Hba1C high

[Littlesue]

Hello my partner is type 1 diabetic and he had been told today his hba1C is 105. We both thought his diet was good. I need help and ideas for meals please.

 

[Kaylz]

It isn't just diet alone that has impact on hba1c, its general control as well

Currently what is he eating day to day?

How are his BG levels?

Does he carb count and adjust insulin to suit?

Does he pre bolus to allow the insulin time to work before the food hits his system and causes a spike?
xx

 

[Littlesue]

He takes his insulin pre meal.
mans he eats a rage. Chicken, fish, pasta. Roast dinners things like that.
To be honest his BG is always different it’s more out of range than it is in.

 

[Kaylz]

Well it may be that he needs to look at adjusting his insulin rather than changing his diet, it would certainly be worth taking a look at that first, when was the last time he did a basal test? What insulins is he using? How long before eating does he inject?
xx

 

[Littlesue]

Yeah that’s what we thought as well. I’ve just gone into sheer panic mode. Where waiting for another phone call to speak to the diabetic nurse to arrange an appointment. It could be his insulin needs changing all together

 

[Kaylz]

How long has he been diagnosed? xx

 

[trophywench]

Which brands of insulin does he use? Has he been on a carb counting and dose adjustment course?

The courses make complete sense once you get on one - best week (as a diabetic, for my treatment of me) I have ever spent and has made the whole of my life from then on so much easier.

 

[helli]

I share @Kaylz thoughts that the problem is more likely to be around his insulin dose than his diet. Having Type 1, if your doses are correct, the type of food you eat are much less relevant than it is for type 2.
Common advice is to first do a basal test to check that his basal insulin levels are correct. And then adjust his bolus if necessary.
Does he have a Libre or would you consider funding one? It would be really helpful to check his insulin doses are correct, even if you only buy one.

 

[Inka]

Not much to add to the great advice above, but does he correct (with extra insulin) when high? If he doesn’t know how to do this and what his correction factor is, he should ask. That’s not a long-term answer but correcting will help keep HbA1C down.

I totally agree with the comments about it being his insulin doses not his diet. He can eat the most perfect, wonderful diet in the world but if his doses are out, he’ll get poor results.

You didn’t answer about carb counting, but that’s crucial. He needs to get his basal dose right first with the help of his team, then sort his insulin to carbs ratio for each meal (ie breakfast, etc), count the carbs and inject accordingly.

I’m sure that he can lower his HbA1C with a little help and a few adjustments.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Littlesue

I really hope your partner finds a way to get their BGs a bit more in range for more of the time. It’s not easy, but it can be done... and many forum members have worked through the same challenges and frustrations before you.

These online courses are full of very practical tips, strategies and methods to improve BG management.

DAFNE - (dose adjustment for normal eating) available online
https://dafne.nhs.uk

BERTIE (the Bournemouth’s online diabetes management course:
www.bertieonline.org.uk

Let us know how you get on 🙂