Oh dear - just got my HbA1c results via MyChart! Terrible.

[Lizzie2]

I was going to say ‘I can’t believe it’ but I can. In November 2024 my HbA1c was 42. In May it went up to 44 and now in December 2025 it is 47! I’m only one point off being T2 and I know it is all my own fault.

I know exactly why this has come about because back in 2015 I developed steroid induced T2D. I discovered Dr Cavan’s wonderful book, bought myself a blood sugar meter and ate my way out of it.

Unfortunately this year I have totally lost my way. I had a really nasty fall while I was out for a nice healthy walk and fractured my wrist. That was in May this year. When the plaster came off I had developed CRPS which is really unpleasant and now I have been left with carpal tunnel and pins and needles in my hand and fingers. Unfortunately I took to carbs and chocolate and just about anything I could comfort eat. Plus my husband took over cooking and portion control went out of the window - I found myself telling him I just couldn’t eat the portions he was serving.

I was also very nervous about walking so my daily steps dropped compared to what I had been doing.

I now need to get back to eating sensibly and eat my way back out of being pre diabetic. I also have osteoporosis and I discovered that 50-100g dried prunes a day is really good for my bones so I would like to try and fit them into the dietary changes I know I am about to make. Do you think that is possible?

Although the bad news is not unexpected - I know exactly what I ought not to be eating - it has still come as a terrible shock. I haven’t had the phone call from my doctor yet but it’s bound to come. Do you think I can get back on track and get out of the pre diabetic range. I really am fed up and it’s all my own fault

 

[lovinglife]

Don’t beat yourself up and feel bad about it, it happens to the best of us - I was ill for a good few weeks over Christmas last year and I went up from 49 to 55, I had to have the BRAT diet for an extended period and there was nothing else I could do. Once I had my issues under control I went back to keto & came back down to 47 within 6 months.

Draw a line and forget about what you’ve done these past few months & only look forward, there’s no reason why you can’t get back to where you were but it may take a few months, but you know what to do to get there

And it’s not your fault! It’s a thing called life

 

[grantg]

sorry to hear you had a fall and are nervous about walking, until you regain some confidence if there perhaps some other exercise activites that you could think could do/increase or indeed walking around the house maybe could help if feel more comfortable at home?

anyway blame game will get you nowhere fast. rather than thinking about your fault, have a think of what you can do to help improve things. Focusing on the positives instead is generally much more beneficial. You know that comfort eating is something you do, maybe think of some alternative less carby snacks. If craving something sweet have a look around the recipe area, low carb cheesecake recipe i posted is nice theres many other good recipes on there to boot.

gl

 

[Lakeslover]

Just a suggestion but if you are ok with water walking in a swimming pool is very good for you and might help build your confidence.

I sense you know what you need to do with your diet, but there’s loads of good advice here too if you have a good look around.

 

[Lizzie2]

Thank you to everyone who has responded, good advice. I just need to get a grip and get my diet under control. I need to write a reminder to myself of how I feel about it all right now and read it regularly to keep me on the straight and narrow.
Best wishes to you all and wishing you a happy and healthy 2026.

 

[Pipp]

Do you think I can get back on track and get out of the pre diabetic range.

Quite simply…. yes I do think you can.
You have to believe that too, and do it.

Not without sympathy, set backs and broken bones on more than one occasion. Most recent summer 2024. One ankle, one wrist, thumb on other hand. Pain can be defeated. For me, the swimming pool works. Weightless in the deep water. Movement so much easier.
Let us know when, and how you succeed.

 

[Resurgam]

I now need to get back to eating sensibly and eat my way back out of being pre diabetic. I also have osteoporosis and I discovered that 50-100g dried prunes a day is really good for my bones so I would like to try and fit them into the dietary changes I know I am about to make. Do you think that is possible?

Although the bad news is not unexpected - I know exactly what I ought not to be eating - it has still come as a terrible shock. I haven’t had the phone call from my doctor yet but it’s bound to come. Do you think I can get back on track and get out of the pre diabetic range. I really am fed up and it’s all my own fault

Your intake of prunes would be all the carbs I could cope with, so it might make a difference if you found some other way to help your bones - maybe taking a calcium/magnesium/vitamin D supplement if that is the reason for the prunes.
If you can't cope with carbs it is hardly your fault - not when we are told how 'healthy' they are and so good for us - I had that for decades even in the face of all evidence to the contrary.

 

[Lizzie2]

Your intake of prunes would be all the carbs I could cope with, so it might make a difference if you found some other way to help your bones - maybe taking a calcium/magnesium/vitamin D supplement if that is the reason for the prunes.
If you can't cope with carbs it is hardly your fault - not when we are told how 'healthy' they are and so good for us - I had that for decades even in the face of all evidence to the contrary.

I’ve cut down to the minimum with the prunes, I want to stick with them if I can as they have been proven to be very good for bone health. I already take vitamin D, magnesium and calcium but prunes make a big difference.

There are so many awful things I’ve been eating recently that I can cut out that I’ll start with them and increase my exercise and see how it goes. I signed up for NutraCheck yesterday and boy is that focusing my mind.

Yes, it is awful that so many people have been and I think still are bengtold to eat a carb heavy diet to help with their diabetes.

 

[Lizzie2]

Quite simply…. yes I do think you can.
You have to believe that too, and do it.

Not without sympathy, set backs and broken bones on more than one occasion. Most recent summer 2024. One ankle, one wrist, thumb on other hand. Pain can be defeated. For me, the swimming pool works. Weightless in the deep water. Movement so much easier.
Let us know when, and how you succeed.

You’re right, you have to believe you can do it and I did it when I had steroid induced T2 - at least I’m still short of T2 even if only just.
Breaking your ankle, wrist and thumb is quite something! I’d forgotten about ‘water walking’ must look up the local swimming pool and see what they have going in the way of keep fit sessions.

 

[Debs39]

Well! So depressing! In June my level was 51 so up to two metformin. Latest results 59 feeling so ill and tested my blood sugar…14.8 . Think it’s the wake up I need! Any chance of me being strict and lowering it so as not to have insulin my own fault but can’t exercise after breaking both legs after cancer, plus so many tablets any words of encouragement?

 

[Lizzie2]

Well! So depressing! In June my level was 51 so up to two metformin. Latest results 59 feeling so ill and tested my blood sugar…14.8 . Think it’s the wake up I need! Any chance of me being strict and lowering it so as not to have insulin my own fault but can’t exercise after breaking both legs after cancer, plus so many tablets any words of encouragement?

Wow! You have got a lot on your plate haven’t you! Have you broken your legs recently and think you will be able to get back to walking eventually or have you more or less been left unable to walk?

I saw NutraCheck mentioned somewhere on this site and they had a good deal on a year’s subscription so I downloaded the App persuaded my husband to download it too - he has no idea of food values so it is really good for him, I think he is shocked at what he eats so I’m hoping he eill lose weight too. I know from experience that if I lose weight my numbers will come down - well I hope they will this time. That’s the plan anyway.

I’ve discovered there is nothing like seeing what you eat showing up every time you log something on your daily food diary for making you think twice about what you really want to eat. There’s a knack of filling yourself up while not raising things like carbs, sugar, fats and salt. It’s made me think twice about my square if 90% black chocolate - Do I really want that? The answer is mostly a great big ‘No’. So you could try doing that and using an app like that to get maximum nourishment while finding out and avoiding foods that show an orange box round them or even worse a red box (my 90% dark chocolate’

Could you lift hand weights? You can use cans of food or even a couple of small bottles of water or get yourself some TheraBands? What about something like Pilates? We are all over 70 so it’s really just stretches and balance work we do, mostly lying on our backs or sides although we do work standing up too. You would need a good, understanding teacher though. Our teacher is a very caring physiotherapist who tailors everything to our needs and ability.

I’m not sure being so strict with yourself that you are miserable is the way to go, challenge yourself to find out what you can eat without spiking your blood sugars then go for it. Don’t forget to be kind to yourself too.Good luck. New Year, new start