Having a fasting glucose level of 6.9 I was advised to try the low carb/more exercise method to reduce. Over the past three months (diarying everything that passed my lips!) I have reduced my average daily carb intake to 65 per day. I have increased my exercise to approximately 5 kms from 2kms daily - mostly by walking instead of using the car. I have lost nearly 8lbs in weight. You can imagine my horror when my next fasting blood test came in at 8.7! Doctor panicked and suggested metaformin and ordered pancreas scan etc. Had a further fasting blood test a week later which has returned to my normal (for me over 9 years) to 6.7. Obviously it was a spurious reading. So panic over but I am concerned that I have struggled to do all the right things and change my lifestyle without any noticeable difference in blood sugar levels. Has anyone got any ideas to help me maintain or preferably reduce my level further? I am happy to keep on the low carb regime but this obviously needs tweaking to have some effect.
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Prediabetes Low carb diet for 3 months and still borderline
- Thread starter fizzfozz
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Bluetit1802
Legend
Were these tests you had just fasting blood/plasma glucose tests, or have you had an HbA1c test as well?
Just about everyone on this forum knows how unreliable FBG tests are, and they are now only used by GPs in the first instance. To make a diagnosis they have to follow it up with an HbA1c.
They are unreliable because they are just a snapshot of your BG at the time of the test, and so many factors come in play with a fasting one, especially if done at the surgery. (stress, anxiety, rushing about before the test, sleepless night etc.)
You are doing the right thing, keeping a food diary, reducing your carbs, exercise, losing weight. It may just be your 65g carbs is too many for you. We can't all cope with that many. Have you got your own meter and are you testing before and after your meals? This is essential if you are to reduce your levels.
Just about everyone on this forum knows how unreliable FBG tests are, and they are now only used by GPs in the first instance. To make a diagnosis they have to follow it up with an HbA1c.
They are unreliable because they are just a snapshot of your BG at the time of the test, and so many factors come in play with a fasting one, especially if done at the surgery. (stress, anxiety, rushing about before the test, sleepless night etc.)
You are doing the right thing, keeping a food diary, reducing your carbs, exercise, losing weight. It may just be your 65g carbs is too many for you. We can't all cope with that many. Have you got your own meter and are you testing before and after your meals? This is essential if you are to reduce your levels.
Daibell
Master
Hi. First, fasting tests are a relative waste of time and your GP should know that. The normal test these days is the HBa1C and is no longer done as a fasting blood test as the NHS realises that the fasting test taken with the HBA1C is not worth doing. If you haven't already got a meter then do get one and test 2 hours after typical meals; it should be below 8.5 mmol if possible. If it's above that and you still low-carb then some meds such as Metformin will help. I wonder what a pancreas scan is; I've never heard of it? He may mean GAD and c-peptide tests for T1 but it's a bit early to do that or any pancreas scan unless he has a good reason. If you are slim and do low-carb then late onset T1 (LADA) is always a possibility in which case the GAD and c-peptide tests may be worth doing. If you do turn out to be LADA then there are meds then insulin to manage it very well; many of us have been down that route so you are not alone and there is a solution.
Has the doctor run any other tests? The fasting test is not necessarily the best way to understand your overall blood sugar management and levels. You could ask for an HbA1c test which will provide an average level over the past 2 to 3 months and will give a clearer picture.
Also do you have your own meter to test before and after meals? That will also give you a better insight into the effects of what you are eating on your blood sugar levels.
Sounds like you are doing the right things, so would suggest doing both of these things to get a full picture before deciding on any big changes.
Edited to say Bluetit and Daibell must have been writing at the same time!
Also do you have your own meter to test before and after meals? That will also give you a better insight into the effects of what you are eating on your blood sugar levels.
Sounds like you are doing the right things, so would suggest doing both of these things to get a full picture before deciding on any big changes.
Edited to say Bluetit and Daibell must have been writing at the same time!
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Yes I am surprised the Dr didn't suggest HbA1c test - I have had one before in February and that gave the same reading (6.7) so it looks as though I was at that level. I will look again at my diet to see if i can reduce carbs further - it is such a bore doing the daily diary that I no longer complete a log but try to keep to the habits of the past 3 months. Also using a smaller dinner plate is one of the best ways to lose weight i find!!!! I think the next thing is to see the diabetic nurse at our practice and hope she will do a HbA1c test. Do they supply meters on the NHS ? If not how does one know what make to buy? - they seem quite expensive and i have read on these pages one can make a mistake and buy one that uses very expensive consumables. Thanks for your helpful comments. By the way the by product of my hard work is that my cholesterol has reduced!!
Bluetit1802
Legend
An HbA1c of 6.7% is over the diabetic threshold I'm afraid, and equates to 8.1mmol/l as per our meter measurements. This means your levels were an average of 8.1mmol/l over the previous 2 to 3 months. If your surgery is following recommended guidelines you should be having another HbA1c this month sometime and should be on the diabetic register and on the diabetes care pathway. Have you got a print out of your test results (or are they on-line)? It would help if you had these and then you can see exactly what your tests were and which measurement units you are quoting. There are several, and can be confusing..
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/what-is-hba1c.html
Smaller dinner plates is an excellent idea, and I agree a daily food diary is a bore, but until you are satisfied all your chosen meals are suitable, it is very useful.
You won't get a meter on the NHS unless you are extremely lucky. Most of us have to buy our own. The 2 meters with the cheapest strips are the Codefree and the Tee2.
Try here for the Codefree meter
http://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/blood-glucose-monitor/
and here for the extra strips
http://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/sd-codefree-test-strips-to-be-used-only-with-the-sd-monitor/
Pharmacies don't sell them. There are discount codes if you buy in bulk and don’t forget to check the box that you have diabetes so you can buy VAT free.
5 packs 264086
10 packs 975833
The Tee2 is here
http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/tee2-blood-glucose-meter/
Thanks - I guess the next thing is to target our Practice Diabetes nurse to get some proper readings - mine have only been fasting blood tests. The HbA1c one I had in February was as part of a Pre Diabetes plan 'Healthier You' which consisted of an hour long interview with a nutritionist which was to be followed by a series of 10 week group sessions but the latter part never materialised!! I must push for the HbA1c reading to get a better idea of my current situation. Thanks too for the info on meters I will make a note of the websites to source them later. .
Resurgam
Master
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- Type of diabetes
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- Diet only
I had a very rapid lowering of Hba1c after diagnosis, but I did eat to my meter, trying to keep my increases after eating to less than two whole numbers, and under 8mmol/l.
That has now become two whole numbers and under 7mmol/l almost without trying.
If I had followed the advice given by the diabetes advice team I'd not have seen much improvement to my original levels of 17.1 - because I am really sensitive to all carbs. I'd have not seen much at all due to their advice that I didn't need to test.
Yeah, right.
As a result I am in the prediabetic range, having dropped below the 'magic' number which defines diabetes, however - constant vigilance!!
That has now become two whole numbers and under 7mmol/l almost without trying.
If I had followed the advice given by the diabetes advice team I'd not have seen much improvement to my original levels of 17.1 - because I am really sensitive to all carbs. I'd have not seen much at all due to their advice that I didn't need to test.
Yeah, right.
As a result I am in the prediabetic range, having dropped below the 'magic' number which defines diabetes, however - constant vigilance!!
