pre-diabetes ?

It takes AT LEAST 3 months for your a1c to lower if you have just recently changed your diet. This is how long it takes all of those cells to die that are still holding onto those sugars. So if you have changed your diet recently, don't freak out. Relay this info to your doctor and maybe they will retest your a1c in a few months.

But if you have been eating the no bread, no pasta, no rice diet for longer than that, wait and see what your doctor says.

Edit: Just because you are eating no breads, pastas, and rice doesn't mean you are eating low carb. Check all foods for carbs - beans and many vegetables are high carb. A steady stream of carbs doesn't necessarily raise your a1c. It is due to glycemic spikes and overloads usually.

Diabetes is not just about being overweight. I know a vegetarian who eats completely healthy and is of normal weight, plus she hikes (hikes! On hills!) almost every day. Including 15-20 miles a day on Saturdays at 3 mph. Yet she has diabetes. Genetic for her. You need to work with your doc or a dietician/nutritionist.

lauradeluna_ wrote: »

girlviernes wrote: »

Well there is also a genetic component. How low are your carbs though? My understanding is that low carb may result in high resting blood glucose levels for some people.

my carbs are usually around 80g per day now, mostly from fruits and vegetables... it used to be around 200g. I started eating low carb around march

Just another point - I also had been eating around250 carbs (or more) per day for three months before I went in for blood work. It came in at 99 and I freaked. My doc said to cut back on the carbs (and spread them out). I was a total pizza hog. It's nothing for me to eat a full 1/2 deep dish in one sitting (plus sodas). I've been off the soda for a while, but doc warned me that it could have had an effect. It's never been high before this time. I've been charting food since (well, 280 or so days) and the last month my carb intake has been around 100 per day and divided out. I saw a dietician who also said that the liver can put out quite a bit of glucose if you don't have enough carbs (I did, so that wasn't my issue). But the liver can make it look like you are insulin resistant sometimes if you aren't balanced in the way your own body works. Yes, genetic component also. Doc wants me to re-test in six months to ensure that my lower-carb eating has a chance to take effect. I expect it will come in lower - excited to see. It would be interesting to see how yours changes now that you are changing your intake.

Metformin is an easy one. When I was younger I never thought I'd be able to handle a pill regimen. But it turns out I can!

With my weight loss I am off all medications but they've been replaced with a similar raft of vitamins. Pills aren't the end of the world and they can help a lot!

This is something you'll have to work out with your doctor but I'd recommend picking up a cheap glucose meter and testing your blood sugar an hour and two hours after each meal for a week so you know how you're responding to food -- that's important information. Also be sure to mention that you're eating a low carb diet (ETA: anything under 130g is low carb) to your doctor in case they want to do an oral glucose tolerance test.

In the meantime, you might find something of interest to you in these two articles. Best wishes.

High HbA1c with Low Blood Sugar
and
Why your “normal” blood sugar isn’t normal (Part 2)

Woman with diabetes that I mentioned in my previous post successfully controls her diabetes without medication. So far, anyway. It can be done.

lauradeluna_ wrote: »

hey all, I just want some advice on what to do now that I know my blood test results.

so in April I got a general blood test for my insurance that tested basically everything. all my levels were great, EXCEPT my fasting glucose was high (104).
last week my doctor and I decided to test my hemoglobin A1C levels since my glucose was high and it's at 5.7

I go to the doctor again on the 23rd to go over my A1C, but I'm just so upset.

I'm a 23 year old female, 5'7 and 145 pounds. I'm trying to lose around 10 pounds (I just lost 10 this past month). I eat a low carb diet (no bread, no pasta, no rice). I exercise 4-5 times a week.

I just don't know why my levels are so high ! what could I be doing wrong and how can I lower them ?? thanks so much to anyone that helps

Im not sure why! but i do know my friend reversed it and got off his high blood pressure meds too! Did the dr tell you what to do? do you have a plan youre going to follow?

Someone mentioned the two hour glucose tolerance test (GTT). You could get this done besides the A1C.

Bottom line, despite your best efforts you could still develop insulin resistance/diabetes. Nevertheless, the efforts you are making to eat well will all pay off in the way of delayed symptoms.

I definitely agree with the posters above -- Does diabetes run in your family? Genetics definitely play a role. I'm starting to show signs around the same age my dad did. I'm insulin resistant and have to stay on top of what I eat. One thing the nurses, NP, and dr constantly remind me to do is stay hydrated and daily activity (exercise). Depending on the glycemic index of certain food, it may cause you to have highs and lows. Becareful with corn, potatoes, and other starchy veggies... it sneaks up on you. Did you get a result for insulin, by chance? Was that normal, too?

Don't stress... you are already making positive changes. Your doctor will probably retest you in a few months to see where you are since you have changed your carb consumption.

defadonna wrote: »

I had fasting test done and ac1 that confirmed mine. But only because a routine fasting flashed it up in my pregnancy. 3 months after preg it stayed doc says it was a blessing in disguise because I had it before but never new.

My family is full of diabetes including my twin so was bound to get it.

Losing weight as you are doing will reduce your blood sugar.