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Please help...
- Thread starter bjnobby
- Start Date
hba1c was mentioned when I saw the diabetic nurse but I don't know what mmol is sos.
Yes UK.
pavlosn
Well-Known Member
A glucose test is a test that measures the amount of glucose in your blood at the point of time when the blood sample is taken. In the UK the result would be in mmol/mol and values of 6,7 or 6,9 mmol/mol would both fall on the top end of the pre diabetes range indicating impaired insulin response but not yet to the point of full blown diabetes. Diabetes is diagnosed at a fasting glucose level of 7,0 mmol/mol and above.
An hba1c is a separate, more reliable test, which measures your average glucose level over the last three months by measuring how many glucose particles have attached themselves to the hemoglobin in your red blood cells. In many countries this is still measured as a percentage and diabetes is diagnosed when hba1c is in excess of 6,5%. In the UK they stopped using %s a couple of years ago and now measure Hba1c in mmol/l, anything under 40mmol is healthy and diabetes would be in excess of 47 mmol/l.
I suggest that you may like to call your doctors practice and clarify what test you had and if not Hba1c request that you be tested.
Pavlos
An hba1c is a separate, more reliable test, which measures your average glucose level over the last three months by measuring how many glucose particles have attached themselves to the hemoglobin in your red blood cells. In many countries this is still measured as a percentage and diabetes is diagnosed when hba1c is in excess of 6,5%. In the UK they stopped using %s a couple of years ago and now measure Hba1c in mmol/l, anything under 40mmol is healthy and diabetes would be in excess of 47 mmol/l.
I suggest that you may like to call your doctors practice and clarify what test you had and if not Hba1c request that you be tested.
Pavlos
Andy12345
Expert
HI, Welcome
i agree with everything Pavlosn has said, its hard to listen to the doctor for many (especially me) its hard to take it in especially when being given confusing or bad news so maybe call the reception and ask for a print out of your results etc? if you are diabetic or pre diabetic (ill assume you are diabetic as you were given metformin) the treatment is the same, a lifestyle change is in order, we as diabetics find it useful to eat healthy and get some exercise if possible, try to cut out all sweet products, reduce your intake of bread, rice, pasta and potatoes, these foods essentially turn to sugar once eaten, therefore its a good idea to reduce them because as a diabetic/pre diabetic we have trouble processing the sugar, so the less we put in, the less we will have trouble dealing with
its not all bad, diabetes can be a blessing if changes are made to our lifestyles
have a read of the forum and ask questions as they come up, always someone here that can try and help
(this is all just my opinion, I'm not medically trained)
i agree with everything Pavlosn has said, its hard to listen to the doctor for many (especially me) its hard to take it in especially when being given confusing or bad news so maybe call the reception and ask for a print out of your results etc? if you are diabetic or pre diabetic (ill assume you are diabetic as you were given metformin) the treatment is the same, a lifestyle change is in order, we as diabetics find it useful to eat healthy and get some exercise if possible, try to cut out all sweet products, reduce your intake of bread, rice, pasta and potatoes, these foods essentially turn to sugar once eaten, therefore its a good idea to reduce them because as a diabetic/pre diabetic we have trouble processing the sugar, so the less we put in, the less we will have trouble dealing with
its not all bad, diabetes can be a blessing if changes are made to our lifestyles
have a read of the forum and ask questions as they come up, always someone here that can try and help
(this is all just my opinion, I'm not medically trained)
Thankyou for the reply, I am going to ask for a second opinion before I start taking metformin. My dad has type one and he says that I'm probably prediabetic which can be treated like you say with lifestyle changes.HI, Welcome
i agree with everything Pavlosn has said, its hard to listen to the doctor for many (especially me) its hard to take it in especially when being given confusing or bad news so maybe call the reception and ask for a print out of your results etc? if you are diabetic or pre diabetic (ill assume you are diabetic as you were given metformin) the treatment is the same, a lifestyle change is in order, we as diabetics find it useful to eat healthy and get some exercise if possible, try to cut out all sweet products, reduce your intake of bread, rice, pasta and potatoes, these foods essentially turn to sugar once eaten, therefore its a good idea to reduce them because as a diabetic/pre diabetic we have trouble processing the sugar, so the less we put in, the less we will have trouble dealing with
its not all bad, diabetes can be a blessing if changes are made to our lifestyles
have a read of the forum and ask questions as they come up, always someone here that can try and help
(this is all just my opinion, I'm not medically trained)
Andy12345
Expert
great idea
I've personally never had the courage to ask a doctor for a second opinion lol, even full blown type 2 can be controlled in many cases with lifestyle changes and no meds, on the up side, metformin is considered a very safe drug, i still take it when i no longer need to as i have decided it has many other benefits so don't worry if you do in fact need to take it but no meds has to be good Thankyou, the test was a routine one for thyroid but blood glucose and other things were tested as well, before I start taking metformin I am going to ask for a second test and then decide.
jack412
Expert
I think your dad is right, diet and exercise will do it ,,,, you should see results in a week
but metformin is a good drug if you can take it, it has other benefits as well...so if it was me, because I carry a few extra kilo, I'd take the metformin as well
http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf it’s a long page and a video
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarbliving/a/Food-Cravings.htm For me, the more carbs we eat the more carbs we want. they don’t give up easy.
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarb101/a/firstweek.htm
http://www.lowcarbdietitian.com/blog/carbohydrate-restriction-an-option-for-diabetes-management
blood testing
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045524.php
http://www.homehealth-uk.com/medical/blood_glucose_monitor_testing.htm
food counting
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/
but metformin is a good drug if you can take it, it has other benefits as well...so if it was me, because I carry a few extra kilo, I'd take the metformin as well
http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf it’s a long page and a video
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarbliving/a/Food-Cravings.htm For me, the more carbs we eat the more carbs we want. they don’t give up easy.
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarb101/a/firstweek.htm
http://www.lowcarbdietitian.com/blog/carbohydrate-restriction-an-option-for-diabetes-management
blood testing
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045524.php
http://www.homehealth-uk.com/medical/blood_glucose_monitor_testing.htm
food counting
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/
pavlosn
Well-Known Member
Even if it does turn out you are only pre-diabetic rather than diabetic (Metformin may be prescribed for prediabetes, although I am not sure if this holds in the UK), this is not a get out of jail free card.
Treat any pre-diabetes diagnosis as a last warning that you are well on your way to diabetes if you do not take action to alter course.
The best thing you can do to avoid diabetes is paradoxically to assume you already have it:
- increase your level of physical activity. Does not have to be anything extra strenuous something like 30-45 minutes walk is excellent for instance.
- lose any excess weight.
- improve your diet:
- eliminate sweets and sugary foods other than a very rare and small treat.
- go for less processed ready made choices and prefer food cooked from raw
- more green vegetables and salad
- most importantly limit consumption of food high in carbohydrates such as potatoes, cereals, rice, pasta, bread
- choose wholemeal versions of any carb rich food.
Once you develop diabetes you are stuck with it, so assuming you are not already diabetic, now is the best time for you to take action to make sure you do not go on to become one.
All the best
Pavlos
Treat any pre-diabetes diagnosis as a last warning that you are well on your way to diabetes if you do not take action to alter course.
The best thing you can do to avoid diabetes is paradoxically to assume you already have it:
- increase your level of physical activity. Does not have to be anything extra strenuous something like 30-45 minutes walk is excellent for instance.
- lose any excess weight.
- improve your diet:
- eliminate sweets and sugary foods other than a very rare and small treat.
- go for less processed ready made choices and prefer food cooked from raw
- more green vegetables and salad
- most importantly limit consumption of food high in carbohydrates such as potatoes, cereals, rice, pasta, bread
- choose wholemeal versions of any carb rich food.
Once you develop diabetes you are stuck with it, so assuming you are not already diabetic, now is the best time for you to take action to make sure you do not go on to become one.
All the best
Pavlos
Oh I was told that once you start the metformin it's for life.. Confussed or what ???great idea
Thankyou for all your help and advice.
Andy12345
Expert
not at all, many people come off metformin
bp meds are also apparently for life but thats not the case either hehe
pavlosn
Well-Known Member
As drugs go, Metformin is probably one of the better ones, being reasonably safe and even said to have beneficial effects that extent beyond diabetes.
You should be aware that some people find that it upsets their stomachs when they first go on it.
It will only have a limited effect on your levels anyway, you should concentrate on the lifestyle changes in diet and exercise as these will have a far greater impact.
Pavlos
Brilliant, that's sorted then.. no pills till I've tried all other possiblities. Dad has given me his old blood testing machine so I can keep an eye on the levels.not at all, many people come off metformin
bp meds are also apparently for life but thats not the case either hehe
not at all, many people come off metformin
bp meds are also apparently for life but thats not the case either hehe
Thanks for all your helpvery useful have an expert dad
