I did it!!!!!!
After six months of low carb dieting. From an A1C of 10.4 and blood sugar readings as high as 300 FINALLY down to normal. And all without drugs.
I am so So SO VERY HAPPY!!!!!😃😅🙏
Replies
-
Yay! Well done. Was that a fasted reading?
0 -
@samgettingfit25 Yes, it was a fasted reading. Of course, I have to keep up the low carb diet. I'm going to test my A1C in three weeks, hoping to see some more progress there too. But I am really happy. And Sunday I even ate some carrots and a half cup of mashed potatoes for Sunday dinner, so for me, it was a high carb day (even if under 50 gms). That the blood sugar was 96 the next morning says that perhaps I am getting back to a more normal insulin response. Studies do say that if you diet enough to get rid of visceral fat from liver and pancreas your insulin response improves. I hope that is what I have done, but until I lose a little more weight, I'm going to continue restricting carbs from between 20-50. And then, will try adding a few more occasionally and checking the response.
0 -
congratulations, that’s awesome!
0 -
Woohoo! Congratulations.
0 -
0
-
Thanks for all the congrats and the support and advice of everyone on this group and on MFP.
I still feel I have a long way to go to reverse my T2, but certainly this was a milestone.
1 -
What a milestone! Of course, managing diabetes is an ongoing process.
I had a positive milestone myself. I just had my bloodwork labs done. My A1C was 5.3 (in Oct when I was diagnosed it was 7.5, when retested in January it was 6.2). My goal was to get it below 6. I didn't know whether that was a realistic goal and I was pretty sure I wouldn't get there since my fasted morning glucose readings are usually in the 120s. An A1C of 5.3 translates to an average glucose around 105, apparently. I often only test on waking, but when I retest an hour or so after my morning glucose, it is usually somewhere in the 90s (and my lab fasted was 90). I don't sleep well though, I need to improve on that, when I sleep in or go to sleep earlier my waking glucose is a bit better.
0 -
You rock! Congratulations…
0 -
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48572728#Comment_48572728
congrats! That is a fantastic A1C. I am not there yet, but I hope to be eventually. I would be thrilled to get down to 90 as a fasted glucose reading. Keep doing what you are doing!
0 -
Met minigoal of 147 - weight was 146.4 this morning. BMI is 25.2 so onward to a normal BMI of 25, very close less than a pound to go. And I home tested my A1c this morning and it was 6.4. (A huge drop of 4 points in the last six months). I'm now at the high end of Prediabetic, and working to get that down to normal. So all in all, a great day today!! Blood sugar has been stubborn in the morning, but it did test at 100 this am, not as good as 96 or 98, but I will take it. Tomorrow I go in to have my blood taken for the doctor, after nearly six months. I cancelled once due to ice, and then they cancelled due to a staffing shortage. So I'll find out the official totals in a few days, but I am very happy with my home test results!!!
Wishing everyone else success on their journey.
It's been a long six months.
is it too much to hope that I could have a slice of pizza or a cookie once or twice a week now? :) I don't want to go hog wild, but a little treat now and then would be a nice reward for all my hard work.
0 -
0 -
Today after coming home from getting bloodwork (no breakfast) I weighed myself and I was 145..6!!! Now (according to the charts) I'm no longer overweight. I am at the high end of normal. With a normal BMI. I may bounce up a little tomorrow, and when I go into the doctor post bloodwork on thursday that scale may be a little different. But, it has been six months since I started dieting after being diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure. I have lost Exactly 50 pounds. How weird and amazing that it worked out to be exactly that. I now have an A1C, that, while not perfect, is in the prediabetic range. And I hope to get it down to normal in another three months. I have to thank everyone on MFP who has encouraged me, and MFP itself, whose food diary has helped me be accountable and whose link with Fitbit logged my exercise calories. And Fitbit, whose trackers told me how many calories I was burning and how many steps I walked. It's been a group effort, and I am very thankful!!
0 -
@patriciafoley1
What great work!0 -
The at home A1C now test was pretty accurate, but I got the A1C result from the lab and it was even better 6.3. At least I think so. Appt with PA tomorrow to hear what she thinks.
I honestly though, can't figure this blood sugar thing out to get consistent results. I'll eat a set of meals one day, and the next morning my BS can be 96. I'll repeat it the next day, hoping for the same or better and it is higher not lower. I can occasionally catch my blood sugar below 100, but I can't figure out how to keep it that way in a morning (fasted) test. Some days it is much higher. And I'm eating about the same amount of carbs every day, 20 grams or so. Honestly the rare days i have a few carbs more in the evening - say a half cup of mashed potatoes or spaghetti, it is sometimes at 96 in the morning. Almost as if I need a few carbs to get my body to send insulin. Too much protein seems to guarantee a higher BS. But I am not sure. One reason why I'm going to ask for a continuous glucose meter for the next three months at least. I am pretty frustrated over not being able to manage this via diet.
I've been trying to take Apple cider vinegar capsules since they are supposed to be so good for regulating blood sugar. You're supposed to take them a half hour before a meal, and I always forget and end up taking them during or after the meal. Two days ago, I was up early, and thought, Oh, I'll do it before breakfast, and took them with some tea. Bad mistake!!!! Five minutes later my stomach violently rejected them, I'm mean were talking shades from the Exorcist. Then, on an empty stomach, my blood sugar shot up to 174. of course this was the day before my blood test so even by the next morning, it of course had not settled down and was in the 140s when they took the blood. It didn't help that the test was mid morning so of course, even without food, perhaps especially without food, my BS shot up. I was so hoping to show a BS below 100 when they took my blood. Instead it was worse than it has been in a month, I don't know why. At least my A1C redeemed me to some extent.
This condition is very hard to control
0 -
Congrats! The PA will be impressed.
I remember when I got mine down by cutting carbs, the doctor said he was taking me off metformin. He said, "I don't see this often, but you have really brought these numbers down." I asked if he wanted me to tell him what was doing. He laughed and said, "Nope, but you should keep doing it."
He left for the next patient, and the nurse asked, "Could you tell me?" She wanted to know if I would be willing to talk to her husband.
0 -
Congrats on your hard work @patriciafoley1! It is indeed hard to consistently manage blood sugar. I was curious about the home A1C since I've never used one. I am currently on a 3-month testing schedule, so I haven't bothered, but it sounds like if my A1C stays low, I might go to six months.
For the most part mine is fine except my first thing in the morning readings vary widely and are often in the 120s +/-. It tends to be lower if I slept in or went to bed earlier. If I don't eat and take it 30 minutes later the readings are fine. When I had my bloodwork done my fasted glucose was in the 90s, but that was after I showered, got dressed, went to the clinic, waited my turn… My A1C was good, 5.3, which apparently indicates an average of 105. My daytime readings are usually in the 90s and 100s, but I have a hard time imagining this is my average based on my early morning readings.
I am interested in using a CGM periodically, my insurance only covers it if I am on insulin, so it would be out of pocket. My dietition is going to do a trial of one with me and review the results this summer. I am considering the Stelo since it seems to be the cheapest over the counter one I've seen. I haven't compared that to out of pocket prescription though. I was told the readings vary and are a little less accurate than the finger prick tests because the CGM measures using the fluid between the cells instead of blood.
About pizza, my family likes to have pizza on Fridays, so I often have some. The first time we ordered after my diagnosis we ordered one with cauliflower crust and tomato, fresh mozzarella, and fresh basil toppings. It didn't seem to affect my blood sugar any more than other meals. I am sure it varies by how much sugar the parlor puts in the sauce. Another week, I tried a thin whole wheat crust, pesto sauce, artichoke, mushroom, and tomato toppings. It was also fine. I find as long as the crust is thin (or cauliflower), the sauce not too sweet (once I tried BBQ chicken pizza and it did cause a spike), portions are modest, and there are some veggies involved I am fine. My main issue with pizza is the saturated fats, I don't have a gallbladder so that can be a problem depending on the parlor and tends to be worse with the meat toppings. I see more of a glucose spike with rice than pizza. But everyone's different.
@2t9nty did you end up talking to the nurse's husband? Great story, it sounds like you are as positive and encouraging in real life as online.
0 -
I did say I would be happy to talk to the husband, but there was no follow-through.
My sense is that a lot of people are unwilling to make changes in lifestyle/diet. They do not take BG readings. The doctors monitor A1C and manage with meds as best they can.
0 -
My PA was astounded by my weight loss and 6.3 A1C reading. (it was 10.4 before). She asked me what I had done, so she could tell her other patients. She wrote everything down and even asked me what I eat and how many grams of protein I eat a day. I told her how many calories, and how many steps. How I used MFP and Fitbit to know how many steps I walk, how much I take in and how much I burn. She wanted to know if I got hungry (I really don't actually - if I don't eat sugar the cravings go away). She had never heard of the A1C NOW home test, and looked it up on Amazon. (It was pretty accurate, my home test was 6.4. the lab test was 6.3) . I asked her to halve my BP medicine, since I lost 50 pounds and she did. I was a little high (dr office stress) so she didn't take me off it entirely though I am normal at home. So I'm happy about that, even though it probably will result in a water weight gain, since it really is just a water pill. So I guess it was a good visit. I'm disappointed that I can't seem to get my BS normal in the mornings, but hoping if I lose another 10-20 pounds that will get better. And I had a few abnormal readings in my bloodwork but she said it looked fine. Hopefully those will smooth out too.
Now I am going to start adding a few more carbs to the mix, and hope it doesn't completely derail me. I go back in 4 months, and i will keep testing my A1C once a month as well as sticking my fingers daily, so I shouldn't have any surprises.
Oh, I had previously checked and apparently unless you are on insulin CGM are not covered. So I didn't bother asking. I might try the over the counter ones at some point, but I started wondering if they are worth the trouble, and if they stick on, and what happens if they come off, do you then waste that one and have to use a new one, and if they hurt, so i just figured I'll think about it some more.
0 -
The instant A1C from Amazon is really just a home version of the one some doctor's offices use. Mine sends it to a lab.
Really I think the CGM has most benefit for people starting out who want to make changes and get feedback OR insulin dependent folks who have to have an awareness of lows and the alerts warn them.0 -
What an amazing improvement in A1C! That's good to know about the home tests, I do best with a little accountability and must admit sometimes when I am tempted to indulge or not exercise I think about my next scheduled labs. Since I am on a 3 month schedule with A1C, it keeps me focused but my schedule may change since my last was good.
1
