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Hba1C unbeleivable

Q

qim

Member
Messages
9
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi

For several years now my daily fasting results are somewhere between 150 and 180. Since August I changed my diet drastically and now get somewhere between 110 and 130. So from an average of , say 160 my average now is 120, day after day for the last 3 months.

In September I did an Hba1C and got 151 mg/dL. Last week, I did a new one, expecting a drastic reduction and got exactly the same! I did not believe that it was possible, so I did yet another one at a different clinic and got 163 mg/dl.

How is this possible? How can I have same or higher results for hba1c when the morning fasting results are much, much lower?
 
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morning: whole grain oats with yogurt
lunch : small, normal but no bread
dinner: late without carbs other than fruit

Plenty of fruit during day (apples, oranges, avocados) ; no alcohol

But my question is the relation from fasting daily results to hba1c. irrespective of diet.
 
Carbs will affect your hba1c. Fruit is not good for anyone with type 2. Berries and full fat yoghurt are ok. Personally I wouldn't touch porridge but it is one of those foods some people can tolerate and others can't.

Have you tried testing before and 2 hours after eating to see the impact your food is having?

Fasting bg is dependent upon many things and doesn't mean much in relation to the hba1c.
 
Your HbA1c is an average of your blood sugar levels throughout the day, so just taking a fasting reading is misleading you as you may be spiking after your meals. The foods I can see in your list that maybe problematic are the oats and the ‘plenty’ of fruit. I for one eat no cereals and the only fruits I eat are berries, as they are low in sugar. Hope that helps.
 
qim said:
morning: whole grain oats with yogurt
lunch : small, normal but no bread
dinner: late without carbs other than fruit

Plenty of fruit during day (apples, oranges, avocados) ; no alcohol

But my question is the relation from fasting daily results to hba1c. irrespective of diet.
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Hi there, it's probably because it's not just the fasting results that affect an Hba1c test, it's the 'average' over the whole 24 hours in every day (over 3 months or the week/months before your previous one). So, a person could have a morning fasting result of 4 every single day but for the next 23 hours they could be up to 15. I know that sounds like an extreme example but it would then give a result of something in between. The only way to get a more accurate estimation (oxymoron) is to do a lot of tests throughout the day or get a libre or similar, otherwise a one off fasting test each day may end up with the result you got because you don't know what your levels are outside of your fasting test.
 
it's the 'average' over the whole 24 hours in every day (over 3 months or the week/months before your previous one).

Hi KK123

Yes, I take your point, but... if once in a blue moon I have a silly dinner and get maybe 220 the next morning, it takes me 3 to 5 days to recover to my normal levels with my usual diet. That to me means that I do not recover easily; so if the fruit causes spikes, those spikes would take time to return my levels to normal; otherwise, my system would be coping well with carbs and I would not be diabetic!

Let me add: I am 74, 70Kg, 1.72 m tall, extremely fit (non-stop dance 2/3 hours every evening: Salsa, Bachata) run, play tennis and having done tests to all my organs (just for curiosity) I am on the way to last until I'm. 150 years-old...
 
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Yes that's true, but ultimately the hba1c test is the value that defines your risk of complications.

So I would be looking at measuring at other times of the day to see how you spike. That way you can tailor your diet to reduce your spikes.

I cut things out becUse I could see 2 hours after eating they were not good for my levels
 
If you really want to know what is going on, test before you rat and 2 hour after. If you are in the US and using mg/do you want a rise of no more than 36.

Download the mysugr app record your numbers along with all food you eat.

After a few days it will give you an estimated hba1c. Not as accurate as a lab test but close enough. It is highly motivating and you can spot trends.
 
Thank you xfiekdok,

Yes, I will do as you suggest.

...and think you all the others who contributed.
 
qim said:
it's the 'average' over the whole 24 hours in every day (over 3 months or the week/months before your previous one).

Hi KK123

Yes, I take your point, but... if once in a blue moon I have a silly dinner and get maybe 220 the next morning, it takes me 3 to 5 days to recover to my normal levels with my usual diet. That to me means that I do not recover easily; so if the fruit causes spikes, those spikes would take time to return my levels to normal; otherwise, my system would be coping well with carbs and I would not be diabetic!

Let me add: I am 74, 70Kg, 1.72 m tall, extremely fit (non-stop dance 2/3 hours every evening: Salsa, Bachata) run, play tennis and having done tests to all my organs (just for curiosity) I am on the way to last until I'm. 150 years-old...
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Hi qim, I think I get what you are saying. I use insulin but what I do know is if I have a one off meal that is higher in carbs, my levels are higher for the next 2 days at least even if the rest of my diet stays the same. When I was first diagnosed I carried on eating fruit up until the point I realised that EVERY apple/pear/peach etc, sent me fairly high and to eat them I would have to use insulin. If I ate them as a snack intermittently throughout the day it would mean I was forever topping up with insulin and it was too complicated, so now I don't. With regard to those 'fruit' spikes, I may as well have had a chocolate éclair or sausage roll because the spikes were exactly the same. Of course the nutritional value of fruits would be better but that's the dilemma of diabetes, do you focus on what keeps your glucose levels low (ie no fruit/potatoes/flour/rice/pasta and carby stuff whether nutritious or not) or on those foods you know are not spiking you? You are clearly a fit and active person (like me) but you can't cope well with carbs (like me). I am definitely not saying do this or eat that but just explaining my approach. x
 
Fruit is high in sugar. It is fructose, but that is still sugar.

Eating or drinking fruit affects me the same way as sweets would.

Fruit is said to be healthy, but for diabetics it's sugar, and acts like any other sugar in our bodies.
 
Thank you KK123

Well, I eat fruit often because I need sugar in between my dance classes. And then because I DON'T like sweet things (never did, not even women!) once I see fruit laying around I go for it. I need to do some testing as my fasting levels had convinced me I had found the answer. Back to the drawing board! However, my motto when I found I was diabetic (over 20 years ago) was that I prefer to live happy (with a diet I enjoy) than die unhappy (eating rubbish)...
 
You may want to look up Prof Tim Noakes. He is an advocate for low carb. He is also a runner who improved his performance by ditching carbs. We don't need carbs for energy despite what we are told be the health care professionals or personal trainers.
 
... but I like carbs! I don't want to give up on life just because I am diabetic. You can control things by proper behaviour; avoid excesses, exercise, etc.
 
qim said:
... but I like carbs! I don't want to give up on life just because I am diabetic. You can control things by proper behaviour; avoid excesses, exercise, etc.
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But as someone said in an earlier thread ... carbs don't like you....

You are obviously not controlling well by avoiding excesses and exercising alone so give low carb a try... the extra health benefits are amazing.
 
Yup, totally agree. I have T2 so I avoid carbs. Totally my choice. I can eat pizza, chocolate mug cake, waffles, all sorts of things. They just have .minimal carbs.

On Christmas day I will eat roast potatoes done in beef dripping. The only day of the year I eat them.

The things you can do with a cauliflower or celeriac are amazing. Husband now prefers cottage/shepherds pie without the potatoes.

If I was declared cured tomorrow I would keep to a low carb way of eating as I actually prefer it.

I would never tell anyone they must eat in a certain way. If someone who has T2 and thus carb intolerant wants to eat carbs then it is their choice. I would only ask them to keep an open mind, do the research and make an informed decision.
 
qim said:
... but I like carbs! I don't want to give up on life just because I am diabetic. You can control things by proper behaviour; avoid excesses, exercise, etc.
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Reducing carbs to a level our bodies can cope with is not giving up on life.

And the best "behaviour" in the world may not be enough to control type 2 diabetes.

Also, life is not static. As we age our bodies change, and that includes our safe carb intake levels.

Are you on any diabetic medication?
 
Does it make any difference when (what time of day, before or after a meal) you draw the blood for the Hba1c?

Yes, I am on 3x 1g Merformin
 
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