Low carb diet

[siouxg65]

Hi
On January 26th 2023 my yearly diabetic blood tests came back at the Dr's. My Hba1c result was 117 (12.9 mmol/). I was faced with a decision life or death. I chose life and so set out to reduce my blood sugars.
After a lot of research; I love knowing what's happening it's the scientist in me, I opted to go on a very low carb food plan.
I had suspected for a long time that white starchy carbs didn't do well in my body. A bowl of pasta would send me to sleep!
I used an app to set my Calorie intake, my daily net carb allowance and my protein and fat percentages for the day.
This morning my blood sugars are 6.4 mmol/l (46 Hba1c). I've lost 19 pounds and 10cm off my waist. This Friday I'm meeting with my diabetic nurse to discuss the withdrawal of my diabetic meds.
This is a lifestyle change, a permanent change and a life saving change.
Not giving my body lots of carbohydrates means that it has to turn to fat as a fuel. At 283 pounds I have a lot for it to use!!
I won't say it's an easy way of life, especially since my favourite meal would be fresh bread and butter. However I'm learning to cook with new low carb ingredients so plan to make my own low carb bread.
I'm baring all this to you folks in the chance that I will give you hope that you can live with diabetes and find a food plan that suits you.

 

[MrPixels]

How do you calculate the HBa1c from a reading in mmol's?...

 

[Lucyr]

This morning my blood sugars are 6.4 mmol/l (46 Hba1c)

Is that hba1c from a blood test a nurse has done from your arm? You can’t calculate an hba1c from fingerprick home readings.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

How do you calculate the HBa1c from a reading in mmol's?...

It's not possible as the two measures are evaluating different (though related) things. There's no direct mathematical conversion between the two.

However various estimates have been derived from pairs of data (wide ranging average glucose values including before and after food readings, paired with a lab HbA1c result). It is these sorts of formulae that CGM and apps like mySugr use to offer an estimate of HbA1c from multiple fingerstick or sensor readings.

One formula would be

HbA1c (in %) = (AverageBG + 2.52) / 1.583

That formed a 'best fit' between the paired values way back when I looked into this about decade ago. Though in practice it was always a bit optimistic for my own results.

Of course these day you'd then have to convert % to mmol/mol for international standard expression of HbA1c.

This you can do mathematically here

What is HbA1c?

HbA1c is your average blood glucose (sugar) levels for the last two to three months. If you have diabetes, an ideal HbA1c level is 48mmol/mol (6.5%) or below. If you're at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, your target HbA1c level should be below 42mmol/mol (6%).

www.diabetes.org.uk

Or with
(Hba1c% - 2.15) x 10.929

 

[siouxg65]

OK there's a converter on the diabetes uk website. I use it just to see what my daily finger prick test would be. I know the Dr's tests are an average.... over several weeks and my test is a daily test.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

OK there's a converter on the diabetes uk website. I use it just to see what my daily finger prick test would be. I know the Dr's tests are an average.... over several weeks and my test is a daily test.

Ah! I understand the confusion.

The conversion is between the new international standard units of HbA1c (mmol/mol) and the old HbA1c style which expressed in %.

I think one of the motivators for the change was the way that % HbA1c values can look a bit like fingerstick glucose readings in mmol/L... but unfortunately the expressions of mmol/mol (HbA1c) and mmol/L (fingerstick glucose) are a bit confusing in their own way!

 

[rebrascora]

Hi.

Many congratulations on your excellent progress. Many of us here follow a low carb approach and find that not only does it help us control our BG levels but there have been other health benefits too. For myself a complete cessation of debilitating migraines and significant reduction in joint pain are the main ones, but also better sleep.. After a while the craving for carbs stops and you find new favourite foods. I was a sugar addict and I loved bread and butter too and potatoes, but I really don't miss them now. I share a fish and chip supper with my partner once a month and I have half the fish and about 10 chips and that is enough. In fact, my stomach can no longer cope with the sort of portions I used to eat now and I rarely feel hungry even if I have only had one or two meals a day.

Anyway, thanks for posting your inspirational story and good luck with the ongoing process. As others have said, using a single BG reading from a finger prick to estimate HbA1c is very tenuous, partly because BG levels vary so much throughout the day and night, but that 6.4 is a good in range "normal" reading so it bodes well for a massively improved HbA1c when you are next tested. Don't be too disappointed if it isn't as low as 46 because it will take time for all that highly glycated haemaglobin to be replaced in your blood stream, but keep at it and you certainly should get there. Good luck with the medication reduction.

 

[siouxg65]

Thank you. I can relate to the other benefits. I am also refusing my painkillers as I don't feel I need them as much. I know the Hba1c conversion isn't the same as at the Dr's it's just I wanted to relate their reading to my home blood machine. My last Hba1c reading last week was down to 79. It's going in the right direction....