• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

HbA1c test

J

Jan McGee

Active Member
Messages
38
Location
UK
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
I had a glucose tolerance test, put myself on a low carb diet now they are going to give me an HbA1c test on 21st.

Will 4 weeks on a low carb diet affect the results?

My reason for asking is that I dont know if I will be able to manage my glucose levels by diet much longer. Reducing the energy coming in from food leads to M.E. relapses. It is already affecting me. Rats!
 
Yes, following a low carb diet will affect your HbA1c. The extent of the effect will definitely depend on the extent you reduce/restrict your carbs. Most of us use the HbA1c as a gauge of how well our low carbing is going.

My recent HbA1c results completely flummoxed my doctor. How could I have 2 fasting blood test results of 7.5 and 6.5, with an HbA1c of 48 (6.5 in old money)? It didn't make sense. He was not pleased with the contradiction. Apparently, my Hb test should have been much higher. He instructed the nurse to arrange for further tests.

Unfortunately, the next test he wants is an oral glucose tolerance test. But I am dodging that because low carb diets muck up those results too, usually giving excessively high readings.

Rock, meet hard place.

The reality (unbeknownst to him!) is that my BG levels have been at diabetic levels for a couple of years, controlled by diet. When/if my BG is no longer controllable by low carbing, then I will be queuing up for all the tests he wants!
 
Although low-carbing, there is no reason why you can't increase the proteins and fats and the body can derive glucose from these to meet energy needs, so low-carbing doesn't have to mean a reduction of energy input. Although your HBa1C should come down this doesn't mean your energy level is coming down as well.
 
Yes, Daibell, I meant to say something similar then got distracted by my NHS hobbyhorse.

Low carbing doesn't have to mean low calorie! When you reduce the carbs, you just balance the it with a proportional increase of fat, or fat+protein. Ideally, make them healthy fats like coconut oil, grass fed butter and cream (Anchor), fish oils, hemp oil, olive oil. There is no need to ever be hungry or feel deprived. I find low carb a much more satisfying and comfortable way of eating than when I was high carb.
 
Jan McGee said:
I had a glucose tolerance test, put myself on a low carb diet now they are going to give me an HbA1c test on 21st.

Will 4 weeks on a low carb diet affect the results?

My reason for asking is that I dont know if I will be able to manage my glucose levels by diet much longer. Reducing the energy coming in from food leads to M.E. relapses. It is already affecting me. Rats!
Click to expand...

The 4 weeks on low carb will certainly help, but you probably know the HbA1c is an average of the previous 8 to 12 weeks, so some of your previous diet will be included. The test is weighted towards the last 4 weeks as some of the "old" blood cells will have died, but some won't.

As has been said above, there is no need to reduce your calories (energy) by going low carb. Protein and fat are also calorific energy providers.
 
Brunneria said:
Yes, Daibell, I meant to say something similar then got distracted by my NHS hobbyhorse.

Low carbing doesn't have to mean low calorie! When you reduce the carbs, you just balance the it with a proportional increase of fat, or fat+protein. Ideally, make them healthy fats like coconut oil, grass fed butter and cream (Anchor), fish oils, hemp oil, olive oil. There is no need to ever be hungry or feel deprived. I find low carb a much more satisfying and comfortable way of eating than when I was high carb.
Click to expand...
How do we know these are the best oils?
 
this is too difficult said:
How do we know these are the best oils?
Click to expand...

Well, you can google them. Not sure where I originally picked up the ideas that these are good. I tend to just wander through the internet following my nose and adding generous pinches of salt, as necessary.

However, (from some very quick googling myself):

Coconut oil was recommended by the health freaks - er... Health conscious individuals who promote green smoothies. Something to do with beneficial fatty acids. I started using it in cooking and smoothies, and LOVE it.
http://authoritynutrition.com/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil/

Butter's benefits vary depending on what the cow has been eating. Not surprising, eh? Grass fed butter contains vit K2, which apparently helps to de calcify arteries.
http://authoritynutrition.com/grass-fed-butter-superfood-for-the-heart/

Fish oils (cod liver, salmon, krill, and some new one made from (i think) squid, have great proportions of the omegas, helping brain and nearly everything else!

Likewise hemp and linseed

And olive oil, extra virgin,
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-l...xpert-answers/food-and-nutrition/faq-20058439

Have a google. Of course some of the information is conflicting, but my attitude is that I won't touch processed fats, If I can help it. And those vile cholesterol reducing margarine abominations are IMHO worse than eating engine oil.

Having ranted, I would like to point out (before someone else does) that I am currently eating 2oz of processed cheese a day. But it is all in the interests of science and the reduction of my dawn phenomenon. Honest guv'nor!
 
You can add rapeseed oil to your list of good oils. I use this for frying. It seems to be vegetable oils that are bad, and they appear in a lot of the rubbish margarine low fat spreads..
 
Thanks a lot for all the information, I will check it out a bit at a time. I hope I do feel better on low carbs when my body has adjusted to them.
 
Back
Top