Tentative question... HbA1c 81

[Missmollymidi]

Hello, I am new here so please excuse any waffling!
Short story is I had a Heart Attack 2 weeks before Christmas and ended up having 2 stents put in a 94% blocked artery. They checked my blood sugars on admission and they were 10.5 but we had been out for a meal just before and had dessert and wine! Put on a high dose of Statins ( another story) and blood sugars went up to 17.5 a couple of hours after a meal although when I say meal at the time I was living on White bread sandwiches as it was all they had in the evenings after the hospital kitchens closed and this went on for 9 days...... fast forward to today when I saw first my cardiac nurse who to,d me to eat starchy carbs with every meal and have snacks! Then my doctor who said my HbA1c results had come back at 81 and although the had to wait another 6 weeks to retest as per guidelines he could assure me that I was Diabetic and would be going onto meds soon. I said I didn’t want to do meds to start
with and would like to try diet first but he told me I have no chance and just accept it!
I am ( usually) a very active person walking dogs and I have 3 horses that I look after, ride and compete. I have about 2 stone to lose and normally follow a Mediterranean style diet ie no bread, pasta, rice or potatoes. Chocolate and Wine was my downfall.
Any help/ advice would be gratefully recieved. Thank you

 

[xfieldok]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear about your recent health problems. I would hesitate to offer any advice in case it impacted on your health.

Most of us follow low carb high fat to control our T2. Please be aware that statins will raise your blood glucose.

 

[Missmollymidi]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear about your recent health problems. I would hesitate to offer any advice in case it impacted on your health.

Most of us follow low carb high fat to control our T2. Please be aware that statins will raise your blood glucose.

Thank you, apparently my Heart Attack was down to the fact that my “ plumbing” is different and the artery that blocked was smaller and thinner than normal. The good news is I have no damage to my heart muscle and my pump function is very good.

 

[xfieldok]

Are you planning on getting a blood glucose meter? We consider one essential to test our blood before and after eating. This tells what eff7ect our meal had on us and whether it was too carby. We can suggest a couple.

Your horses will thank you if you lose a couple of stone!

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Thank you, apparently my Heart Attack was down to the fact that my “ plumbing” is different and the artery that blocked was smaller and thinner than normal. The good news is I have no damage to my heart muscle and my pump function is very good.

Hello @Missmollymidi ,

Well, by the sound of it your diet could still needs some tweaking. (Hospital food is notoriously bad for diabetics...! I think I'd almost prefer plane food. Almost. ). Seriously though, you're doing a lot right already with the Mediterranean diet. Might want to go a little deeper into low carb though... https://josekalsbeek.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-nutritional-thingy.html could be a starting point, if you want to try stuff like that. More info on this forum's website, diabetes.co.uk and dietdoctor.com, as well as Dr. Jason Fung's the Diabetes Code. Statins do up blood glucose, but since there's already been a cardiac event, better stay on 'em, most likely, try to work around it... Anyway, most important thing right now is for you to get yourself a meter. You probably weren't handed one and aren't likely to either, but you want to know how you react to certain meals and whatnot... You've just had surgery and you want those blood sugars down, because it'll take that much longer to quite heal/recover, if you're still high.

@Rachox has excellent info on meters, so I'm tagging her in.

I hope you're feeling better soon.And stick with the walking. It's just about the best thing a T2 can do.
Jo

 

[HSSS]

What negative and fatalistic advice you’ve had.

Whilst I can’t speak as to your personal outlook and advise specifically, I can reassure you that significant numbers in this forum alone have had hb1ac higher than yours and reduced it to normal figures by NOT eating starchy carbs and without going onto medication. To insist to do otherwise is impossible is quite frankly wrong.

Get a meter and test for a while and you’ll soon see what each food does to you and be able to decide for yourself what to,do with them. We can help with suggestions of what meter and how to use it.

Please do more reading around the forum (and other sources) before making decisions based on what I personally consider poor advice.

 

[Rachox]

Hi miss molly and welcome to the forum. Here is a link to our useful info for newbies:
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/basic-information-for-newly-diagnosed-diabetics.17088/
And if you’re interested in getting your own blood glucose meter here is some info on that too and to be clear I have no commercial connections with any of the companies mentioned. For a meter with cheap strips go for the Tee2 + found here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/tee2-plus-blood-glucose-meter/ with the strips found here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/tee2-testing-strips/


With more expensive strips is the Caresens Dual which I currently use, this one has the advantage of glucose and ketone testing in one machine, it’s to be found here:

https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/collections/caresens-dual


And to be totally transparent I used to use the SD Code Free from Home Health which has the cheapest strips available. However I found it to be becoming less and less reliable. Here it is for anyone wanting to give it a go, just bear in mind it seems they are replacing it with the Navii, details below.

http://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/blood-glucose-monitor/

and here for the extra strips

http://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/sd-codefree-test-strips-to-be-used-only-with-the-sd-monitor/

There are discount codes if you buy in bulk.

5 packs 264086

10 packs 975833


Home Health have recently bought out this one too, but I haven’t heard any reviews yet, links to strips and the meter:

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/glucose-navii-blood-glucose-test-strips-50-strip-pack/


https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/gluconavii-blood-sugar-meter-glucose-monitor-starter-kit/


Don’t forget to check the box that you have diabetes so you can buy VAT free. (for all meters and strips)

 

[KK123]

Hi @Missmollymidi, what a lot you have to take in! No wonder you are confused. It's so hard to get your head around it all especially when you haven't been properly diagnosed yet and although it sounds like they think type 2, who knows at this stage. If I were you I think I would keep on testing my glucose levels and keep a diary so that you can show them the effects of your 'normal' diet, if you go very low carb now then yes, your levels might be lower but this might mask what is really going on. I would cut down on the obvious rubbish (if you eat any) but until you get a proper diagnosis it can be difficult to make a decision as to what exact diet you wish to follow. Harder still (if you end up choosing low carb) is that those looking after your heart health will recommend a low fat diet which is not necessarily compatible with low carb. As for this 6 week wait, well I would NOT be sitting around waiting for that appointment but would be contacting the Dr if my levels remained high. You have medical conditions other than diabetes to think about so at least when you know what you are dealing with you will be able to make an informed decision. x

 

[HSSS]

Are you waiting on any other tests? Is there any question of type or suggestion it may be type 1

 

[VashtiB]

Another hello and welcome,

You have really had a rough time and (in my view) some awful advice. For diabetics all carbs are not good- not just sugar but all carbs turn to glucose.

I agree with the advice to get a meter. This will become your best friend. I'm a needle phobic but for me testing is non-negotiable I need the information so I can make decisions about my health. The meter tells me what effect any food has on my blood sugar levels.

You have found the best place to get information, advice and support for diabetics- honestly the people here are great and have turned me around!.

You have been given some great links- so just a welcome from me.

 

[Missmollymidi]

Hi everyone, I can reply now.
Thank you all for your replies and advice.
I have got a meter - Tee2+ as advised.
I have started testing and so far these are my numbers.

Fasting am 12.0
Before brunch. 11.9
After 2 hours. 10.1. Brunch was omelette with mushroom, cheese and spinach.

Before supper 12.1
After 2 hours. 10.2. Roast chicken, cabbage, leek, sprouts - on a small plate as always!

Before bed - small handful walnuts ( to take meds). Forgot to test sorry.

This morning
Fasting 12.7

Can’t test anymore until I get more strips - hopefully they will be here today.

Any thoughts so far please? A bit panicky as I have an appointment with the Diabetes specialist doctor at our surgery on Friday and I just know it is going to involve pushing more meds. Spending my days trying to research so I am not totally in the dark over this. Not helped by my sister who has been type 2 for 20 years and now on insulin and telling me to eat 3 meals and 3 snacks a day + starchy carbs every meal as I need these for energy!

 

[xfieldok]

It will take a while for your numbers to come down, but now you have the tools to to manage things.

Have you downloaded the mysugr app. Use it to record your food, carbs and numbers.

You might be able to teach your sister a thing or two.

 

[xfieldok]

If your doctor pushes meds, ask for a three month grace period to see if you can improve with diet.

 

[Missmollymidi]

Thank you , according to my sister she knows everything there is to know after 20 years and has done her research!! She thinks I am mad even to try something else.
I will have a look at the app. I think I will ask for the 3 months and see what happens.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Thank you , according to my sister she knows everything there is to know after 20 years and has done her research!! She thinks I am mad even to try something else.
I will have a look at the app. I think I will ask for the 3 months and see what happens.

A lot's changed in 20 years. Trying a different tack might even teach the old hand something.

 

[Missmollymidi]

A lot's changed in 20 years. Trying a different tack might even teach the old hand something.

Hoping I will be able to lead by example - actions speak louder than words and all that

 

[Resurgam]

By eating LCHF I was no longer diabetic in 80 days, and my starting Hba1c was 91 - and down to normal at 6 months. I felt so much better I did a lot more walking and other stuff, but basically I ate no more than 50 gm of carbs a day and once I began to see the numbers dropping - having discovered the best option was to stick to foods no more than 10 percent carbs, and to eat first thing and again in the evening - that was how I have gone on, though I now eat no more than 40 gm of carbs, in an effort to get further improvement - not working, but as it seems an excellent way to eat I have not bothered to raise it again.
I have high cocoa chocolate from time to time, but I hardly drink at all these days as I am usually driving off to various goings on - it is morris practice tonight.
I was told that I needed tablets right from the start - but they made me feel so ill I threw them away, felt so much better, and I could see that my blood glucose was normal so just waited for the next test and for the penny to drop with the nurse (I have not seen the doctor for over three years now) at the next appointment, which was at the six month mark. I shall treasure the 'but these are non diabetic' comment - but felt even better pointing out that they were actually normal, not even prediabetic.
I think that the present avalanche of type two diabetes problems the NHS is struggling with could have been very much reduced if only proper dietary advice, and the correct attitude towards people who struggle with eating carbs was adopted. So much misery and wasted effort, wasted money - and unnecessary sarcasm too.

 

[Missmollymidi]

By eating LCHF I was no longer diabetic in 80 days, and my starting Hba1c was 91 - and down to normal at 6 months. I felt so much better I did a lot more walking and other stuff, but basically I ate no more than 50 gm of carbs a day and once I began to see the numbers dropping - having discovered the best option was to stick to foods no more than 10 percent carbs, and to eat first thing and again in the evening - that was how I have gone on, though I now eat no more than 40 gm of carbs, in an effort to get further improvement - not working, but as it seems an excellent way to eat I have not bothered to raise it again.
I have high cocoa chocolate from time to time, but I hardly drink at all these days as I am usually driving off to various goings on - it is morris practice tonight.
I was told that I needed tablets right from the start - but they made me feel so ill I threw them away, felt so much better, and I could see that my blood glucose was normal so just waited for the next test and for the penny to drop with the nurse (I have not seen the doctor for over three years now) at the next appointment, which was at the six month mark. I shall treasure the 'but these are non diabetic' comment - but felt even better pointing out that they were actually normal, not even prediabetic.
I think that the present avalanche of type two diabetes problems the NHS is struggling with could have been very much reduced if only proper dietary advice, and the correct attitude towards people who struggle with eating carbs was adopted. So much misery and wasted effort, wasted money - and unnecessary sarcasm too.

Thank you. I am walking much more now as well as all the other active stuff ( riding, looking after the horses etc). Watching what I eat ( low carb) and eating just brunch and supper. Not sure if I should be super excited that my bs before supper tonight was 7.1 when it has been around 12. Will test again in a couple of hours. Down is good!

 

[xfieldok]

You should be super excited with every little sign that you are going in the right direction. Just don't worry if you suddenly get a spike for no apparant reason, happens to everyone. Just carry on.

 

[Route 66]

Hello, I am new here so please excuse any waffling!
Short story is I had a Heart Attack 2 weeks before Christmas and ended up having 2 stents put in a 94% blocked artery. They checked my blood sugars on admission and they were 10.5 but we had been out for a meal just before and had dessert and wine! Put on a high dose of Statins ( another story) and blood sugars went up to 17.5 a couple of hours after a meal although when I say meal at the time I was living on White bread sandwiches as it was all they had in the evenings after the hospital kitchens closed and this went on for 9 days...... fast forward to today when I saw first my cardiac nurse who to,d me to eat starchy carbs with every meal and have snacks! Then my doctor who said my HbA1c results had come back at 81 and although the had to wait another 6 weeks to retest as per guidelines he could assure me that I was Diabetic and would be going onto meds soon. I said I didn’t want to do meds to start
with and would like to try diet first but he told me I have no chance and just accept it!
I am ( usually) a very active person walking dogs and I have 3 horses that I look after, ride and compete. I have about 2 stone to lose and normally follow a Mediterranean style diet ie no bread, pasta, rice or potatoes. Chocolate and Wine was my downfall.
Any help/ advice would be gratefully recieved. Thank you

If it helps you, I had a heart attack in May last year and a stent fitted in a blocked artery. Whilst in hospital diabetes was diagnosed with Hba1c of 108. I was put on Rampril, bisoprolol, Ticarelor and Antorverstatins. I was also put on mixed insulin twice a day as the Consultant is adamant it protects the heart. I have just been given the choice of reducing the insulin with the aim to cut it out completely and move over to Metformin.

I immediately stopped smoking and cut out all sugar in tea coffee, fizzy drinks, cakes, biscuits chocolate, potatoes, rice and pasta.

My last Hba1c in December was 55 and I am hoping to get below the magical 48 at the next blood letting in April.

I attended an Empower Course where they stressed to eat to the EATWELL plate, including Carbs. However I have found many peoples advice on here to be far better and have followed low carb

If you do go on medication - Make sure it is the right thing to help prevent further cardiac problems.

You sound as you have things sorted in your mind.

Just take it steady as it can take up to 12 months for your body to recover after the angioplasty.

Best wishes on your recovery from one a bit further down the line.