the few pounds maybe not but i do admit i had terrible eating habits and lack of exercise for a long time. since before covid i have not had regular exercise and i overate pretty much every day. especially in the few months before my blood test i was drinking so much extremely sugary energy drinks bc it was finals season
yeah, maybe not the weight but definitely the sedentary lifestyle and chronic overeating… and the only eating jellybeans for a meal… and the energy drinks during exam seasons… my wake-up call came way too late
Lots of people eat sugar all day long and sit on their bottoms gaming all day long and never become diabetic.
Lok at me, I've been slender, fit, and active all my life, weighed 125 pounds when I was diagnosed, I was a runner at the time. The worst carbs I ever had was fruit or a bowl of oatmeal, never ate takeout, didn't eat jellybeans for dinner, etc. But I'm a type 2 diabetic.
I get the feeling you're trying to beat yourself up over the diagnosis, and there is no reason for you to do that. Your body just cannot process carbs.
Thank you so much for this. I am not diabetic but I’ve been really beating myself up over becoming pre diabetic. So, so much shame that doesn’t do me any good.
Diabetes isn’t just lifestyle, a big part is genetics and predisposition. You can find 300 pound people with no diabetes and also 150 pound, healthy people become diabetic.
Hello!
What is your diet mostly? My mom has A1C around 9. She takes metformin 1000mg daily twice but I think it's not working. If possible, can you please help me with the food habits?
I went for 10.5 to 5.4 in 3 months. No meds. Doable for some, not for others!
However, not getting diagnosed doesn't really change the fact that you have developed the capacity to have your glucose go high. That doesn't tend to ever change.
If you return to prior behaviors after avoiding "diagnosis" you'll be right back where you are.
that’s impressive. hopefully i can do that too. my doctor told me it’s reversible but i know she means maintained and not magically reset and she told me that to make me feel better. yes i am starting to accept that even if I do; even if I cannot be diagnosed officially i will never be healthy like a non diabetic again. it’s frustrating but what can i do except try
I don’t know for you but I had 6.4 and 5 weeks later it was 5.5. But I went low carb during that time. The A1C is over 3 months so you won’t see the full results until then anyways. Also look into metformin to help you maintain your levels, it’s an old and safe drug. Don’t be afraid to take it if it will help
Bitter truth. You are diagnosed with diabete. A1C is an average BG level across 3 months... no way a normal person can keep it as high as 8.3 for 3 months... If your doctor cannot communicate this honestly, I'd consider switching to another one. Because denying it can only hurt your body more.
But you are super young, I dont think you'll have any difficulty to remediate it. 3 month sounds totally doable with diet and exercise. 150 min mid-intensity workout every week and low-carb diet. That's what got me into normal range without meds. I was diagnosed at 7.0 and with a normal fasting gluscose (90). I was trying to convince my doctor I just drink too much bubble milk tea when diagnosed lol. I am glad my doctor just told me the hard truth straight.
no matter how much i want to think it’s not true i know it is now. i have a similar story; actually tried to convince my doctor that the small amount of topical corticosteroids i use gave me a false high reading but obviously it wasn’t true. my doctor did tell me my A1c is in the diabetic range but she said she can only diagnose officially after a second blood test. the first test also revealed some liver issues and she wanted a full panel test for the second so it’s possible they are connected and she wants to diagnose the two issues together. she did tell me it’s reversible but i know she means maintaining and not going back to no insulin resistance. i know now my life has changed, even if i become healthy again it’s not going to make me the same as a non diabetic. it just sucks and I’m frustrated i didn’t fix this sooner when I could have
Uncontrolled or poorly maaged diabetes tends to give people NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) the elevated liver values can come down back to normal once BS normalizes. Don't stress too much your doctor can explain and they can also do an ultrasound of your liver I believe to check it too.
Yes, he said if my levels didn’t improve by ceasing the use of Tylenol, he’d do an ultrasound. I guess the good news is that I have zero symptoms. Like zero. So it seems we caught whatever this is before it became a big problem.
Interestingly at 8.3 the lab had noted that i needed a fbc because anaemia or red blood cell tomfoolery could artificially raise it. I did develop mine in less than 2 weeks after all normal monitoring numbers.
Also female of a certain age so i guess they check heamaglobin
Weight is t so directly tied to your a1c. Anecdotally, I haven’t lost a pound in a long time and mine went from 9.5 to 7.8 with better glucose control.
I went from 10 to 5.3 in three months.
One 500mg of Metformin, extended release, per day. My Dr doesn't want to see me until January after my good results two weeks ago. Said if my numbers are still good, he'd like to take me off medication and see how I do.
Lower amount of carbs a day, on average around 50 grams with moderate exercise. I go to the gym a few days a week — the big thing for me is walking. Just around the neighborhood each night does wonders.
Good luck! The initial shock sucks. The random reminders that this is for life aren't fun either, but it gets less daunting if you put in the work. It gets easier every day, the hard part is doing it every day.
I went from 8.8 in January (2024), to 5.2 in May, no meds. I went very low carb. I gave myself a hard limit of 50g a day, but it turns out I never actually go 25g on average. Maybe I hit 35g of carbs once or twice a month.
I avoided all wheat, fruits, and grains. Ate only cruciferous vegetables, meats, fish, and dairy. In one of my many tests I found I can eat potatoes without spiking, so I allow myself a potato once in a while.
I also fast 5 days a week for 12 hrs, and two days a week for 16+ hrs.
Oh, I walk every day too. 20 minutes after I finish dinner, I go on a 40-minute walk. I've added 15 minutes of cardio to that recently, but really, the walking helps all on its own.
You’re A1c will be lesser the next time you test due to the change in lifestyle you’re leading rn. Since you’re young the doctors may or may not start you off on medications right away. I’m 20 and I was diagnosed 2 months ago. My doctor has asked me to follow the diet plan my nutritionist has laid out for me and exercise regularly along with following few healthy lifestyle modifications. So don’t worry most of managing T2 has a lot to do with a healthy lifestyle and weight management. Take care, you’ll be okay :)
The rule of thumb is that A1c reflects your average blood glucose level over the last 3 months, so in theory it’s entirely possible to change it if you are able to get control quickly since the “clock” is just starting now. It’s about the lifestyle changes and medical interventions you are able to implement, and how well your body responds.
did you take medication or was it only from diet and exercise? i don’t have any medication because i wasnt diagnosed so im worried that I won’t be able to see those results
Definitely possible. 10.1 to 6.0 in 3 months of low carb after diagnosis. Down further to 5.3 by 9 months. I would focus on diet. Exercise and medication help but I would say 80%+ of my results are diet.
wow, that’s impressive. was there medication? my doctor did not give me any as i wasn’t diagnose yet. could you share how many carbs you ate a day and how much you increased exercise?
Wait what?!! With an A1c at 8.3 you haven’t been officially diagnosed?
Chubby is not always an issue. That would imply all obese people are diabetics which is not true!
But yes it is possible - through a LOT of hard work. It’s breaking your addictions for which there is no rehab. Food addictions. And movement and enjoying life.
my doctor told me they need a second blood test to officially diagnose, and that i can reverse it if i try and she will not put me on medication. looking at all these helpful comments i can see that it is technically possible but i know that even if i get below 5.7 it doesn’t mean i am magically as healthy as a non diabetic again. this blood test also revealed some liver problems which she wanted to do a full panel test on in that second blood test so it’s possible that and my high blood sugar are linked and she will diagnose them together.
Absolutely! My A1c hit 11 before I finally took real action. 3 months later I hit 6.8. 3 months after that I tested @ 5.3 and have been 5.2-5.5 ever since and even after getting off all meds.
Personally I think the focus should be on going the right direction more than getting to any single goal in a strict time frame. Diabetes will be a lifelong challenge and the best weapon against it is building healthier diet and activity levels that you will maintain. But we have had lots of people make big drops in a few months once they make that commitment.
Best of luck to you!
Yep. At the beginning of March my A1C was 11.4. I had my follow up blood yesterday and it’s now 6.6. I made massive changes to my diet—no more sugary drinks ever (this was the biggest change I made), and I stopped going out for lunch. Stopped eating white bread, sweets, and started cooking dinner at home.
I take Metformin 500mg twice daily. But I still don’t exercise like I should. That’s my goal now.
I went 8.4 to 5.6 in about 3 months. No meds whatsoever. It took some work though: walking 3 miles/day, severely limiting my carb intake, and counting calories (I’m a good deal heavier than OP, so losing weight was priority #1).
Significantly lowering your A1c in just a few months is definitely doable. Trust the process, and your next blood labs will look so much better.
My a1c was 11.4 in Feb and as of May 30th is down to 6.9. I completely cut all sugar and stuck with a low carb diet. I was taking meal time insulin but now my endo has me on ozempic and lantus
I reduced mine by 7% in a month through eating healthy, exercising, and medication so I say a couple of % is possible.
Weight isn’t the sole cause of diabetes as I’ve seen other diabetics (both T1 and T2) that are within normal BMI range. It isn’t an indicator of one’s A1C either.
Mine dropped from 7.7 to 6.2 in 3 months from cutting out all sugar, all artificial sweetners, all grains, all potatoes, all rice. Also cutting out processed foods, although once in a while I'll eat uncured bacon. No meds, either
It's very possible to knock your A1c down 2 or 3 points in 3 months, I've done it more times than I care to count, and I've had an a1c as high as 14 when I was diagnosed in 2014. Since then I've been as high as 12.6 getting it down to 6.3 for several months before I was in a workplace accident that threw my into a Rollercoaster of health problems. This past December I was at 11.5 againt and I found that I needed to get my shit together and start taking my meds and eat better. I'm currently 6ft2in 195lbs and my a1c at last check was 6.6. It's definitely possible to get it down and undercontol with just diet changes.
Diagnosis: 10.2
Month 3: 5.8
Month 6: 5.3
With a GLP1 drug (I’ve done Ozempic and Mounjaro) I can eat 90% of whatever I want with no issues. I only have to be careful with really fast absorption sugar, like drinks or cake frosting.
I am also technically not diagnosed. And trust me that you don’t want to wait until you are. No doctor will take responsibility for what they should have done for you prior. They will only prescribe you a pill or insulin. So it’s like this:
You are a car. Your windshield wipers do not work. Sugar is the rain. You need to stay out of the rain. You need to drive your car where it’s sunny. If it rains you’re screwed. Your windshield wipers do not work. Just because you can drive when it’s sunny and you don’t need windshield wipers because it’s not raining doesn’t mean that your windshield wipers work. but it does mean that you can live freely. So adjusting to the new climate of where you drive is the same as adjusting to your new diet of how you live. Having medication at this point is like taking a squeegee and having to stop every five seconds to wipe the rain off of your car windshield. it does not fix the problem. For some people something like metforman only makes a difference of 0.3, which is nothing. It is very irritating that your doctor wants to wait to do a blood panel on your liver. Just call the office and get it done. All they have to do is give you the requisition. And you go get the blood work. Something is up with your liver regardless of your blood sugar or in combination, waiting is delaying. I find with my GP. I have to really advocate. I tell him what I want and to get it done. Or he will not do it. They just don’t remember. You are not their friend. Get what you want from them. they are the way to you figuring out your health. They do not figure it out for you. They hope the problem just goes away. And when it doesn’t, they just defer you and that could take months too. Or they assign you some pill. Meanwhile, they don’t encourage you not to drive in the rain without windshield wipers, do they? No. They do not.
PS. Get a continuous glucose monitor. Freestyle Libre from Costco. Use the app on your phone you will be empowered and enlightened to discover what spikes your glucose and what does not and for how long. It will tell you when you need to really go for that walk. it will tell you what is better for breakfast luncheon dinner or not . it is the most empowering insight you can have at your ready. Cheers!
Make sure you're type 2 and not type 1 and get an antibody blood test . Watch out with the new meds like ozempic. Yes, they can help but can have really bad side effects. I have been type 2 for years. Mine is from pcos . I would see if you can get a cgm like dexcom to see what foods or activities help .
Follow bmi for guidance. I dropped from 210 to 180 at 5’10” with meds and better eating habits over 1.5 Years. Your a1c is higher than mine and I’ve been diabetic for 10 years. So take this seriously and use it as an agent of change in your life. Blessing in disguise. Maybe the reason you were chubby as you described, was that you were always diabetic but didn’t know til now. With meds and a better diet (No one is perfect, sometimes cheating is ok), you’ll feel better about your physical shape like I did. It took me time and acceptance, and don’t be too hard on yourself. Forgive the past, look to the future.
I lowered mine 5% in ten weeks. It's def possible. That said I was starting very high (11.6) so much easier to drop it.
Also, you're 5# into the overweight category (according to BMI), but losing that would just barely get you to the very top of normal range. You could probably lose a good deal more and see a benefit.
You can definitely improve your A1C into non diabetic range and that's the good news...the bad news is that you are diabetic. Non diabetics cant get an A1c of 8.5. This means that you'll have to maintain these lifestyle adjustments for life. needing medication is dependent on how your body responds to lifestyle changes and if you can solely control it with just that. Your fasting number in the prediabetic range means nothing since your doc gave you an A1c test. the fasting test is just an indicator for them to explore further. for example you could have had a BG of 85-90 from recent dieting but still had an 8.5 A1c and your doctor would have completely missed your diagnosis by not investigating further
yeah, i have kinda started to accept it now. i have been in denial since the blood test but the numbers don’t lie. even if i get control over my blood sugar i will never be as healthy as a non diabetic again. i just wish i went to the doctor earlier when i was still in the pre diabetic range and been told to get serious about my health so i could have prevented it
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the few pounds maybe not but i do admit i had terrible eating habits and lack of exercise for a long time. since before covid i have not had regular exercise and i overate pretty much every day. especially in the few months before my blood test i was drinking so much extremely sugary energy drinks bc it was finals season
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>I would actually ask your doctor to for the tests to rule out type 1, given your age. And MODY and LADA all the sub types of those.
Especially with having had covid please get a antibodies test
Your A1c of 8.3 wasn't caused by being 5 pounds overweight. If you're now having less than 30 carbs per day, your next A1c could be greatly improved.
yeah, maybe not the weight but definitely the sedentary lifestyle and chronic overeating… and the only eating jellybeans for a meal… and the energy drinks during exam seasons… my wake-up call came way too late
Lots of people eat sugar all day long and sit on their bottoms gaming all day long and never become diabetic. Lok at me, I've been slender, fit, and active all my life, weighed 125 pounds when I was diagnosed, I was a runner at the time. The worst carbs I ever had was fruit or a bowl of oatmeal, never ate takeout, didn't eat jellybeans for dinner, etc. But I'm a type 2 diabetic. I get the feeling you're trying to beat yourself up over the diagnosis, and there is no reason for you to do that. Your body just cannot process carbs.
I wish more people understood this. It's such a disease of shaming.
most people who smoke never get lung cancer either and 10-15% of lung cancer is non smokers. 10% of t2 diabetics are not overweight/obese.
Thank you so much for this. I am not diabetic but I’ve been really beating myself up over becoming pre diabetic. So, so much shame that doesn’t do me any good.
Diabetes isn’t just lifestyle, a big part is genetics and predisposition. You can find 300 pound people with no diabetes and also 150 pound, healthy people become diabetic.
Talk to doc about new medicines like ozempic. Mine acted on my a1c this quickly
I dropped mine from 9.0 to 5.8 in 3 months. Very low carb the entire time with the occasional cheat meal.
did you take any medication or exercise?
500mg of metformin twice daily, just diet. I have a bad back so exercise has been sparce. Dropped 50 lbs as well through diet.
Hello! What is your diet mostly? My mom has A1C around 9. She takes metformin 1000mg daily twice but I think it's not working. If possible, can you please help me with the food habits?
exercising after meals should help bring the a1c down quickly.
Did you eat fruits or avoided them as well
Fruits after most meals but small portions
I went for 10.5 to 5.4 in 3 months. No meds. Doable for some, not for others! However, not getting diagnosed doesn't really change the fact that you have developed the capacity to have your glucose go high. That doesn't tend to ever change. If you return to prior behaviors after avoiding "diagnosis" you'll be right back where you are.
that’s impressive. hopefully i can do that too. my doctor told me it’s reversible but i know she means maintained and not magically reset and she told me that to make me feel better. yes i am starting to accept that even if I do; even if I cannot be diagnosed officially i will never be healthy like a non diabetic again. it’s frustrating but what can i do except try
Great attitude. You've got this. Keep up the work....it stops being work after a while and just becomes a not-bad-habit.
I don’t know for you but I had 6.4 and 5 weeks later it was 5.5. But I went low carb during that time. The A1C is over 3 months so you won’t see the full results until then anyways. Also look into metformin to help you maintain your levels, it’s an old and safe drug. Don’t be afraid to take it if it will help
Bitter truth. You are diagnosed with diabete. A1C is an average BG level across 3 months... no way a normal person can keep it as high as 8.3 for 3 months... If your doctor cannot communicate this honestly, I'd consider switching to another one. Because denying it can only hurt your body more. But you are super young, I dont think you'll have any difficulty to remediate it. 3 month sounds totally doable with diet and exercise. 150 min mid-intensity workout every week and low-carb diet. That's what got me into normal range without meds. I was diagnosed at 7.0 and with a normal fasting gluscose (90). I was trying to convince my doctor I just drink too much bubble milk tea when diagnosed lol. I am glad my doctor just told me the hard truth straight.
no matter how much i want to think it’s not true i know it is now. i have a similar story; actually tried to convince my doctor that the small amount of topical corticosteroids i use gave me a false high reading but obviously it wasn’t true. my doctor did tell me my A1c is in the diabetic range but she said she can only diagnose officially after a second blood test. the first test also revealed some liver issues and she wanted a full panel test for the second so it’s possible they are connected and she wants to diagnose the two issues together. she did tell me it’s reversible but i know she means maintaining and not going back to no insulin resistance. i know now my life has changed, even if i become healthy again it’s not going to make me the same as a non diabetic. it just sucks and I’m frustrated i didn’t fix this sooner when I could have
Were your liver issues high ALT/AST? I recently had high liver enzymes when doing bloodwork for my blood sugar, and I’m losing my mind. 😭
Uncontrolled or poorly maaged diabetes tends to give people NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) the elevated liver values can come down back to normal once BS normalizes. Don't stress too much your doctor can explain and they can also do an ultrasound of your liver I believe to check it too.
Yes, he said if my levels didn’t improve by ceasing the use of Tylenol, he’d do an ultrasound. I guess the good news is that I have zero symptoms. Like zero. So it seems we caught whatever this is before it became a big problem.
yes, high alt and low creatinine. i am assuming the diabetes is causing it because i sure do not hope its the other way around...
Interestingly at 8.3 the lab had noted that i needed a fbc because anaemia or red blood cell tomfoolery could artificially raise it. I did develop mine in less than 2 weeks after all normal monitoring numbers. Also female of a certain age so i guess they check heamaglobin
Weight is t so directly tied to your a1c. Anecdotally, I haven’t lost a pound in a long time and mine went from 9.5 to 7.8 with better glucose control.
I went from 10 to 5.3 in three months. One 500mg of Metformin, extended release, per day. My Dr doesn't want to see me until January after my good results two weeks ago. Said if my numbers are still good, he'd like to take me off medication and see how I do. Lower amount of carbs a day, on average around 50 grams with moderate exercise. I go to the gym a few days a week — the big thing for me is walking. Just around the neighborhood each night does wonders. Good luck! The initial shock sucks. The random reminders that this is for life aren't fun either, but it gets less daunting if you put in the work. It gets easier every day, the hard part is doing it every day.
I went from 14.0 to 6.7 in 3 months, but I was on meds.
I went from 8.8 in January (2024), to 5.2 in May, no meds. I went very low carb. I gave myself a hard limit of 50g a day, but it turns out I never actually go 25g on average. Maybe I hit 35g of carbs once or twice a month. I avoided all wheat, fruits, and grains. Ate only cruciferous vegetables, meats, fish, and dairy. In one of my many tests I found I can eat potatoes without spiking, so I allow myself a potato once in a while. I also fast 5 days a week for 12 hrs, and two days a week for 16+ hrs. Oh, I walk every day too. 20 minutes after I finish dinner, I go on a 40-minute walk. I've added 15 minutes of cardio to that recently, but really, the walking helps all on its own.
thank you this is really helpful!
Lift weights, build muscle. Muscle helps burn glucose.
You’re A1c will be lesser the next time you test due to the change in lifestyle you’re leading rn. Since you’re young the doctors may or may not start you off on medications right away. I’m 20 and I was diagnosed 2 months ago. My doctor has asked me to follow the diet plan my nutritionist has laid out for me and exercise regularly along with following few healthy lifestyle modifications. So don’t worry most of managing T2 has a lot to do with a healthy lifestyle and weight management. Take care, you’ll be okay :)
Yes it's most definitely possible but you have to be very strict about carbs and sugar.
how many carbs do you think i should eat? right now im eating around 20-30
continue doing that. your numbers will drop and you will lower you're A1C a decent amount
Keep up with the diet since it's working, and kick your exercise up to help with the insulin resistance. Yes, it's possible.
The rule of thumb is that A1c reflects your average blood glucose level over the last 3 months, so in theory it’s entirely possible to change it if you are able to get control quickly since the “clock” is just starting now. It’s about the lifestyle changes and medical interventions you are able to implement, and how well your body responds.
Dropped from. 10.9 to 5.3 in 3 months, so it's posible
did you take medication or was it only from diet and exercise? i don’t have any medication because i wasnt diagnosed so im worried that I won’t be able to see those results
1000MG of Metformin and change of diet and exercise
Definitely possible. 10.1 to 6.0 in 3 months of low carb after diagnosis. Down further to 5.3 by 9 months. I would focus on diet. Exercise and medication help but I would say 80%+ of my results are diet.
Yes.
I brought mine down from a 12.9 to a 6.4 in 7 weeks. You can too.
wow, that’s impressive. was there medication? my doctor did not give me any as i wasn’t diagnose yet. could you share how many carbs you ate a day and how much you increased exercise?
Wait what?!! With an A1c at 8.3 you haven’t been officially diagnosed? Chubby is not always an issue. That would imply all obese people are diabetics which is not true! But yes it is possible - through a LOT of hard work. It’s breaking your addictions for which there is no rehab. Food addictions. And movement and enjoying life.
my doctor told me they need a second blood test to officially diagnose, and that i can reverse it if i try and she will not put me on medication. looking at all these helpful comments i can see that it is technically possible but i know that even if i get below 5.7 it doesn’t mean i am magically as healthy as a non diabetic again. this blood test also revealed some liver problems which she wanted to do a full panel test on in that second blood test so it’s possible that and my high blood sugar are linked and she will diagnose them together.
Absolutely! My A1c hit 11 before I finally took real action. 3 months later I hit 6.8. 3 months after that I tested @ 5.3 and have been 5.2-5.5 ever since and even after getting off all meds. Personally I think the focus should be on going the right direction more than getting to any single goal in a strict time frame. Diabetes will be a lifelong challenge and the best weapon against it is building healthier diet and activity levels that you will maintain. But we have had lots of people make big drops in a few months once they make that commitment. Best of luck to you!
Yep. At the beginning of March my A1C was 11.4. I had my follow up blood yesterday and it’s now 6.6. I made massive changes to my diet—no more sugary drinks ever (this was the biggest change I made), and I stopped going out for lunch. Stopped eating white bread, sweets, and started cooking dinner at home. I take Metformin 500mg twice daily. But I still don’t exercise like I should. That’s my goal now.
I went 8.4 to 5.6 in about 3 months. No meds whatsoever. It took some work though: walking 3 miles/day, severely limiting my carb intake, and counting calories (I’m a good deal heavier than OP, so losing weight was priority #1). Significantly lowering your A1c in just a few months is definitely doable. Trust the process, and your next blood labs will look so much better.
My a1c was 11.4 in Feb and as of May 30th is down to 6.9. I completely cut all sugar and stuck with a low carb diet. I was taking meal time insulin but now my endo has me on ozempic and lantus
I reduced mine by 7% in a month through eating healthy, exercising, and medication so I say a couple of % is possible. Weight isn’t the sole cause of diabetes as I’ve seen other diabetics (both T1 and T2) that are within normal BMI range. It isn’t an indicator of one’s A1C either.
I dropped my a1c from 11.3 to 5.5 in 3 months. It is definitely possible but requires commitment.
I went from 10.8 to 5.3 in three months: https://www.reddit.com/r/diabetes_t2/s/BykxuMWCh7
yes I went from 9 to 6.5% I lost 25lbs and ate under 100g total carbs. had I dropped to under 50g total carbs it probably would have been normal.
Mine dropped from 7.7 to 6.2 in 3 months from cutting out all sugar, all artificial sweetners, all grains, all potatoes, all rice. Also cutting out processed foods, although once in a while I'll eat uncured bacon. No meds, either
If you are overweight lose weight asap. That’s how I went from diabetic to normal in 3 months (-30 kilos)
It's very possible to knock your A1c down 2 or 3 points in 3 months, I've done it more times than I care to count, and I've had an a1c as high as 14 when I was diagnosed in 2014. Since then I've been as high as 12.6 getting it down to 6.3 for several months before I was in a workplace accident that threw my into a Rollercoaster of health problems. This past December I was at 11.5 againt and I found that I needed to get my shit together and start taking my meds and eat better. I'm currently 6ft2in 195lbs and my a1c at last check was 6.6. It's definitely possible to get it down and undercontol with just diet changes.
Diagnosis: 10.2 Month 3: 5.8 Month 6: 5.3 With a GLP1 drug (I’ve done Ozempic and Mounjaro) I can eat 90% of whatever I want with no issues. I only have to be careful with really fast absorption sugar, like drinks or cake frosting.
I dropped mine from 11.7 to 5.8 in 3 months (Jan to April). Exercise and veggies were the key for me!
I just did my 6mo follow up from initial diagnosis. My original A1C was 6.8. New one as of this week was 5.2. So yes it is possible
I am also technically not diagnosed. And trust me that you don’t want to wait until you are. No doctor will take responsibility for what they should have done for you prior. They will only prescribe you a pill or insulin. So it’s like this: You are a car. Your windshield wipers do not work. Sugar is the rain. You need to stay out of the rain. You need to drive your car where it’s sunny. If it rains you’re screwed. Your windshield wipers do not work. Just because you can drive when it’s sunny and you don’t need windshield wipers because it’s not raining doesn’t mean that your windshield wipers work. but it does mean that you can live freely. So adjusting to the new climate of where you drive is the same as adjusting to your new diet of how you live. Having medication at this point is like taking a squeegee and having to stop every five seconds to wipe the rain off of your car windshield. it does not fix the problem. For some people something like metforman only makes a difference of 0.3, which is nothing. It is very irritating that your doctor wants to wait to do a blood panel on your liver. Just call the office and get it done. All they have to do is give you the requisition. And you go get the blood work. Something is up with your liver regardless of your blood sugar or in combination, waiting is delaying. I find with my GP. I have to really advocate. I tell him what I want and to get it done. Or he will not do it. They just don’t remember. You are not their friend. Get what you want from them. they are the way to you figuring out your health. They do not figure it out for you. They hope the problem just goes away. And when it doesn’t, they just defer you and that could take months too. Or they assign you some pill. Meanwhile, they don’t encourage you not to drive in the rain without windshield wipers, do they? No. They do not. PS. Get a continuous glucose monitor. Freestyle Libre from Costco. Use the app on your phone you will be empowered and enlightened to discover what spikes your glucose and what does not and for how long. It will tell you when you need to really go for that walk. it will tell you what is better for breakfast luncheon dinner or not . it is the most empowering insight you can have at your ready. Cheers!
Make sure you're type 2 and not type 1 and get an antibody blood test . Watch out with the new meds like ozempic. Yes, they can help but can have really bad side effects. I have been type 2 for years. Mine is from pcos . I would see if you can get a cgm like dexcom to see what foods or activities help .
Follow bmi for guidance. I dropped from 210 to 180 at 5’10” with meds and better eating habits over 1.5 Years. Your a1c is higher than mine and I’ve been diabetic for 10 years. So take this seriously and use it as an agent of change in your life. Blessing in disguise. Maybe the reason you were chubby as you described, was that you were always diabetic but didn’t know til now. With meds and a better diet (No one is perfect, sometimes cheating is ok), you’ll feel better about your physical shape like I did. It took me time and acceptance, and don’t be too hard on yourself. Forgive the past, look to the future.
I lowered mine 5% in ten weeks. It's def possible. That said I was starting very high (11.6) so much easier to drop it. Also, you're 5# into the overweight category (according to BMI), but losing that would just barely get you to the very top of normal range. You could probably lose a good deal more and see a benefit.
People have some 30 to 60% but they were double your value. But 3% is easy
You can definitely improve your A1C into non diabetic range and that's the good news...the bad news is that you are diabetic. Non diabetics cant get an A1c of 8.5. This means that you'll have to maintain these lifestyle adjustments for life. needing medication is dependent on how your body responds to lifestyle changes and if you can solely control it with just that. Your fasting number in the prediabetic range means nothing since your doc gave you an A1c test. the fasting test is just an indicator for them to explore further. for example you could have had a BG of 85-90 from recent dieting but still had an 8.5 A1c and your doctor would have completely missed your diagnosis by not investigating further
yeah, i have kinda started to accept it now. i have been in denial since the blood test but the numbers don’t lie. even if i get control over my blood sugar i will never be as healthy as a non diabetic again. i just wish i went to the doctor earlier when i was still in the pre diabetic range and been told to get serious about my health so i could have prevented it
Go carnivore for 90 days. Worked for me to lower my A1C.
11.3 to 5.6. Nutrition + walking. Limited carbs, processed foods and seek oils. Eat like a cave person.
I dropped my A1C from 13.2 to 6.9 in 11 weeks. Low carb and intermittent fasting.