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I have prediabetes my dr said after 2 A1c tests came back at 41 mmol/mol

G

Gardengnome

Well-Known Member
Messages
134
Location
uk
Type of diabetes
Don't have diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
going to a gym
taken 12 months apart and with a huge weight loss and other lifestyle issues sorted. Dr said last January to 'watch your diet' - most helpful!!

I 've bought a meter but please can someone give me advice on how best to test? Should a fasting finger prick test correspond to one that might be taken at the surgery? I need a follow up A1c in January or do they do an OGTT instead/as well? Do I test before or after meals and if after how long after? I think the A1c indicates the levels over 3 months so that is already 'in the bag' so to speak if I'm tested in early January Thanks in advance.
 
Fasting finger prick tests should be done after 8 hours or more of not eating but be aware that if you do it first thing in the morning you may get duped by the dawn phenomenon - a temporary rise in blood sugar caused by your liver releasing stored glucose. As for routine testing - before a meal and 2 hours after is a good starting point.
 
You were diagnosed with pre-diabetes after 2 HbA1c tests of 41mmol/mol? Whilst this is top of the non-diabetic range, nonetheless it is still a non-diabetic score. 41 and under is non-diabetic. 42 to 47 is pre-diabetic, over 47 is diabetic.

However, no harm in taking charge of the situation now to stop yourself going over.

If you want to test out what your meals do to your levels, test immediately before you eat, then 2 hours after your first bite. Look at the rise. This is what that meal did to you. Ideally, the rise should be up to 2mmol/l. This isn't always possible, just ideal. If it is significantly higher, then something in that meal needs attention by reducing portions or avoiding it.
 
Thank you logindetails, that's helpful and what I needed to know. There seems so much conflicting advice.

Thank you too Bluetit. The A1c was originally done as part of the NHS health check and as they had initially found hypertension had said nothing about this number. They did it a second time a year later after I'd seen my medical notes online and queried it. The dr I then saw [not my usual one] said it was to put my mind at ease as he thought the A1c would have dropped significantly due to weight loss, exercising more and all the other stuff they tell you to do - and which I had done in order to try and sort the hypertension and to prevent an arthritic knee from becoming any worse - but the number was exactly the same. It was then that he said it was prediabetes and the numbers would rise.
I assumed what he meant was that had I not done the lifestyle things they would have risen by that point; he seemed convinced that they would anyway.
 
I suppose the numbers may rise if you don't do anything about it, but if you keep on losing weight and exercising, and reduce your carb consumption a bit, you should be able to control matters. Your meter will help enormously.
 
What drugs are you taking and have you checked them for contraindication of diabetes.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
I suppose the numbers may rise if you don't do anything about it, but if you keep on losing weight and exercising, and reduce your carb consumption a bit, you should be able to control matters. Your meter will help enormously.
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I lost all the weight I needed to after I had the health check dropping from a BMI of 24 to <19 and have managed to keep it off. This was before I had the second A1c test which I think is why that dr thought the number would have lowered, but it hadn't. I cut my carbs in order to lose the weight [ lost <3 stone] and no longer eat cereal with milk for breakfast for instance, instead have an egg with toast and butter. Also eat loads of vegetables and plenty of fruit too and lots of fish but little meat. I find it quite sustainable.
 
Andrew Colvin said:
What drugs are you taking and have you checked them for contraindication of diabetes.
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I take the very lowest dose of Losartan for the blood pressure having had the dose reduced a few months ago. It keeps it in the 120s easily. Is it the Losartan or the lifestyle changes I made I wonder. Apart from losing weight I gave up salt, as much as possible anyway, cut out most alcohol and eat very little meat. Masses of vegetables and fruit and have reduced carbs but not counted them. Don't smoke and walk for 3/4 hr every day.
 
How much fruit do you eat? Although a natural product, it's basically sugar in a skin!
 
cold ethyl said:
How much fruit do you eat? Although a natural product, it's basically sugar in a skin!
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I do realise that and I'm sure I do have more than I should. I try not to eat too many bananas though. Like the description of 'sugar in a skin'!!

How many carbs in a day/meal should one aim for or does it vary depending on where you are at?
 
I think you need to eat to your meter really as everyone's ability to deal with carbs is different. That said , I find it works for me to have few carbs at breakfast and lunch and more in evening when I have more chance to get on exercise bike after dinner.
Try reducing the fruit and see what effect that has on your next HbA1c maybe?
 
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