Newly diagnosed.... am scared

JoKalsbeek said:

Okay, I have to admit I'm a little confused here... The HbA1c you mention, and your fasting bloodsugars, are non-diabetic. What did the doc say?

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But 6.8% is 51mmol/mol which is in the diabetic range

Rokaab said:

But 6.8% is 51mmol/mol which is in the diabetic range

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I deleted my replies because I seem to be, once again, an idiot. Had to look up numbers and probably got it wrong again, I guess. I wish all measurements for HbA1c and fingerprick tests were universal. Would make it a lot easier to help people AND not come across as a moron.

Tamanna said:

Today i had my hbA1C test done. Its 6.8%. And my fasting sugar is 104. I am only 28years old. After seeing my result am in stress and depress too. At this young age i dont want to be depend on lifelong medication. Am so scard dont know what should i do now ? Does it means that i am diagnosed with diabetic??? Plz guide me

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Okay, after a false start, because you count in different units than I'm used to.... Sorry. You're young, so you'll probably be tested for T1/LADA. Should you be a T2 it's mostly a matter of re-learning how to eat, as quite a few people can get on without meds just fine that way, going low carb, high fat. (Not all, but many, and it's a personal choice.). Other types of diabetes do require meds per definition.

I am sorry I botched this. I'm on new meds for a different, unrelated condition and they make me profoundly stupid. I'll tag @daisy1 for her excellent info-sheet, because there are, truly, people here who know what they're doing.

Your fasting number of 104mg/dl converts to 5.8mmol/l (the units we use in Europe and other places). In the UK that is a non-diabetic fasting for diagnosis purposes. It has to be 7mmol/l or more for a diagnosis (126mg/dl)

(It really does help us to help you if you also quote the measurement units!)

Your HbA1c of 6.8% converts to 51mmol/mol which is just above the diagnosis level (48mmol/mol or 6.5%)

Certainly at my surgery they would do a repeat test in a couple of weeks time to confirm matters one way or another.

Either way, if you turn out to be a Type 2 diabetic, you are at the low end so have every chance of getting these levels down to normal with a tweak to your diet. My surgery would not prescribe medication at this stage, but would give you 3 months to try diet only. Your results are not at all drastic.

As all carbohydrate converts to glucose during digestion, it makes sense to seriously reduce the amount of carbs you eat. You could do with your own glucose meter to help you with this as, by testing before eating and 2 hours after first bite, you can see instantly what that meal has done to you. The aim is to keep any rise from before to after under 2mmol/l (36mg/dl). More than that and there were too many carbs in that food for your body to cope with.

I know I am a bit fanatical about diet - I have had what seems like a lifelong struggle against people who thought that I was wrong to eat low carb, but from my early 20s I struggled to eat what was considered 'normal' without gaining weight and not feeling right at the same time. If you cut down on the unnatural amounts of carbs in the modern diet you might very well find that your general health improves, that you will be stronger, fitter and more able to cope with life in general.
Add into that diabetes just fading into insignificance - see my signature, then low carb really is the way to eat.

Wait and see what the doctors say because there’s a chance it’s a different diagnosis, but if you are diabetic, you will be able cope with it- take it a step at a time! The great thing is getting diagnosed and getting the right treatment.
I got diagnosed about a month ago aged 30 and it really blind sided me, but I’m feeling lots better now and if you are diabetic your diabetes team will be supportive and helpful as you get used to everything, and they’ll introduce coping with stuff in stages. Just say honestly to them if you’re not ready to deal with certain things!
Also even if you are diabetic it might not be forever- Scientific advances are happening all the time.
Good luck and remember to take things a step at a time!

@Tamanna
Hello Tamanna and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask questions when you need to and someone will help.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

• Reduce your carbohydrate intake
• Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)

• Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l

However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

• structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
• self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.

• Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
  
  
• Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
  

Tamanna said:

Today i had my hbA1C test done. Its 6.8%. And my fasting sugar is 104. I am only 28years old. After seeing my result am in stress and depress too. At this young age i dont want to be depend on lifelong medication. Am so scard dont know what should i do now ? Does it means that i am diagnosed with diabetic??? Plz guide me

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Hang in there budd and be strong, turn that scared emotion into a fighting mode, determination, and you will prevail! I am new to this game too! You can improve it and turn it back for sure, it takes some hard work but it is doable. I was diagnosed with type 2 7 weeks ago. If I've got the terminology correct the value of the blood test which confirm the diagnoses of Type 2 was HbA1c 50. Last week I went back to the surgery for a blood test, the result that come was HbA1c 40. How did I achieve this in such short time NO Carbs/Sugars, 3-4 times a week playing badminton and walking everywhere.It is though hard work, but I am getting use it now! I am 48 years. old 1.77m in height and when diagnosed I weighed circa 100kg with in 6 weeks I,ve lost 7kg and continue to improve

Tamanna said:

still cant get it. Because as par my hba1c test result 6.8% comes under diabetic where as my fasting blod sugar is 104mg/dl. Which comes under pre diabetic so what is my actual and final diagnose ? Am i diabetic ? Or am i pre diabetic?

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You need a doctor to diagnose you. In the UK doctors now prefer two HBA1C's a few weeks/months apart to confirm a type 2 diagnosis. Let us know how you get on with the doctor and there is no harm in asking your doctor for a few months to try and improve through diet and exercise if they believe you have type 2.

Tamanna said:

I still cant get it. Because as par my hba1c test result 6.8% comes under diabetic where as my fasting blod sugar is 104mg/dl. Which comes under pre diabetic so what is my actual and final diagnose ? Am i diabetic ? Or am i pre diabetic?

Click to expand...

You will just have to wait and see what your doctor does next and go from there. We can't diagnose you.
In any event, T2 or pre-diabetic, it is only a label. You have had a warning, and it is up to you to do something about it. If it turns out to be pre-diabetic you are very borderline, and will still need to change things in your life if you are to avoid a full blown diagnosis. Pre-diabetes doesn't go away on its own - it progresses unless you do something.

JoKalsbeek said:

Okay, after a false start, because you count in different units than I'm used to.... Sorry. You're young, so you'll probably be tested for T1/LADA. Should you be a T2 it's mostly a matter of re-learning how to eat, as quite a few people can get on without meds just fine that way, going low carb, high fat. (Not all, but many, and it's a personal choice.). Other types of diabetes do require meds per definition.

I am sorry I botched this. I'm on new meds for a different, unrelated condition and they make me profoundly stupid. I'll tag @daisy1 for her excellent info-sheet, because there are, truly, people here who know what they're doing.

Click to expand...

LOL. Don't put yourself down ... everyone makes mistakes ... if it wasn't for my brain fog, I'd have no friends at all

Tamanna said:

Thx dear but what u say about my results ? Hba1c is 6.8% n fasting blod sugar is 104mg/dl am i diabetic or am i pre diabetic ?

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I am still new to this, I am not too close as yet to the different measurement terminology. It looks like a minefield to me, however the very little that I have learned so far, your measurement looks pretty good. More like prediabetic, but please do check with your doctor. All the best wishes! Theo.

In the UK half of newly diagnosed with diabetes are under 35 years old, which is no consolation to you, but perhaps indicates that in the current paradigm you are not that unusual. Although much older than you all of my blood sugars numbers were over 3 times yours in a body almost twice as old....now non-diabetic numbers all round, so assuming you are Type 2 you can achieve similar / better results or if you are a later onset Type 1 (or in-between) making some small adjustments to diet / lifestyle will not hurt as your numbers are reasonable and are clearly producing your own insulin.

Irrespective of your diagnosis it is ok to feel discombobulated as this is a massive shock. In your shoes I would remove starchy carbs and sugar, walk after meals and do some resistance training.