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Hba1c test

niaz11

Active Member
Messages
30
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
My diabetes nurse told me that i have a hba1c of 32 while on metformin. I asked her if this means if i am in remission and she said not nessecarily but it is a good result. Having said that when i was diagnosed i had an a1c of 120. But all this is because of medication and surplus to drastic diet changes. What do you guys make of it?
Oh and also Ramadan is coming up soon and i want to try and keep fasts is there anyone on here who has done ramadan with t2 before if so how did you feel doing it?
 
Well done on the huge reduction to your HbA1c levels.

in terms of whether you are in remission, your new results suggest so, but your nurse or Doc Amy want to ensure you can keen those numbers in a good place over a little longer.

keep up the good work!
 
As Metformin is a mild medication and you‘ve made drastic diet changes I’d be surprised if you weren’t in remission (drug free under 48) should you decide to stop the metformin. Well done on achieving such an amazing hba1c .
 
By any chance did you have covid prior to your diagnosis, as an Hba1c of 120 reduced via Insulin etc. And now off these meds with an Hba1c of 32 is i would say miraculous WELL DONE.
Could it be that like many have found they had covid induced diabetes, which disappeared after a few months! may be worth looking into.
As a type 2 i should think Ramadan should be right up your street, i believe dispensation is allowed for medical grounds, so perhaps some drinks containing fats would be possible, purely on a medical basis.
 
niaz11 said:
But all this is because of medication and surplus to drastic diet changes.
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If the medication you are referring to is just metformin, then it will almost certainly be your diet that is giving you your fantastic results. I suppose technically to be in remission you would need to be medication free but the metformin will have only made a small difference to your HbA1c. So I would have thought you are perfectly entitled to claim remission, no matter what your nurse thinks.
I fast most days, usually only eating 1 meal in the evening, I can think of absolutely no reason why Ramadan should be a problem. If you are worried about taking metformin on an empty stomach, then take it when you do eat later in the day.
 
catinahat said:
I fast most days, usually only eating 1 meal in the evening, I can think of absolutely no reason why Ramadan should be a problem. If you are worried about taking metformin on an empty stomach, then take it when you do eat later in the day.
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You are used to fasting, the OP may well not be. However Ramadan isn't in the middle of summer now. Where I am that would mean fasting from 4:21 to 22:06, so when one can eat is when one is normally asleep.
 
CatsFive said:
You are used to fasting, the OP may well not be.
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If the op is from a culture that celebrates Ramadan, i think its safe to assume that they are no strangers to fasting and are fully aware of when they can eat.
I assumed that the question was more about T2 and fasting, and of course there is no problem for any T2 fasting, no matter where they are in the world.
 
catinahat said:
I assumed that the question was more about T2 and fasting, and of course there is no problem for any T2 fasting, no matter where they are in the world.
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Doesn't that depend a bit on what medication they are on? Some meds (eg insulin) don't always mix well with fasting.
 
EllieM said:
Doesn't that depend a bit on what medication they are on? Some meds (eg insulin) don't always mix well with fasting.
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But the poster is not on insulin, they are T2 with a HbA1c of 32
niaz11 said:
i have a hba1c of 32 while on metformin
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Part of the original posters questions was about fasting during Ramadan. As you can see they are taking metformin not insulin. In fact insulin is not mentioned anywhere in their post, did you read the whole thread before commenting?

I really don't understand why my reply has cause anyone to question it, not only is fasting is perfectly safe for a well controlled T2, it is an extremely beneficial strategy that many members of this forum use successfully.
 
catinahat said:
I really don't understand why my reply has cause anyone to question it, not only is fasting is perfectly safe for a well controlled T2, it is an extremely beneficial strategy that many members of this forum use successfully.
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I absolutely agree, I was just concerned that you said "any T2" can fast, and wanted to make the distinction/clarification in case T2s on other medication read the thread later.
 

Ramadan is once a year for up to 30 days, not every day, and the evening meal after the day's fast can be huge to the extent that some Muslims put weight on during Ramadan. More about gaining weight during Ramadan: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/incel...losing-it-here-are-some-reasons-why-1.5578444
 

The poster asked a question about T2 and Ramadan, not once did they express any concerns about weight gain, and I can't see where I said that Ramadan entailed fasting every day of the year? why do you think I need educating about Ramadan?
If you think that fasting is not suitable for T2's(not taking insulin or any other drug that may or may not cause hypo's) then we will have to agree to differ.
https://www.dietdoctor.com/intermittent-fasting
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Diabetes-Code-Prevent-Reverse-Naturally/dp/1771642653
 
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No need to eat during the day for T2s just on metformin. Loads of advice from online medical sites about this.
 
Sorry didnt know i would cause this much of a debate here hahahaha my doctor says its fine and its something ive done for 20 years before diabetes hit me @catinahat is speaking facts nonetheless.
 
Didnt have no covid prior to diagnoses most of my diabetes was brought on by stress eating and linked to other medical conditions.
 
Yeah i usually take 2 with my evening meal anyway so shouldnt make much of a difference just the meal will be eaten a little later once the sun sets
 
@niaz11 well done on reducing your HBA1c to such a level! I too wondered about "being in remission" when I got mine below 42 after a few months of making drastic changes (most importantly low carb diet). I read a few studies where people achieved a big reduction initially like me, but then for some of them it began to slowly creep up. So I took the view I wouldn't consider myself in remission until 12 months had passed and I'd remained below 42.
 

I know they asked about T2 & Ramadan, and I know they didn't express concerns about weight gain. I also know it's only a month or so. My point was that ask practised in many households it's not a great way to eat. The OP can fast, but the many Muslims more than make up at iftar, and if that is the case for the OP then a change in iftar might be a good idea.
 
Hi,

I’m going to wish you a happy, safe & spiritual Ramadan.
Your A1c improvement since diagnosis. A fantastic result.

What meds are you currently prescribed.?

A polite reminder to to those bickering with no experience of observing Ramadan.
Please be mindful ot our member’s individual position.

Kind regards.
 
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