Hbc1a

[Jayne1983]

Hi I’m new well I’ve been reading post I had hbc1a of 54 in March in June 36 the receptionist said no further action your diabetes is now normal I’m low carb I’ve had no cheats just low carb high fat and exercise please can some one tell me what this means I’ve had no help of the doctors I’ve only googled and read post on here xx thanks xx

 

[EllieM]

Welcome to the forums @Jayne1983 and congratulations on reducing your hba1c from diabetic levels to non diabetic. (I believe prediabetes officially starts at 40, the level can vary by country).

Will let the UK members comment on what that means as regards future monitoring from the NHS. Theoretically once diabetic you should get yearly diabetic checks but because you've had only one diabetic reading they may not have you listed as diabetic.

In any case, in your position I'd keep a bit of an eye on your levels. If you go back to the amount of carbs that you were eating when you became T2 there is a good chance that your hba1c will go back up....

 

[Resurgam]

The GP put no further action on my notes at 6 months after diagnosis, as I was just at the top of normal then.
That was mid 2017 and I have been pretty much on my own since then, other than being pushed to take statins again by people calling from the practice. They did not even bother to tell me that my Hba1c had gone up, nor that it was down again - so I suspect that those of us who go into remission by diet alone are considered very naughty patients and get left alone. We can only keep on doing our best and hope for more enlightened HCPs to come along.

 

[Jayne1983]

Welcome to the forums @Jayne1983 and congratulations on reducing your hba1c from diabetic levels to non diabetic. (I believe prediabetes officially starts at 40, the level can vary by country).

Will let the UK members comment on what that means as regards future monitoring from the NHS. Theoretically once diabetic you should get yearly diabetic checks but because you've had only one diabetic reading they may not have you listed as diabetic.

In any case, in your position I'd keep a bit of an eye on your levels. If you go back to the amount of carbs that you were eating when you became T2 there is a good chance that your hba1c will go back up....

Hi thank you I’ve not been told much about type 2 yer I will stick to low carb forever I don’t want to go back to a high hbc1a is it possible to keep it low range forever as long as you keep to diet and exercise xx

 

[Jayne1983]

The GP put no further action on my notes at 6 months after diagnosis, as I was just at the top of normal then.
That was mid 2017 and I have been pretty much on my own since then, other than being pushed to take statins again by people calling from the practice. They did not even bother to tell me that my Hba1c had gone up, nor that it was down again - so I suspect that those of us who go into remission by diet alone are considered very naughty patients and get left alone. We can only keep on doing our best and hope for more enlightened HCPs to come along.

hi yes that’s true I’ve not had any information just lose weight eat healthy it’s a good job I found this forum and I’ve read loads of post I do test my bloods and there always normal how long have u been in remission

 

[EllieM]

Hi thank you I’ve not been told much about type 2 yer I will stick to low carb forever I don’t want to go back to a high hbc1a is it possible to keep it low range forever as long as you keep to diet and exercise xx

I'm not the right person to ask about that as I'm T1 and my pancreas doesn't produce insulin, but there are plenty of T2s on these forums who've been in remission for years by keeping low carb.

Forever? That's a long time and not really possible to predict for anyone, in my opinion.

In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes (by Benjamin Franklin).

 

[Andydragon]

Hi I’m new well I’ve been reading post I had hbc1a of 54 in March in June 36 the receptionist said no further action your diabetes is now normal I’m low carb I’ve had no cheats just low carb high fat and exercise please can some one tell me what this means I’ve had no help of the doctors I’ve only googled and read post on here xx thanks xx

Hi there
Have you been marked officially as T2? Given your rapid turnaround they may not have so you need to check. you have achieved a fantastic level and are now in the ‘normal’ diagnostic range

however, you should still continue to have yearly diabetic checks of both hba1c and foot/retinal screenings etc as even in remission you are always diabetic and it is important to keep that monitored. If you weren’t tagged as T2 then you won’t

personally I will always say remission not reversed as I know what carbs can do to my levels. But as you indicate, it’s a life long change and for me remission helps me mentally keep that

 

[Resurgam]

hi yes that’s true I’ve not had any information just lose weight eat healthy it’s a good job I found this forum and I’ve read loads of post I do test my bloods and there always normal how long have u been in remission

Unofficially about 4 years - my Hba1c was 41 by then, but I saw normal blood glucose in a few months from diagnosis, early 2017.

 

[Jayne1983]

Hi there
Have you been marked officially as T2? Given your rapid turnaround they may not have so you need to check. you have achieved a fantastic level and are now in the ‘normal’ diagnostic range

however, you should still continue to have yearly diabetic checks of both hba1c and foot/retinal screenings etc as even in remission you are always diabetic and it is important to keep that monitored. If you weren’t tagged as T2 then you won’t

personally I will always say remission not reversed as I know what carbs can do to my levels. But as you indicate, it’s a life long change and for me remission helps me mentally keep that

Hi yer she said I’m type 2 to go back in December for another hbc1a test and them yearly eye and feet test I’ve still got to lose another 2 stone will my hnb1a drop again I’m still sticking to low carb diet and exercise I’m on no medication and finger pricks all the test are always below 7.8 can you tell me once you reverse it do u have to still test your blood sugar and if u still to the diet and exercise can you always been a hbc1a in normal range

 

[Andydragon]

Hi yer she said I’m type 2 to go back in December for another hbc1a test and them yearly eye and feet test I’ve still got to lose another 2 stone will my hnb1a drop again I’m still sticking to low carb diet and exercise I’m on no medication and finger pricks all the test are always below 7.8 can you tell me once you reverse it do u have to still test your blood sugar and if u still to the diet and exercise can you always been a hbc1a in normal range

Well, I do occasionally test just to try and keep myself on track. Whether we can stay in normal range forever… we’ll I hope so but can’t see the future of course but others on the forums have many years in normal range by keeping to the regime so I think so. The risk is falling off the wagon. I know eat something like pastry or potatoes and my bloods go well into diabetic levels. So I know I’m not cured and I doubt honestly I ever will be able to eat “normally”

 

[Jayne1983]

Well, I do occasionally test just to try and keep myself on track. Whether we can stay in normal range forever… we’ll I hope so but can’t see the future of course but others on the forums have many years in normal range by keeping to the regime so I think so. The risk is falling off the wagon. I know eat something like pastry or potatoes and my bloods go well into diabetic levels. So I know I’m not cured and I doubt honestly I ever will be able to eat “normally”

I’ve not tried any food yet but I’d like to try something like mash with a dinner and test but I’m to scared to I don’t understand it all so if I did eat mash or pasty or like that and my blood spikes how does that effect you with been in the normal range? Can u have a treat now and then I don’t know I’ve not even seen my doctor or the nurse just phone calls but they don’t say much

 

[Jayne1983]

Well, I do occasionally test just to try and keep myself on track. Whether we can stay in normal range forever… we’ll I hope so but can’t see the future of course but others on the forums have many years in normal range by keeping to the regime so I think so. The risk is falling off the wagon. I know eat something like pastry or potatoes and my bloods go well into diabetic levels. So I know I’m not cured and I doubt honestly I ever will be able to eat “normally”

Plus I’m only eating 20 to 30 carbs aday can I now up it and what types of foods do u eat

 

[Mr_Pot]

I’ve not tried any food yet but I’d like to try something like mash with a dinner and test but I’m to scared to I don’t understand it all so if I did eat mash or pasty or like that and my blood spikes how does that effect you with been in the normal range? Can u have a treat now and then I don’t know I’ve not even seen my doctor or the nurse just phone calls but they don’t say much

Before they were diagnosed, I am sure most Type 2's were eating mountains of carbohydrates and many, like me, had no symptoms they were aware of. Yet, after getting their numbers to non-diabetic levels with a low carb or keto diet, there seems to be a fear that if they try eating any carbs at all they will immediately drop down dead. This is like someone who has given up smoking after many years, trying one cigarette and immediately getting lung cancer.
In both cases the danger is not from the one cigarette or one plate of pasta, the danger is that a one off experiment begins the slippery slope back to their old ways. You need to test just before a meal and 2 hours later. If there is a rise of more than 2mmol/L then you need to reduce the carbs next time you have that meal. That way you can guage the quantity of carbs you can cope with and what type of foods. I am ok with about 80g a day but everyone is different.

 

[Jayne1983]

Before they were diagnosed, I am sure most Type 2's were eating mountains of carbohydrates and many, like me, had no symptoms they were aware of. Yet, after getting their numbers to non-diabetic levels with a low carb or keto diet, there seems to be a fear that if they try eating any carbs at all they will immediately drop down dead. This is like someone who has given up smoking after many years, trying one cigarette and immediately getting lung cancer.
In both cases the danger is not from the one cigarette or one plate of pasta, the danger is that a one off experiment begins the slippery slope back to their old ways. You need to test just before a meal and 2 hours later. If there is a rise of more than 2mmol/L then you need to reduce the carbs next time you have that meal. That way you can guage the quantity of carbs you can cope with and what type of foods. I am ok with about 80g a day but everyone is different.

Thank you that’s great advice I will try testing to see if I can up my carbs do you eat potatoes I’ve been eating the low carb bread of seriously low carb

 

[Jayne1983]

Before they were diagnosed, I am sure most Type 2's were eating mountains of carbohydrates and many, like me, had no symptoms they were aware of. Yet, after getting their numbers to non-diabetic levels with a low carb or keto diet, there seems to be a fear that if they try eating any carbs at all they will immediately drop down dead. This is like someone who has given up smoking after many years, trying one cigarette and immediately getting lung cancer.
In both cases the danger is not from the one cigarette or one plate of pasta, the danger is that a one off experiment begins the slippery slope back to their old ways. You need to test just before a meal and 2 hours later. If there is a rise of more than 2mmol/L then you need to reduce the carbs next time you have that meal. That way you can guage the quantity of carbs you can cope with and what type of foods. I am ok with about 80g a day but everyone is different.

What do you use your 80g carbs on if you don’t mind me asking

 

[Mr_Pot]

What do you use your 80g carbs on if you don’t mind me asking

I don't eat breakfast cereals, potatoes, pasta, rice and only a little low carb bread. I don't eat anything actually sweet tasting like biscuits, cakes and desserts and very little fruit. I do eat meat, fish poultry, dairy, vegetables and salads. I am not completely strict, I steal the occasional single roast potato or a few chips from my wife. Most importantly I save some carbs for a pint of beer in the evening. There have been some good food lists posted on here, I hope someone can provide one for you.

 

[Jayne1983]

I don't eat breakfast cereals, potatoes, pasta, rice and only a little low carb bread. I don't eat anything actually sweet tasting like biscuits, cakes and desserts and very little fruit. I do eat meat, fish poultry, dairy, vegetables and salads. I am not completely strict, I steal the occasional single roast potato or a few chips from my wife. Most importantly I save some carbs for a pint of beer in the evening. There have been some good food lists posted on here, I hope someone can provide one for you.

That’s great thank you. I have them protein bars there 4 carbs a bar and once a week some Pom bears crisps after a salad I eat meat cheese veg sugar free jelly I drink vodka and tennents light lager it’s 0.7 carbs a bottle I only have a few once a month I do miss my lager like but at least I can still have vodka tho lol. So what does reverse or remission mean?

 

[Mr_Pot]

So what does reverse or remission mean?

There have been several whole threads about the exact meaning of reverse or remission. I would say that it means that you have maintained non-diabetic numbers for a year or so without drugs (apart from Metformin maybe). Most people would probably agree that cure is not the right word as you still cannot cope with the (excessive?) amount of carbs that a non-diabetic can. I am officially "well controlled" which I think is accurate. If someone has a peanut allergy and they don't eat any peanuts they are not cured but they are controlling the problem.