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Type 1 Diabetes, Surgery and Hba1c

DiabetesWizard

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hi everyone this my first post. I was supposed to have surgery last year but was told my Hba1c was too high (9%) and I believe it had to be 7% and under. I wanted to know how quickly i can reach that target if i do 1 hour of exercise everyday and cut down from 3 carb meals to 1 a day? im also abit more concious about carbs now because of this. thanks.
 
Like you, I have type 1.
I exercise when I want, I eat what I want and keep my hb1ac under control (it was 48 a year ago).
I achieve this not through exercise or reducing carbs but by matching my insulin to what I eat and lots of testing.
In my mind, reducing your hb1ac when you have type 1 is about understanding how much insulin to take and when.

Your diabetes team should be able to confirm
- your basal insulin
- your insulin to carb ratio ... this may be different at different times of the day
- your insulin sensitivity factor ... which you use for corrections when you BG is too high.

With this knowledge you should be able to improve your control.
 

Thanks helen i was afraid i would have to change out everything i eat.
 
hi there @DiabetesWizard
welcome to the forum !

I agree with @helensaramay - she has pretty much hit the nail on the head

for me -- testing loads -- eating regular low/ moderate carb meals , regular exercise , and avoiding processed sugars is a starting point. ( no desserts or such )
I would also add that control is ultimately yours to take charge of -- I see my DSN ( diabetic nurse ) and consultant every 6 months -- but theynever have any advice for me --- as I am already managing all aspects of my D -- I take control and keep records , make adjustments to doses , count all my carbs , and basically look after myself
 
Thanks
 
DiabetesWizard said:
If i do 1 hour of exercise everyday and cut down from 3 carb meals to 1 a day?
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I expect you would do a lot better by using a FreeStyle Libre to learn how to match your insulin to your meals and also learn the meals that result in poor BG control. Lots of people with Type1 get great results from "low carb", but it is not by putting all the carbs in a single meal, it about being "mindful" of what carbs you eat and how they affect you, along with getting the insulin dose correct.

(There was a thread over Christmas from one person with Type1 who could not control her BG when eating a lot of rice, the response from other people with Type1, make it clear that the type of rice is key for some people, not just how many carbs the rice had.)

As to exercise, 10 minutes (not pushing yourself hard) walk just before or just after eating can help your body take up the BG quicker. Lots of exercises is great for health and wellbeing but does not have much effect on BG control.
 
ringi said:
Lots of exercises is great for health and wellbeing but does not have much effect on BG control
Click to expand...

In my case, it certainly does ... Brisk 15 minute walk for me and it drops from 7s to 5s, 6s to 4s. Never does it increase
 
Mike D said:
In my case, it certainly does ... Brisk 15 minute walk for me and it drops from 7s to 5s, 6s to 4s. Never does it increase
Click to expand...

Firstly I would not call this "LOTS of exercises", also hard exercises often increase BG in someone with Type1 and makes it harder for them to get their insulin does correct.
 
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