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Will HB1ac continue to drop?

Z

Zebra1234

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Hi - pleased to say I had a good appointment at the doctors last week. I was diagnosed back in May with a HB1ac level of 90. I had my blood test at the end of August and it has now dropped to 46. Low carb diet, exercise and weight loss of 18kg plus Metformin twice a day seems to be working.

If I can get this down further, the doctor has said I can reduce to one Metformin and then none over the next 6 months. If I can maintain levels without Metformin for another 6 months I will then be in remission.

To get to my target weight, I want to lose another 9kg, a bmi of 23.5. I know everyone is different but does that give me a chance of reducing the HB1ac further? I read somewhere the first 3-5 months post diagnosis are the critical ones but may have misunderstood.

Thanks in advance for any advice and help.
 
That level of 46 includes the early months when you started your new regime when your Hba1c was dropping from 90. Your next Hba1c will be starting from 46 and hopefully dropping further still. excellent results and keep up the good work.
 
i take Glycomet .5 twice daily.
i have observed last one month i am having mostly above 200.
even if i take small amount of white rice, it shoots to 250/260.
is it that i need insuline?
 
Zebra1234 said:
Hi - pleased to say I had a good appointment at the doctors last week. I was diagnosed back in May with a HB1ac level of 90. I had my blood test at the end of August and it has now dropped to 46. Low carb diet, exercise and weight loss of 18kg plus Metformin twice a day seems to be working.

If I can get this down further, the doctor has said I can reduce to one Metformin and then none over the next 6 months. If I can maintain levels without Metformin for another 6 months I will then be in remission.

To get to my target weight, I want to lose another 9kg, a bmi of 23.5. I know everyone is different but does that give me a chance of reducing the HB1ac further? I read somewhere the first 3-5 months post diagnosis are the critical ones but may have misunderstood.

Thanks in advance for any advice and help.
Click to expand...
Hi @Zebra1234 and welcome to the forum.
Yes, probably you will continue to lose weight and your HbA1C will continue to drop if you continue doing low car as at present.

However you don't say anything about 2 major factors which affect this:
1. How low carb are you going and are you in a calorie deficit? In general I don't advise being in a calorie deficit unless it doesn't make you feel hungry!
But if you are now fat adapted then a small calorie reduction will help your 'burn up' excess body fat without you ever feeing hungry. You then just substitute calories from the body fat used up for the fewer calories you are eating. Even if not fully fat adapted, it may still be possible to go lower carb (meaning Keto or carnivore) if you need to.
2. Do your use a Blood Glucose meter to monitor the effect of your meal (test before and then 2hrs after 1st bite looking for a rise of 2mmol or less).?

A maximum BG reading of below 8.0 2hrs after eating practically guarantees at least low pre-diabetic if not normal non-diabetic HbA1C level in the near future. Plus it's likely that your weight will come down as low as it needs to (perhaps even a little more than you may want). If it does come down 'too low' then don't increase carbs, just add more protein and fat.
 
ianf0ster said:
Hi @Zebra1234 and welcome to the forum.
Yes, probably you will continue to lose weight and your HbA1C will continue to drop if you continue doing low car as at present.

However you don't say anything about 2 major factors which affect this:
1. How low carb are you going and are you in a calorie deficit? In general I don't advise being in a calorie deficit unless it doesn't make you feel hungry!
But if you are now fat adapted then a small calorie reduction will help your 'burn up' excess body fat without you ever feeing hungry. You then just substitute calories from the body fat used up for the fewer calories you are eating. Even if not fully fat adapted, it may still be possible to go lower carb (meaning Keto or carnivore) if you need to.
2. Do your use a Blood Glucose meter to monitor the effect of your meal (test before and then 2hrs after 1st bite looking for a rise of 2mmol or less).?

A maximum BG reading of below 8.0 2hrs after eating practically guarantees at least low pre-diabetic if not normal non-diabetic HbA1C level in the near future. Plus it's likely that your weight will come down as low as it needs to (perhaps even a little more than you may want). If it does come down 'too low' then don't increase carbs, just add more protein and fat.
Click to expand...
Thanks - yes I am in a low carb calorie deficit of around 300 -500 a day below what I should be on. Carbs 30-40. I was hungry at first and craved all the wrong food but I am not and don’t any more. I think this will be the the first Christmas I don’t crave mince pies!

I do the urine strips for testing after food and they now indicate normal now so hopefully all looking good.

My diet is mainly protein and vegetable with some fruit. I do have one slice of seeded bread a day which contains 16 of carbs. That’s my treat!
 
Please explain, how to get diabetes type2 2remission. 20 years on 4 metformin,3 Glicazide daily.despite all these medicine a1c is 12-16.
Dr might push for insulin injections soon. Eyesight, muscle, liver, kidneys everything effective.
Please share your strategies,Tip,Food, avoidance.
Please
 
mycanal said:
Please explain, how to get diabetes type2 2remission. 20 years on 4 metformin,3 Glicazide daily.despite all these medicine a1c is 12-16.
Dr might push for insulin injections soon. Eyesight, muscle, liver, kidneys everything effective.
Please share your strategies,Tip,Food, avoidance.
Please
Click to expand...
Type 2s typically produce more than enough insulin.
The trick is to reduce the intake of carbohydrate to what can be coped with, though that is really difficult if you are taking medication which can induce hypos.
Can you consult you doctor or diabetes nurse about low carb foods and reducing medication to suit lower intake?
 
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