HBA1C up from 38 - 54 in 9 months

Millie74

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Messages
217
I’ve been doing low carb and cal. But will aim to increase to 1200 cal per day. I am guessing this is a safe limit. Thanks for talking me through net carb calculation. I have been doing all this fir the last year to reverse type 2 and lose weight. I would like to keep weight off now, even lose half a stone more. Just don’t want to gain. I realise now that I can’t reverse it if have LADA. Just feels like a waiting game for insulin. So I’m not sure what approach to take now. Perhaps 50g carbs per day and 1200 cals would be ok to at least help maintain weight loss and keep the blood sugars down. I do loads of exercise. When not teaching dance, I am walking the dog.

Should I ask the nurse for a ketone meter in new year at the surgery. She told me to drop a urine sample in to the surgery, as they didn’t check urine at my August annual check. Haven’t done it yet though as asked her what they would do if not ok and she said give you something to relax kidneys if required. Didn’t like sound of that. My kidney function came back as fine in August.
 

HSSS

Expert
Messages
7,465
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I’ve been doing low carb and cal. But will aim to increase to 1200 cal per day. I am guessing this is a safe limit. Thanks for talking me through net carb calculation. I have been doing all this fir the last year to reverse type 2 and lose weight. I would like to keep weight off now, even lose half a stone more. Just don’t want to gain. I realise now that I can’t reverse it if have LADA. Just feels like a waiting game for insulin. So I’m not sure what approach to take now. Perhaps 50g carbs per day and 1200 cals would be ok to at least help maintain weight loss and keep the blood sugars down. I do loads of exercise. When not teaching dance, I am walking the dog.

Should I ask the nurse for a ketone meter in new year at the surgery. She told me to drop a urine sample in to the surgery, as they didn’t check urine at my August annual check. Haven’t done it yet though as asked her what they would do if not ok and she said give you something to relax kidneys if required. Didn’t like sound of that. My kidney function came back as fine in August.
Kidney function is a separate test to ketones and a large part of the reason for the urine test.

Ketones can be checked this way but if you are eating low carb is is normal to have an amount of ketones in the urine/blood/breath. This is a lower amount than in dka and would not come alongside high blood sugars.

The ketone meter would help alert you if you are rising above your own normal levels and heading for dka. I’m not a type 1 but were I in your shoes I’d make sure I was well aware of symptoms of dka and what to do whilst waiting on the appointment and meters.

the hormone changes in coming off the pill and quite frankly being in your 40’s has a lot of hormone changes starting up too that often negatively affect weight. I am a firm believer in going too low in calories for too long will slow your basal metabolic rate and cause weight gain in response too.
 
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Hertfordshiremum

Well-Known Member
Messages
385
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
I’ve been doing low carb and cal. But will aim to increase to 1200 cal per day. I am guessing this is a safe limit. Thanks for talking me through net carb calculation. I have been doing all this fir the last year to reverse type 2 and lose weight. I would like to keep weight off now, even lose half a stone more. Just don’t want to gain. I realise now that I can’t reverse it if have LADA. Just feels like a waiting game for insulin. So I’m not sure what approach to take now. Perhaps 50g carbs per day and 1200 cals would be ok to at least help maintain weight loss and keep the blood sugars down. I do loads of exercise. When not teaching dance, I am walking the dog.

Should I ask the nurse for a ketone meter in new year at the surgery. She told me to drop a urine sample in to the surgery, as they didn’t check urine at my August annual check. Haven’t done it yet though as asked her what they would do if not ok and she said give you something to relax kidneys if required. Didn’t like sound of that. My kidney function came back as fine in August.
That sounds like a good plan, don't make the same mistake I did a few years ago. It obviously worked for you to lose 2 stone but now you have put on a couple of pounds unexplained I would stick to safer levels. With all the exercise you might find you gradually lose another half a stone anyway. I still don't have a ketone meter! Probably cost! But do have ketostix, definitely ask for these.
Have a good Christmas, I have been looking at the keto recipes on here. Might try a couple so I have something to eat whilst they are eating the trifle and chocolate log I will be making tomorrow!
 
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Millie74

Well-Known Member
Messages
217
Kidney function is a separate test to ketones and a large part of the reason for the urine test.

Ketones can be checked this way but if you are eating low carb is is normal to have an amount of ketones in the urine/blood/breath. This is a lower amount than in dka and would not come alongside high blood sugars.

The ketone meter would help alert you if you are rising above your own normal levels and heading for dka. I’m not a type 1 but were I in your shoes I’d make sure I was well aware of symptoms of dka and what to do whilst waiting on the appointment and meters.

the hormone changes in coming off the pill and quite frankly being in your 40’s has a lot of hormone changes starting up too that often negatively affect weight. I am a firm believer in going too low in calories for too long will slow your basal metabolic rate and cause weight gain in response too.
 

Millie74

Well-Known Member
Messages
217
Thank you for the advice. I think I have been doing low calorie for too long. I will rectify this now and hope I at least maintain.

I will look up symptoms of DKA. I appreciate there will be a lot of hormone changes in my 40s. My hormones have never been brilliant with a history of PCOS. I might need to shift my focus more on exercise and toning and not obsess about weight. I’ll try and eat at least 50g carbs.

Hope you have a lovely Christmas.
 

Millie74

Well-Known Member
Messages
217
That sounds like a good plan, don't make the same mistake I did a few years ago. It obviously worked for you to lose 2 stone but now you have put on a couple of pounds unexplained I would stick to safer levels. With all the exercise you might find you gradually lose another half a stone anyway. I still don't have a ketone meter! Probably cost! But do have ketostix, definitely ask for these.
Have a good Christmas, I have been looking at the keto recipes on here. Might try a couple so I have something to eat whilst they are eating the trifle and chocolate log I will be making tomorrow!
 

Millie74

Well-Known Member
Messages
217
Hi. I’m making mince pies and icing some fairy cakes for guests today. I might have some dark chocolate as a treat, so don’t feel completely left out. We bought some nice Hotel Chocolat ones.

Thanks for discussing everything with me. I’ll try not to obsess about weight. I have been doing intermittent fasting too, which I will stop as not working anyway.

I will ask about Ketosticks.

Have a fab Christmas.
 

HSSS

Expert
Messages
7,465
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Keto sticks only work short term to test for ketosis. Once you have adapted and are utilising ketones for energy they aren’t being wasted and peed out so stop showing on the sticks.

I understand from my reading for dka if they rise above what you use they’ll show up again and likely higher.


And weight is a poor measure imo as it very much depends on what it consists of. Health and tone and strength and size perhaps matter much more than a measure of gravity.
 
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Weehotty

Well-Known Member
Messages
105
that was my thought but I have a resistant GP who has no interest in that approach - wants only to review again in the New Year
I have one like that too ... my hbac1 has went from 39 to 51 in less that a year .. i am lighter than what i was this time last year ... doc is not interested .. labeled me type 2. . infact my specialist is insisting i start metforin when levels hit 53 and the doc has said he wont do it till it hits 59??!!
As such im going privately on Monday for Islet Antibody testing as my father is a T1 and although i am over weight i am suspicious of T1 being the cause.. ( fyi my dad had dka at 44 and was then diagnosed as t1 and he was morbidly obese !
 

EllieM

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9,208
Type of diabetes
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Treatment type
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As such im going privately on Monday for Islet Antibody testing as my father is a T1 and although i am over weight i am suspicious of T1 being the cause.. ( fyi my dad had dka at 44 and was then diagnosed as t1 and he was morbidly obese !

In your position I'd get a c-peptide test, which shows how much insulin you're actually producing. Lots of T1s don't show up on the antibody tests at all.