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I'm a full blown diabetic and if i could live a lifestyle that resulted in the numbers you quote i wouldnt even consider myself diabetic.
Consistent readings of 6.2 certainly wouldnt motivate me to start taking diabetes drugs,perhaps a few extra salads and an extra 10 minutes at the gymn every day..readings of anything close to or under 4 and i start getting major hypoglycemic symptoms.
There must be some confusion here on your part as to what is "normal". Normal BG numbers for non-diabetics (or for anybody) are between 70 and 90. If you start to feel faint when you are close or under a 4 an that is normal.
By this formula
28.7 X A1C – 46.7 = eAG.
a 4 would be a 68. That is approaching a low (or hypo) reading for anybody. a 6.2 as was mentioned is a 131 which is elevated but still OK for a diabetic but is still a diabetic and should require some sort of treatment. Remember that the A1C is a 90 day average. My 5.8 is a 120 which is very high for a non diabetic but again actually pretty good for a full diabetic. I control mine with medications and a low carb diet.
ADA Recommended target = <7% (165)
In my opinion (and many others) this is too high.
ACE Recommended target = <6.5% (140)
This is what a diabetic's A1C should be
FASTING/Before meals = 80-130 mg/dL
2 hours after meal = < 180 mg/dL
If you have a an A1C of 6.2 and you think an extra salad or 10 minutes at the gym will take care of your diabetes (because that is what it is) go ahead and keep fooling yourself. After all it is your body and your health.
I'm in Canada where the measurement is not recorded the same way as the USA,our normal is between 5-7 ,i think in the USA a normal reading is something like 80-140?
If you think 6.2 is full blown diabetes then by all means start the meds rather than adjusting your lifestyle with diet and exercise.
I'm in Canada where the measurement is not recorded the same way as the USA,our normal is between 5-7 ,i think in the USA a normal reading is something like 80-140?
If you think 6.2 is full blown diabetes then by all means start the meds rather than adjusting your lifestyle with diet and exercise.
Recording is the same in US and Canada. What changes (slightly) is their guidelines and this is all subjective.
This is a quote from the Canadian Diabetes Association web site.
If you want to get technical about it and go by their guidelines a 6.2 is actually pre-diabetes.
Quote:
While there is a continuum of risk for diabetes in individuals with A1C levels between 5.5% and 6.4%, population studies demonstrate that A1C levels of 6.0% to 6.4% are associated with a higher risk for diabetes compared to levels between 5.5% and 6.0% (26). While the American Diabetes Association defines prediabetes as an A1C between 5.7% and 6.4%, the Canadian Diabetes Association has based the definition on a higher risk group and includes an A1C of 6.0% to 6.4% as a diagnostic criterion for prediabetes (1). However, A1C levels below 6.0% can indeed be associated with an increased risk for diabetes (26). The combination of an FPG of 6.1 to 6.9 mmol/L and an A1C of 6.0% to 6.4% is predictive of 100% progression to type 2 diabetes over a 5-year period (27).
Apparently you did not read my post correctly. I am on meds and have been for almost 10 yrs now. When I was first diagnosed I ended up in the the hospital and was not feeling well. I actually drank a regular coke in the waiting room not knowing anything. I was tested over 300. As far as I am concerned an A1C of 6.2 is full diabetes because what comes soon after the pre?
Recording is the same in US and Canada. What changes (slightly) is their guidelines and this is all subjective.
This is a quote from the Canadian Diabetes Association web site.
If you want to get technical about it and go by their guidelines a 6.2 is actually pre-diabetes.
Apparently you did not read my post correctly. I am on meds and have been for almost 10 yrs now. When I was first diagnosed I ended up in the the hospital and was not feeling well. I actually drank a regular coke in the waiting room not knowing anything. I was tested over 300. As far as I am concerned an A1C of 6.2 is full diabetes because what comes soon after the pre?
My Blood glucose meter registers numbers from 0-30,5-7 being considered as normal says my family doctor,my endocrinologist and my vascular specialist, my Dad who lives in Fla has a meter that reads from 0-500 evidently 80-120 being normal.
When i got diagnosed i was working in a dairy processing plant and for months before diagnosis when i got the diabetic thirst i'd knock back a quart of chocolate milk. The blurry vision finally got me to the doctor where upon a blood test confirmed his suspicions =Jim ya got diabetes. That was 20 years ago.
My diet is much changed over the years and exercise is a mandatory part of my day however the diabetic condition just continues to worsen as a result my doctors just keep prescribing more drugs.I have no idea what to do other than low carb diet and lots of exercise. I'd appreciate any tips or tricks you can pass on.
Diabetes Solution: The Complete Guide to Achieving Normal Blood Sugars
It will wake you up to a lot of things about diabetes and how it has been treated in the past and just how wrong many doctors have been.The author's diet recommendations are a bit too exteme for me but I do follow it generally. The author is a type 1 diabetic and his recommendations would definitely help type 1's a lot. I do allow some fruit that is low carb such as berries, beans in small portions etc. You seem to be a moderate type 2 as I am. I do not monitor my BG constantly. I find my routine and stay with that as far as meds and meals etc.
I got my copy for around $6 US used on ebay. It retails for more.
I personally don't have time to read a lot so I read it a little at a time but I got the jist of it.
For me since I am a carnivore the diet is very sustainable. I have cut out all grains. I do not eat ANY bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, or corn and of course sugar. Essentially carbs are sugar and they affect you the same way. If you like burgers eat them without the bun. I do allow a couple of corn tortillas every now and then. You don't have to count carbs just know more or less how many carbs you are consuming. I try to keep it under 50 per day. Another thing is the fat consumption. That has to go up as the carbs go down. I love cheese and eat plenty of that. I use full fat salad dressings etc.
The answer to managing diabetes is in a word DIET and if you need, medications. I personally want to avoid being on insulin. This is the only way to stop the progression of this disease. So it is not really a diet it is lifestyle change. It all depends how dedicated you are to controlling it. You have to ask yourself, how healthy (or not) do I want to be in 5 years? 20 years?
One last thing, I have become somewhat fanatical about this as you can probably tell from my post.
I'm someone who's fasting sugar was, just last Thursday, shown to be 124.
That's only 4 little numbers away from experts 120 top range for diabetes.
Why was mine elevated? Well, I didn't know this until yesterday - but smoking elevates blood sugars.
Before I went to get my blood drawn, I must have had at 4 cigarettes...
I'm now - as of this minute - 38 hours a non-smoker. I put them down and have been tempted, but I'm stronger than that. This morning, coming into work, I walked past one of my friends who's a smoker... I really used to smell like that???? Ick...
Oh, and I'm NOT going to be one of THOSE ex-smokers... so put down your axes and swords...
OP: If your husband smokes, that too can raise blood sugar levels.
For me since I am a carnivore the diet is very sustainable. I have cut out all grains. I do not eat ANY bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, or corn and of course sugar. Essentially carbs are sugar and they affect you the same way. If you like burgers eat them without the bun. I do allow a couple of corn tortillas every now and then. You don't have to count carbs just know more or less how many carbs you are consuming. I try to keep it under 50 per day. Another thing is the fat consumption. That has to go up as the carbs go down. I love cheese and eat plenty of that. I use full fat salad dressings etc.
One last thing, I have become somewhat fanatical about this as you can probably tell from my post.
Sounds like you've read "Wheat Belly".
Thanks for the book recommendations,I'm currently trying to follow Dr Joel Fuhrmans dietary lifestyle but his mostly vegan philosophy is tough to stick with and although it will get you off diabetic meds its an unsustainable diet if you arent into becoming a vegan.
Being fanatical about food is sometimes a good thing.
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The blurry vision finally got me to the doctor where upon a blood test confirmed his suspicions =Jim ya got diabetes. That was 20 years ago.
