[RobinR]

Hi my name is Robin. I had been in the category of pre-diabetic for about a year. My A1C had been at 6.1 for the last year. At my last testing it came in at 7.4. Not too high but if I have read correctly this puts me in the Diabetes Type II catagory.

I have started eating lower carbs and my blood sugar has come down from over 300 to around 150-180 average.

My question is should I be on medication? I am trying to bring things down through diet. Have not started exercise yet. I am afraid that with the A1C at this number that I might be damaging internal organs. My doctor wants to wait another three months to test again. Should I question this?

I have been watching what I eat for about three or four weeks now and I am still not getting what would be called good numbers.

I apologize if this is a really stupid question, but any input would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

Robin

[davef]

Robin,

Getting your sugars down from 300 to 150-180 is a good achievement in the time period you mention. I would *guess* that it may be possible lower them further by keeping up what you are doing.

THere are people here who are controlling with diet and exercise.

Keep watching you carbs, get exercising. How often are you testing?

[shutterbug]

Robin,
I'm surprised that you doc asked you to wait for some more time. I guess, since your A1c is not too high, he might have come to that conclusion.

Same question that Dave asked - how often do you check?
Do you know how much your fasting and 2 hr post pandrial is?

[RobinR]

Hi David,

First of all let me say thanks for responding. I have been on other boards and no one replies at all. So it is greatly appreciated.

I test at least 6 times per day. I test when I get up. It is usually in the 150-180 range. I test after breakfast and it is usually about 130-140. I test after lunch and it is in about the same area. I test after dinner and it is usually higher. Only one time did I get below 120.

I am really not interested in taking meds if I don't have to. I just don't want to permanently damage anything if I can avoid it.

I was exercising pretty regularly and then the Dr. put me on meds for cholesterol and high blood pressure which totally threw me off track. I had no energy whatsoever. I will definately try to get back going again.

Once again I appreciate your response.

[RobinR]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for responding. I just posted my testing numbers to David. I know it may be really silly but I don't know what a post pandrial is. I am new to all of this. I read alot but have not read about post pandrial. I have only had the A1C tests and I test with my monitor.

[xMenace]

Does after dinner mean 10 minutes, 1 hour, or two hours after? Our targets are to get near normal by the two hour mark. Everybody spikes after eating. What are your numbers before meals?

Don't wait to exercise. Get walking every day.

My opinion is one should get their sugars down asap and worry about controlling without meds later. You are almost certainly going to get worse over time. This wait until you are too high game is bull-**** IMO. This is one of possibly many times you may go through this.

[RobinR]

Thanks xMenace,

I do wait the two hours to test. My numbers before meals are around 140-150. After lunch they may go up around 10 or 20. I try to eat salads for lunch or lean protein and vegetables. It is not my idea not to go on meds. My Dr. wants to wait three more months. I want to control my numbers now also. I am afraid that in waiting I may be hurting myself. So your opinion is that I should challenge my Dr. and ask to take the meds to get the numbers down while I am working on diet and exercise?

Thanks for replying.

Robin

[jerryn]

It's time to see an endo Robin. An A1C of 7.4 shows some control but it's not tight. When I was diagnosed I was diagnosed around 314 too. The Bayetta + Metformin + excercise + eating low carbs has helped me a lot. But I also go for blood work and checkup every 6 months. Is your chloresterol good? Mine is so I eat eggs for breakfast at least 3 times / week. Limit your bread, pasta. I found that Dreamfields pasta does not spike me. I eat Kaschi frozen dinners for lunch at work, something like that migh help you too.

[RobinR]

Thanks Jerryn,

I will see if I can find an endo in my plan or get referred. My cholesterol has actually went down since my last visit. I do eat eggs fairly often. I sometimes eat peanut butter toast on diet whole wheat bread. This does not raise my blood sugar. I can eat sugar free oatmeal for breakfast also with no problem.

I will try the Dreamfields pasta. I noticed I can also do small amounts of potato and it does not raise my glucose.

I need to lose weight. I have dieted and exercised to no avail. I simply cannot lose. I was on the Atkins diet a few years ago for over a year and lost about 60 pounds. When my mother was dying I gave up dieting and regained all the weight. Until then my blood sugar was normal. I tryed low carbing again and could not lose a pound. Is this due to Insulin resistance?

Robin

[davef]

Robin,

Your high Blood Glucose could in part be the cause of your lack of energy, certainly before I was diagnosed it is something I suffered from, I would recommend that if you are not going to talk to your doctor about meds that you get exercising now, even a small amount will help. In relation to watching your carbs, what are you doing? I find I need to stay away from the likes of pasta, potatoes, rice and white bread as they cause me to spike. As you are testing frequently you should be able to work out which foods you can tolerate best.

I would also recommend getting a book called "The First Year: Type 2 Diabetes" by Gretchen Becker, it's informative and easy to read.

It's good that you are tackling your diabetes head on and want to take control, as tight control will reduce the risks of complications.

I can understand not wanting to take meds unless you have to, I would be the same, however look on them as a tool in your arsenal to control your Diabetes, if you need them then use them if not great. When you discuss meds with your Doctor did (s)he or you suggest not using meds at the moment?

[Achilles]

Hi Robin,
Is it your doctor's understanding that you are low carb dieting and also exercising? But you say you haven't been exercising. I've found that exercising has really helped me a lot. Supposedly makes you less insulin resistant.

I'm probably too new to give advice but they say if exercise were a "pill" it would be the first thing that a doctor would prescribe. Definitely get walking or whatever as soon as you can.

I'm currently on Metformin. I'm hoping I can get off of it with low carb and exercise alone but that is probably wishful thinking but I will give it a shot.

[RobinR]

David,

It was her idea to wait. I got my results over the phone by the dr. assistant. She said the Dr. wanted to wait and test again in three months. I think maybe I did not state my opinion correctly. It was the Dr's idea to wait. I questioned that decision because I realize the dangers of high BS.

I think I will either call or make an appointment with my doctor to discuss why she wants me to wait.

Robin

[Achilles]

Yes that would be a good thing to talk with your Dr.

An A1c of 7.4 is roughly a BG of 187. That does seem to be a bit high. I've read that it is recommended to average closer to 125 or less.

Good that you are testing regularly and know how foods affect you. You should mention this too.

Avg BG A1C Result
100 mg/dL 5%
135 mg/dL 6%
170 mg/dL 7%
205 mg/dL 8%
240 mg/dL 9%
275 mg/dL 10%
310 mg/dL 11%
345 mg/dL 12%

[RobinR]

Hi Achilles,

I agree that exercise is really what I need. A few months back on went on low carb and exercised but could not lose. I do know that exercise did lower my blood sugar. Not to the normal range though. When I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes I joined the gym, bought a treadmill and got kind of disgusted when I could not lose and went back to my regular lazy self as of late. Also with my heart medicines or high blood sugar it kind of depleted my energy levels. I appreciate the advice and good luck with getting off your meds. I am sure you will do well.

[davef]

Originally Posted by RobinR

I think I will either call or make an appointment with my doctor to discuss why she wants me to wait.

I think that's a sensible idea.