Post covid and reducing numbers...? Questions

[angel1]

Hi all,
I had covid badly in early 2020 and have had Long Covid since. At the back end of 2020 a blood test for referral purposes put me as pre diabetic at 43mmol/mol. Nothing was said ,
This July nearly 2 years on I was tested after a cellulitis infection from anninsect bite, and a 2nd bout of covid 58mmol/mol! Panic stations from GP . I had no symptoms. A week later hba1c is 52 with no change to lifestyle. I'm designated "diabetic" and told I have 3 months to "sort my lifestyle" or else meds.
I didnt eat many sweet things but cut carbs down to appx 50g/day from beginning of August.(with a little allowance for hols but nothing drastic) I've lost 10kg and this week after 3 mths hba1c is 45 and considered back at pre diabetic level. My questions are these
Can I reduce this further on the same diet?
Is it progressive?
Am I overdoing the carb reduction (feel great, find it relatively easy) should I have expected a greater drop given diet and time?
GP wants to retest in 3 mths .
Thanks

 

[angel1]

Ah I forgot to also ask...anyone else had post covid leap in sugars? GP sceptical about link

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Ah I forgot to also ask...anyone else had post covid leap in sugars? GP sceptical about link

I think the consensus is it's probably possible: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about_us/news/new-worse-cases-coronavirus

(There seems general agreement that the infection can cause damage to many parts of the body (not just to upper airways and lungs), and there's no reason to doubt that it might cause damage to the pancreas (perhaps causing Type 1) or general inflammation which might cause Type 2.)

 

[42istheanswer]

I was diagnosed only a few weeks after having covid, but I suspect that's coincidence for me (though it's possible that having high blood sugars from diabetes was why it took me longer than I expected to recover from covid - GP thought possibly chest infection and gave me antibiotics and they seemed to work. Thankfully he decided not to give me steroids unless I didn't recover with the antibiotics)

 

[Leadinglights]

You have done really well in reducing your blood glucose and if you are finding it easy with the 50g carbs per day then continuing with that should be enough to get it down to normal at below 42 mmol/l.
It is probably a combination of Covid and the cellulitis as any infection can increase blood glucose. If you had steroids as part of your treatment it could also be that as well.
It is better to bring your levels down slowly as you are less likely to get issues with your eyes and nerves.

 

[Cherrelle DUK]

Hi angel1, welcome to the forum.

I agree with those above. Everyone is different but you have a good chance of staying out of the diabetic range as long as you manage your carbs/ sugar well.

We won't know if you're overdoing it, it's what works for your body so do keep an eye on things, test and note what helps and what hinders your progress.

It's important that your lifestyle changes are sustainable, hopefully the weightloss alone will have a lasting impact but it may be worth looking at long term ways of eating that you'll enjoy.

 

[angel1]

It's important that your lifestyle changes are sustainable, hopefully the weightloss alone will have a lasting impact but it may be worth looking at long term ways of eating that you'll enjoy.

Thanks for the encouragement, I actually am really happy eating this way, which is why it's felt so doable. I don't have a sweet tooth particularly so it's been about kicking the bread habit and the mindless biscuit eating!! It feels pretty sustainable currently... Heres hoping!