Utterly Confused

irenepr said:

I went to my GP for something completely unconnected and she ordered a blood test. The result was an HbA1c of 45 but I was unaware I was being tested for blood glucose, and she told me I was pre-diabetic. I then took up swimming for an hour two times a week, I watched my diet, and generally cut down on carbs (although I didn't cut them out completely, just swapped potatoes for sweet potatoes, white rice for brown rice, etc., cut down on sugar). I then had another blood test with my GP four months later and I was then HbA1c of 42. I then joined the NHS group (I should have joined earlier but they failed to let me know when my group was starting so I had to join a later group) and they told me my HbA1c (done on their machine) was 41. A year later I'm back to 47 - two points higher than my first blood test when I'd been previously indulging in lots of carbs, sugars, blissfully unaware there was any problem. I wouldn't have been surprised if my HbA1c reading had risen slightly from the 42 it was a year ago because I'd been on holiday in the USA in April and might have overdone things a bit, but still...

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So you have changed your diet to low GI foods but your HbA1c is higher? Am I understanding this right?
Is the 47 result on low GI foods or low carb foods?
Normally lower carb diet reduces your HbA1c.
Mind you additional stress or some meds like steroids can increase a person's hba1c, no matter their diet.

I've known a few over zealous new diagnosed diet controlled diabetics to get soooo stressed out about getting a perfect hba1c that it worked against them and increased their bgs overall. No matter how disciplined they were. Until their stress reduced then they didn't get reduced bgs, hence higher hba1c or not a decreased status.

Relax your way into lower bgs. Try lower carbs in your diet you have changed and both elements with relaxed happy exercise (walking or swimming etc.)
You will get a lower hba1c.
Myself I raise if I go too long without low carb foods. Fasting doesn't work for me. 3 healthy meals with no snacks work best for me. However I'm on insulin.
Fatty foods slow my digestion which I use to my advantage and I have a liver block food. I block the liver inputting glucose into my blood, as I just don't need it. Its healthy and doesn't cause me any problems with my liver. In fact I have a less fatty liver on a low carb diet.

irenepr said:

I watched my diet, and generally cut down on carbs (although I didn't cut them out completely, just swapped potatoes for sweet potatoes, white rice for brown rice, etc., cut down on sugar)

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Sorry to say that the things you have swapped to are probably no lower carb than what you swapped them for. White or brown rice for most makes not a jot of difference and I think that sweet potato could well be higher carb than regular (although both are still way over for a diet controlled Type 2) and in fact sweet potato 21.3% carb regular potato 17.2% .
You'd be far better off swapping out those for green veg and cauliflower.