Hi there, I’m a nineteen year old male living in the UK. I’m quite overweight, maybe obese even. I don’t smoke, I don’t drink. The only ‘health’ conditions I have are Acid Reflux and recently diagnosed with pre-diabetes after taking the HbA1c test. What I’m worried about is that I asked the doctor to do a full blood count to check my overall health - everything came back normal, except the HbA1c (it was at 43 mmol which indicates pre-diabetes as normal range is between 20 - 42). Upon reading the letter the doctor printed out, I noticed that there was an exclamation mark next to Haemoglobin estimation, Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), and Mean corpuscular Hb. concentration (MCHC).
Now, here’s where the question lies. Yes, I know I’m overweight/obese and I’m currently doing something about it by going to the gym and eating more healthily to try and tackle the pre-diabetes (if I have it), but I want to know why those values were low? Do I have anaemia? The doctor ordered for a HbA1c test to be done and it came back 43? So surely if I did a test to test for haemoglobin and I have anaemia - it would affect it in a way, right? Now, although I may have mild anaemia, I’m just wondering if it would still affect it? Right now, the symptom I have are pale nails, shortness of breath, my hair falls out sometimes when I brush it, and awful fatigue. What shall I do? Is it the anaemia that’s affecting the HbA1c test or is it genuinely prediabetes? My doctor doesn’t seem to tell me, all he said was lose weight. I need answers because I’m sick and tired of Googling the answers.
Hi and welcome to the group. Please feel free to continue posting, commenting and asking questions.
Thank you for introducing yourself to the group.
The A1c is a test that tells you what your blood sugars have been for the last 3-4 months/90 days.
Has your doctor suggested that you go on a low carb high protein diet for tighter blood sugar control and weight loss? I’m a type 1 Diabetic and I use insulin, a CGM and eat a low carb high protein diet for tighter blood sugar control.
Hi anon8283 you are only 19 so have youth on your side, my opinion is you need to address your obesity to prevent getting type 2 diabetes.
I think that you want a long term approach with achievable goals food weight and fitness wise and gradually you will regain your fitness and make a permanent change so that it is sustainable.
Well done for introducing yourself as you have literally taken the first step and we will will support you on here in eating well and living well.
We are a friendly support forum for all things healthy eating so you've done the right thing joining us.
Welcome anon8283 I can’t answer your medical questions about the possible anaemia affecting your HbA1c as I don’t know enough about it, but I can see how frustrating it is for you to be just told to lose weight, though I do believe that to be good advice. I’m a lot older than you and have reversed my blood sugars back into the healthy range by reducing sugar intake and losing two stone, with a few pounds still left to lose. You are only just over the healthy blood sugar range and losing some weight could well make a big difference. My advice would be to lose a little bit of weight as this can only benefit you either way, then go back to the doctor and show them you are following their advice but you would like the blood tests better explained for your peace of mind. It’s a reasonable request and if they refuse you could ask to speak to the practice manager. Good luck 😀
You say you are trying to eat more healthy. How healthy is healthy, what is it that you are eating?
Do not under any circumstances eat anything labeled as ‘diet’ or ‘low fat’ or something similar as these do not help.
I’ve not got a perfect healthy diet but I do eat a lot healthier than I did.
I have a brain injury and I believe my very poor diet I used to have is the reason behind it.
I started out by eating/drinking a lot of home made vegetable smoothies.
If you can’t handle the taste of a veg smoothie right away, add some fruit to it to make it more palatable.
You say you suffer with fatigue as well. Eating a much healthier diet will lift the fatigue problems, it did with me. They are not gone completely but is much easier now.
Many of us here find that what works, for weight loss and (pre) diabetes, is a combination of The Low Carbohydrate, High-Fat (LCHF) diet (see the forum here on Health Unlocked) and Not Snacking All Day AKA Intermittent Fasting (IF). See:
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