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Where on the scale of things am I
- Thread starter Peter1956
- Start Date
Art Of Flowers
Well-Known Member
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- Kent
- Type of diabetes
- I reversed my Type 2
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- Diet only
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- Statins
It depends if the blood reading is a HbA1C or blood glucose. See this chart ...
You need to aim for a normal fasting blood glucose level between 4 and 7.
You should be thinking of reducing your carbs, e.g. not eating bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, breakfast cereals, fruit juice. You can eat more fat, e.g. butter, cheese, full fat yoghurt, nuts, avocados.
You need to aim for a normal fasting blood glucose level between 4 and 7.
You should be thinking of reducing your carbs, e.g. not eating bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, breakfast cereals, fruit juice. You can eat more fat, e.g. butter, cheese, full fat yoghurt, nuts, avocados.
ziggy_w
Well-Known Member
Hi @Peter1956,
Welcome to the forum.
Could you tell us if you are in North America or the U.K.? The reason I am asking is that 11.1 could refer to your HbA1c in percent or to your fasting glucose in mmol/dL.
The good news is that even with very high numbers many of us have been able to get down to normal blood sugars by eating low carb and exercising.
I am also tagging @daisy1, who will shortly post some very helpful information.
Last edited:
Squire Fulwood
Expert
- Messages
- 6,113
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
The reading could also refer to a random sample. This is where you didn't fast and someone just thought it would be a good idea to take some blood. In that case 11 or over would diagnose you as diabetic.
daisy1
Legend
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- 26,457
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- Tablets (oral)
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- Cruelty towards animals.
@Peter1956
Hello Peter and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. 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 well over 147,000 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:
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
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.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
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
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
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 blood glucose 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.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. They're all free.
Hello Peter and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. 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 well over 147,000 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
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
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.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
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
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
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 blood glucose 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.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. They're all free.
- Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
- Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
Liam1955
Master
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- 10,964
- Location
- York, England, UK.
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- Type 2
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- Insulin
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- Anti-Gay People, Self Centre People, Two Faced People and Bad Language.
Hello @Peter1956 and Welcome to the Forum .
.Hya Thanks for the above , it was a fasting blood test , i think it was blood glucose level , i will look hba1c as i dont know what it is , had a 10 minute chat with doctor and am waiting for a 40 minute nurses appointment,
would like to know just how bad the reading is as this has all been dumped on me witgh no chance to discuss it
would like to know just how bad the reading is as this has all been dumped on me witgh no chance to discuss it
Prem51
Expert
Hi @Peter1956 and welcome to the forum. You should ask your surgery which range that 11.1 is in. If it is 11.1 mmol/L it is quite high, if it is 11.1% HbA1c (CCCT) it would be even higher. This chart gives you an idea of how high it might be - the redder the graph the more serious, and potentially damaging it might be:
Kristin251
Expert
An A1C is the average glucose reading over the last 2-3 months. Doesn't always tell the whole story which is why many of us self rest at home.
No matter what the reading was it's too high. As mentioned above, many can reduce their levels with diet and some exercise. It doesn't need to be strenuous. I nice moderate walk after meals does wonders but lower carbs enough can be miraculous.
Wishing you luck, don't panic. Please let us know your results
No matter what the reading was it's too high. As mentioned above, many can reduce their levels with diet and some exercise. It doesn't need to be strenuous. I nice moderate walk after meals does wonders but lower carbs enough can be miraculous.
Wishing you luck, don't panic. Please let us know your results
Bluetit1802
Legend
Yes, we need to know which test you had, and the measurement units. Otherwise we can't answer your question properly.
Just ring the surgery and ask for a print out. Until you know for sure which rest it was you are working blind. The print out will tell you all you need to know, and if you don't understand what it means, just ask on here.
Just ring the surgery and ask for a print out. Until you know for sure which rest it was you are working blind. The print out will tell you all you need to know, and if you don't understand what it means, just ask on here.
Sid Bonkers
Well-Known Member
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- Location
- S.E.London, N.W.Kent borders
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Dislikes
- Customer helplines that use recorded menus that promise to put me through to the right person but never do - and being ill. Oh, and did I mention customer helplines :)
Whatever your levels T2 diabetes is always potentially dangerous and left uncontrolled does lead to diabetic complications, none of which are very nice. But the good news is that by making a few lifestyle changes now and with or without the help of medication it can be controlled as many of us here have found.
Digest the information in daisy1's post above and understand the concept that all the carbohydrates you eat will turn to glucose in your stomach and intestines and are then absorbed into your blood stream so the trick is to reduce the carbs you eat and if you can to reduce the insulin resistance that is stopping your own insulin from working properly, that is to keep your bg (blood glucose) levels stable. If you can manage that it is possible to turn the clock back a little and even return to eating a few more carbs again, but you may always have to watch your diet. Insulin resistance is caused by visceral (unseen) fat around the body's organs especially the pancreas and the liver and dieting can help reduce that unseen fat and with it the insulin resistance it causes.
Try not to freak out and too much over the coming weeks, although we all did and have all been where you are today, so your in good company and remember that many of us here have controlled our T2 diabets successfully for years and have remained complication free, so its not always doom and gloom
Good luck on your journey and welcome to the forum and the club that no one wants to join...
Digest the information in daisy1's post above and understand the concept that all the carbohydrates you eat will turn to glucose in your stomach and intestines and are then absorbed into your blood stream so the trick is to reduce the carbs you eat and if you can to reduce the insulin resistance that is stopping your own insulin from working properly, that is to keep your bg (blood glucose) levels stable. If you can manage that it is possible to turn the clock back a little and even return to eating a few more carbs again, but you may always have to watch your diet. Insulin resistance is caused by visceral (unseen) fat around the body's organs especially the pancreas and the liver and dieting can help reduce that unseen fat and with it the insulin resistance it causes.
Try not to freak out and too much over the coming weeks, although we all did and have all been where you are today, so your in good company and remember that many of us here have controlled our T2 diabets successfully for years and have remained complication free, so its not always doom and gloom
Good luck on your journey and welcome to the forum and the club that no one wants to join...
