No one that we can find going back 3 or 4 generations in my blood family have ever had Cancer.

But...

They are ALL / were Diabetic, Siblings, Parents, Grandparents, Aunts / Uncles, Great grandparents... EVERYONE

Now at 70 that includes me. Metformin twice a day so far.
Trying to cut sugar... I lived for Sweet Tea.

High Blood Pressure too it seems. DR hasn't addressed that yet. ~one month avg 174/94.

185 LB. fairly active. Never gave it much thought, Never sick, last physical ~20 yr ago.

Sorry to hear that. Thankfully, it's manageable, and you'll feel a lot better once you get it back under control.

That is pretty high...what was your A1C Last time they checked it, and how long ago was that? Have they checked to see if you're type 1 or type 2 yet? With me they assumed type 2 initially because of the adult onset (actually put me on Metformin), but I ended up being type 1.

I'm on two pills of Janumet XR and one 14mg Rybelsus a day for my type 2.

3 months ago I was in the 9s. I was at 7.1 earlier this month at my last blood test.
I forget what I am taking for HBP. Have had that since my 20s. I'm 6', 190# and also fairly active. It just runs in the family.


Janumet is sitagliptin and metformin together.

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:

That is pretty high...what was your A1C Last time they checked it, and how long ago was that?

Believe it or not... Never tested before

Yea, that sucks. I'm on MetFormin as well.
I can't recommend a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) enough.

quote:

I can't recommend a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) enough.

Couldn't agree more.

Got tested last week and my A1C was 6.3. That's actually higher than my last few tests, but I overindulged a bit while I was on vacation. It was over 15.5 when they found out I had this. The CGM has been a lifesaver for keeping it under control.

At that weight and fairly active, you should be able to get that under control without too many issues. Exercise at cutting carbs!

Good luck!

What medications are you taking? Statins may cause your A1C to rise. When I stopped taking Simvastatin my A1C dropped 2 points. I could not take Metformin or any of the other drugs until I started Ozempic. Ozempic works continuously but I still have to eliminate sweets, white breads, rice & potatoes.

I'm on Mounjaro and Jardiance.

My A1c went from 8.0 to 4.9 and I'm not diet restricted.

I am also down 50lbs. From 195 to 145.

quote:

Originally posted by Anush:
Statins may cause your A1C to rise. When I stopped taking Simvastatin my A1C dropped 2 points. .

I will ask my doctor about a simvastatin replacement to see if that helps me.


Also I am using the Libre 3 Plus glucose monitor. Says my 90 day average is 6.9

quote:

I will ask my doctor about a simvastatin replacement to see if that helps me.

The Vanderbilt/Nashville VA Cardiologist I see had me try Atorvastatin and my blood suger rose immediately. He then put me on Ezetimibe 10mg.

Thanks for the info guys…

quote:

Originally posted by Chowser:

quote:

Originally posted by Anush:
Statins may cause your A1C to rise. When I stopped taking Simvastatin my A1C dropped 2 points. .

I will ask my doctor about a simvastatin replacement to see if that helps me.


Also I am using the Libre 3 Plus glucose monitor. Says my 90 day average is 6.9

This. Make lots of notes at mealtimes and you will notice that all carbs are not equal. Some send your sugar into orbit, some make a speedbump on the graph. For me, bread spikes it. Potatoes don't. Beer makes the line go vertical.
Listen to your body and collect the data.

Bruce

quote:

Originally posted by cparktd:
grandparents... EVERYONE

Now at 70 that includes me. Metformin twice a day so far.
Trying to cut sugar... I lived for Sweet Tea.

High Blood Pressure too it seems. DR hasn't addressed that yet. ~one month avg 174/94.

You REALLY need to find a better Doctor. Because when I showed up for a new Primary after 7 years not having one due to the old one retiring my Blood Pressure was 180 over 85. When he saw that he told me "I really should be calling for an Ambulance for you" it got my attention. Went on Lisinopril that day and have used that since 2010.

Also went on a reduced Salt diet and now cut the 10-12.5 table in half. Low salt diets are really not that difficult, you just have to pay attention to sodium levels in every food item you purchase. For me I look for low salt items, never add salt to anything, and do things like no salt potato chips and nuts for snacks. Yesterday my BP was 114/65.

Then there is the reduced sugar diet. Note, if you have ANY candy in your house throw it in the trash. Because IMO Sugar is a much more difficult habit to break than smoking cigarettes. Start looking at nutrition labels and EVERYTHING that comes in a wrapper or box has sugar in it. BTW American Cardiology is currently debating on whether to list Sugar as the primary cause for Heart Disease. By the numbers recent studies show it is, bad news is that making that change would piss off every single food maker who piles in the sugar to make food "taste better". MacDonalds hamburger buns have Sugar for this specific reason. Go down the cereal isle at your grocery store and you'll find that Corn Chex and Rice Chex are the only truly LOW SUGAR cereal you can purchase. Everything else is 18 grams or higher. So take your choice, it's either Corn Chex or Rice Chex. Note, I pile some fresh bluebarries on my Corn Chex and yes it is high in fructose but that is not nearly has harmful as refined white sugar.

Bottomline is simple. Start reading Nutrition Labels for every single item you purchase. Also get a good digital Kitchen Scale and start using it. Because those serving sizes listed is about 1/2 to 1/3 of what most folks actually eat. Bad news for most is that from the Health standpoint those serving sizes are actually an accurate and appropriate amount to eat. Note that is a hint to eat less. Been doing that for 10 years now and am both stronger and 60 lbs. lighter than I was 10 years ago. If you want to have a bit of steak for dinner then cut out a piece of steak that actually weighs 4 ounces because you do NOT need a 12 ounce steak and that much is bad for your health.

Now for some good news. Eating lighter will reduce your weight over time and you won't miss that extra fat one bit. You will also become accustomed to eating smaller meals and if you eat out you'll bring how what may be your next nights dinner. What you won't have is hunger pangs because your stomach will get smaller. As for the low salt bit, I have found that salt free meats actually taste better. Because of this you'll cut your fast food habit because it's all too damned salty. With dinner in an actual restaurant you can actually ask that your food not be prepared with added salt and the good ones will adhere to that strictly. Because many good cooks with a lifetime experience are on low salt diets due to high blood pressure and also find salt free preparation results in better tasting food. Also be aware that ANY Chicken or Turkey White meat is brined in a very salty brining solution. Do not Eat Chick White meat for any reason because it is loaded with salt.

PS; going low sugar has actually resulted in my Arthritis being CURED. No more issues with my wrists, thumbs or anything else with the exception of a very mild bit of Trigger finder in the middle finger of my left hand. Back in 2020 just signing a paycheck was quite painful.

quote:

Originally posted by Scooter123:

Go down the cereal isle at your grocery store and you'll find that Corn Chex and Rice Chex are the only truly LOW SUGAR cereal you can purchase. Everything else is 18 grams or higher. So take your choice, it's either Corn Chex or Rice Chex.

Shredded wheat. Zero sugar.

Cparktd: I’m glad you’ve been tested. I’m appalled that with your family history you were not tested long ago.
Also, like Scooter123, I have to question how seriously your PCP is taking your combination of newly diagnosed diabetes with VERY HIGH A1C and only putting you on metformin, AND not starting treatment of your VERY high blood pressure.

Remember I’m a physician; but I’m also a dad, and our son with newly diagnosed diabetes with an A1C of 12 was in ketoacidosis, hospitalized, on a ventilator, grand mal seizures, major neurological complications (which, thank God, resolved) due to high blood sugar in the brain.

He was discharged on insulin + metformin; his BP was never high, but had it been he would have been on lisinopril.

While you chew on this, I want you to watch for three symptoms: polyuria, polydipsia, polyphasic. That is: pissing a lot, drinking a lot (of water), and eating a lot. Add to that blurred vision. Those are all frequent, common, and VERY worrisome signs of diabetes OUT OF CONTROL.

When are you going back to your doctor? Did your doctor ask you about the symptoms I described above? Did your doctor recommend you go to the ED to get your blood sugar controlled immediately, get measurement of your electrolytes, urine sugar, immediate blood sugar—AND to find out what has made your HbA1C so high now? Do you have an infection—a common reason?

Please read this twice and consider it carefully. If left untreated, or poorly treated, this could be fatal.

I hope this sinks in with our other SF friends who ignore their health. 20 years since your last “physical”? What the actual…?

Like a dumbass - I ignored my health for many years. Pains here, pains there, whatever. Last time I saw a doctor was for kidney stones over 20 years ago.

Even my mother's death last year after a 2 year battle with heart / kidney / liver failure and covid - complicated by diabetes, didn't wake my ass up...

After one of my many trips to FL to get her estate in order, I noticed that my vision was blurry as hell and couldn't read the screen on my laptop to order food. Decided that after 15 years of wearing the same glasses that it was time to see the Optometrist. Well, turns out I had retinal hemmoraging in both eyes. First question she asked is how long I've been a diabetic. I told her I wasn't as far as I knew.

I had no idea....

Went and got my blood tested, fasting glucose level was 296, A1C was 10.5, and high cholesterol. This finally explained for my dumb ass the nerve pain I had in my legs for a year, my vision going to hell in a hand basket, fatigue, and a lot of other things I had going on... Sure as hell, I was now a type 2 diabetic.

After a year of 2000mg/day of metformin (now down to 1000mg/day), Jardiance, and now Mounjaro, and Dexcom monitors to babysit me, my A1C is down to 5.5, fasting glucose is around 100 average, nerve pain is gone (thank god - that really sucked!) vision is pretty consistant and no more retinal hemorraging.

The worst thing so far for me was the diet change. I love to cook and eat - especially desserts! Now I'm actually having to read labels at the store. That bucket of Dunkin Donuts coffee in the morning which was basically a sugar bomb - no more. I really miss Reeses Peanut Butter Cups! It amazed me just how fast I was able to go sugar free though. Carbs have been a little bit tougher, but I'm managing. My motivation? I think of what happened to Mom. I do not want to go out like that.

The only other gripes I have are that I have to keep buying new jeans or shorts. I've gone from 157 to 127lbs. Still safe as far as BMI is concerned, but dammit this is getting expensive..... LOL

As sjtill said, starting out on just Metformin, even a high dose like I was on, seems like a laxed approach to such a high A1C. My PCP started me on the metformin and Jardiance and Atorvastatin for cholesterol immediately last year, and added Mounjaro this year because my A1C started to go back up. She has been what I would say, aggressive with my treatment, and it has worked. Though, my appointments are every 3 months, she can see my CGM data. I have gotten my ass chewed a couple of times in the past for misbehavior.

I hope you are able to get this under control quickly

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by Scooter123:

Go down the cereal isle at your grocery store and you'll find that Corn Chex and Rice Chex are the only truly LOW SUGAR cereal you can purchase. Everything else is 18 grams or higher. So take your choice, it's either Corn Chex or Rice Chex.

Shredded wheat. Zero sugar.

With Chex, its not just the low sugar, they have a lot of carbs which are just ninja sugar. And lets not even start on milk.

Appreciate the info and advice…

I’ve only seen this doctor one time. She put me on metformin 500MG. Called me after a week or so to see how was doing… apparently some people don’t tolerate it very well. She then doubled it to twice a day.
Also on one tablet a day for hypothyroid.
They had asked in a previous walk in visit that I record my blood pressure at home until my return visit, which is in a couple of weeks.

My 2 month average is at 150-97.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by Scooter123:

Go down the cereal isle at your grocery store and you'll find that Corn Chex and Rice Chex are the only truly LOW SUGAR cereal you can purchase. Everything else is 18 grams or higher. So take your choice, it's either Corn Chex or Rice Chex.

Shredded wheat. Zero sugar.

Better advice, walk down the processed grain aisle, look at all the offerings and leave all of them on the shelf nothing good for someone with that high of an A1C is in that aisle. Maybe Oatmeal, non flavored is ok, but for now, nothing made from any grain product should be near your fork, spoon, fingers.

Go the Egg section, buy 18 eggs, hard boil 6, the rest you use for breakfast, and if you don't like to take the time to cook eggs etc then get the Just Crack n Egg mixers right by them, toss an egg or two in the container, stir it up, add some milk if you like it fluffy, add the mixings and microwave for 90 to 120 seconds. Quick, easy, no carbs... No Sugar...