• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

New To This Today

StephenJ

StephenJ

Member
Messages
23
Location
Flint
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hello,
Into my first month of controlling my type 2 by diet, still confused on readings diagnosed at 49 points today I used my own monitor at got 52 is this good or bad?
Thank for the visit
 
Hello and welcome.

Please can you tell us if you are in the UK? The 49 sounds like an HbA1c test, which is a test used to diagnose diabetes. The finger prick test has different measurement units. Are you sure it said 52 and not 5.2? And were the units mmol/l?

The 49 isn't a bad result. It puts you in the diabetes range, but is quite borderline. Anything above 47 is diabetes.

These are the guidelines for finger prick tests
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html

Tagging @daisy1 for her introductory post, which is full of important information for newly diagnosed. Have a good read round, and ask questions.
 
Hello yes I am UK ( Sorry for the confusing holiday photo) yes it was the HbA1c test I’ll check my test of 52/5.2 still new to it

The unit measure is mmoI/L device is American made TRUE Metrix 60
 
Last edited:
I understand I need to be further away from. 100 after reading some posts
 
Hi @StephenJ welcome to the forum. You have come to the right place for help, advice and support. You will soon get use to the numbers and jargon. Could you give us a little more info so we can see what help you need? Do you need to loose weight? What meds are you on? What are you doing at the moment to help control your diabetes? Please only answer what you are comfortable with. If you start by cutting sugar and carbs this will help. The Low Carb High Fat (LCHF) way of eating a lot of us find works. There is a thread on the forum "Low Carb Diet" also "What have you eaten today" to give you an idea of the foods and meals that you can have. There is a lot to take in but don't worry you are not on your own, there is plenty of help and support on here. Remember, we have all been where you are today. Any questions just ask away. Good luck on your journey. :)
 
StephenJ said:
Hello yes I am UK ( Sorry for the confusing holiday photo) yes it was the HbA1c test I’ll check my test of 52/5.2 still new to it

The unit measure is mmoI/L device is American made TRUE Metrix 60
Click to expand...

Yes, do check the 52. I think it was probably 5.2. As the units are in mmol/l you would be very dead if it were 50!
 
The 49 would be your hba1c, which gives you an average over a couple of months. A hba1c of 49 would mean that your average blood glucose has been 7.9 mmol/l.

A fingerprick reading tells you what your blood glucose is at that moment. It varies a lot during the day, depending on food and activity and some other variables. A fingerprick result of 5.2 is wonderful :) but it will be higher after food.

This tells you more about what 'good' blood sugars are: https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html
And here is a nice conversion table for fingerprick readings and hba1c:
1474679480344
 
Hi. The important thing when reducing the carbs is to ensure you have enough proteins and fats to keep you feeling full. These slow the absorption of carbs in the stomach and reduce the carb rebound which makes you feel hungry. You will gradually get used to being less hungry.
 
Thanks all for the sound advise above I felt something was wrong after cycling a few times was more tired than normal eve after a few miles so blood test gave 49 ironically I think my condition was hidden by cycling be doing regular for over 20 years but had an accident and stopped but the weight came back on. Sugar is not a problem to me always kept healthy eating habits over the years so my diet for the past week has been greens chicken rye bread fruit decaf coffee ( yuk) lots of water no alcohol for two weeks and of course walking and cycling early bed early rise still the hunger, and running to the loo every hour or so is a pain too Tc out there xx
 
StephenJ said:
Thanks all for the sound advise above I felt something was wrong after cycling a few times was more tired than normal eve after a few miles so blood test gave 49 ironically I think my condition was hidden by cycling be doing regular for over 20 years but had an accident and stopped but the weight came back on. Sugar is not a problem to me always kept healthy eating habits over the years so my diet for the past week has been greens chicken rye bread fruit decaf coffee ( yuk) lots of water no alcohol for two weeks and of course walking and cycling early bed early rise still the hunger, and running to the loo every hour or so is a pain too Tc out there xx
Click to expand...

Don't forget it isn't just sugar. All carbs turn to sugar once eaten, so it makes sense not to eat too many, particularly the starchy ones such as bread, pasta, rice, spuds and breakfast cereals. All carbs will raise blood sugars, the good news is that fats don't have any effect, and protein has very little effect. You can eat meat of any variety as long as it isn't coated, also fish, as many eggs as you like, good natural fats such as real dairy, olive oil, avocados etc. Oily fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel etc) are excellent choices. Some vegetables can be difficult, but leafy green ones are fine, plus mushrooms and tomatoes (which is a fruit of course). Fruits can also be difficult as they are full of sugar. Berries are the best choice, and tropical fruits the worst choice. Milk is also difficult because of the sugar (lactose) .
 
Well this is an interesting day,got up a little late had breakfast as normal Wheatabix milk and banana then for a good 3 hours I felt like .... very tired aching legs slight headache etc. Had lunch of chicken leg and some fruit eventually got myself moving not had food now for 6 hours had a couple of jelly babies as I was flagging- the point is close family need to work to my needs and have strict meal routines which I had taken the offer of s sandwich now from my mother in law lol
 
StephenJ said:
Well this is an interesting day,got up a little late had breakfast as normal Wheatabix milk and banana then for a good 3 hours I felt like .... very tired aching legs slight headache etc. Had lunch of chicken leg and some fruit eventually got myself moving not had food now for 6 hours had a couple of jelly babies as I was flagging- the point is close family need to work to my needs and have strict meal routines which I had taken the offer of s sandwich now from my mother in law lol
Click to expand...
I don't understand why you are eating sugars and starches - cereals such as oats and rye, high carb fruit such as bananas and then sweets? Far better to fast than have something which is going to raise your BG levels.
 
StephenJ said:
Well this is an interesting day,got up a little late had breakfast as normal Wheatabix milk and banana then for a good 3 hours I felt like .... very tired aching legs slight headache etc. Had lunch of chicken leg and some fruit eventually got myself moving not had food now for 6 hours had a couple of jelly babies as I was flagging- the point is close family need to work to my needs and have strict meal routines which I had taken the offer of s sandwich now from my mother in law lol
Click to expand...

and what were your blood sugar levels?
 
Pretty good I got home and they read 6.4 must be the starvation diet plan ...
 
Resurgam said:
I don't understand why you are eating sugars and starches - cereals such as oats and rye, high carb fruit such as bananas and then sweets? Far better to fast than have something which is going to raise your BG levels.
Click to expand...

Well I read rye bread is digested in the large intestine so doesn’t go straight to the blood stream the chicken I had I took the skin off the wheatabix was a suggestion from my Nurse as the best to eat as no sugar involved like most cereals the Banana I’ll give you that one but again this is supposed to be a slow release energy fruit then the end bit .. not eating for 6 hours is the fasting part you mentioned
 
Sigh - the rye bread will convert to glucose, and go straight into the blood stream when it is digested, there is no glucose advantage in removing the skin from chicken - weetabix is over 2/3rds carbs, so really high - sugar is only part of the problem, bananas are used for an instant energy hit by type one diabetics and sportsmen, so slow release - I doubt it somehow.
If you start to test your BG levels regularly you might find that you tolerate some foods far better than others - we are not all the same, but it is better to treat the 'usual suspects' with caution.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum. Good to see you are learning about what foods will help or hinder you. An HbA1c of 49 is just over the threshold of 48 for diabetes so you may find it relatively easy to make a few changes and see results quickly. It's good to be motivated but also good to keep things in balance.
 
Back
Top