3 months from being type 2 to now not being diabetic

[brydog]

Hi all, 3 months ago I had a blood test with a hba1c reading of 96, had another blood test last week and it was 45 so I'm not diabetic anymore/in remission. I am on metformin 2 times a day and have just changed my diet and what I eat and drink and do a lot more exercise. Has anyone else had experience with this?

 

[Lucyr]

Congratulations on the improvement in a1c. However I would say you are still diabetic because if you stopped the metformin and exercise and went back to your old diet your blood sugars would go up. You’re just a diabetic with good management of your blood sugars now.

 

[brydog]

Ah right thanks for the info, I feel a lot better for the weight loss and loads of people has commented me on how different I look because of it

 

[rebrascora]

Congratulations on your success. There are many members here who have followed similar lifestyle changes and seen similar improvements. Great work!
Remission is, I believe, considered to be 2 consecutive HbA1c results in the normal range, ie below 42 without medication, so whilst your achievement is fantastic and you should be extremely proud of yourself, you still have a little way further to go for full remission, so don't hang up your laurels just yet. Keep at it and look forward to you posting to say that you have achieved that next goal.

 

[Ljc]

Well done, you have obviously worked hard . Yes I am afraid @Lucyr is correct about you still being diabetic. However reaching remission which in medicalise means the condition is not active but not cured) may well be possible for you so please do not give up hope of this.

 

[brydog]

Thanks

 

[Leadinglights]

It is wise to be cautious in saying one no longer has diabetes, as even though you might have got down to the prediabetic range or even below it goes not take much to suddenly find yourself back up again. There seem to be many factors which conspire to push up the levels again. In my case a change in circumstances, retirement so less exercise, slipping up on watching the carbs, all leading to putting on weight and the stress of having my family working on the front line in the NHS with COVID was enough. Back down again now but yes caution is the name of the game, I suppose for life really.

 

[Amigo]

Hi all, 3 months ago I had a blood test with a hba1c reading of 96, had another blood test last week and it was 45 so I'm not diabetic anymore/in remission. I am on metformin 2 times a day and have just changed my diet and what I eat and drink and do a lot more exercise. Has anyone else had experience with this?

I wouldn’t want to burst your bubble because you’ve done brilliantly but as said, 45 is pre-diabetic so your glycemic control is still compromised. I went from a Hba1c of 52 and rarely again registered even in pre-diabetic range without meds over 5 yrs. Even so, I was never said to be ‘cured’ or in remission. My last two readings were 36 and 45 so I’m creeping up and it’s a constant struggle.
Keep doing the good work you were doing because the lifestyle choices have turned things around for you albeit with medication.

 

[brydog]

Thank you everyone for your opinions and education. I have just started the ozempic to help with weight loss and my diabetes nurse said if I was to come off the Metformin I would also not be prescribed the ozempic so she has suggested staying on Metformin till I am at a weight I am happy with and can continue it on my own. I'm just happy I have managed to at least bring it down. As my nurse was shocked as she said it would have come down by 5 maybe 10 percent. I changed doctor's at the start of my diabetes because I felt my nurse at the time wasen't encouraging enough and was all doom and gloom

 

[goodybags]

Well done @brydog
that’s quite some drop in such a short time, your obviously eating a different diet and doing the right things, I’m sure your next HbA1c will continue to reflect the changes you’ve worked on,

 

[Maca44]

Big big achievement full stop.
Key now is low carb and exercise but you should see this as a change in lifestyle not a temperary thing so it's important that you enjoy the food and exercise you can't just stop one day and say right I'm off meds so it's all gone, remmition is just that not a cure.

Your doing great so well done.

 

[rebrascora]

The Ozempic is also considered a diabetes medication.
Many Health Care Professionals (HCPs) have no idea of the power of dietary changes and particularly low carb eating in lowering Blood Glucose levels (and/or they have no belief in people's ability to drastically change their diet and lifestyle)
Following a low carb way of eating is only second to injecting insulin effectiveness wise as a means of reducing blood glucose levels. Most HCPs believe that carbs are an essential part of our diet and including them as a large proportion of each meal is necessary but that fat is dangerous for our health. What many of us find is that eating more fat and cutting the carbs right back, we don't feel hungry, eat less and lose weight and out BG levels are more stable.

Good to hear that you have moved to a GP practice where the staff are more supportive and positive. That is so important.

Good luck with the Ozempic. There are a few threads here on the forum started by people using it, if you are interesting in reading other people's experience with it and sharing your own perhaps. It can be helpful to compare notes with others on such matters.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Well done on tour great results @brydog

Really hope the Ozempic works well for you and helps with your weight loss efforts.

Keep us posted with how you get on, and keep going!