First 3 Month Review

[mazza 2]

Good Evening All

I've just had my first blood results backs since diagnosed on 31st January. Cholesterol results are much improved although I am not sure about the LDL as there seems to be 2 figures as below:

Serum cholesterol
4.6 mmol/L
Serum triglycerides 2.06 mmol/L
Serum HDL cholesterol level 1.34 mmol/L
Non HDL cholesterol level 3.2 mmol/L
Calculated LDL cholesterol lev 2.3 mmol/L
Total cholesterol:HDL ratio 3.4

My triglycerides are slightly raised but last time they were 6.14 so a great improvement and that is thanks to all the good advice on this forum. I was slightly apprehensive to eat high fat as my doctor said my triglycerides were to high and wanted to put me on statins, but after reading and trusting the members on this site, I decided to try the LCHF diet and see what happened, and the results speak for themselves. So, thank you all very much. My A1C isn't as low as I would have liked, it was 76 and now 52. So, an improvement, but a little disappointed that it still isn't in the non- diabetic range. I've been very committed to LCHF and increased my exercise daily, I really don't want to lose any more weight, ( 7ST 11LBs) infact I would like to put a little back on. Not sure how to do this as I don't want to increase carbs!!! I'm currently on 4 metformin per day and I would like to reduce them a little, but I won't see my DN until 9th May. I tolerate them o.k but they are so big and I hate swallowing them ( I know, I'm a wimp lol), Obviously, I will continue with my current diet, but was going to ask the DN if I could have another A1C in 2 months time as opposed to 3 months, as I really want to get into the normal range. I've read that so many of you have achieved this in 3 months or less and I suppose that's why I feel a little deflated. Still, please accept my sincere gratefulness for all of you who have taken the time and effort to respond to my many questions. You are all very patient and caring people. Thank you.

 

[Guzzler]

You are making great strides, keep it up and well done!

 

[shelley262]

You’re doing great remember 3 months is a short time and we are all different and progress at different rates. You are clearly going in the right direction so you just need to keep it up. It’s said a lot but it’s a marathon not a sprint so whatever you do needs to be sustainable. I’m now trying to maintain my weight on LCHF as well as control my bgs and can see how it must be hard if you don’t want to loose weight as I keep losing. Think secret is to up your healthy fats consumption so that you don’t lose any more but keep your bgs going in right direction. If you choose the right fats you could also put up your HDL even more! Your cholesterol numbers look good. Well done and give yourself a congratulatory pat on the back.

 

[catinahat]

so many of you have achieved this in 3 months or less and I suppose that's why I feel a little deflated.

It's a mistake to try to compare yourself with any other members. You and your Diabetes are unique so how can you expect to have the same results as someone else.
You should be proud of your achievement, if you think that it's taken your whole life to develop T2 and you have the rest of your life beat it. You are doing really well you should be celebrating not feeling deflated.

 

[eggs11]

Well done @mazza 2! Don't be down - you're getting healthier by the minute! Do you test your bloods at home - if so did your new HbA1c (52 equals an average blood sugar of 8.4) seem correct compared to your average blood sugars each day?

 

[mazza 2]

You are making great strides, keep it up and well done!

Thanks Guzzler, I'm gonna keep on trying, it was quite hard at first, but the longer you keep going, the easier it gets, although it can sometimes be a struggle with all the tempting offers on all the wrong foods but I just tell myself I don't need that rubbish inside me!!!

 

[mazza 2]

You’re doing great remember 3 months is a short time and we are all different and progress at different rates. You are clearly going in the right direction so you just need to keep it up. It’s said a lot but it’s a marathon not a sprint so whatever you do needs to be sustainable. I’m now trying to maintain my weight on LCHF as well as control my bgs and can see how it must be hard if you don’t want to loose weight as I keep losing. Think secret is to up your healthy fats consumption so that you don’t lose any more but keep your bgs going in right direction. If you choose the right fats you could also put up your HDL even more! Your cholesterol numbers look good. Well done and give yourself a congratulatory pat on the back.

Shelly, I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't want to lose more weight. Your right when you say about increasing the healthy fats, I'm gonna start working on that and I know I'm quite an impatient person, but when I get frustrated, I read and read this forum and it does give me hope.

 

[mazza 2]

It's a mistake to try to compare yourself with any other members. You and your Diabetes are unique so how can you expect to have the same results as someone else.
You should be proud of your achievement, if you think that it's taken your whole life to develop T2 and you have the rest of your life beat it. You are doing really well you should be celebrating not feeling deflated.

I know your'e right, I shouldn't compare, it's just hard sometimes not to. When you think about it, like you said, it took a long time to become diabetic, so hopefully, I'll live long enough to beat it. It's just a matter of time.

 

[mazza 2]

Well done @mazza 2! Don't be down - you're getting healthier by the minute! Do you test your bloods at home - if so did your new HbA1c (52 equals an average blood sugar of 8.4) seem correct compared to your average blood sugars each day?

I test all the time at home. I have an Accu-Chek. According to that my average BG is 6.5 for 7 days, 6.4 for 14 days, 6.5 for 30 days and 6.7 for 90 days. I also have my sugar apt and that estimates my A1C at 5.7 but obviously that can't be right, although I only started using that a month after the Accu - Check.

 

[eggs11]

I test all the time at home. I have an Accu-Chek. According to that my average BG is 6.5 for 7 days, 6.4 for 14 days, 6.5 for 30 days and 6.7 for 90 days. I also have my sugar apt and that estimates my A1C at 5.7 but obviously that can't be right, although I only started using that a month after the Accu - Check.

It was quite a bit higher than what you expected then - I had a similar problem - was expecting an A1c of 35 but it was 42 - here's a handy list @Bluetit1802 gave me which links showing why HbA1c can not always be accurate - you can see if any may be relevant to you:

Here are the links:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DG4FKXNUQAA2rMo.jpg

http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=x20130320091936685340&linkID=75946&cook=yes

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/news/201...ted-through-hba1c-due-to-anemia-97409751.html

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/th...due-to-red-blood-cell-age-variability.110793/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2581997/

https://blog.designsforhealth.com/hemoglobin-a1c

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3912281/

 

[mazza 2]

It was quite a bit higher than what you expected then - I had a similar problem - was expecting an A1c of 35 but it was 42 - here's a handy list @Bluetit1802 gave me which links showing why HbA1c can not always be accurate - you can see if any may be relevant to you:

Here are the links:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DG4FKXNUQAA2rMo.jpg

http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=x20130320091936685340&linkID=75946&cook=yes

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/news/201...ted-through-hba1c-due-to-anemia-97409751.html

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/th...due-to-red-blood-cell-age-variability.110793/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2581997/

https://blog.designsforhealth.com/hemoglobin-a1c

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3912281/

Thanks for that, I'll have a read.

 

[Guzzler]

I'm in the same boat weight wise, struggling to put weight back on. I raised and raised again my level of fats and recently raised my protein intake. So far so good but a bit early to say fully relaxed about it yet.

 

[mazza 2]

I'm in the same boat weight wise, struggling to put weight back on. I raised and raised again my level of fats and recently raised my protein intake. So far so good but a bit early to say fully relaxed about it yet.

I understand what you mean. How long have you had diabetes. Some people have said they are able to eat more carbs as they have increased their insulin resistance. I know I haven't as yet, but was hoping as time goes on I might be able to increase a few carbs which will help me stabilise my weight. Has your tolerance to carbs increase at all ?

 

[Guzzler]

I understand what you mean. How long have you had diabetes. Some people have said they are able to eat more carbs as they have increased their insulin resistance. I know I haven't as yet, but was hoping as time goes on I might be able to increase a few carbs which will help me stabilise my weight. Has your tolerance to carbs increase at all ?

I was only diagnosed a year ago. The DSN said "You must have been Diabetic a very long time" in a tone of voice that said I must have known all along and ignored it! I had had none of the classic symptoms and was not overweight. I have not been able (or particularly wanted) to increase the amount of carbs in my diet (currently at 30g per day). Perhaps in the future and as time passes I may become a little less insulin resistant, fingers crossed.