Blood sugar

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

Johnpt

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
My blood sugar is never below 10. This morning it was 11.9. Is this acceptable? No one at the doctors seems concerned. I am 76 years old, 6ft tall and only 11 stones in weight.
 
Hi Johnpt, welcome to the forum
If you could give a bit more information as that will help to say if it is OK or not though it does sound rather high but so does 10 but depends on when you tested.
Are you on any medication for your diabetes, how long have you been diagnosed and what is your HbA1C. Was your test result a fasting morning test or after food.
 
I was first diagnosed in 2004. My test was a fasting one taken about 10am this morning. I don’t know what HbA1C is. Sorry to be thick!! It has been over 10 since November 2021. I was taken off Pioglitazone in September by the hospital when I was in with pneumonia.
 

Attachments

  • CAE32966-65BE-41A4-A2F8-86929CA75ADC.jpeg
    CAE32966-65BE-41A4-A2F8-86929CA75ADC.jpeg
    42 KB · Views: 8
  • BA665E0D-3125-4EEF-BBCE-BD1E3CCBA22B.jpeg
    BA665E0D-3125-4EEF-BBCE-BD1E3CCBA22B.jpeg
    54.1 KB · Views: 10
No question is “thick” @Johnpt 🙂 The HbA1C test gives a kind of average of your blood sugar over the preceding 3 months. It’s usually given as a number eg 52, 65, 94, 108. It’s the blood test your surgery usually does to check your diabetes control. If you can contact them, you could ask when your last HbA1C was and what the result was. Get the actual number not just a comment. Occasionally, the result will be given in the old units and so will be something like 6.8% or 8.1%, etc.

The blood sugar targets are sometimes slightly higher for older people, but I’d still say that your 11.9 is higher than ideal. Have you made any dietary changes to help control your blood sugar? What would an average day’s food look like for you?

If you haven’t seen the diabetes nurse at your GP surgery for a while, I would give the surgery a call and request an appointment.
 
Hi and welcome.

I doubt any of us knew what an HbA1c was before someone told us so you are certainly not "thick" in not knowing. It is the blood test used to diagnose diabetes and track your progress in managing it. It is usually blood taken from your arm and sent off to the lab where they measure the amount of glucose molecules stuck to your red blood cells. These cells have a life span of about 3 months so the result kind of gives you an idea of your average Blood glucose reading over the course of the previous 3 months. It is usually a number in excess of 47 as 48 or above gets you a diabetes diagnosis but it can be possible in some cases to then push it back to normal levels (under 42) with the right diabetes management. If things are badly swry with your diabetes then it can be well into 3 figures.
 
Hi, I have been in touch with the surgery, they haven’t a clue what the HbA1C is. I have never seen a GP about my diabetes since I was diagnosed and there is no specialist diabetic nurse there!! Having a blood test next week. Will let you know. Thanks for your advice.
 
That is appalling that they don't know what an HbA1C is as that is the primary test used to diagnose diabetes. Who prescribes the metformin as it would be unusual for a surgery not to do a medication review and arrange to routine blood tests that people with diagnosed diabetes should be having regularly like kidney function and B12 amongst others.
You should also have been having foot and retinal screening eye checks.
You obviously have done the right thing by getting a blood glucose monitor so you can check your glucose levels.
I suspect that you have been given little dietary advice and reducing carbohydrates you are having would help bring down your rather high fasting level and also the levels after food during the rest of the day.
You might find this link helpful as the principals are what many people here follow to manage their type 2 diabetes.

Freshwell Low Carb Project – Real Food, Low Carb, Good ...https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk
 
Thanks for your reply. Had my eyes screened in November 2021 but not had a foot check for 2 years, but I am on a list.
 
@Leadinglights I would not expect he receptionist at my GP surgery to know what a HBA1C is. That i not a criticism of them just that I do not consider it to be part of someone's knowledge unless they are very proactive in managing diabetes. In addition, I believe it is only recently that some surgeries have migrated away form the OGTT for diagnosing diabetes.

@Johnpt do you have access to your healthcare records online. I believe we all have a right to access them now so if you don't it is something you can request. That will enable you to review the results of any tests you have had in the past without hassling the GP receptionist. (I only use the word "hassling" because my surgery receptionist always appear overworked and hassled. )
 
I did this yesterday, I had a load of test done then got a text to say all is normal. I was interested to know my hba1c etc, went on to my doctors website, then systems online, then records and requested access from my doctors. Access was granted within the hour.
 
This would mean that your average BG is running at about 8.5.
53 is not a terrible number. Have you had any further advice/help from the doctors ?
 
Johnpt said:
Had a blood test on Friday, rang for the results today. HBA1C was 53.
Click to expand...
That is not too bad and with some dietary changed you should be able to get it down by your next blood test. Keeping an eye on the high carb foods and cutting out some and reducing portions of others would be a good start. There are plenty of dietary ideas around the forum on food and recipes and in the link to the Freshwell dietary regime.
 
Only spoke to a receptionist who said to keep on with the tablets I am on. That was it.
I can not cut down on food, I am under 11 stones now. Will see how it goes.
 
There was no suggestion you should cut down on food generally - only the amount of carbohydrate you consume - so if you eg have 4 pieces of boiled potato with your meat and other veg - try having 3. If you use medium or thick sliced bread - try medium or thin. So say dinner was pork chop 4 pieces of spud and peas - and you cut down on the spud - compensate with either more peas or have cauliflower as well. Or, a bigger chop. Nobody needs to starve!
 
Johnpt said:
Had a blood test on Friday, rang for the results today. HBA1C was 53.
Click to expand...
Given your age and duration of diabetes that 53 (7% in old money) is not too bad. Prof Craig Christie, a leading diabetologist concluded from a meta analysis of Type 2 studies, that 7% to 8.5% (53-69) was the optimal range for T2s, with complications more likely above and below that range. The ACCORD study in 2009 found that driving the HbA1c below 7 was dangerous because of unintended consequences. But your morning fasting number is too high. Do you have supper at bedtime?
 
There was no intention to suggest you cut down on the amount of food you have but change what you have for less carbohydrates and more protein and healthy fats, vegetables and salads.
It is what you have rather than quantity that will improve your numbers.
 
Burylancs said:
Given your age and duration of diabetes that 53 (7% in old money) is not too bad. Prof Craig Christie, a leading diabetologist concluded from a meta analysis of Type 2 studies, that 7% to 8.5% (53-69) was the optimal range for T2s, with complications more likely above and below that range. The ACCORD study in 2009 found that driving the HbA1c below 7 was dangerous because of unintended consequences. But your morning fasting number is too high. Do you have supper at bedtime?
Click to expand...
No supper, just a couple of gin and tonics.
 
My Hba1c is NATURALLY under 7 percent, eating a menu which keeps my blood glucose in the normal range. I can't understand why anyone would stay in diabetic numbers even if advised to.
I eat low carb foods, and meat, fish seafood, eggs, cheese, yoghurt and put cream in my coffee and on desserts.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top