Blood test due to infection

[Portugal1000]

Hello. I went to the doctors last week with an infected foot and was given antibiotics and foot cleared up pretty quickly. Was sent for blood test as they could see I was over weight and wanted to check blood sugars. Have just seen test results on NHS app and says 53 mmol/mol which I have looked up and of course isn’t good. Apart from being very overweight (probably 4.5 stone to lose) I have not had any symptoms that I am aware of. I am 53 and really didn’t know too much about diabetes until today. So pretty darn angry with myself for letting it get out of control. Assume I will get a call from doctor this week but want to hit the road running. Any advice is greatly appreciated. I don’t know how bad 53 is and ironic that also my age. On the bright side I hope this is the wake up call I need.
Just one question really for now. If you get things under control, lose weight and manage to reduce the number, are you still always considered to be diabetic? Apologies if silly question but as I said have zero experience of this.
Thank you.

 

[Docb]

Hi @Portugal1000 and welcome to the forum.

First off, no question is considered silly. Most of us have been where you are now, knowing next to nothing, and the only way to find out things is to ask those with experience who are happy to share their knowledge and that is what you will find on here.

An HbA1c of 53 is nothing to panic about. To put it in context, anything over 48 gets you a diagnosis of diabetes so 53 puts you just into the diabetic range and taking it as a wake up call is the sensible approach. We have members who have had results well into three figures, where you really have to sit up and take notice.

If you read around the forum you will find four basic things that you can look at to get things back under control. These are:

1. Loose weight if you need to. Big factor if you are very overweight. Does not matter how you do it.
2. Reduce carbohydrate in foodstuffs. Carbs in food are converted to glucose in the gut and absorbed into the blood. Fewer carbs, less glucose.
3. Exercise.
4. Pills.

Quite how you go about things depends very much on you. Sounds like, from what you have said, that weight loss might be a good thing to focus on to start with!

So I suggest you ignore the internet in general but read around the forum and check out the Learning Zone on the red tab above as a good way of getting up to speed. Above all ask questions on here about anything you do not understand and somebody will be along to try and clear things up for you.

 

[Portugal1000]

Thank you. I have a lot of reading and learning to do and very happy I found this forum early on.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Portugal1000

Glad you’ve found us so soon. 🙂

It’s quite common to feel a whole range of emotions while processing your diagnosis, and beginning to come to terms with what it means for you. Some people liken it to a process of grieving, and the familiar stages of denial, anger, bargaining, depression and ultimately acceptance can all swirl around and feel like they are hitting you from all sides.

Try not to be disheartened about your diagnosis though - several people on the forum later reflect that their diagnosis became a sort of catalyst which prompted them to make positive changes towards a healthier and more active life. Perhaps changes that they had been intending to make for years, but had never quite managed to. Some say they’ve never been ‘healthier’.

Often you don’t realise how weary, worn down and lethargic you have been feeling. Erratic and elevated blood glucose levels can be exhausting and are linked with low mood, but this may have come on quite gradually. Making a few positive changes can give you more energy, a clearer mind, and a brighter outlook. Plus the regular checks you get after a diagnosis with diabetes mean that any potential problems may be spotted earlier, and can be sorted out sooner.

If you’ve not found it already, you might like to register for the Learning Zone (orange tab in the main menu), which has heaps of bite sized modules for you to work through at your own pace.

And keep firing away with your own questions too, or simply use the forum as a place to vent and let off steam about any frustrations you find along the way.

 

[Mrs Mimoo]

hi there I was in the same boat as you with 55mmol/l. I am now upper 30s for HbA1C due to 12/13kg weight loss from eating low carb and sticking to less than 1100 cals a day which is clearly enough for me a relativelylazy woman in mid 50s. I do 10,000 steps a day of walking but I hate gyms and I have tachycardia so that's me. I just do low carb (below 60g a day) and eat masses of green stuff and lean protein and full fat dairy. Seems to work for me. My initial weigh loss was a 12 week Newcastle diet on shakes and salads. shifted the first 8 kg.

 

[Portugal1000]

The diabetes nurse called me yesterday morning and they want me to come in for a chat and retake the blood test on 24/8.
I’ve started low cal/low carb diet around 1000 calories a day. I know I wouldn’t be able to do shakes so have ruled that out for now anyway. I guess two weeks wouldn’t be enough time to make a difference to BS levels but hopefully this puts me on the right track.