Blood glucose levels

[Janwel]

Hello. I was newly diagnosed in Feb Type 2. HBAc1 was 56. Prescribed metformin 1xam and 1xpm. Nothing at all said about testing other than overall aim was to reduce to 48. 3 month blood test will not now be happening. Eye screening and education program also cancelled. My question is this: if a reduction to 48 is aim does it matter what my readings are day to day so long as my overall trend is downwards. I won’t know that until July earliest but I am losing weight and exercising. My diet is emphasis on lean protein, fruit and veg, whole grains, olive oil, cheese.

 

[Resurgam]

Ah - no one told you that the problem is the carbohydrates?
At least your Hba1c was not all that high, so as long as you are eating fewer carbohydrates than before it should show improvement.
Personally, I wanted normal numbers and I was starting from Hba1c of 91 and a lamentably high carb low fat diet intended to lower cholesterol.
I don't eat grains, nor starchy veges, but I do eat meat with fat, also fish, seafood, cheese, full fat yoghurt, only low carb fruits such as berries, also eaten with cream. I used a meter to test my blood glucose and reduced it down to 8mmol/l after eating. I then stuck to the same foods and saw the levels continue to drop eventually I saw under 6mmol/l after eating Christmas dinner, so I knew that I had it beaten if I kept to the diet.
We all react differently to foods, so without knowing what your blood glucose might be then it would be impossible to put a figure on it - and the readings I get would suggest a Hba1c in the 30s but it is stubbornly at 42 - so it isn't an exact science in the first place.
However - not having a meter is rather like not having a speedometer in the car - only when the fines started to roll in would you find out you are a poor guesser.

 

[Member496333]

Fruit and grains won't do you any favours at all. See the link in my signature for further information. If you adopt low-carb eating then you would also be better off with fatty protein, as nature intended.

And welcome to the club. Fingers crossed, we'll have you fixed up in no time

 

[Janwel]

No mention was made by the practice nurse about carbs. Only sugar. I was also shown a plate divided up into protein, carbs and fruit and veg. She warned against fruit juice advising to stick to whole fruits. She suggested eating weetabix instead of muesli due to added sugar and dried fruit in muesli. She suggested porridge with sliced banana for breakfast. She advised that weight loss was way to go due to fatty liver. I have cut out sweets, bakes, alcohol but still carbs at each meal. I’m starting to use berries much more. If I were to test I wouldn’t really know what is good or bad numbers.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

No mention was made by the practice nurse about carbs. Only sugar. I was also shown a plate divided up into protein, carbs and fruit and veg. She warned against fruit juice advising to stick to whole fruits. She suggested eating weetabix instead of muesli due to added sugar and dried fruit in muesli. She suggested porridge with sliced banana for breakfast. She advised that weight loss was way to go due to fatty liver. I have cut out sweets, bakes, alcohol but still carbs at each meal. I’m starting to use berries much more. If I were to test I wouldn’t really know what is good or bad numbers.

Your nurse, alas, seems to be in the dark ages. That happens a lot. Sadly. There's been so many developments in recent years, so much more knowledge about the T2 epidemic and how to achieve remission... It'd be quite amusing to see you go the low carb route, improve your HbA1c beyond recognition, and see her jaw drop eh?

https://josekalsbeek.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-nutritional-thingy.html <-- probably redundant as Jim's already mentioned it, but just in case you're on the app and can't see signature links.