A1c is 6.8!

[MickinMD ★]

After much higher than the desired 7 or under A1c long-term blood sugar tests (they can tell your 8-12 week avg. by the avg. number of sugar molecules stored in your red blood cells) with 11.3 six months ago and 11.7 three months ago, my doctor got me into a University of Maryland Hospital Type-II Diabetes Program (Medicare pays it!) where you take courses on your medications, what they do, and when to take them; your diet and how to adjust it; and the good effects of exercise.

Yesterday I got the results of last Friday's blood test: A1c = 6.8.

I'm pleased, especially since the U. of MD. diabetes specialist I'm now seeing reduced one of my medications!

[Kirby]

Congrats!  It's very motivating to see your efforts have positive results!

[Square Wheels]

Congrats!  Get off the carbs, get off the drugs. 

[late]

I'm getting my A1C done in Oct. I was in the 7 range somewhere last time, maybe 7.2? If I get below 7, the Doc says I can go off the meds.

[sheep_herder ★]

15 minutes ago, Square Wheels said:

Congrats!  Get off the carbs, get off the drugs. 

SW are you sure it is always this easy?  Congratulation on reducing your numbers.

[Square Wheels]

55 minutes ago, sheep_herder said:

SW are you sure it is always this easy?  Congratulation on reducing your numbers.

Not at all, but we have a record number of people overweight and also on diabetes medication.  We just seem to accept it.  Yes, I understand this isn't everyone, but at this point in history, there is an unprecedented number of self-induced cases of diabetes.  It honestly hurts me.  I am sure I was headed down that path too.  It took a tremendous effort to lose the weight, honestly, I don't know how I did it.

[BR46]

1 hour ago, Square Wheels said:

We just seem to accept it

A lot of people would rather take the medication then get rid of the foods that are making them sick.

[Square Wheels]

4 minutes ago, BR46 said:

A lot of people would rather take the medication then get rid of the foods that are making them sick.

That's part of what really hurts me.

[petitepedal ★]

7 minutes ago, BR46 said:

A lot of people would rather take the medication then get rid of the foods that are making them sick.

Or even try!!!  I have a friend who just accepted the pills....WTF are you not even gonna try to change your ways   White bread and lunchmeat (yeah lunchmeat) sandwiches...

[BR46]

38 minutes ago, Square Wheels said:

That's part of what really hurts me.

When I was diagnosed I had a A1c of 10.6

That day everything changed. Even though I was on the active side we started working out more and changed everything about the diet.

I always say diet doesn't mean that you have to eat less you just have to eat smarter.

3 hours ago, MickinMD said:

Yesterday I got the results of last Friday's blood test: A1c = 6.8.

I'm pleased, especially since the U. of MD. diabetes specialist I'm now seeing reduced one of my medications!

I think that's fantastic. Keep up the good work 

[sheep_herder ★]

2 hours ago, Square Wheels said:

Not at all, but we have a record number of people overweight and also on diabetes medication.  We just seem to accept it.  Yes, I understand this isn't everyone, but at this point in history, there is an unprecedented number of self-induced cases of diabetes.  It honestly hurts me.  I am sure I was headed down that path too.  It took a tremendous effort to lose the weight, honestly, I don't know how I did it.

Whoa!! I am just surprised that someone that works in the field of medicine would make such a blanket statement, knowing that a lot of other things are involved with diabetes. I am sure mine was self induced (Miss Debbie), and I have been on and off medication over the years since diagnosed in 1999.  At my age I doubt I'll ever be free from insulin again, and yes I could stand to lose a few pounds.

[Square Wheels]

1 minute ago, sheep_herder said:

Whoa!! I am just surprised that someone that works in the field of medicine would make such a blanket statement, knowing that a lot of other things are involved with diabetes. I am sure mine was self induced (Miss Debbie), and I have been on and off medication over the years since diagnosed in 1999.  At my age I doubt I'll ever be free from insulin again, and yes I could stand to lose a few pounds.

Sorry if I came off strong.  I feel for people who struggle with any condition.

[ChrisL]

50 minutes ago, Square Wheels said:

Sorry if I came off strong.  I feel for people who struggle with any condition.

I tend to agree with SH in some of the comments above are overly general.  Yes diabetes is a  huge issue and for many was induced by poor diet and lack of excersize. But if you don't have it and don't have to live with the dietary restrictions, daily finger sticks, meds and or injections  it really isn't fair to put your judgements based on your non diabetic lives  on those who have it.

I was diagnosed with pre diabetes in my mid 30's while very fit and active (still running marathons) and was diabetic within 5 years.  Don't tell me I could have avoided it because I couldn't.  My body, just like 6 of my siblings, 3 aunts and my mom became insulin resistent at a young age and diet and excersize wouldn't have prevented it.  And millions of people are just like me.

Thanks for the update Mick, good news indeed! Well done!!!

[BuffJim]

Great job Mick!

8 hours ago, petitepedal said:

Or even try!!!  I have a friend who just accepted the pills....WTF are you not even gonna try to change your ways   White bread and lunchmeat (yeah lunchmeat) sandwiches...

It’s not the lunch meat.  Though it’s not the healthiest, you can eat lunch meat and fat all day long and it won’t raise your blood sugar.  I agree with SW to a point. Too many carbs can cause and definitely will exacerbate Type 2 diabetes. But there are many different patterns to type 2. And if you don’t have the wrong genetics you can eat all the carbs you want and you’ll never get it. 

[ChrisL]

2 hours ago, BuffJim said:

Great job Mick!

It’s not the lunch meat.  Though it’s not the healthiest, you can eat lunch meat and fat all day long and it won’t raise your blood sugar.  I agree with SW to a point. Too many carbs can cause and definitely will exacerbate Type 2 diabetes. But there are many different patterns to type 2. And if you don’t have the wrong genetics you can eat all the carbs you want and you’ll never get it. 

One of my sisters who isn't diabetic was diacnosed as prediabetic in her 60's and with proper diet and weight loss isn't considered prediabetic anymore. At a family gathering she went on to tell me and my diabetic siblings how it was a lack of discipline on our part why we are diabetic. Just eat better and lose weight like I did and you too can kick it... We had to educate her that although her efforts are commendable, she just doesn't have the gene that we do that made us diabetic. She was 20lbs over weight and was diagnosed prediabetic at 62. We were fit and diagnosed prediabetic at 35...

If you looked at my middle brother and I and were asked to guess which one of us was diabetic you would probably guess my brother. He's 5'8 and 230 where I'm 5'11 205 lbs. I have the gene, he doesn't...

[MickinMD ★]

Having a minor but significant background in nutrition helped, but the four insurance-paid classes I took in the U. of Maryland Diabetes and Endocrinology Center were extremely worthwhile in terms of tying all aspects of the problem together.  I now have diabetic specialist MD and support group followup and Medicare will pay for 1 additional class each year. I don't know how much this program is duplicated nationwide, but for those interested, here's my program: https://www.umms.org/bwmc/health-services/diabetes-endocrinology/nutrition-classes

Some notes on carbs:

The classes I took recommended no more than 60g Carbs/meal but much more important is to limit carbs in processed foods (bread, pasta, etc.) and to have a good amount of protein and/or fiber in the same food as the carbs to slow down the rate of absorption of sugars into the blood.

Without question, someone without diabetes or other illnesses that effect diets does MUCH better in general if their diet is about (in Calories) 50% Carbs, 25% Protein, 25% Fat - where empty Carbs and bad Fats are eliminated.  For serious athletes, energy usage in athletic events and recovery from hard practices is BETTER if the diet is 60% Carbs or higher.

The main problem with carbs in diabetic diets is with PROCESSED CARBS like breads and pasta.  The more processed the food is, the faster the intestines can extract its sugars, etc. and flood them into the blood stream.  So, the program trained me to replace processed carbs with non-processed carbs that also have a healthier percentage of protein and fiber - both of which slow-down the rate of sugar absorption from the intestines.  Below is a great example. Macaroni salad makes my blood sugar soar, but I can pig-out on the Mac & 3 bean salad below, which I mentioned in a post a while back, without doing much to my blood sugar level (Source of recipe: http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/three-bean-macaroni-salad-144638.aspx).  Note that without the 2-5 items (Green Beans fresh or canned used, not both) the 1st item, elbow mac, would be quadrupled in a normal mac salad.

BUT, replacing the beans with more mac, the amount of sugars would actually be reduced!  So what's the problem with macaroni besides the much higher calories?  It's a processed food so sugar moves faster into the bloodstream and the poor ratio of protein and fiber to carbs doesn't slow down sugar absorption.

Next I'm going to try replacing mac and cheese with a similar mix of veggies and macaroni, while I may need to work on a healthier cheese sauce than the standard one I use which is from this excellent cauliflower and cheese recipe: https://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/traditional-english-cheddar-cauliflower-cheese-gratin-216237

The four classes in the U. of Maryland Hospital Type-II Diabetes program I am in were about the effects of various carbs, proteins, and fats as well as how a diabetic's body can respond the wrong way in certain situations, as in when a type-II diabetic can have blood sugar levels dangerously high like 370 mg/dL, but the body's cells are not responding to insulin and not taking in sugars, so they're still sending chemical signals to the liver saying, "Where's my sugar?" and the liver sends out more sugar and drives the level higher, like 420 mg/dL even if you're doing exercise!  There's also the fact, that blood sugar readings can be out of sync with what you ate:  if there was a lot of fat, it can take a lot longer for the intestines to process it. A greasy sub at 9 pm may result in a 170 blood test at 10 pm, a 130 blood test at 11 pm. but rises 150 at 7 am due to the fats.

Another important this is to take meds 20 minutes BEFORE meals when they say "take with meals."  That gives them time to get the body ready for food and is a key reason my meds may continue to be reduced in the future.
 

[Wilbur ★]

Good for you Mick.  Congratulations!