A1c
er5234
Posts: 19 Member
My A1c is 12.6 smh!!!! Doctor got me on a low carb diet
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Replies
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Welcome! My A1c was 11 something 8 months ago, and now is 4.9 - diet and especially exercise made a huge difference for me. We have a couple of low carbers in the group who may be able to give advice. My advice is, test often after meals and learn how foods affect you. Good luck!8
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rheddmobile wrote: »Welcome! My A1c was 11 something 8 months ago, and now is 4.9 - diet and especially exercise made a huge difference for me. We have a couple of low carbers in the group who may be able to give advice. My advice is, test often after meals and learn how foods affect you. Good luck!
4.9!! woot woot!!!
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rheddmobile wrote: »Welcome! My A1c was 11 something 8 months ago, and now is 4.9 - diet and especially exercise made a huge difference for me. We have a couple of low carbers in the group who may be able to give advice. My advice is, test often after meals and learn how foods affect you. Good luck!
4.9!! woot woot!!!
In 8 months, no less. So much for the ADA and its decades of hand-wringibg about diabetes being chronic and progressive. You folks are living proof it needn't be so.
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Mine was 12.8 when I was diagnosed last year. The last official one at the doctor's office was 5.5. The meter predicts 5.3 based on current readings.
I am convinced that LCHF is the way to go for diabetics. Stay on top of the glucose readings, and you will figure out what you need to do.6 -
More living proof!1
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rheddmobile wrote: »Welcome! My A1c was 11 something 8 months ago, and now is 4.9 - diet and especially exercise made a huge difference for me. We have a couple of low carbers in the group who may be able to give advice. My advice is, test often after meals and learn how foods affect you. Good luck!
4.9!! woot woot!!!
In 8 months, no less. So much for the ADA and its decades of hand-wringibg about diabetes being chronic and progressive. You folks are living proof it needn't be so.
Well, I'm definitely still diabetic - it's not like I can go guzzle a Coke and be fine now. I have to be careful and work hard every day or my numbers go up.
I expect my next A1c will be somewhat higher since I don't have the lows I used to have while taking glimeperide, but my testing indicates I am staying in high normal / prediabetic range.3 -
Mine was 11.8, I just had a blood draw last week and I'm waiting on the results...hoping it is much lower!2
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trackercasey76 wrote: »Mine was 11.8, I just had a blood draw last week and I'm waiting on the results...hoping it is much lower!
How long has it been since the 11.8? What has your diet been? What are daily readings looking like?
[Sorry for the rapid-fire questions.]1 -
trackercasey76 wrote: »Mine was 11.8, I just had a blood draw last week and I'm waiting on the results...hoping it is much lower!
How long has it been since the 11.8? What has your diet been? What are daily readings looking like?
[Sorry for the rapid-fire questions.]
It was mid February that I was 11.8, that was when I found out I was diabetic. Since then I have been very carb aware, took a diabetic awareness class and have been testing once daily (alternating between morning fasting and 2 hrs post dinner). According to my tracking app my average has been 101 with a high of 144 and a low of 70. I have also dropped about 25 pounds since march and about 40 since Christmas. I really expect my A1c to be much better. The app estimates my A1c to be 5.0 but I doubt it dropped that much.
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trackercasey76 wrote: »trackercasey76 wrote: »Mine was 11.8, I just had a blood draw last week and I'm waiting on the results...hoping it is much lower!
How long has it been since the 11.8? What has your diet been? What are daily readings looking like?
[Sorry for the rapid-fire questions.]
It was mid February that I was 11.8, that was when I found out I was diabetic. Since then I have been very carb aware, took a diabetic awareness class and have been testing once daily (alternating between morning fasting and 2 hrs post dinner). According to my tracking app my average has been 101 with a high of 144 and a low of 70. I have also dropped about 25 pounds since march and about 40 since Christmas. I really expect my A1c to be much better. The app estimates my A1c to be 5.0 but I doubt it dropped that much.
Could very well have, mine dropped that much in 4 months. Particularly if you went on any meds. Fingers crossed!
I know the ADA says test at 2 hours post prandial, but my peaks hit for most foods at about 45 minutes, and start rapidly coming down after 1 hr. If I only tested at 2 hrs I wouldn't have anything like an accurate idea of my actual spikes, and two hours four times a day is a third of a day... a long time for glucose to be elevated.
There's a mistaken notion - supported by insurance companies who don't want to cover the cost of testing strips - that testing frequently isn't helpful for non-insulin dependent diabetics, which goes back to one badly run study, in which the subjects were not instructed what to do if they tested and their sugar was high. So, the test subjects tested, found their sugar was high, said, "Shucky darn, that looks bad," and did nothing different. And then the study found that testing didn't help them. But there are many possible interventions you can do when your sugar is high, such as immediately exercising, and remembering that you can't tolerate that combination of food in the future. I really recommend testing more often than once a day.5 -
rheddmobile wrote: »trackercasey76 wrote: »trackercasey76 wrote: »Mine was 11.8, I just had a blood draw last week and I'm waiting on the results...hoping it is much lower!
How long has it been since the 11.8? What has your diet been? What are daily readings looking like?
[Sorry for the rapid-fire questions.]
It was mid February that I was 11.8, that was when I found out I was diabetic. Since then I have been very carb aware, took a diabetic awareness class and have been testing once daily (alternating between morning fasting and 2 hrs post dinner). According to my tracking app my average has been 101 with a high of 144 and a low of 70. I have also dropped about 25 pounds since march and about 40 since Christmas. I really expect my A1c to be much better. The app estimates my A1c to be 5.0 but I doubt it dropped that much.
Could very well have, mine dropped that much in 4 months. Particularly if you went on any meds. Fingers crossed!
I know the ADA says test at 2 hours post prandial, but my peaks hit for most foods at about 45 minutes, and start rapidly coming down after 1 hr. If I only tested at 2 hrs I wouldn't have anything like an accurate idea of my actual spikes, and two hours four times a day is a third of a day... a long time for glucose to be elevated.
There's a mistaken notion - supported by insurance companies who don't want to cover the cost of testing strips - that testing frequently isn't helpful for non-insulin dependent diabetics, which goes back to one badly run study, in which the subjects were not instructed what to do if they tested and their sugar was high. So, the test subjects tested, found their sugar was high, said, "Shucky darn, that looks bad," and did nothing different. And then the study found that testing didn't help them. But there are many possible interventions you can do when your sugar is high, such as immediately exercising, and remembering that you can't tolerate that combination of food in the future. I really recommend testing more often than once a day.
I'm on Metformin 2x Daily, I check more often if feel "off". I have not experienced any major spikes or drops
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trackercasey76 wrote: »
I'm on Metformin 2x Daily, I check more often if feel "off". I have not experienced any major spikes or drops
Did you ever get those lab results?
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trackercasey76 wrote: »
I'm on Metformin 2x Daily, I check more often if feel "off". I have not experienced any major spikes or drops
Did you ever get those lab results?
I go back to the Doctor on the 20th to discuss the results. They did not say what they are.
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Hi, 2t9nty I have taken your advice... up protein and lowered carbs added some cider vinegar. So, when I was diagnosed T2 in May my A1c was 7.1, Today I went to my Dr. To get my recent lab results and my Dr. Was happy with my results A1c down to 6.3 also my cholesterol was reduced to half from 199 to 98. I'm going to a diabetes class soon. I also got a hepatitis B shot along with pneumonia and a flue shot recommended for diabetics. Dr. Informed me the shots could spike my blood sugar, but it's normal and not to worry. I asked why with all my progress I still can't keep my BG under 120 in the AM fasting, Dr says not to worry about the number as long as I maintain it and there are no high spikes.3
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amyfrogred wrote: »Hi, 2t9nty I have taken your advice... up protein and lowered carbs added some cider vinegar. So, when I was diagnosed T2 in May my A1c was 7.1, Today I went to my Dr. To get my recent lab results and my Dr. Was happy with my results A1c down to 6.3 also my cholesterol was reduced to half from 199 to 98. I'm going to a diabetes class soon. I also got a hepatitis B shot along with pneumonia and a flue shot recommended for diabetics. Dr. Informed me the shots could spike my blood sugar, but it's normal and not to worry. I asked why with all my progress I still can't keep my BG under 120 in the AM fasting, Dr says not to worry about the number as long as I maintain it and there are no high spikes.
Awesome!
How low have you gotten your carb intake?
IMHO, the diabetes classes can be fertile breeding ground for dubious advice that educators believe, right or wrong, is likely to be followed by "average" T2Ds. My guess is that it will be years until standard diabetes education advises T2Ds to avoid the one thing they have the biggest trouble handling - carbs.
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amyfrogred wrote: »Hi, 2t9nty I have taken your advice... up protein and lowered carbs added some cider vinegar. So, when I was diagnosed T2 in May my A1c was 7.1, Today I went to my Dr. To get my recent lab results and my Dr. Was happy with my results A1c down to 6.3 also my cholesterol was reduced to half from 199 to 98. I'm going to a diabetes class soon. I also got a hepatitis B shot along with pneumonia and a flue shot recommended for diabetics. Dr. Informed me the shots could spike my blood sugar, but it's normal and not to worry. I asked why with all my progress I still can't keep my BG under 120 in the AM fasting, Dr says not to worry about the number as long as I maintain it and there are no high spikes.
If you have dawn phenomenon, like I do, the reason is that your body produces stress hormones first thing in the morning to get you up and running for the day. Try testing at some other time of day while fasting and see if your glucose is lower. I check mine in the middle of the night sometimes for this reason.
There's nothing you can really do to prevent dawn phenomenon but it lasts a short time out of the day and isn't as harmful as if your fasting sugars were high all the time. "Normal" range of dawn spikes for a diabetic is anything under 130, so 120 isn't too bad. My experience is that the only thing which really lowers it is a lot of exercise late in the previous day.2 -
amyfrogred wrote: »Hi, 2t9nty I have taken your advice... up protein and lowered carbs added some cider vinegar. So, when I was diagnosed T2 in May my A1c was 7.1, Today I went to my Dr. To get my recent lab results and my Dr. Was happy with my results A1c down to 6.3 also my cholesterol was reduced to half from 199 to 98. I'm going to a diabetes class soon. I also got a hepatitis B shot along with pneumonia and a flue shot recommended for diabetics. Dr. Informed me the shots could spike my blood sugar, but it's normal and not to worry. I asked why with all my progress I still can't keep my BG under 120 in the AM fasting, Dr says not to worry about the number as long as I maintain it and there are no high spikes.
Awesome!
How low have you gotten your carb intake?
IMHO, the diabetes classes can be fertile breeding ground for dubious advice that educators believe, right or wrong, is likely to be followed by "average" T2Ds. My guess is that it will be years until standard diabetes education advises T2Ds to avoid the one thing they have the biggest trouble handling - carbs.
I have cut my carbs in half, what I'm doing is substituting any carb I eat for a complex carb when I can like breads and opting for quinoa instead of rice... it works for me. I don't have a sweet tooth but have a salty crunchy addiction...I could eat a whole bag of potato chips with sour cream, now I'll have one serving size of corn chips and cottage cheese, popcorn or some nuts like walnuts almonds instead. I'll let you know how my diabetes class goes.0 -
rheddmobile wrote: »amyfrogred wrote: »Hi, 2t9nty I have taken your advice... up protein and lowered carbs added some cider vinegar. So, when I was diagnosed T2 in May my A1c was 7.1, Today I went to my Dr. To get my recent lab results and my Dr. Was happy with my results A1c down to 6.3 also my cholesterol was reduced to half from 199 to 98. I'm going to a diabetes class soon. I also got a hepatitis B shot along with pneumonia and a flue shot recommended for diabetics. Dr. Informed me the shots could spike my blood sugar, but it's normal and not to worry. I asked why with all my progress I still can't keep my BG under 120 in the AM fasting, Dr says not to worry about the number as long as I maintain it and there are no high spikes.
If you have dawn phenomenon, like I do, the reason is that your body produces stress hormones first thing in the morning to get you up and running for the day. Try testing at some other time of day while fasting and see if your glucose is lower. I check mine in the middle of the night sometimes for this reason.
There's nothing you can really do to prevent dawn phenomenon but it lasts a short time out of the day and isn't as harmful as if your fasting sugars were high all the time. "Normal" range of dawn spikes for a diabetic is anything under 130, so 120 isn't too bad. My experience is that the only thing which really lowers it is a lot of exercise late in the previous day.
I'll look into this phenomenon, it sounds terrible.0 -
I like salted sliced radishes for my salty crunchy addiction. Low carb and very few calories.0
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amyfrogred wrote: »Hi, 2t9nty I have taken your advice... up protein and lowered carbs added some cider vinegar. So, when I was diagnosed T2 in May my A1c was 7.1, Today I went to my Dr. To get my recent lab results and my Dr. Was happy with my results A1c down to 6.3 also my cholesterol was reduced to half from 199 to 98. I'm going to a diabetes class soon. I also got a hepatitis B shot along with pneumonia and a flue shot recommended for diabetics. Dr. Informed me the shots could spike my blood sugar, but it's normal and not to worry. I asked why with all my progress I still can't keep my BG under 120 in the AM fasting, Dr says not to worry about the number as long as I maintain it and there are no high spikes.
Awesome!
How low have you gotten your carb intake?
IMHO, the diabetes classes can be fertile breeding ground for dubious advice that educators believe, right or wrong, is likely to be followed by "average" T2Ds. My guess is that it will be years until standard diabetes education advises T2Ds to avoid the one thing they have the biggest trouble handling - carbs.
I learned A LOT in my Diabetes ed class, I was so happy I took it. I have heard nightmare stories from many other people but mine was great.
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trackercasey76 wrote: »amyfrogred wrote: »Hi, 2t9nty I have taken your advice... up protein and lowered carbs added some cider vinegar. So, when I was diagnosed T2 in May my A1c was 7.1, Today I went to my Dr. To get my recent lab results and my Dr. Was happy with my results A1c down to 6.3 also my cholesterol was reduced to half from 199 to 98. I'm going to a diabetes class soon. I also got a hepatitis B shot along with pneumonia and a flue shot recommended for diabetics. Dr. Informed me the shots could spike my blood sugar, but it's normal and not to worry. I asked why with all my progress I still can't keep my BG under 120 in the AM fasting, Dr says not to worry about the number as long as I maintain it and there are no high spikes.
Awesome!
How low have you gotten your carb intake?
IMHO, the diabetes classes can be fertile breeding ground for dubious advice that educators believe, right or wrong, is likely to be followed by "average" T2Ds. My guess is that it will be years until standard diabetes education advises T2Ds to avoid the one thing they have the biggest trouble handling - carbs.
I learned A LOT in my Diabetes ed class, I was so happy I took it. I have heard nightmare stories from many other people but mine was great.
Great! Could you be persuaded to post a couple highlights?0 -
trackercasey76 wrote: »amyfrogred wrote: »Hi, 2t9nty I have taken your advice... up protein and lowered carbs added some cider vinegar. So, when I was diagnosed T2 in May my A1c was 7.1, Today I went to my Dr. To get my recent lab results and my Dr. Was happy with my results A1c down to 6.3 also my cholesterol was reduced to half from 199 to 98. I'm going to a diabetes class soon. I also got a hepatitis B shot along with pneumonia and a flue shot recommended for diabetics. Dr. Informed me the shots could spike my blood sugar, but it's normal and not to worry. I asked why with all my progress I still can't keep my BG under 120 in the AM fasting, Dr says not to worry about the number as long as I maintain it and there are no high spikes.
Awesome!
How low have you gotten your carb intake?
IMHO, the diabetes classes can be fertile breeding ground for dubious advice that educators believe, right or wrong, is likely to be followed by "average" T2Ds. My guess is that it will be years until standard diabetes education advises T2Ds to avoid the one thing they have the biggest trouble handling - carbs.
I learned A LOT in my Diabetes ed class, I was so happy I took it. I have heard nightmare stories from many other people but mine was great.
Great! Could you be persuaded to post a couple highlights?
I went in scared and thinking that only fat people got diabetes. I learned that it's mostly genetic and that anyone can get it, therefore nothing to get depressed or feel guilty about.
I learned how to count carbs and what they mean to a diabetic, how many and what types to eat, when to eat and why I need to eat more often. I learned what other factors may cause spikes such as stress, illness, lack of sleep etc. So much good info taught by nurses that were diabetics themselves. It was a 10 hr class stretched out over 5 weeks.
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trackercasey76 wrote: »trackercasey76 wrote: »amyfrogred wrote: »Hi, 2t9nty I have taken your advice... up protein and lowered carbs added some cider vinegar. So, when I was diagnosed T2 in May my A1c was 7.1, Today I went to my Dr. To get my recent lab results and my Dr. Was happy with my results A1c down to 6.3 also my cholesterol was reduced to half from 199 to 98. I'm going to a diabetes class soon. I also got a hepatitis B shot along with pneumonia and a flue shot recommended for diabetics. Dr. Informed me the shots could spike my blood sugar, but it's normal and not to worry. I asked why with all my progress I still can't keep my BG under 120 in the AM fasting, Dr says not to worry about the number as long as I maintain it and there are no high spikes.
Awesome!
How low have you gotten your carb intake?
IMHO, the diabetes classes can be fertile breeding ground for dubious advice that educators believe, right or wrong, is likely to be followed by "average" T2Ds. My guess is that it will be years until standard diabetes education advises T2Ds to avoid the one thing they have the biggest trouble handling - carbs.
I learned A LOT in my Diabetes ed class, I was so happy I took it. I have heard nightmare stories from many other people but mine was great.
Great! Could you be persuaded to post a couple highlights?
I went in scared and thinking that only fat people got diabetes. I learned that it's mostly genetic and that anyone can get it, therefore nothing to get depressed or feel guilty about.
I learned how to count carbs and what they mean to a diabetic, how many and what types to eat, when to eat and why I need to eat more often. I learned what other factors may cause spikes such as stress, illness, lack of sleep etc. So much good info taught by nurses that were diabetics themselves. It was a 10 hr class stretched out over 5 weeks.
sounds like the class I took!
We also all started with a glucometer to learn how various food affected our blood sugars & it was surprising just how different everyone was. Fruit didn't affect my blood sugars very much whereas with others, it did.
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rheddmobile wrote: »I like salted sliced radishes for my salty crunchy addiction. Low carb and very few calories.
I eat radishes, cucumbers, carrots, zucchini, bell peppers, pickles ... on a daily basis with a little salt for flavor. These are some of the foods that keep me full. I've always had these in my diet, the difference is not having cheese and crackers with heavy dips at the same time.3 -
I couldn't take it any longer so I called my Doctor and told them I needed my A1c number for my last Diabetes Ed class tonight (they call it a class reunion). In February my A1c was 11.8 it is now 5.7! I'm pretty pumped!!11
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I had my first visit with the doctor since getting my test results and finding out I have diabetes. My A1c was 9.6 - starting on some meds and checking my numbers daily now for three weeks. Already changed my diet. Feel like I'm starting a whole new life.3
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trackercasey76 wrote: »I couldn't take it any longer so I called my Doctor and told them I needed my A1c number for my last Diabetes Ed class tonight (they call it a class reunion). In February my A1c was 11.8 it is now 5.7! I'm pretty pumped!!
Wow! That's a great number. I'm hoping mine will be that low next Dr visit in 3months.1 -
sweeetypie1 wrote: »I had my first visit with the doctor since getting my test results and finding out I have diabetes. My A1c was 9.6 - starting on some meds and checking my numbers daily now for three weeks. Already changed my diet. Feel like I'm starting a whole new life.
You are staring off right with a change in your food intake. What meds did they put you on? If you don't mind sharing. I'm taking metformin.0 -
amyfrogred wrote: »rheddmobile wrote: »amyfrogred wrote: »Hi, 2t9nty I have taken your advice... up protein and lowered carbs added some cider vinegar. So, when I was diagnosed T2 in May my A1c was 7.1, Today I went to my Dr. To get my recent lab results and my Dr. Was happy with my results A1c down to 6.3 also my cholesterol was reduced to half from 199 to 98. I'm going to a diabetes class soon. I also got a hepatitis B shot along with pneumonia and a flue shot recommended for diabetics. Dr. Informed me the shots could spike my blood sugar, but it's normal and not to worry. I asked why with all my progress I still can't keep my BG under 120 in the AM fasting, Dr says not to worry about the number as long as I maintain it and there are no high spikes.
If you have dawn phenomenon, like I do, the reason is that your body produces stress hormones first thing in the morning to get you up and running for the day. Try testing at some other time of day while fasting and see if your glucose is lower. I check mine in the middle of the night sometimes for this reason.
There's nothing you can really do to prevent dawn phenomenon but it lasts a short time out of the day and isn't as harmful as if your fasting sugars were high all the time. "Normal" range of dawn spikes for a diabetic is anything under 130, so 120 isn't too bad. My experience is that the only thing which really lowers it is a lot of exercise late in the previous day.
I'll look into this phenomenon, it sounds terrible.
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I just had my 4th of 5 diabetes education classes. I'm considered "controlled by diet", so no meds, but I too had higher than normal (130) fasting blood sugar readings. My teacher suggested I try having a bedtime snack, and it it amazing--it works! It's a small snack, and I'm careful because I don't want to bring back acid reflux (they tell you not to eat 2 hours before laying down), but you might try a small snack (I have 2T of hummus & a little sauerkraut, typically). Even when my bedtime test numbers are good (102), they're even better in the morning (94). Good luck!
And for everyone reading this--if you haven't taken diabetes education classes, do it! I am the most recently diagnosed student in my class. Others had been diagnosed 2 to 20+ years ago and had never taken the classes. They are worth your investment in yourself and imo will really help you to learn to manage the many facets of diabetes.6
