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Hi from a newbie!
- Thread starter Andy_me
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ColinUK
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- Type 2
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That's not so bad. As Adrian said, with a little effort you should be able to get that HbA1c down. The added benefit of making the effort will also be to drop some pounds. When I was diagnosed I was heavier than you are now and although I've put back on about 10kgs since my lowest I'm now about 94-95Kgs and can feel the difference when it does creep up a bit.
What does your typical meal look like? And for a typical day? Let's see if we can't suggest some really simple switches you can make.
What does your typical meal look like? And for a typical day? Let's see if we can't suggest some really simple switches you can make.
adrian1der
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If I've done the sums right I was 278lbs and have dropped to 188.6
adrian1der
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- Relationship to Diabetes
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@Andy_me Weight isn't just about how many calories you eat and how many you 'burn' up in doing exercise. the Resting Metabolic Rate has a much larger effect than exercise. Also hormones have an effect both on how hungry you are (or not) and on whether you 'burn' body fat or store it.
Your HbA1C is low enough that you can easily make small reductions in consuming carbohydrates and get your HbA1C back into the 'normal' range. Cutting carbohydrates down a little helps in 3 ways:
1. Carbs turn into glucose soon after you put them into your mouth. So reducing carbs will reduce your post prandial Blood Glucose and longer term (because it's an average over around 3 months) your HbA1C.
2. Natural insulin is produced by the pancreas in response to the Blood Glucose. Insulin is known as the 'fat storage' hormone because if there is any excess Blood Glucose not taken up by muscles and other cells, the insulin will attempt to force it into either existing or new fat cells. When insulin is high it's not possible to 'burn' excess body fat.
3. Carbs hold water in the body which in turn holds sodium (salt). Thus reducing carbs means you hold less water and salt, so both your weight reduces due to retaining less water, and also tends to reduce you Blood Pressure.
Good swaps for potato and pasta are : celeriac, Swede, 'courgetti' and egg or bean low carb pasta (available from Aldi, Asda and other supermarkets).
Your HbA1C is low enough that you can easily make small reductions in consuming carbohydrates and get your HbA1C back into the 'normal' range. Cutting carbohydrates down a little helps in 3 ways:
1. Carbs turn into glucose soon after you put them into your mouth. So reducing carbs will reduce your post prandial Blood Glucose and longer term (because it's an average over around 3 months) your HbA1C.
2. Natural insulin is produced by the pancreas in response to the Blood Glucose. Insulin is known as the 'fat storage' hormone because if there is any excess Blood Glucose not taken up by muscles and other cells, the insulin will attempt to force it into either existing or new fat cells. When insulin is high it's not possible to 'burn' excess body fat.
3. Carbs hold water in the body which in turn holds sodium (salt). Thus reducing carbs means you hold less water and salt, so both your weight reduces due to retaining less water, and also tends to reduce you Blood Pressure.
Good swaps for potato and pasta are : celeriac, Swede, 'courgetti' and egg or bean low carb pasta (available from Aldi, Asda and other supermarkets).
Felinia
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- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi
You've had lots of good info about losing weight and food changes.
I want to touch on white coat syndrome which I have had for around 40 years. I can measure at home and be 125/82 and 5 minutes later, having driven to the surgery, been 210/110! Under advice from my GP I bought a home blood pressure measuring kit - the armband variety. At least twice a year I do a 3 week testing regime and record the results. I recorded twice in the morning and twice at night, 5 minutes apart, after I have been seated for 30 minutes and not had anything to eat or drink in that time. I've set up a spreadsheet and it works out the average for me.
You will find as the weight drops off, and you build in exercise, your BP will also drop naturally. Best wishes
You've had lots of good info about losing weight and food changes.
I want to touch on white coat syndrome which I have had for around 40 years. I can measure at home and be 125/82 and 5 minutes later, having driven to the surgery, been 210/110! Under advice from my GP I bought a home blood pressure measuring kit - the armband variety. At least twice a year I do a 3 week testing regime and record the results. I recorded twice in the morning and twice at night, 5 minutes apart, after I have been seated for 30 minutes and not had anything to eat or drink in that time. I've set up a spreadsheet and it works out the average for me.
You will find as the weight drops off, and you build in exercise, your BP will also drop naturally. Best wishes
ColinUK
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I'd recommend an Omron wrist monitor. It's very accurate and it's connected to an app so it automatically records the stats,
Leadinglights
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We have a Omron arm monitor and it comes with a certain cuff size but it got a puncture and when we sent for a replacement realised different sizes were available and also read it was important to have the correct size for your arm.
It is very reliable and is often the make the G Ps use.
It is very reliable and is often the make the G Ps use.
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Welcome to the forum @Andy_me
You’ve had some great ideas and suggestions already, so I just wanted to say ‘hi’.
If you want to access some additional help and support for your efforts to lose weight and lower your HbA1c you may he able to refer yourself under this pilot project which has recently been extended
forum.diabetes.org.uk
One common suggestion for newcomers here is to begin keeping a food diary. A ruthlessly honest one! Note down everything you eat and drink, along with a reasonable estimate of the total carbohydrate content (not just ‘of which sugars’). This can feel like a bit of a faff, but it will give you hugely helpful guide as to which meals and snacks are the main sources of carbs in your menu - and therefore which are most likely to be raising your BG levels.
You’ve had some great ideas and suggestions already, so I just wanted to say ‘hi’.
If you want to access some additional help and support for your efforts to lose weight and lower your HbA1c you may he able to refer yourself under this pilot project which has recently been extended
At risk of diabetes? You can refer yourself for extra support
As part of a pilot programme, people at risk of developing T2 diabetes in England can now refer themselves for additional supoort as part of the NHS diabetes prevention programme. (If you live in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland you will still need contact your GP if your risk is moderate or...
forum.diabetes.org.uk
One common suggestion for newcomers here is to begin keeping a food diary. A ruthlessly honest one! Note down everything you eat and drink, along with a reasonable estimate of the total carbohydrate content (not just ‘of which sugars’). This can feel like a bit of a faff, but it will give you hugely helpful guide as to which meals and snacks are the main sources of carbs in your menu - and therefore which are most likely to be raising your BG levels.
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- Relationship to Diabetes
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Let us know how it works out if you give it a go!
No, it's not normal - feel very lucky!
As I said earlier, you can improve Blood Pressure by lifestyle (a Low Carb way of eating) plus moderate exercise. They seem to agree to some extent, which is nice.
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