significantly decreased the HbA1c level, bringing it back to normal."
 
I am not an expert on PCOS but I believe it can lead to a greater risk of Type II diabetes. It could be that which is making it much harder for you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top