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First 3 month test

S

steveng

Active Member
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31
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United Kingdom
I have just had my first 3 monthly Hba1c test.

It has reduced from my initial test upon diagnosis from 10.2 to 7.4.

Is this good, what should i really be aiming for ?.

It has been tough as i tend to comfort eat and my mother has just been diagnosed with lung cancer so the "feel good" food has taken a battering in the last few weeks.
 
Hi Steve,

You've done a fantastic job making such a huge improvement in your HbA1c. Brilliant.

Don't stop there though. Even 7.4% equates to an average blood sugar over 10 mmol/l, which will cause long term problems if maintained for a while.

I'd disagree with Sarah. Normal or near normal blood sugars ARE achievable, without moving to hypoland. A non-diabetics HbA1c will be near 4.5%, so the further we stray from that, the greater the risk of complications. It can be done, and the health benefits are enormous - low insulin doses, low triglycerides, great cholesterol levels, normal weight etc. Best of all, you can achieve all of this with a delicious, healthy and extremely satisfying diet.

Best wishes to your Mum,

fergus
 
Hi Steve,

Sorry to hear of your news - its at times like this that the will-power really gets stretched to the limit. You have done fantastically to have made that degree of improvement in 3 months. Your next target will be to get it below 7%, which is the level that doctors tend to regard as "safe", but as Sue says 6.5 would put you closer to the range for a non-diabetic so should be your ultimate goal.

Unfortunately HBA1C is easier to reduce when the levels are high as yours were at first, but it becomes more difficult as they get lower. You will probably find it a lot harder to drop a further 1% than you did to drop the first 2.8%, but don't let that stop you trying!
 
Well done. That is a huge achievement. My first one ever, after starting insulin, was 5.00 and the diabetes nurse was very happy but since then I seem to be unable to get a reading that low. Like you, due to enormous family concerns, I find it so hard not to comfort eat. I'll do well for a few weeks then I NEED that crutch of something naughty to eat (I don't drink or smoke) and I so want to change.
 
any hba1c below 8 will be ok with the doctors. ive recently started taking benfotiamine which is supposed to lower hba1c levels - ill see at my next test if theres any truth in it.
 
hi steve, its great that u are getting your diabetes under control.
I had my check-up today and my HbA1c is also 7.4% (8% last time). I do feel that it may be due to the fact i gave up chocolate for lent..... :D
Having a percentage of between 6 - 7 indicates that you have good control. Between 7 - 8%, control is said to be 'reasonable'.

My nan was diagnosed with with lung cancer 2 years ago, but thankfully beat it with chemotherapy. It was hard not to comfort eat... but try and stay focused. I Wish your mum all the best,

Michelle
 
Well if your Dr thinks below 8 is good I would change Drs quickly
It's no wonder people have so many complications with medical advice like that
Click to expand...

the best you can is good enough.
 
Hi All,

Just an update as i have had my 6 month test in July. My Hba1c is now down to 6.9.

So from initial test of 10.2 to 7.4 to 6.9.

Nurse was happy at result and so was I, as i have been hitting the bad foods lately, what with mum and all, this has led to me putting on 1/2 a stone of the 1 and 1/2 i lost at the start of the year.

Trying to have a new kickstart back into watching what i am eating this week as i have 2 weeks off work and i am trying to think more about what i am eating as i have the time to plan my meals at present.

Hopefully be able to shed a another stone before Christmas and get the HBA1C down a few more notches.
 
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