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Hi there I am a 38 year old,generally quite fit male and 3 months ago had a pre diabetes diagnosis following an a1c result. I have worked hard over the last 3 months and basically axed all refined sugars. However- following a follow-up a1c test my reading were still 39.9 . My GP has said this is satisfactory but I am amazed that my reduction is so little and my GP is so uninterested. I wonder if I should seek advice from a specialist? Any advice would be extremely welcome
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Hello @Tom Coates, welcome to the forum. With an Hb1ac of 39.9 it now means that you are under the pre diabetes range which is 42 to 47 , so please give yourself a oat in the back for getting yourself back into the normal range . I guess your Gp is happy because you are now in the normal range, but I am wondering you would prefer to have a wee bit more wriggle room ?
If you don’t mind me asking what was the result of your first a1c.
However- following a follow-up a1c test my reading were still 39.9 . My GP has said this is satisfactory but I am amazed that my reduction is so little and my GP is so uninterested.
You're now below the magic 42, so (following the guidelines) your GP is probably a bit limited in what they're able to offer even if they thought it might be worthwhile (and quite likely they're thinking that 40 is within the normal range so it's better not to worry).
You're now below the magic 42, so (following the guidelines) your GP is probably a bit limited in what they're able to offer even if they thought it might be worthwhile (and quite likely they're thinking that 40 is within the normal range so it's better not to worry).
Hi Tom, Welcome to the forum.
Don't be disappointed unless this 3 month effort you have made is unsustainable. This Diabetes thing is a marathon, not a sprint, so it is important to find a lifestyle (a Way Of Eating, plus some exercise) which manages your Blood Glucose while also being enjoyable and easy for you to sustain.
The sustainability part is often overlooked, but it is hugely important because eventually 'will power' alone will fail since we are only human.
Hello @Tom Coates, welcome to the forum. With an Hb1ac of 39.9 it now means that you are under the pre diabetes range which is 42 to 47 , so please give yourself a oat in the back for getting yourself back into the normal range . I guess your Gp is happy because you are now in the normal range, but I am wondering you would prefer to have a wee bit more wriggle room ?
If you don’t mind me asking what was the result of your first a1c.
My a1c test was 42 in August this year and had since dropped to 39.9. what alarmed me is that I have never been over weight and was quite concious of sugar before. Now I basically don't eat anything with added sugar and drink 2-3 alcoholic drinks a week max so was expecting more positive results which has led to my concerns !
My a1c test was 42 in August this year and had since dropped to 39.9. what alarmed me is that I have never been over weight and was quite concious of sugar before. Now I basically don't eat anything with added sugar and drink 2-3 alcoholic drinks a week max so was expecting more positive results which has led to my concerns !
For some people, HbA1c just reads a bit higher. It can also be increased by anaemia and likely other things. So it's possible it doesn't mean anything much. On the other hand nobody's going to recommend against eating more healthy food, doing a bit more exercise, etc., regardless of why you're doing that.
So no one ever told you that diabetes is an inability to deal with carbohydrate?
The carbohydrates we come across most are starches and sugars, so bread potatoes and pasta, rice sweetcorn oats etc are just as much contributing to your blood glucose as fruits and processed foods.
I agree with @Drummer. Diabetes is not just about sugar but carbohydrates in general. Your body will break down bread and potatoes and other starchy foods to glucose almost as quickly as sugar, so if you are still eating lots of bread and/or pasta/rice/potatoes/breakfast cereals even the healthy wholemeal versions then you cannot necessarily expect to see a significant decrease although I personally would be very happy with an HbA1c of 39 or 40 which are after all in the normal range.
Bear in mind that stress will also increase your Blood Glucose levels, so if you are under pressure, as many people are these days, that can also play a part.
I agree with @Drummer. Diabetes is not just about sugar but carbohydrates in general. Your body will break down bread and potatoes and other starchy foods to glucose almost as quickly as sugar, so if you are still eating lots of bread and/or pasta/rice/potatoes/breakfast cereals even the healthy wholemeal versions then you cannot necessarily expect to see a significant decrease although I personally would be very happy with an HbA1c of 39 or 40 which are after all in the normal range.
Bear in mind that stress will also increase your Blood Glucose levels, so if you are under pressure, as many people are these days, that can also play a part.
Thanks alot for your response . Cutting the obviously refined sugars has been my start but absolutely I agree that carbs in general are an equal contributor. I do quite a bit of sport which has been hard to balance out post excercise with low carb options . I've been following a ketogenic type diet in some ways. Basically high fat ( but only fresh dairy really and avocados ) and low carb which I like as a diet but just involves planning !! Stopping at a service station when stuck somewhere for work is a flipping nightmare in terms of options . In short , there are none are there !
Thanks alot for your response . Cutting the obviously refined sugars has been my start but absolutely I agree that carbs in general are an equal contributor. I do quite a bit of sport which has been hard to balance out post excercise with low carb options . I've been following a ketogenic type diet in some ways. Basically high fat ( but only fresh dairy really and avocados ) and low carb which I like as a diet but just involves planning !! Stopping at a service station when stuck somewhere for work is a flipping nightmare in terms of options . In short , there are none are there !
My brother grows masses of the most fabulous Haas avocados in the north of Tenerife, so it is not necessary to go all the way to Australia! If global warming continues you will be able to grow them here soon. I actually had a stone sprout and grow in my compost bin a few years ago!
Yes, it is very necessary to plan, as most places do not cater for low carb eating. Even walking into a large supermarket, it can be quite challenging to find a healthy low carb "on the go" meal. Once you get into the swing of it, you find the right products to buy during your weekly shop so that you have things on hand for a grab and go snack when you need it. Lidl do a small frittata which is just 10g carbs and I have it with a salad and cheese coleslaw or they do a Greek salad with olives and feta with negligible carbs. Nature Valley Protein Bars have just under 10g carbs per bar and taste really good and are useful to keep you going if you are busy working through lunch.
