Lost 40 lbs, and pre-diabetic? Whats going on?

Sunny1007
Sunny1007 Posts: 29 Member
edited December 1 in Health and Weight Loss
Starting off, I'm 23 (height 5'5) and have lost close to 43 lbs and am now at a BMI of 22. Before my weight loss I had my A1C checked and cholesterol was normal and my A1c was 5.6. Diabetes does run on my dad's side of the family but, everyone got it after 50+ years old. After finding out I was at 5.6(borderline) I lost all the weight through primarily diet, not so much exercise. I had my wisdom teeth taken out during this time and was bed ridden with an infection for about 3-4 weeks during which time I lived off of applesauce, yogurt, steroids, clindamycin and KFC mashed potatoes(everyday sometimes 2-3x a day.) When I went back to the Dr. 2 weeks later after having a crap diet. She told me my cholesterol is at 122 and my A1c went up to 5.7. My question is, would this have effected my A1C severely? Did the wisdom teeth diet I was on which for the most part was processed potatoes and ice cream for 2-4 weeks cause my A1C to go up? If I eat healthy now till August will it go down? I have now started brisk walking on the treadmill as well 35 min a day.

Replies

  • girlviernes
    girlviernes Posts: 2,402 Member
    Not sure about the answer here, but A1C picks up the past 3 months, so it may be too soon to see improvements. I'm not even sure if a 0.1 change is meaningful. Steroids could be driving the number up. I would expect the exercise will help if you are consistent over time. Congrats on the weight loss.
  • WendyLaubach
    WendyLaubach Posts: 518 Member
    Clindamycin really does a number on your gut bacteria, which some people think can affect your metabolism in general. Maybe give your gut a chance to recover by eating a lot of good, high-fiber natural foods, and then check again in a few months. Good for you for losing weight and taking steps to prevent insulin resistance early on!
  • Sunny1007
    Sunny1007 Posts: 29 Member
    edited May 2016
    Just as a side note, I was on steriods for one week and went to see the Dr. 2 weeks after and started losing the weight in mid-december. I did have some days where I would cheat but, maybe once a month.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    It very well could be the steroids. I'd think you need more time. Did your doctor say anything about it?

    http://blog.joslin.org/2014/02/how-prednisone-affects-blood-sugar/
  • Sunny1007
    Sunny1007 Posts: 29 Member
    When I went in for my physical 2 weeks ago, she said everything looked great and she was proud of me for losing the weight ect. When I got the call from her receptionist though, she said the Dr. wants me on an NCS diet, low fat, low carb, high protein diet. since my A1C came back at 5.7 and my cholesterol total was 122 also, my vitamin D was low which I am taking supplements for now. She said the Dr. wants to see me in 4 months to checkup on the vitamin D.
  • Sunny1007
    Sunny1007 Posts: 29 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    It very well could be the steroids. I'd think you need more time. Did your doctor say anything about it?

    http://blog.joslin.org/2014/02/how-prednisone-affects-blood-sugar/

    When I went in for my physical 2 weeks ago, she said everything looked great and she was proud of me for losing the weight ect. When I got the call from her receptionist though, she said the Dr. wants me on an NCS diet, low fat, low carb, high protein diet. since my A1C came back at 5.7 and my cholesterol total was 122 also, my vitamin D was low which I am taking supplements for now. She said the Dr. wants to see me in 4 months to checkup on the vitamin D.
  • Sunny1007
    Sunny1007 Posts: 29 Member
    Any thoughts anyone?
  • upoffthemat
    upoffthemat Posts: 679 Member
    With the health issues I would say give it time. You also do document a pretty high carb diet that could have influenced your A1C. Go a little easier on the carbs and see what happens in three months.
  • Sunny1007
    Sunny1007 Posts: 29 Member
    edited May 2016
    Would cutting out carbs/sugar help significantly? Ramadan is coming up in June-july so I will be fasting from 4am-8pm would that effect me negatively when I go back to get my A1c tested?
  • upoffthemat
    upoffthemat Posts: 679 Member
    A1C is a reflection of your average blood sugar over 3 months. Carbs tend to raise blood sugar, especially if you are diabetic or pre-diabetic.
    To be fair, steroids could have impacted your blood sugar for a time as well, but if you are pre-diabetic you may want to look at reducing your carb intake. Living on mashed potatoes and gravy probably isn't the best choice for you.
    Please don't overreact to anything though. Your numbers aren't horrible and you have time to educate yourself and to find what works best for you. If you are pre-diabetic it isn't the end of the world. Take it seriously, make some lifestyle changes, but it isn't something you have to panic about.
    I have diabetes myself and was in your shoes a few years ago. I wish I would have taken it more seriously back then, but I am taking it seriously now and I still have time to avoid many of the more serious reprecussions. You just have a better chance than I do.
    As far as fasting, that can at times cause spikes, you may want to consult your doctor and see if he or she wants you to monitor your blood sugar. Your A1C numbers are borderline... they aren't horrible yet, but it is good to take them into account.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Sunny1007 wrote: »
    Any thoughts anyone?

    What are you looking for? I'd either follow the doctor's advice or seek a second opinion or ask to be referred to a registered dietitian. The latter might be a good choice if possible, as some doctors aren't as experienced in nutrition and finding food-based solutions to issues.

    But we don't know enough to second-guess the doctor. It seems to me with the steriods and the short time giving it more time on something like a moderate carb healthy diet would be a good idea, but I don't know enough about your situation or medicine, of course. Did your doctor know you'd had such a high carb diet in the period before the test, since that can throw it off?

    Also, for cholesterol there's often an initial diet recommended to see if yours responds to diet. IME (based on people I know who have had that issue), it usually involves lowering sat fat and increasing fiber and less processed carbs, decreasing more processed carbs and sweets. This is in the US, however.
  • Sunny1007
    Sunny1007 Posts: 29 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Sunny1007 wrote: »
    Any thoughts anyone?

    What are you looking for? I'd either follow the doctor's advice or seek a second opinion or ask to be referred to a registered dietitian. The latter might be a good choice if possible, as some doctors aren't as experienced in nutrition and finding food-based solutions to issues.

    But we don't know enough to second-guess the doctor. It seems to me with the steriods and the short time giving it more time on something like a moderate carb healthy diet would be a good idea, but I don't know enough about your situation or medicine, of course. Did your doctor know you'd had such a high carb diet in the period before the test, since that can throw it off?

    Also, for cholesterol there's often an initial diet recommended to see if yours responds to diet. IME (based on people I know who have had that issue), it usually involves lowering sat fat and increasing fiber and less processed carbs, decreasing more processed carbs and sweets. This is in the US, however.

    No, my Dr. didn't know. All I told her was that my wisdom were taken out 2-3 weeks prior to the appointment and that I was on clindamycin during that time.
  • GelasiaT
    GelasiaT Posts: 74 Member
    I agree with everyone here. It could be the combination of things. One is the instant potatoes, on the average a regular serving (150 grams) of instant potatoes has a glycemic index of 87 and a glycemic load of 17. The glycemic number (index and load) generally tells you how that food affects blood sugar and insulin levels. The higher the number the worst it is. For glycemic index, foods with over a 70 is considered bad, 56-69 moderate, and 55 and less is considered good. Glycemic load refers to the impact carbohydrates play on your blood sugar. Foods with a glycemic load of 10 or less is considered good, 20 or higher is considered bad. Also add to it the ice cream, which generally has relatively low index and load, however packs a lot of sugar. Given the medicine as well as your history, and it could be logical why you experienced that increase. Again, only your doctor or a nutritionist would be able to determine the true reason, all we can offer is advice and mine is minimize the carbs with high glycemic indexes and high glycemic loads for a while. Good luck to you!!!
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