HbA1c score and medication

[Sunnysky]

I have just had my HbA1 test result and it is 51 after 6 months. My scores over the last year have all been similar. I am not taking any medication as have been trying to control diabetes with diet but not been very successful. I’ve got my diabetic review next week and wondering if I should start medication due to potential harm caused by this constant level of sugar in blood?
Do others tend to go on medication if they have similar readings- would love to hear. Also wondering if Ozempic would be a realistic option as my bmi is 37?

 

[Outlier]

If you would share with us information on what you eat, a few typical days' meals and so on, we might be able to advise some small tweaks that would make all the difference to your readings.

 

[Sunnysky]

If you would share with us information on what you eat, a few typical days' meals and so on, we might be able to advise some small tweaks that would make all the difference to your readings.

I'm having a real problem with bread which I can't seem to stop eating, compulsively. Usually with a lot of butter and maybe marmalade or marmite on it, sometimes toasted. I know this is high carb and am well informed about low carb diet but no matter how much I try I find myself eating it and much more than I intend to. I also like baking but often end up eating too much of it. I know it sounds pathetic as if I can't control things but actually feel that is the case.

 

[Sunnysky]

If you would share with us information on what you eat, a few typical days' meals and so on, we might be able to advise some small tweaks that would make all the difference to your readings.

Just realised I didn't answer your question. I usually try to put off eating until midday but if I eat earlier it will be usually something like scrambled eggs with toast and butter or bacon eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms with slice of bread. I think intermittent fasting is really useful and don't always have lunch but when I do it's probably homemade soup and cheese and biscuits although recently I have been buying festive sandwiches in a meal deal which isn't good.
Evening meal is usually some kind of meat/chicken with lots of vegetables.
The main problem I have is comfort eating when I will eat whole packets of biscuits, crisps etc or lots of bread/toast and butter. This is the problem I am having difficulty with which sabotages my attempts at eating low carb. I know I eat too much bread as well. I sometimes think I can just have 1 small slice but then go onto eat a lot more. Given I can't seem to solve this problem of overeating I was wondering about the questions I put in my original post re medication. I'm feeling that given I have had these problems for a long time now despite lots of attempts to change things that the only answer is to try drugs. Annoying, as I'd prefer to be able to stick to a low carb diet but am thinking perhaps it's just not realistic for me.

 

[IanBish]

I have just had my HbA1 test result and it is 51 after 6 months. My scores over the last year have all been similar. I am not taking any medication as have been trying to control diabetes with diet but not been very successful. I’ve got my diabetic review next week and wondering if I should start medication due to potential harm caused by this constant level of sugar in blood?
Do others tend to go on medication if they have similar readings- would love to hear. Also wondering if Ozempic would be a realistic option as my bmi is 37?

I would say so.

My HbA1c was 69 several months ago. I immediately cut out sugar, bread, pasta, potatoes, cookies, sweets, etc. I've recently been having a sourdough bacon sarnie, which seems okay for me. It was a bit odd at first, but you get used to it. I've got my second HbA1c blood test next week, and I'm confident it'll be lower.

I was started on metformin at first, but didn't like it, so stopped it after a couple of weeks. I've also lost almost 3½ stone (almost 50lbs) since then without ever being hungry.

It's very doable; you just have to maintain consistency. Good luck.

 

[EllieM]

It sounds to me that you have identified your main issue to be bread. I know there are some low carb breads out there, would that help?
Otherwise if you can't resist it I'd be tempted to try not having it in the house for a while to see if that helps.

Ozempic does help some people but I would warn of some issues
1) supply - severe shortages and I'm not sure if they are putting new people on it at the moment
2) it tends to be a life time drug (as in you put weight on0 if you stop taking it). Not necessarily an issue (I'm on insulin for life) but could be a problem given the current supply issues
3) some people just don't get on with it (but that's the case of many medications).

51 isn't a desperately high hba1c so there are plenty of T2 medications you could take if you want to go that route. Tackling the bmi might also help the diabetes?

Good luck.

 

[Sunnysky]

I would say so.

My HbA1c was 69 several months ago. I immediately cut out sugar, bread, pasta, potatoes, cookies, sweets, etc. I've recently been having a sourdough bacon sarnie, which seems okay for me. It was a bit odd at first, but you get used to it. I've got my second HbA1c blood test next week, and I'm confident it'll be lower.

I was started on metformin at first, but didn't like it, so stopped it after a couple of weeks. I've also lost almost 3½ stone (almost 50lbs) since then without ever being hungry.

It's very doable; you just have to maintain consistency. Good luck.

Great that you've lost so much weight - let us know what your next HbA1c is. I lost over 2 stone 2 years ago but put it all back on. My blood sugar and blood pressure all went to normal range so I know it works if you lose weight. I'm going to have to cut a lot of things out but am finding it really hard!

 

[Resurgam]

Great that you've lost so much weight - let us know what your next HbA1c is. I lost over 2 stone 2 years ago but put it all back on. My blood sugar and blood pressure all went to normal range so I know it works if you lose weight. I'm going to have to cut a lot of things out but am finding it really hard!

Although you might have to make and bake for yourself there are many options for low carb foods, even cakes and bread if you chose the right ingredients. A website, lowcarblondoner seems to be well regarded but there are lots of low carb sources online - it is easier if you can find one which is UK based so the ingredients are easier to find.
I use swede and cauliflower rather than potato and rather prefer them. A curry with roughly chopped cauliflower seems tastier than one with rice now. Mashed swede instead of potatoes in bubble and squeak, or mixed with eggs and grated cheese, topped with more cheese and then baked certainly brightens a cold morning.

 

[IanBish]

Great that you've lost so much weight - let us know what your next HbA1c is.

Thank you; it had to be done. And my diabetes diagnosis was the incentive. I'll let the forum know what my result is. My practice isn't on the NHS app yet, so I'll have to ring for the results.

I lost over 2 stone 2 years ago but put it all back on.

I lost a lot of weight several years ago, basically by starving myself, but it soon crept back on, and brought a few of its friends with it. I'm 99% certain that that won't happen again.

My blood sugar and blood pressure all went to normal range so I know it works if you lose weight. I'm going to have to cut a lot of things out but am finding it really hard!

That's good to hear. I'm hoping my BP will come down enough to stop the meds eventually. It's really not that hard once you get into it. You may even find that sourdough bread (or some other proper bread) works for you.

 

[Sunnysky]

It sounds to me that you have identified your main issue to be bread. I know there are some low carb breads out there, would that help?
Otherwise if you can't resist it I'd be tempted to try not having it in the house for a while to see if that helps.

Ozempic does help some people but I would warn of some issues
1) supply - severe shortages and I'm not sure if they are putting new people on it at the moment
2) it tends to be a life time drug (as in you put weight of if you stop taking it). Not necessarily an issue (I'm on insulin for life) but could be a problem given the current supply issues
3) some people just don't get on with it (but that's the case of many medications).

51 isn't a desperately high hba1c so there are plenty of T2 medications you could take if you want to go that route. Tackling the bmi might also help the diabetes?

Good luck.

Thanks for all the advice Ellie. The problem is I'm finding it really difficult to control my eating at the moment, virtually impossible so even if I swapped to low carb bread it wouldn't solve that problem.
It is helping me to read people's stories in this forum as a lot are very inspiring.

 

[Sunnysky]

Thank you; it had to be done. And my diabetes diagnosis was the incentive. I'll let the forum know what my result is. My practice isn't on the NHS app yet, so I'll have to ring for the results.

I lost a lot of weight several years ago, basically by starving myself, but it soon crept back on, and brought a few of its friends with it. I'm 99% certain that that won't happen again.

That's good to hear. I'm hoping my BP will come down enough to stop the meds eventually. It's really not that hard once you get into it. You may even find that sourdough bread (or some other proper bread) works for you.

Thankyou for your support. I am trying to find my incentive again as seem to have lost it but am finding that posts like yours on this forum are bringing some of it back.