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Making sense of blood results!

Hi,

As said above, your blood sugars were way too high.
HbA1c was 117 (12.9%) which equates to 17.9 on your meter (and that is an average over the previous 2 to 3 months)

Kidney protein normal
Full blood count normal
white cell blood count normal
Liver function normal
Potassium levels dead on the minimum in kidneys
Total cholesterol/HDL ratio should be under 4. Yours is 4.8
Triglycerides 2.6, should be under 1.7
LDL fine
HDL 1.0 should be over 1.2
Total cholesterol 4.8. OK

You can see the normal ranges for most of these things in the square brackets. If you look them up on Google you will understand what they all are.
 
NoCrbs4Me said:
Did they give you any other advice? Make an appointment to see an endochrinologist? The metformin may have just been a stop-gap until they to more assessment.:***:
Click to expand...
Nope. Just "Eat better" until I see my nurse for a first appointment.

So, when my BG monitor gets here tomorrow is there any way I can compare it's readings to the lot I posted to see what's happening so far?
 
Yes. Test immediately before you go to bed. Test immediately you get out of bed (after washing hands). This will tell you what your current base lines are, more or less, depending on a few other things.

Then you can start testing out your meals, immediately before and 2 hours after your first bite.

Post the numbers on here.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
Yes. Test immediately before you go to bed. Test immediately you get out of bed (after washing hands). This will tell you what your current base lines are, more or less, depending on a few other things. Your fasting on diagnosis was well in double figures.

Then you can start testing out your meals, immediately before and 2 hours after your first bite.

Post the numbers on here.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice.
I'll start as tomorrow night after I receive the monitor.

Thank you all for the input.
Not gonna lie, I'm going to bed a little more frightened than I was before.
 
Zombiedude said:
Thanks for the advice.
I'll start as tomorrow night after I receive the monitor.

Thank you all for the input.
Not gonna lie, I'm going to bed a little more frightened than I was before.
Click to expand...

No need to be frightened. You have started a low carb diet. It is baby steps. Some people on here are a lot higher (or were a lot higher). Stress will make your BS rise. Try not to panic.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
No need to be frightened. You have started a low carb diet. It is baby steps. Some people on here are a lot higher (or were a lot higher). Stress will make your BS rise. Try not to panic.
Click to expand...
LOL
Good advice. I think a little meditation and then some sleep for me.
Thank you all again.
It really is appreciated.
I'll hopefully understand all of this soon enough!
 
Zombiedude said:
Nope. Just "Eat better" until I see my nurse for a first appointment.
So, when my BG monitor gets here tomorrow is there any way I can compare it's readings to the lot I posted to see what's happening so far?
Click to expand...
this link I put up before is good for testing http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045524.php and what @Bluetit1802 said about testing
and you are eating better and LCHF will bring your numbers down, as @NoCrbs4Me said, make sure you have enough fats/oils
 
NoCrbs4Me said:
That's a brilliant start. It may sound counterintuitive, but make sure you're getting enough fat. You should get a blood glucose meter and monitor you're blood sugars. However, as was said above, insulin may be called for in your case.:cyclops:
Click to expand...

this is a lecture on a 'short course' insulin on diagnosis for beta cell preservation

 
jack412 said:
this is a lecture on a 'short course' insulin on diagnosis for beta cell preservation
Click to expand...
Pretty unlikely they'd do a beta cell function test on any of us. I'm wondering if a very low carb diet would do something similar for beta cell function? :bored:
 
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Ok, so time for an update.
I spoke with my doctor again today regarding the high reading and only being on Metaformin.
He said that, as I was newly diagnosed, they prescribe Metaformin and a life style change to see how my body will react to it.
In 3 months they'll do another blood test and then, if my body isn't responding well, they'll look at other treatments.
But for now they want to reduce the number gradually.
I asked for a second opinion and he agreed with no worries.
Phoned a doc for a second opinion and, when she came in, he left.
I went through it with her and she gave the same reasoning.
I will trust my doctors for now and, hopefully, they're right.

I also received my BG monitor.
Should I start now or tomorrow morning as I'll have a full day of results?
I'm sorry for asking so many questions, I just really want to get this right.

Now, I am off to read advice on how to test/what finger to use/frequency/etc.
If anyone knows where to look, I'd appreciate a point in the right direction! ;)
 
Good that you took charge, and that now you know why. Well done.

Start testing whenever you like. Your next meal may be a good place - test immediately before and then at 2hrs after your first bite. Write down what you ate and drank (include portion sizes if you have any carbs) with the results alongside so you can start to build up your own data base. You might want a practice first though as it can take a few goes to do it properly, and do wash your hands first. Good luck
 
Bluetit1802 said:
Good that you took charge, and that now you know why. Well done.

Start testing whenever you like. Your next meal may be a good place - test immediately before and then at 2hrs after your first bite. Write down what you ate and drank (include portion sizes if you have any carbs) with the results alongside so you can start to build up your own data base. You might want a practice first though as it can take a few goes to do it properly, and do wash your hands first. Good luck
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. It really is appreciated and I just want you all to know your advice and time is greatly appreciated. Honestly, Thank you all SO MUCH!

Would washing them in anti-bac be ok or should I use a hand sanitizer too?
I'll do one tonight before dinner and then after as you suggested.
I believe you advised me to do morning, before each meal and two hours after each meal.
I'll do that and keep a record. I'm currently looking at the best way to track this and if there are apps/websites that allow me to.
I have signed up for myfitnesspal as I stepped up my exercise routine today and figured I would keep a record of that too.

I'm assuming I will have high readings as I was so high on my blood test. Oh well, just means I need to work that little bit harder!!
 
The general advice is to wash in warm water and soap, rinse thoroughly and dry thoroughly. I usually do this under running water. Any anti-bac or alcohol wipes might leave a residue that may affect the reading.

Have you got Windows? Or a suitable spread sheet? I use Excel and find this brilliant for keeping all my records and averages. There are apps but most of them are too complicated for me because they contain spaces for insulin units etc and have spaces for other things I don't use, but if you don't mind that you will find some by googling.

Baby steps. You may get high readings at first, but with your enthusiasm and commitment these will gradually drop, and you may find, like I do, that these records keep you motivated by competing with yourself. Try not to compete with others on here or you could get demoralised.

Let us know how you go on.
 
Thanks again @Bluetit1802 ... invaluable advice. I am so glad I signed up here, you're a friendly bunch with lots of advice.

And thanks for the kind words. Rest assured, I am only in competition with one thing ... my diabetes.
And I do believe the records will motivate me, as will doing this for my kids.
 
Hello. My monitor arrived today too. I finally got it set up and took my first reading which happened to be 40 minutes after dinner ( an odd time but it was my first attempt lol ). 5.9 which I thought was ok considering time etc. It didnt hurt like I thought it would. :)
 
NoCrbs4Me said:
Pretty unlikely they'd do a beta cell function test on any of us. I'm wondering if a very low carb diet would do something similar for beta cell function? :bored:
Click to expand...
the Newcastle diet is 800cal and duplicates the stomach surgery effect. It has a very good success rate. the aim is body weight, fatty liver and pancreas
the low carb high fat is a slower way of doing it, as I see it. the goals are the same
 
Zombiedude said:
Thanks again @Bluetit1802 ... invaluable advice. I am so glad I signed up here, you're a friendly bunch with lots of advice.

And thanks for the kind words. Rest assured, I am only in competition with one thing ... my diabetes.
And I do believe the records will motivate me, as will doing this for my kids.
Click to expand...
do your testing http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045524.php
do your low carb and eat to your meter, you will soon find out what foods spikes your BG.
I'm sure you will get your BG down from where it is very soon and head to a decent BG range
 
jack412 said:
the Newcastle diet is 800cal and duplicates the stomach surgery effect. It has a very good success rate. the aim is body weight, fatty liver and pancreas
the low carb high fat is a slower way of doing it, as I see it. the goals are the same
Click to expand...
My thought is the low carb diet will give the beta cells a bit of break like insulin would. Maybe not as much, but could have a similar effect. It appears the newcastle diet has <50 g carbs a day, which is what I'm doing, but I'm also eating fat and protein (and fresh veg) to bring it up to maybe 1800-2000 calories. Perhaps it's not so much the weight loss, but the lack of carbs that are giving the beta cells a rest? Just guessing here.o_O
 
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