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Posted 12/31/2013 7:56 PM (GMT 0)
Diabetes runs in my family. Maternal Gramma.
I just had and a1c and fasting glucose.
Doctor told me I was high on the a1c and to watch my diet because I am in danger of being diabetic.
A1C was 5.7 and Fasting glucose was 94
I am slightly anemic.
From what I read, anemia can affect the a1c.
Am I really at high risk for diabetes?
I checked myself with a cheap drugstore glucose test immediately after eating and got a reading of 166 and then 168.
Kind of freaked out since I do not want issues that my grandmother had.
Not sure if she was type I or II
idea
Posted 12/31/2013 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
Ceece, if your family has a history of diabetes you do have an increased risk, however many people can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes with three simple steps:

1. Monitor your blood sugar. Check it when you get up in the morning, before you eat or drink anything. Ideally this reading should be below 90. Then check again two hours after you eat a full meal (most people do this after their evening meal.) Your blood sugar will rise immediately after eating, but will be back close to normal in two hours after they eat. You don't have to do this every day, but a couple of times a week will give you a handle on where you are. Keep a record of your readings to show your doctor.

2. Eat a controlled carbohydrate diet, high in protein and whole grains, but low in sugars and white grains such as rice. Generally, if it's white and isn't cauliflower, limit your consumption. You can get more diet advice in the two locked threads at the top of this forum.

3. Exercise regularly and maintain an active lifestyle. Thirty minutes of exercise a day is the minimum, and it's good to mix cardio (things that get you out of breath and make your heart beat faster) with strength (using weights or other forms of resistance) activities. This is the one single thing that seems to affect my glucose level more than anything else.

Welcome to HealingWell, and do continue to come to us with your questions and concerns. We have a lot of very informed people on this forum.
Posted 12/31/2013 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome, ceece. Take what Judy wrote to heart and do read the stickies at the top of our diabetes forum.

It's true that being anemic can skew a test like the A1c. Depending on what you eat, if you take your blood sugar immediately after eating, it will be elevated. The more carbohydrates you eat, the higher it will probably be especially if you are insulin resistant, which many pre-diabetics and diabetics are. (This means your body has a harder time metabolizing carbs compared to a non-diabetic.)

Having diabetes in the family means you do need to be careful of your blood sugar. Also, being overweight and not active may result in higher than normal blood sugar - so, the best way to control blood sugar is to lose weight, cut down on carbs and get active on a regular basis.

Keep a journal or log of your blood sugar with the time, reading and what you eat and what activities you're doing.

Please ask any questions you might have!

And have a nice New Year's!
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