• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Bringing my HbA1c down

When I was first diagnosed I used to test:

As soon as I got up.
Before each meal.
1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hours after each meal.
Just before bed.

About 14 tests per day. The diabetic clinic thought it was a bit over the top but within 2 months I knew which foods had the worst effect on my blood sugars and was able to adjust my diet accordingly. The 3 tests after a meal enabled me to work out whether to take insulin before or after a meal (or a bit of both) depending on what I was eating.
In just over a year I've brought my HBA1C down from 77 to 34 which I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have done without the 'over the top' testing. I only did this for the first couple of months and not religiously every day but enough to get to know the effects of carbs from different sources had on me.

I'm not trying to brag, I'm just trying to say that if you keep on top of things you'll bring your HBA1C down in no time - good luck :)
 
Wow that is a lot of testing. But its good advance and I'll take it because I can see its had good results for you. Plus I got a green book which means I can get all the test strips I want for free :p Thanks man :)
 
@Bazzza carb counting isnt that bad and it will make a HUGE difference to your bg. how do you decide how much to eat currently? for instance do you have to eat X amount each meal for your insulin?
 
I will try to learn how to do it soon. I'm on a fixed amount of insulin before each meal for the time being based on what the doctors and nurses in the diabetic clinic and hospital told me to take. I usually eat small portions but noting strictly controlled and counted or weighed out. The dietitian told me to eat 4 wheetbix in the morning with a piece of fruit, until I put more weight on. I've never been to any education classes...I don't think there is anything like that in my country. Just pamphlets you get at the day care center.
 
Bazza, the on-line BDEC carb Counting Course is a good place to learn about adjusting insulin to the food you eat, here's the link again in case you've misplaced it:

http://www.bdec-e-learning.com/
 
I went to sign up to this the other day but got side tracked doing something else. Thanks again man.
 
Bazzza said:
... The dietitian told me to eat 4 wheetbix in the morning with a piece of fruit, until I put more weight on..
Click to expand...
There's about 80 grams of carbs in that lot - my dietitian tried to get me to eat porridge but I opted for bacon, eggs & mushrooms instead which is less than 10 grams.
If you have a smartphone you can install an app called 'Carbs & Cals' which is really easy to use.
 
Bazzza said:
................... until I put more weight on.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't worry about your weight it'll come back pretty quickly once you get you insulin ratio (number of units needed for x amount of carbs) sorted out. A year ago I was 124lbs (56Kg), cant remember my BMI but now I'm 163lbs (74Kg) with a BMI of 24.
During the months prior to me being diagnosed I could eat as much of anything that I fancied and wouldn't gain an ounce - I still have fond memories of me stuffing my face full of curries, cream cakes and Mars bars - sadly I can't do that any more :(
 
Back
Top