"Newly" diagnosed and also have high Ferritin.

[callieuk]

Hi,

HbA1c confirmed at 60 last week after a long time borderline. It was 47 in November. I've also had borderline Ferritin levels for a while (at least since Nov 16) confirmed last week at 372 after being 247 in November.

Currently keeping a food diary and meeting doc on 24th where tablets are the likeliest course of action according to the practice nurse I met on Tuesday. I have a family history of diabetes, had a large birth weight baby (10lbs, no gestational diabetes) and I'm overweight, although I've almost lost a stone since Feb. My general health is a mess, with a tough flu bout and bronchitis since Mid Jan (my works HR sent me a very friendly shot across the bow about my absence!).

I've been borderline for at least 10 years, probably longer, always diet and regular checks so kind of feel that it has been inevitable - I eat well and exercise (not so regularly at the moment).

I finally have a referral to haematology re the ferritin and whilst my initial fear was that it was haemochromatosis (ie genetic) the academic in me did some research and apparently it could be related to the diabetes, so I'm crossing my fingers that fixing one will fix the other ... will good glucose control fix my high ferritin or will fixing the ferritin reverse my diabetes? Hopefully, I'll get some answers ...

Cal

 

[NewTD2]

Hope this helps and welcome to our community

https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb

 

[Alexandra100]

I eat well

Would you like to be a bit more precise? Maybe describe a typical day's food?

 

[callieuk]

Hi Alexandra,

So today I've had - 40g of granola with a strawberry, couple of blueberries for breakfast, lunch was a salad (lettuce, fennel, raw white cabbage, carrot, pepper) and cottage cheese, a bag of wotsits, a snack of 1/8th of a melon and an apple, dinner has been a chicken breast, cauli, broccoli, peas and a few homemade wedges.

I'm not a snacker, my workdays generally follow that pattern of food with a mix, chicken roll, eggs, cheese/pickles with the salad or a homemade soup (leek potato or parsnip) including a yoghurt in there occasionally, crisps are actually a rarity. I'm not perfect with food but it's fresh cooked and varied, takeout maybe once a fortnight (if that lately).

Drinks are generally tea, squash or pepsi max.

Cal

 

[Rachox]

Hi Callieuk and welcome to our friendly little corner of the internet. A lot of us control our blood sugar levels by eating low carb plus or minus medication. Let us know which if any meds you end up on as low carbing can risk too low blood sugars with some.
All carbohydrates turn to sugar so a quick look at your diet shows a few things you could change straight away. Cereals are very high carb lots of us don’t eat then at all, potatoes and crisps too are high, fruit is high sugar unless you stick to berries. The only way to see how your body copes with these foods is to monitor you blood sugars at home.
If you decide you want to do this, let us know and we’ll help you select a meter and then to interpret the results you get.

 

[callieuk]

Thanks Rachox,

I must admit breakfast will be one of my struggles, I grab and go generally (I have an amazing hubby who does me pack up, BUT does not get carbs etc), fruit or cereal are the easy options to stick in a tub and take to work! Crisps, I can live without, bread I don't very often eat, potatoes will be a struggle but not a huge one.

I have a Contour monitor, given to me by the clinic nurse some years back, I've self funded the strips previously as the local health authority don't support it any longer. I do have True Twist which is supported and I think they also support the Wavesense Jazz, but I dont know much about that one. I'll probably stick with the Contour for the time being, but after 24th I'll know more

Cal

 

[Rachox]

Thanks Rachox,

I must admit breakfast will be one of my struggles, I grab and go generally (I have an amazing hubby who does me pack up, BUT does not get carbs etc), fruit or cereal are the easy options to stick in a tub and take to work! Crisps, I can live without, bread I don't very often eat, potatoes will be a struggle but not a huge one.

I have a Contour monitor, given to me by the clinic nurse some years back, I've self funded the strips previously as the local health authority don't support it any longer. I do have True Twist which is supported and I think they also support the Wavesense Jazz, but I dont know much about that one. I'll probably stick with the Contour for the time being, but after 24th I'll know more

Cal

Plain Greek yoghurt with nuts and berries might be a portable breakfast suitable for you?
Here’s some info on carb counts of fruits:
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/fruits
And nuts:
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/nuts
It might be worth starting testing straight away as you have the kit, in the eleven days you have while waiting for your appt, you can start getting into the swing of a new way of eating, and see the effects. Unless you are put on any meds that risk hypos (low sugars) you probably won’t get testing kit on prescription, but a lot of us self fund to keep control.

 

[Freema]

Hi,

HbA1c confirmed at 60 last week after a long time borderline. It was 47 in November. I've also had borderline Ferritin levels for a while (at least since Nov 16) confirmed last week at 372 after being 247 in November.

Currently keeping a food diary and meeting doc on 24th where tablets are the likeliest course of action according to the practice nurse I met on Tuesday. I have a family history of diabetes, had a large birth weight baby (10lbs, no gestational diabetes) and I'm overweight, although I've almost lost a stone since Feb. My general health is a mess, with a tough flu bout and bronchitis since Mid Jan (my works HR sent me a very friendly shot across the bow about my absence!).

I've been borderline for at least 10 years, probably longer, always diet and regular checks so kind of feel that it has been inevitable - I eat well and exercise (not so regularly at the moment).

I finally have a referral to haematology re the ferritin and whilst my initial fear was that it was haemochromatosis (ie genetic) the academic in me did some research and apparently it could be related to the diabetes, so I'm crossing my fingers that fixing one will fix the other ... will good glucose control fix my high ferritin or will fixing the ferritin reverse my diabetes? Hopefully, I'll get some answers ...

Cal

Well probably it won’t go away just by getting ones ferritin levels down, the diabetes

... But it is best for one's health to have ideal levels of ferritin and neither be too high or too low, strawberries are rich in ferritin and so are red meat. , the strawberries are also Rich in vitamin C and that makes the uptake of ferritin easier, or well vitamin C is essential for being able to uptake ferritin from foods ... if I was you I would choose something Else to eat and avoid red meat for a while and also the strawberries and parsley

Cheese and milk products are low in ferritin and milk can also block the uptake of ferritin a bit

 

[ringi]

The high ferritin will not be due to red meat or vit C. Inslin restiance can increase feritin so can other medical issues. Personally I would choose a diet to lower BG and hence inslin restiance and not think about the feritin until you see the expert.

 

[Alison Campbell]

Ivor Cummins, Irish Engineer and metabolic champion talked about his own high ferritin levels. I could only find this poor quality vid on you tube but I think it may be helpful

 

[catapillar]

@callieuk have you had any other blood tests run? A FBP? A liver function test? Were they normal or have any results outside of the reference ranges?

If you are concerned about possible haemachromatosis those would be the tests to ask for to help rule it out.

 

[callieuk]

Thank you everyone for comments. I'll know more when I've spoken to the doc & PN on 24th. Definitely spent my day reading up and now my head feels like I screwed it on backwards. Food diary definitely highlights areas for improvement too!

Re blood tests - back in November I had the following - B12, FER, HC, SFOL, FBC, FSH, LH, PA1C, TSH, UE and VitD. The only two that were flagged to me were the A1C and FER. One of the practice docs sent me for an ultrasound on my liver but the only thing flagged was a mild fatty liver (which I was expecting). No flags for thyroid or B12, and my VitD is likely to be low but not more than anyone else. I was prescribed VitD and Folate last year due to a low test result but my memory fails me over which month that was. These are the results where my A1C was 47 and the FER was 247.
Every time I go to the docs they tell me to stop taking iron - whereas I'm utterly intolerant to iron supplements, even fortified cereals four mornings in a row make me itch! So ironic that I spent many years massively anaemic and now this!

I want to get the detailed results of the blood tests on 24th - I have already put an online request in to my docs for access to my record although I'm not expecting much of a response, can barely get to see the same doc twice in a row and this has actually been going on since Nov 16, which is when I first started raising the tiredness I have!

Anyway, will keep you updated! Seems my biggest battle at the moment is converting hubby to a low carb diet ...

 

[NicoleC1971]

I would second the suggestion to check out Ivor Cummins because of his similar metabolic background
http://www.thefatemperor.com/videos-/

I imagine you may be tested for an iron disorder first but it would be great if you can go to the Haemaqtologist with some knowledge.

It is good to know that in your situation there are alternative roads to choose.