Hba1c

[jingyd36]

In September I saw my gp about fatigue. My thyroid was tested and I have a high tsh of 7.51 but FT4 is normal at 15.8 so my gp says I don't need treatment. He tested my hba1c and it was 38. My finger prick test 30 minutes after eating was 9.2 which terrified me but my gp said 38 is fine and I wasn't diabetic.

In December I was dizzy and fatigued. My gp did the hba1c again and it was 40. He said it was fine. I was suffering from extreme stress and he told me I'd been eating convenience foods due to my stressful time and stress was why I felt unwell. He said he would check my hba1c annually for peace of mind. I had a second opinion ano he agreed I was fine.

I'm still struggling with fatigue daily. I have been told I have chronic fatigue. My tsh is high but they aren't treating it as they don't think I have a thyroid issue as such. My cholesterol in December was 6.9! Hdl 1.6, LDL 3.9 and Triglycerides 3.0.

It's all flared up health anxiety. I'm slim, 116lbs, 5ft tall and 36 year old female. I eat pretty well other than the 3 months I had a very traumatic time. I ate toast and oven chips as had no appetite. My gp thinks this is why my sugars were up a little. I'm always worried if there is something wrong with me having these tests all a little off but my gp.and second opinion say I'm worrying over nothing.

I've tried a lchf diet this week and felt very ill so I'm struggling to do the lower carbs.

So should I get concerned with a hba1c at 40?

I posted on intos last week but thought I'd also ask here if anyone can relate or reassure the anxious person that I've become

 

[urbanracer]

Hi @jingyd36

Your numbers are at the top end of the non-diabetic range.

HbA1c test for diabetes diagnosis
An HbA1c test does not directly measure the level of blood glucose, however, the result of the test is influenced by how high or low your blood glucose levels have tended to be over a period of 2 to 3 months.

Indications of diabetes or prediabetes are given under the following conditions:

• Normal: Below 42 mmol/mol (6.0%)
• Prediabetes: 42 to 47 mmol/mol (6.0 to 6.4%)
• Diabetes: 48 mmol/mol (6.5% or over)

Full text on this page.........
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html

 

[jingyd36]

Thank you.

Yes I saw on my form pre diabetes is 42-48 and my gp said I'm fine but I'm still concerned.

Hi @jingyd36

Your numbers are at the top end of the non-diabetic range.

HbA1c test for diabetes diagnosis
An HbA1c test does not directly measure the level of blood glucose, however, the result of the test is influenced by how high or low your blood glucose levels have tended to be over a period of 2 to 3 months.

Indications of diabetes or prediabetes are given under the following conditions:

• Normal: Below 42 mmol/mol (6.0%)
• Prediabetes: 42 to 47 mmol/mol (6.0 to 6.4%)
• Diabetes: 48 mmol/mol (6.5% or over)

Full text on this page.........
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html

 

[4ratbags]

Its pretty normal to be concerned but try not to stress about it too much as that wont help your numbers. What are you generally eating in a normal day and when uou first start on a LCHF diet you can feel pretty rough for the first couple of weeks but it is well worth perservering with.

 

[jingyd36]

Hi

At the time my hba1c was 40 in was going through a very stressful time. My son was being bullied and felt suicidal. It was awful seeing him like that and I became ill with stress. I was eating toast, oven chips and oatibix. I usually have a very healthy diet but I became so ill with fatigue and stress I was living off carbs galore. My gp thought this was why my hba1c was 40 and high triglycerides on my cholesterol test.

I did lchf for 5 days and felt so unwell. It certainly flared up my fatigue again. I felt so dizzy too. Which scared me. My carbs were about 100g max all week each day

I was having low carb oats at breakfast which I make with oats, flaxseed and chia seeds in almond milk. Lunch was tuna and veggies. Dinner some days chicken or turkey mince with veggies or brown rice too. Quorn chilli with no rice or kidney beans. Soured cream with meals.

Snacks just yoghurt and berries or babybel.

Prior to lchf I was eating a veggie diet ofor plenty of fruit and veg, veggie sausages, I still eat fish so have salmon and tuna. Some days I have brown rice pasta with veggies. Snacks were bananas and brown rice cakes. Homemade hummus or guacamole.

Thank you for replying. I'm just so confused as to how to eat with my high cholesterol too.

Its pretty normal to be concerned but try not to stress about it too much as that wont help your numbers. What are you generally eating in a normal day and when uou first start on a LCHF diet you can feel pretty rough for the first couple of weeks but it is well worth perservering with.

 

[4ratbags]

Do you have a meter as it is essential to have one otherwise you dont know what effect food is having on your BS. How did you feel while you were on your veggie diet? I can relate to the stress associated with your son, my daughter was put on suicide watch and it wad such an upsetting time for my husband and myself. Just concentrate on eating healthily and try to stay away from too much toast, chips and oatibix and Im sure your levels will come down. Please dont stress and if you are concerned about your levels get a HbA1c test done every 3 months and that way you are able to keep a check on your numbers. I have been in the non diabetic range for a year now but I still get it checked every 3 months no fail.

 

[jingyd36]

Thank you.

I have health anxiety due to all my tests being off so testing my own sugars would freak me out I'm sure lol.

My gp says he will only test me annually u less I develop symptoms. So I can't get it tested every 3 months. I have asked and they tell me 40 is fine and there is no need.

I felt fine veggie. I went veggie and gluten free from December and was enjoying it. I ate fish but that was it meat wise. I ate more beans and brown rice pasta aarons feel times a week. Lots of fruit and veg. I noticed a big improvement in my fatigue the last 3 weeks then I changed to lchf and felt awful. It's triggered my fatigue again.

Do you have a meter as it is essential to have one otherwise you dont know what effect food is having on your BS. How did you feel while you were on your veggie diet? I can relate to the stress associated with your son, my daughter was put on suicide watch and it wad such an upsetting time for my husband and myself. Just concentrate on eating healthily and try to stay away from too much toast, chips and oatibix and Im sure your levels will come down. Please dont stress and if you are concerned about your levels get a HbA1c test done every 3 months and that way you are able to keep a check on your numbers. I have been in the non diabetic range for a year now but I still get it checked every 3 months no fail.