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Advice please on HbA1c

L

lou49

Member
Messages
13
Type of diabetes
Other
Treatment type
Diet only
Hello, I posted earlier today in the low-carb forum saying that I just started Dr David Unwin's plan although I'm not prediabetic or diabetic. Just overweight

I have to have a regular blood test twice a year for other issues and I just collected the results for the GP. Everything is normal and they did the HbA1c which is 41 so just in the normal range of 20-42. I didn't realise they'd test for this as I thought it was a fasting blood test and I hadn't fasted. I'm just going to see what it was last time but I realise that I'm teetering on the edge so to speak so I'm glad that I've made the decision to get it under control. I have a 'well-woman' check with the nurse next Monday so I'm sure this will be mentioned.

Is it not a fasting test normally?

Thanks for any advice.
Louise
 
No it is not a fasting test- it shows the average blood sugar level over the last three months.
 
An HbA1c is a kind of average of your blood sugar over the past 2-3 months so its not necessary to fast for it.
That's a very simplistic explanation but you not having fasted won't have had an impact on the result.
 
Thanks. I just looked at my last blood test which was done in May last year (so much for twice yearly.....usually they pick this up at the surgery when I ask for repeat prescriptions). Hba1c was 38.8. I guess that it's a significant increase now to 41 as at 42 I'd be starting in the prediabetic range I guess.

In some crazy way I needed to have such a reading to kick me into touch. At 38.8 I was probably being too complacent. At 40.00 this stops now!
 
lou49 said:
Around 4st.
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You will definitely benefit from LCHF. If you can get through the carb addiction, you will find it a revelation. I went keto because my HbA1c was so high and needed something radical. Although lowering my HbA1c was my primary goal. It took me 4 weeks to get through the carb addiction. All of a sudden the appetite just went.

Weight loss was a by product and it melted away. @Rachox and @Goonergal lost a lot more than you want to.

Stick around for help and support.
 
As @xfieldok says I used low carb eating primarily to get my HbA1c back into the non diabetic range. I was diagnosed Type 2 in May 17 with a level of 70. I lost 4 stone in the first six months and have gone on to lose 6 1/2 stone in total. My non diabetic 23 yr old son son used low carbing to lose 2 stone aswell, so you don’t have to be diabetic to use low carbing for weight loss, though it will help you get back more comfortably under that 42 border too.
 
Funny the expression “carb addiction” as I do not experience it. What I experience is enjoying good food, so long as I can find and eat food that I enjoy then I dont find myself drawn to carbs like a magnet.
 
Listlad said:
Funny the expression “carb addiction” as I do not experience it. What I experience is enjoying good food, so long as I can find and eat food that I enjoy then I dont find myself drawn to carbs like a magnet.
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That's great for you.. unfortunately many of us have a very different experience with carbohydrates. Which is why many try to avoid them as much as humanly possible.
 
bulkbiker said:
That's great for you.. unfortunately many of us have a very different experience with carbohydrates. Which is why many try to avoid them as much as humanly possible.
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Indeed it helps. I can appreciate that.

My ex wife was a forty a day smoker so I do appreciate how addiction works.
 
Twice I did a fast waddle to the corner shop and fell face down into a plate of crumpets. I also ate half a packet of ryvitas and another time I hit the Carr's water biscuits big time. Both the latter things caused by one glass of red too many.

The trick is to not beat yourself up, just start again. And I was enjoying good food at the time.

We are all different!
 
Ah yes the alcohol. I stopped drinking about 12 years ago for a number of reasons.
 
You could have picked something better than Carr’s water biscuits and Ryvitas to go out on though
 
Listlad said:
You could have picked something better than Carr’s water biscuits and Ryvitas to go out on though
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But I LOVE ryvitas and water biscuits! Especially loaded with butter!

I would kill for a packet of twiglets, and please don't mention Bombay mix else I will cry
 
xfieldok said:
But I LOVE ryvitas and water biscuits! Especially loaded with butter!

I would kill for a packet of twiglets, and please don't mention Bombay mix else I will cry
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No hope for you then

Bombay mix. Yes I do enjoy that stuff. Need a low carb version.
 
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