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Raised HbA1c

mrsp13

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hey , I’ve been pre diabetic for past 2 years and steady HbA1c at 6 . My GP said under 6 was not good but acceptable but over 6 I’d need to start metformin

I decided to kick myself up the butt and to loose weight and eat more healthily before my next year review

Had it last week , I’d lost 2 stone which I was very pleased about
BUT my HbA1c and b were 13.6 ?
More than doubled

Can’t believe it , hubby had done the same but his levels were both down to 5
 
Hi @mrsp13 , welcome to the forum.

Can you tell us a bit more about what you're eating?

With such a sudden sharp rise in hba1c you must be having very high numbers, has your doctor considered you might have a different type of diabetes than T2?
I’ve been eating much better than before we are vegetarian and lost 2 stone , drinking more water etc
 
I’ve been eating much better than before we are vegetarian and lost 2 stone , drinking more water etc
“much better” is a very moveable statement. Lots of things considered “healthy” are seriously bad for a type 2 diabetic and unfortunately being vegetarian means these are even more likely to be eaten without realising it. Can you be more specific about typical meals.

It’s not just sugar we need to avoid. Any carbohydrates except fibre turn to glucose as they digest. All of them. Any colour any type. Some do it faster and higher but they all do it. So bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, flour, pastry and all cereals/oats are all highly suspect. Have you increased any of these?

Have you started any new medications in that time? Statins and Steroids are common triggers for raised levels? Any major life changes?

my HbA1c and b were 13.6 ?
More than doubled

Can’t believe it , hubby had done the same but his levels were both down to 5
Is this a typo or what do you mean by “b” and which are the “both” tests you refer to?
 
'Better' in terms of NHS diet and what we T2s need are very different. Are you counting your carbs? It is very easy to eat too many carbs on a vegetarian diet.
 
'Better' in terms of NHS diet and what we T2s need are very different. Are you counting your carbs? It is very easy to eat too many carbs on a vegetarian diet.
Better as in
No cake , biscuits , chocolate , moved to wholemeal Bread and pasta which we weight 70g
 
Hb1Ab ?
No extra meds
Less bread and pasta and now wholemeal
 
wholemeal
As already said still carbs. The whole low GI thing is a bit misleading. Many of us find that many lower GI carbs like, grain based items and potatoes still have a very obvious effect on us and even when the spike is lower it lasts longer instead. Neither is ideal.

I’m assuming you haven’t got a glucometer at this stage to be testing your reactions and fasting levels? It would be a very good idea to get one and see what’s happening when. It might help identify what the problem is more specifically. There a tiny chance of an error in the hba1c as they do happen but I wouldn’t rely on that hope. Has your dr done a repeat test as is usual to confirm diagnosis or do you have any symptoms?

It does sound as if the reduction of cakes, biscuits and chocolate should have helped rather than see the serious deterioration you’ve seen, especially if the other carbs you still have are if anything less than before - unless the overall amounts are still quite high of course. Can you give us an idea of actual amounts you’ve been eating of which carbs?

It does make me wonder if type 2 has come on quite aggressively to really quite a high level or if it’s not type 2 at all but another form (LADA or type1). In your shoes I’d be discussing this with my dr sooner rather than later if you haven’t already. What have they said so far?
 
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