I got my HbAc1 result sad

[Polo22]

Posted other day with my other results full thyroid etc , got lipids will post , HbA1c clotted, Received HbA1c results this morning and cried, last Gp test January said it had gone up to 50, todays is 54 was hoping it had lowered,

Now we all know poor thyroid treatment /control can cause mayhem and I have been wanting to avoid a shed load of meds Gp wants to start me on , statins, hypertensives, metformin,

Instead started T3 as probable poor converter to try and fix me,

GP results 27/1/23

5.6 mmol/L Serum total cholesterol

2.0mmol/L serum triglycerides

1.5mmol/L serum HDL

3.2 mmol/L serum LDL

3.7 ratio serum cholesterol/HDL ratio

4.1 mmol/L se non HDL cholesterol

I don't eat ready meals high processed foods , never have eat quite well, unfortunately my comfort foods are carbs, bread, cheese , I do love butter but just have it of a morning on a piece of toast. Only change between above and results below is 8 weeks of T3

Lipids 17/7/23

Cholesterol 4.49 0 - 5.0 mmol/L

HDL 1.22 >1.2 mmol/L New range

Triglycerides H 1.97 <1.7(Fasting) mmol/L

LDL 2.37 <3.0 mmol/L

Chol:HDL ratio 3.68 <4.0 ratio

Non HDL Cholesterol 3.27 <4 mmol/L.

Was hoping to wave results in front of GP and say told you so , after telling him I now have T3

Suppose what I am wanting to know is can T3 raise HbA1c , and what else can I do. Finally seeing light at end of the tunnel and started trying to increase exercise, but taking it slowly as have had so much pain due to B12 def, etc.

[PurpleNails Administrator]

I find the higher my FT3 higher the HBA1c.

The thing is thyroid gives a snap shot current result - HBA1c measures the sugar attached to the haemoglobin, so it should give an average reading from past few months. An average is said to be more useful than a random reading. If your haemoglobin is very abnormal, then the result can be skewed.

* HbA1c below 41 mmol/mol (6.0%): Non-diabetic

* HbA1c between 42 and 47 mmol/mol (6.0–6.4%): Impaired glucose regulation      (IGR) or Prediabetes

* HbA1c of 48 mmol/mol (6.5%) or over: Type 2 diabetes

When I had my first high HBA1c my thyroid levels were quite low so I wrongly associated the low thyroid result with high glucose, when it is generally the other way around. In the months leading up to the test my FT4 & FT4 had been much higher.

A simplified way of explaining it it is the higher your FT4 & FT3 the more glucose is processed and therefore glucose often goes up.

A few years ago was attending a hospital appointment about my hyper and the specialist said my blood sugar was a serious problem, when was I diagnosed diabetic? I was a little shocked as I hadn’t been.

I had eye issues and numb toes which GP put down to thyroid and sent me on my way to discuss with specialist. The specialist said it was all diabetes related & see GP to get medication, referral to a diet trial.

The GP said that was rubbish, my result HbA1c of 51 was mild and not possibly causing any symptoms. I was sent off with the advice to “reduce carbs” & retest in a few months. Said I shouldn’t need medication if I control diet, dr had never heard of diet scheme, but gave me a referral to slimming world because he could find how to do one to weight watchers….

This was just before lockdown so wasn’t ever able to use referral. I used an app to track diet. I stuck to 1200 calories & 80g of car per day.

I did lose weight & within 6 months my HBA1c went down to 35, the follow year it was 30.

Past year my thyroid levels have risen, along with HBA1C, blood pressure & weight. I tend to gain weight with higher thyroid levels. I ended up arguing to increase my antithyroid as not feeling well especially with increase of migraines, with very top of range for FT3.

[Fruitandnutcase]

Just noticed your post I sympathise with you. I’ve pretty much got to avoid carbs in the form of bread, cake, biscuits (which I tend not to eat anyway) but I do love bread and butter and potatoes.

I get my carbs from green vegetables and ‘good’ sources I found this site useful diabetes.co.uk and also diabetes.co.uk where you can get information free before you have to pay - I never paid. I’m sure it was on diet doctor that I learned about vegetables that grow above ground having fewer carbs than veggies that grow below ground - they store sugar.

I also bought an amazing book by Dr David Cavan about how to reverse your T2 basically by cutting back carbs which lowers your HbA1c .