Help! Confused about hba1c results.

mummygemma

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Other
Dislikes
Finding it near enough impossible (or so it seems) to lose weight without eating like a rabbit!
I have had gestational diabetes in 2 out of 4 pregnancies (2nd + 4th), so got asked late Feb to go for an hba1c to monitor my levels as I'm higher risk of developing diabetes. Never heard anything back about the results (our drs always ring if problem with test results). Went to drs for something unrelated + as she was writing notes on the computer for me I noticed there was something about my test result so asked. It had come back as levels being 44 with a note for someone to contact me. All I know is I have to lose weight, watch my diet + if I want have another hba1c in 6 months (what she said) to see where my levels are at then. She couldn't give me any further help as she was running behind although she said the cut off is 46 before being classed as diabetic. From what I have looked up it looks like I am prediabetic?! Is this correct? What do I do now?
 

urbanracer

Expert
Retired Moderator
Messages
5,186
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Not being able to eat as many chocolate digestives as I used to.
Hi @mummygemma ,

Welcome to the forums.

Yes, according to the info on this website you may be classed as a diabetic with an a1c of 48mmol/mol.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/what-is-hba1c.html

The good thing is, you're not there yet! As you've already been warned about diet and weight, that's a good place to start.

Be aware that it's not just about sugar, all carbohydrates turn into glucose in the body. So look at your intake of foods like rice, pasta, bread and potato and see where you might be able to cut down.

@daisy1 will hopefully send you a joiners pack with some useful info. Have a read around the forums and ask as many questions as you like.
 

Hiitsme

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,987
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi and welcome @mummygemma
This is a wake up call for you as you can do something about it. Do read the information Daisy will post and come back with any questions you may have.
 

mummygemma

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Other
Dislikes
Finding it near enough impossible (or so it seems) to lose weight without eating like a rabbit!
I will read it, thankyou. I'm just so confused though as have no idea what I can or can't eat, whether I should be constantly looking out for signs of diabetes or if I shouldn't worry so much! How quickly could my levels change (for the worse or better)? If I make these lifestyle changes will it stop my levels from going up any more or could that still happen? Is it possible to get them back to normal or will I be prone to high levels?
 

Hiitsme

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,987
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I will read it, thankyou. I'm just so confused though as have no idea what I can or can't eat, whether I should be constantly looking out for signs of diabetes or if I shouldn't worry so much! How quickly could my levels change (for the worse or better)? If I make these lifestyle changes will it stop my levels from going up any more or could that still happen? Is it possible to get them back to normal or will I be prone to high levels?

Don't panic or worry. Hopefully a few lifestyle changes will help. Reduce your sugar intake and also look and see if you can reduce your carbs as they turn to sugar. Do you need to lose weight? Also exercise will help. I've got my levels back to normal from very high and your levels are low so should be a lot easier for you.
 

mummygemma

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Other
Dislikes
Finding it near enough impossible (or so it seems) to lose weight without eating like a rabbit!
I have reduced my sugar intake lately and trying to keep my carbs to a minimum. Cutting down carbs is what I find hard especially at breakfast. I still have my blood testing meter with some strips and lancets, so would occasionally testing be a good idea to see if I'm on the right track? Yes, I need to lose quite a lot of weight, but I'm trying to make a start on that. If your levels are back to normal are you still classed as diabetic? Sorry if that sounds a silly question, but I just haven't been given any help to understand diabetes in any way. Even when I was pregnant with my last baby (she's now nearly 9 months) and saw a diabetic midwife all they worried about was diet and the numbers, not taking the time to make sure you really understand about it.
 

Hiitsme

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,987
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
You're on the right track. Yes checking your levels would be good. See what they are before a meal and 2 hours after, that will show you how your body copes with that meal. I wrote everything down so I could refer back to check. If you are worried about breakfast that might be a good meal to test. Even seeing what your usual breakfast does, then you will know if you need to change it. I have scrambled eggs and mushrooms as I couldn't cope with Weetabix. We are all different so you may be able to. I presume I am still classed as diabetic but there are some people on this forum who have been removed from the diabetic register so it is possible. Do ask questions and people will try and help.
 

daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
@mummygemma

Hello and welcome to the forum :) Here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. It would be a good idea for you to cut down on carbs to keep your levels down. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find over 150,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes

LOW CARB PROGRAM:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/low carb program


Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to bloodglucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
 

mummygemma

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Other
Dislikes
Finding it near enough impossible (or so it seems) to lose weight without eating like a rabbit!
I never got sent my joiners pack.