Type 2. Ten years on.

[GBMAL]

Well, I looked at my historic threads and was amazed it was 2015 I went “pre”.
In summary:
I kept it suppressed for several years after going down from 80kg to 74kg (which I still am), using low carb.
The wheels came off post Covid with less resolve and less monitoring. Not been below Hb1ac of 60 for two years. Looking at the graph it was a step function which I could not reverse. Nurse suggested age related (now 72) resistance may be coming in to play. Hb1ac 71 in January so had to give in.
Started 2 x 500mg Metformin in March as a start.
Hb1ac today now 59, a 17% decrease which I am very pleased with. I wonder if it’ll continue to fall if I stick with same dose and low carb diet?
I have had no side effects from Metformin and so far no secondary effects from the T2.
I wonder if this is a typical story.
Wishing you all well.
Graham.

 

[Leadinglights]

Well, I looked at my historic threads and was amazed it was 2015 I went “pre”.
In summary:
I kept it suppressed for several years after going down from 80kg to 74kg (which I still am), using low carb.
The wheels came off post Covid with less resolve and less monitoring. Not been below Hb1ac of 60 for two years. Looking at the graph it was a step function which I could not reverse. Nurse suggested age related (now 72) resistance may be coming in to play. Hb1ac 71 in January so had to give in.
Started 2 x 500mg Metformin in March as a start.
Hb1ac today now 59, a 17% decrease which I am very pleased with. I wonder if it’ll continue to fall if I stick with same dose and low carb diet?
I have had no side effects from Metformin and so far no secondary effects from the T2.
I wonder if this is a typical story.
Wishing you all well.
Graham.

Welcome back to the forum, sorry that your HbA1C has drifted back up but it is easy for people's diet to drift over time and they can become more sensitive to carbs and may need to review their diet. Some food that were previously tolerated may now be causing a problem. It can be a good step to use a home testing blood glucose monitor to test if there are now some meals which can be pushing your blood glucose up rather too much. People would look for 4-7mmol/l fasting and before meals and no more than a 3mmol/l increase or no more than 8-8.5mmol/l after 2 hours.
I know you have said low carb but what is the amount you are aiming at per day. Generally no more than 130g carbs is low carb but some people need to go lower than that but you will only know what is right for you by testing on a regular basis.
You are going in the right direction but it is important that your chosen regime is enjoyable and sustainable otherwise things can go awry before you know it.
This link may help you with some ideas for some tweaks to your diet. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

 

[GBMAL]

Thanks for informative reply Leadinglights.
I think my diet ought to be called reduced carb rather than low as it will nowhere near match the precision you describe. I’ll look at your suggested link as I consider my next steps. Till now I aimed at minimising bread, rice, pasta and potatoes and of course no “free sugars” such as found in cakes, biscuits and bottled drinks. So as you can see elementary. I have never done any home monitoring and have been reticent to do so. Perhaps that might have to change.
I see the diabetic nurse next week and presume I’ll stay on the same dose. If I can hold in the 50s I’ll consider it a success.
Thanks again. Graham.

 

[Leadinglights]

Thanks for informative reply Leadinglights.
I think my diet ought to be called reduced carb rather than low as it will nowhere near match the precision you describe. I’ll look at your suggested link as I consider my next steps. Till now I aimed at minimising bread, rice, pasta and potatoes and of course no “free sugars” such as found in cakes, biscuits and bottled drinks. So as you can see elementary. I have never done any home monitoring and have been reticent to do so. Perhaps that might have to change.
I see the diabetic nurse next week and presume I’ll stay on the same dose. If I can hold in the 50s I’ll consider it a success.
Thanks again. Graham.

At least you are aware of the bit hitters for carbs which otherwise things may have been worse but with monitoring you may find that you can have food which you would have otherwise rejected and may have to cut back on portion size of some of the things you are still having.
I made a point of only having 1 carby food in any one meal and being careful of portions but monitoring was my guide at reducing my HbA1C and keeping in normal range without meds.
By monitoring it gives you control over managing the condition, you wouldn't drive your car without a working speedometer, I suspect you would exceed the speed limit more than you would expect so it is just like that with blood glucose, you would be eating meals that pushed your blood glucose higher than desirable.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Thanks for the update @GBMAL

And good to hear the Metformin has worked so effectively for you.

It isn’t uncommon for glucose levels (and Hba1c) to naturally rise with age, and NICE suggest this should be factored-in when agreeing individualised HbA1c targets with people.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

This reply to an earlier thread references the NICE guidance, and decision-making guide.

J

Post in thread 'HBA1C'

May 22, 2025

Splitting hairs here, but I think it’s that the HbA1c target may be more lenient for older people, not the actual cut off for diagnosis.
In other words, you are still diagnosed as diabetic if your HbA1c is over 48, but then told you don’t have to struggle to keep it as low as would be expected for younger people.
I think this may be what @JITR was getting at.

Yes, after substituting 'target may be' for 'target is' as here: 'the HbA1c target may be more lenient for older people'.

The Nice Patient Decision Aid diagram shows...

• JITR

•