Hi. Diagnosed type 2 (presumably) with Hba1c 93. Waiting another blood test to confirm later this week but decided to take matters into my own hands and have purchased a glucometer and had glucose readings of 11-20mmol/L over the last 48 hours. So I have an appointment with diabetes nurse in 10 days time. It seems like a long time to wait!! So I have already made changes in my diet (that feels so overwhelming) and feel ready to tackle what comes. BMI 27, Age 50, moderately actively. Symptoms: tingly toes....
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Another Newbie
- Thread starter SuperCat
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Drummer
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@SuperCat I started with HbA1c of 91 and was down to 41 in 6 months eating a low carb diet.
I did have to reduce carb intake to no more than 50gm of carbs a day to have an after meal level of no more than 8mmol/l but once I did and kept to those meals it was just a matter of waiting for things to improve.
I did have to reduce carb intake to no more than 50gm of carbs a day to have an after meal level of no more than 8mmol/l but once I did and kept to those meals it was just a matter of waiting for things to improve.
Leadinglights
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I'm not sure why another blood test would be needed as you are very definitely in the diabetic zone unless it is extra tests to check if you might be Type 1 or checking for kidney and liver function and other things.
As you now have a glucose monitor then make good use of it to do some strategic testing of your meals. Test before you eat and after 2 hours and if the increase is less than 2-3mmol/l then your meal is OK. You will be aiming at 4-7mmol/l before meals and fasting/ morning readings and no more than 8-8.5mmol/l 2 hours after eating.
Have a look at this link to see just what you can still eat and some ideas for modifying your diet https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/ This should be suitable if you are only prescribed metformin which I expect you will with an HbA1C of 93mmol/mol.
stephenS50
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SB2015
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Good morning @SuperCat and welcome to the forum.
You are clearly determined to tackle this and you have time to gather some useful information before your appointment with the nurse, which can inform the decisions that you take. As others have said your HbA1c is well into the Diabetes zone, but you have already read of others that have returned theirs to normal range.
With your test kit you can start to find out how many carbohydrates your body can cope with. This will be different for each of us. Test your BG before you eat and again 2 hours after a meal, by which time your level should be back to within 2 mmol/l (? Can someone correct me if this is wrong) of where you started Keep a record of this alongside the amount of carbohydrates you have eaten and you can start to make informed decisions about what to change. If your levels are too high after a meal you need to reduce the carbs, by making some swaps to lower carb options and/or by reducing the portion sizes.
Carbohydrates are in obvious things like rice, potatoes, pasta, cakes, sugar, … and also often loaded in sauces. I knew absolutely nothing about this before I was diagnosed, but once you start looking you soon recognise them. To find the amount in any meal you eat look at the info on the labels or use google ‘carbs in …’ . Ignore the ‘of which sugars’ bit. All the carbs will become glucose once inside you so it is the total carbs you need to look at.
Another thing that can help us reduce post meal levels is by doing some exercise. I try to follow the ‘don’t sit down for 15 min after a meal. This could mean that we go for a walk, or just do the clearing up before we slump, or a quick weeding in the garden. Whatever suits you.
That is a lot of info, but you have already decided to tackle this, so look around on the forum, take a look at the Learning Zine (orange tab at the top or in the menu) for lots of useful info. Also fire away with any questions that you have on here. There is a wealth of experience to tap into. No questions are considered silly on here. Just ask.
You are clearly determined to tackle this and you have time to gather some useful information before your appointment with the nurse, which can inform the decisions that you take. As others have said your HbA1c is well into the Diabetes zone, but you have already read of others that have returned theirs to normal range.
With your test kit you can start to find out how many carbohydrates your body can cope with. This will be different for each of us. Test your BG before you eat and again 2 hours after a meal, by which time your level should be back to within 2 mmol/l (? Can someone correct me if this is wrong) of where you started Keep a record of this alongside the amount of carbohydrates you have eaten and you can start to make informed decisions about what to change. If your levels are too high after a meal you need to reduce the carbs, by making some swaps to lower carb options and/or by reducing the portion sizes.
Carbohydrates are in obvious things like rice, potatoes, pasta, cakes, sugar, … and also often loaded in sauces. I knew absolutely nothing about this before I was diagnosed, but once you start looking you soon recognise them. To find the amount in any meal you eat look at the info on the labels or use google ‘carbs in …’ . Ignore the ‘of which sugars’ bit. All the carbs will become glucose once inside you so it is the total carbs you need to look at.
Another thing that can help us reduce post meal levels is by doing some exercise. I try to follow the ‘don’t sit down for 15 min after a meal. This could mean that we go for a walk, or just do the clearing up before we slump, or a quick weeding in the garden. Whatever suits you.
That is a lot of info, but you have already decided to tackle this, so look around on the forum, take a look at the Learning Zine (orange tab at the top or in the menu) for lots of useful info. Also fire away with any questions that you have on here. There is a wealth of experience to tap into. No questions are considered silly on here. Just ask.
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Lucyr
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Diabetes needs two hba1c to confirm a diagnosis
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Leadinglights
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Yes but the OP had symptoms and an HbA1C of 93mmol/mol
Lucyr
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NICE guidance says it’s good practice to do a second hba1c to confirm
BobbleHat
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I had my hba1c as part of my annual well woman check. That was 56, my first diabetes level reading. My results came to my NHS app. On the bit under the banner results, it says that hba1c should be repeated to confirm the diagnosis - I just assumed that was the standard NHS guideline? My second check (1 month later) was 52, so confirmed diagnosis but it was literally an hba1c. They didn’t repeat my lipid panel or liver function tests even though they were both abnormal too.
Also, sorry for kidnapping your thread.
Welcome to the forum @SuperCat.
Lucyr
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Yes NICE guideline is 2 hba1c needed to confirm diagnosis of diabetes
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Thank you that is very encouraging!!
Hi My main aim is to get the glucose down and hoping that I will then lose the 4kg that I need to to drop me in the normal BMI range. Have started already - cutting down carbs, cutting out white bread, pasta, fizzy drinks, cakes/sweets etc and increasing vegetable intake and exploring quinoa, rye bread etc. So far so good but it's hard getting it right so that I am filled up and not hungry and wanting to snack!