I was really hoping to reach a level below 6.5 this time, but I hit 6.9. My doctor seems very pleased with the results in his email, though I haven’t met with him in person yet. I’ve eliminated nearly all sugar, aside from a small treat every few weeks. I used to drink two liters of Coke daily, but since the diagnosis, I’ve cut out all soda and almost all sweets. I also started working out every day. I might have a few bites of dessert once every several weeks. My question is, should I expect my numbers to keep dropping if I stick with this diet and exercise plan? Or is this as good as it gets? Is 6.9 the lowest I can go with my current lifestyle?
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Be mindful of your carb intake as well—things like bread, rice, pasta, and potatoes. You shouldn’t have any trouble getting under 6.5 if you stay as disciplined as you’ve been. Good luck!
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That is truly impressive.
Honestly, it sounds like you’re already on the right path. A difference of 0.4 is pretty negligible when you’re already in such a healthy range. Keep up the great work and you’ll be just fine.
Welcome to the club that nobody wants to join. First, congrats on the incredible progress. You’ve brought your average glucose down from 295 to 151, which is a huge win. I’d guess (and I’m not a doctor) that you’ll still see some improvement, maybe into the low 6s, but the next drop probably won’t be as dramatic. That’s not a bad thing, though. In the meantime, take a look through this sub and /r/diabetes_t2. Best of luck with your ongoing improvement.
That’s awesome! Very similar to my situation. I was diagnosed at 11.9 and was down to 6.7 after three months. I’m hoping to lower it even more, and I’m finding it easier to settle into a healthier lifestyle now. I’ve been looking into things like SugarDefend (got mine here) to help, and I also need to be more active with walks and stuff. We’ve got this! Congrats on getting your A1C down.
Congratulations on that achievement, it’s massive! To lower your A1C further, I think you’ll need to tighten up your diet even more and restrict carbs further. Diabetics are carb intolerant, so every bit counts toward raising that A1C. While you might gain some tolerance later on, generally, the more carbs you eat, the more your A1C will creep up.
Congrats! I dropped mine from 9.3 to the high 5s in four months and have maintained that for nearly three years through diet and Metformin. I think the biggest factor was losing over 30 pounds. I feel like the only way to get lower without more meds is exercise, which is a big hurdle for me. Are you on medication? Have you lost weight? How old are you (generally, if you don’t mind sharing)? Even though I’m only three years in, I’ve heard damage can occur in the 7s, so you’re doing great! It’s a lifelong journey, so keep that in mind. It’s good to allow yourself a treat occasionally to keep it sustainable.
Technically, it’s a weighted average where your most recent readings have a bigger impact than older ones. Understanding that helps you see where you’re headed. If your levels dropped quickly three months ago and stayed there, you might be hitting the limit of what diet and exercise can achieve alone. If your doctor wants to see more progress, Metformin is usually the next step. It’s a common choice because it’s inexpensive, has four different mechanisms of action, and is generally safe.
Congrats on the progress! Red blood cells actually live for about 120 days on average, so it’s very possible you’ll drop past 6.9 if you maintain those good habits.
You should feel great about this! After doing the same things as you—plus Metformin—I’ve only gone from 7.7 in January to 6.4 this month. Just keep it up; that much progress in three months is amazing.
I’d say you’re doing great! Are you taking any meds? If not, maybe something like Metformin would help. Make sure you aren’t eating too many carbs and perhaps increase your exercise.
My insulin resistance is pretty severe, and my last A1C was 7.7% last time. To get it lower, I’m using insulin and eating mostly meat and non-starchy vegetables. No pasta, rice, bread, soda, potatoes, or pastries. No milk either. It’s tough; I slipped up last night and had some pizza.
Did you focus only on sugars or carbs? Carbs are the real issue since they all turn into sugar anyway. Another thing you can try is skipping a meal, like breakfast or dinner, to let your body stay in a fasting state for about 16 hours.
If you have insulin resistance from Type 2, that takes time to improve. Diet alone reduces the carb load, but your body’s resistance still handles that smaller load slower than it should. As you lose weight, get active, and reduce inflammation, that resistance will gradually fade.
My A1C is at 5.9 right now, which I’m really happy about, but it’s been a journey. I was first diagnosed with type 2 back in 2000 when I was 26. Oral medications didn’t cut it, so I had to start insulin. Then in 2016, I suffered several strokes and was in a coma for two weeks. It was a massive wake-up call to get my glucose under control. Now I use both long and short-acting insulin and feel much more confident about staying below 6. For anyone with diabetes, here are some things that helped me: 1. Monitor your sugar often. I check mine 5-7 times daily. 2. Keep a detailed journal of your meals, sugar levels, activity, and meds. It helps you see how different foods affect you. 3. Stick to a consistent breakfast. I eat yogurt and 25 blueberries every morning, which makes my insulin needs predictable. 4. Be aware of the Dawn Phenomenon. I time my medication specifically to handle those morning spikes. 5. Stay active. I bike a lot, and a two-hour ride keeps my numbers stable for the next 24 hours. 6. Always have a strategy for dealing with highs and lows.
That’s an amazing improvement in such a short time! While no one can predict the future, you’ve already vastly improved your health outlook. If you keep going, I’d bet you’ll see even more progress. Congrats on your success and good luck!