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a result of sorts

D

dragongirl

Well-Known Member
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349
Location
Northumberland, UK
Just come back from GP – my first (3-month) hba1c is 5.5% (at diagnosis was 8.3). Somewhat disappointed, as did two home test kits that said 5.2 (Sept) and 5.1 (Oct) but I guess it doesn't really matter. She said 5.5% would read as 37 next year, as they're changing to some other system of units to avoid people equating their average mmols with the a1c test (I quote, merely). Anyone know about this or what the unit is?

She has been concerned about how thin I've got, but lovely about agreeing to do things my way and support me "unless you start to feel ill or your sugars go sky high" etc (that was when she took the blood a couple of weeks ago), but today said, "...so I think you can ease off a bit - they say below 7 is what to aim at, and they're probably going to say below 6.5 soon, but that still gives you lots of room to ease off." So I take that as advice that low-carbing is not quite what they want me to do if it leads to weight loss like this, when I didn't need to lose any.

I nodded rather than argue, as I too am very concerned about my inability to keep NOT losing weight (gone to 2 pounds below 9st now, so the extra snacks are helping to slow it down but not to stem it). But I still feel that going higher to say 6.5% is not wise in the long term – am I right? She did add that we could wait for the results of cholesterol test that she was taking blood for today. Last time, she warned me about heart trouble if i went the low-carb/high-fat way. I really hope my chol figs have improved or I am sunk with regards to sounding convincing. Will find out on Thursday or Friday.

I think I feel a little destabilised or demoralised, because 1) the home tests and hers didn't agree really, and 2) the advice to go into the 6s for a1c sounded dodgy, and 3) because I truly wonder what will happen about my weight even though I feel fine – skeletal is not a healthy look and unmentionable parts of me are disappearing. I shall probably disappear totally by next year.

Would value some feedback if anyone experienced has time. Thanks for reading.
DG
 
Here is the table I worked out a while ago with lower and higher numbers as well.

mmol/l. to mmol/m.
4 = 20
4.5 = 26
5 = 31
5.5 = 37
6 = 42
6.5 = 48
7 = 53
7.5 = 59
8 = 64
8.5 = 70
9 = 75
9.5 = 81
10 = 86
10.5 = 92
11 = 97
11.5 = 103
12 = 108
12.5 = 114
13 = 119
13.5 = 125
14 = 130
14.5 = 136
15 = 141
15.5 = 147
16 = 152
16.5 = 158
17 = 163
17.5 = 169
18 = 174
18.5 = 180
19 = 185
19.5 = 191
20 = 196
 
Your doctor is obviously very helpful, but just a bit behind. the Recommendation for Hba1c is already down to ,< 6.5%
Hana
 
dragongirl said:
Thanks, both of you. Very interesting. Another set of figures to get my head round!

Any comments on the rest of the post?

DG
Click to expand...

In my view to stop losing weight you need to up the Calories a little. (higher calories and reduced carbs) You can still stick with your low carb diet regime but you need to get a better balance of things. Monitor the increased Calories and your weight, maybe lessen any exercise. Sometimes you can be doing too much. Keep a close eye on Bg levels as well.
 
DG - Hope you don't breath fire ...

I dropped from 13 st to 11 st 10 by reduced carbing, & have stabilised there for most of this year. (BMI 27 to 24) I eat plenty of cheese & nuts as snacks.
 
IanD - the fire is less hot as I get smaller!!! I eat loads of cheese and nuts now.
Cugila - I did take your earlier advice (many weeks ago now) and am eating many calories as snacks ie mid afternoon and after dinner at night. So effectively I'm eating something every 3 hrs with drinks on top. We did add them up one day and it came to 2,000. I still test before and after meals unless with clients or on the motorway, when I use safe foods. The scores are always fine. So I'm happy to branch out and eat more. Can you name something else besides nuts and cheese that have high calories and low carbs? I'm also using whole milk, emmenthal cheese a lot (and others high in calories but low in carbs), eggs, dark chocolate, and all the fish and meats with higher calories. Avocados and me just don't get along – they go black too quickly and in guacamole they go brown within days which makes me unable to face it. I could fry mushrooms I guess, I have trouble finding pitted olives that aren’t smothered in stuff I hate (any suggestions for a source of plain pitted green ones?). What else? I really will try anything - I used to hate nuts but quite like them now!
DG
 
Hi DG.

If I were you I would get a Collins Gem Calorie Counter book from W H Smith's or Waterstones at £3.99. This way YOU can check on the foods that YOU like and their calorie content along with all the usual carbs, fat, fibre etc. I could probably suggest things but I honestly have no idea of the types of food you like. As for plain Olives, I get them in Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's etc in jars.

Aubergines fried in a little oil for instance. I love 'em, do you ? Carbs..2.8g per 100g. Cals.....302.
There are many ways to add the Cals without the carbs especially as you seem to eat little and often.
Add say, 150 cals to each of your snacks and meals and by the end of your day you have consumed another 900 cal, it all adds up. That and cutting the exercise down may well just start the weight gain.
You could also up the portion sizes of your present low carb high calorie food.....negligible effects on Bg but better effect on calorie intake and possible weight gain.

If you weren't Diabetic it would be easier to follow the so called NHS 'Healthy Diet' for a little while, not sure what that would do to your Bg levels though....... :wink:
 
Good suggestions and I used to eat aubergines so I'll definitely do that.

I have the Collins book and that's why my choices seem few – I was browsing through and throwing out most ideas. But I like the idea of adding in some more cals at each meal/snack. I'll give it a go and watch the effect.

I wasn't sure how long a jar of olives was allowed to last – so many things have "eat within 2 days" on them once opened.

I already cut out nearly all exercise. I just reserve it for if things look like going over 6 in the second hour.

I feel really really bad about worrying about falling below 9 stone when so many are worried about being overweight. But it's a real problem. Neither position is good. Sometimes I just wish to go back to editing, writing and counselling (I still do them of course) and forget about this problem that's been hung around my neck - but I guess you can't turn the clock back, and I'm lucky to have found it in time really.
Thanks for your help. I'll let you know how it goes.
DG
 
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