New A1C reading!

[Marvin]

Background: I was diagnosed in late July 2009 with an A1C of 7.6%. My blood pressure was around 160/100. I have been on 1000 mg of Metformin daily. More importantly I have been eating an Atkins/Bernstein-inspired low carb diet. Within the last two weeks I have added 4-5 days of exercise, walking 30-35 minutes each time.

Today I went to the doctor, and had a check. I am down 62 lbs per his scale, my blood pressure is down to 125/78, and my new A1C is 5.4%! Of course the doctor and his diabetic-nurse-supervisor were ecstatic and said that it is a "normal" reading up to 5.7.

I am very happy with the reading, and feel like I've come a long way since my diagnosis. I also know, that this is not a sprint, but is a marathon, and I need to continue to eat right and exercise. I need to take off another 100 lbs too (approximately).

I write all this especially for the lurkers, and those members who read this who haven't bought into low carb as a way to control their diabetes. My doctor said without hesitation, "this improvement in your blood sugars is mostly related to your diet and weight loss than it is anything else."

For those who have questions about the way of eating (WOE) or would like to know more, there are lots of folks on this forum that will be happy to help. We've all been there. And yes, it's hard sometimes. This is at least the 5th time I've started a low carb program, but it will be the last. This is because this time I'm eating low carb to control my blood glucose, and the weight loss is a secondary benefit.

Now granted--at 7.6, I was not the worst diabetic anyone has seen. But--if I can do it--anybody can. And there are lots of people on this board are here to support you.

<climbs off soapbox now, as it's time to go for a walk>

[hpjrt]

Congratulations Marvin! Way to go!

[saponaria]

Woohoo! Way to go, Marvin. That is awesome! And I am so jealous about the great BP. I really hope I can do that one day without meds. I think you are so right about the motivation behind the diet. I had a very hard time sticking to a diet as much as I wanted to be thin and wear fun clothes. But this is my life on the line here and that is wayyy more motivating!

[Marvin]

Originally Posted by saponaria

Woohoo! Way to go, Marvin. That is awesome! And I am so jealous about the great BP. I really hope I can do that one day without meds. I think you are so right about the motivation behind the diet. I had a very hard time sticking to a diet as much as I wanted to be thin and wear fun clothes. But this is my life on the line here and that is wayyy more motivating!

Thanks...I neglected to mention that I am on BP meds--Avapro & Tekturna--just getting those readings back in line again with meds. Hopefully with more weight lost, and more exercise, I can drop at least one of those.

[Merski]

Good job! and get on that soapbox anytime. We are listening!

[chiody]

Marvin,

1st of all, congrats on the great results LCing and achieving fantastic diabetic markers. With those excellent HbA1C levels and the Metformin therapy, just wondering, have you experienced any hypo's? And if so, their frequency may point towards a reduction in dosage?

Those new near daily walking sessions are going to really help to keep and develop new muscle mass, increase metabolic rate, and melt away the lbs.....keep it up!!!!!!

[Marvin]

Originally Posted by chiody

Marvin,

1st of all, congrats on the great results LCing and achieving fantastic diabetic markers. With those excellent HbA1C levels and the Metformin therapy, just wondering, have you experienced any hypo's? And if so, their frequency may point towards a reduction in dosage?

Those new near daily walking sessions are going to really help to keep and develop new muscle mass, increase metabolic rate, and melt away the lbs.....keep it up!!!!!!

Chiody,
I have not even been close to any hypo's. My lowest reading to date is an 83. I have been very moderate in my readings, I and I totally attribute that to the LC. My dr. did reduce my Metformin dosage to 500 mg/day as of yesterday, but I am going to take it through the end of the week since I have my med box all set up for the week already.

I forgot to mention, I do take a cinnamon w/chromium supplement too...I can't really account for what it might help, but I will test it out someday when my readings are consistently lower.

[LC_Monkee]

Great work, Marvin.

[Griffen]

Congratulations, Marvin. I'm hoping for similar news when I hear from my doctor about my bloodwork (done last Thursday).

[Marvin]

Originally Posted by Griffen

Congratulations, Marvin. I'm hoping for similar news when I hear from my doctor about my bloodwork (done last Thursday).

Thanks Griffen.

Based on the readings you've been posting, I think you'll be in the same ballpark.

Now I'm working on the sub-5 A1C....

[trans4mation2005]

I agree Marvin, and congrats.. I have been doing Atkins loosely( with cheats) for the past 6 months.. and still got my A1c down to 5.8.. so I started to take it seriously, and re-inducted 11 days ago.. no cheats

low carb is definitely the way to go if you are diabetic..I think the good bloodwork and how ya feel is better than losing all the weight.

KUTGW!!

[Shayde]

Excellent Marvin...very inspiring!

[shunsweets]

Good work Marvin! You must feel so proud of yourself and inspired. Thank you for sharing your story and the additional proof that Low carb is the way to go for diabetics.

[K31Scout]

Congratulations Marvin, that is dedication and will power at work.

I read about the chromium supplement in Atkins New Diet Revolution but not about cinnamon. Whats that do?

[Marvin]

Cinnamon appears to have some positive effect on blood sugar, though I'm not completely positive about the effects. At the very least, it can do no harm, from what I can tell.

[chiody]

Cinnamon: Should It Be Taken as a Diabetes Medication?
John R. White
Dec 25, 2008

The Chinese mentioned cinnamon in their written work more than 4,000 years ago. The ancient Egyptians used cinnamon in their embalming process, and the Roman writer/philosopher Pliny the Elder wrote in the first century AD that cinnamon was worth 15 times more than silver of the same weight.

In Medieval times, physicians used cinnamon for such ailments as sore throats. Later, Portugal, Holland, France and England vied for ownership of the island of Ceylon (Sri Lanka), where the world’s cinnamon was grown. But those rivalries ended in the early 1800s when the cinnamon monopoly dissolved after it was discovered that the spice could be grown in many other areas.

In the West today when most people think of cinnamon they immediately think about that most unhealthy, but delicious, pastry, the cinnamon roll. However, in the past few years cinnamon has been making a comeback in its old “roll” as a medication. Is cinnamon a substance with medicinal properties germane to the treatment of hyperglycemia? If so, is it safe? If it is safe and effective, how and when should it be taken? These aforementioned questions are worth answering.

Cinnamon and Glucose

Several mechanisms by which cinnamon might lower glucose have been proposed. Cinnamon may have an insulin-like effect, causing glucose to be stored in the form of glycogen. In one study of rats, cinnamon reportedly caused an increase in a compound IRS-1, which is responsible for increasing glucose uptake in muscle tissue. Cinnamon has also been reported to cause an increase in the transporter mechanisms (GLUT-4) that take glucose out of the blood stream and into tissue. Cinnamon has also been cited as having a number of other properties that might contribute to any hypoglycemic effect that it might have.

Cinnamon and Diabetes

The most often-cited study on the effects of cinnamon and diabetes was published in the journal Diabetes Care in 2003 by Khan and colleagues. This study evaluated 60 people with type 2 diabetes around the age of 50. They were divided into six groups of 10 patients each. Groups 1 through 3 were treated with 1, 3, or 6 grams of cinnamon daily, respectively. Groups 4 through 6 received a placebo.

Treatment with cinnamon or placebo lasted for 40 days. Researchers analyzed both groups’ fasting glucose, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and total cholesterol. No changes in the placebo group were observed over the 40-day period. However, in the cinnamon groups reductions in fasting glucose (down18 percent to 29 percent), triglycerides (down 23 percent to 30 percent), LDL cholesterol (down 7 percent to 27 percent) and total cholesterol (down 12 percent to 26 percent) were reported. If this were the end of the story, and if high-dose, long-term cinnamon was known to be safe, then perhaps cinnamon therapy would be widely recommended. Unfortunately, the picture is not quite so clear.

German Study Doesn’t Repeat Results

Another study carried out in Germany evaluated 65 patients with type 2 diabetes. This study was similar to the one above except half of the patients received placebo while the other half all received 3 grams of cinnamon daily for four months. In this study no difference between the two groups was reported for LDL or HDL cholesterol, triglycerides or HgbA1c. Fasting glucose levels dropped about 7 percent more in the group receiving cinnamon.

In the spring of 2006, another study of cinnamon appeared in the Journal of Nutrition. This study evaluated 25 post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes who were treated with 1.5 grams of cinnamon daily for six weeks. Cinnamon was not associated with a significant change in insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance or cholesterol profile.

Another study was published this year in the journal Diabetes Care. This study compiled all of the published human data from controlled studies of cinnamon and analyzed it together (a meta-analysis). This study concluded that cinnamon did not appear to improve HgbA1c, fasting glucose or blood lipids in patients with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Should Cinnamon Be Recommended?

At this point the data regarding cinnamon’s efficacy in reducing glucose levels in patients with diabetes is inconsistent at best. Given the facts that hyperglycemia is a tissue toxic state and that safe and effective medications are available to reduce it, cinnamon should not be widely recommended at this time.

There are other concerns as well. Some forms of cinnamon contain a compound (coumarin) that can reduce the blood’s ability to clot. This has led authorities in Germany to seek reclassification of cinnamon supplements as regulated medication.

Cinnamon taken in supplemental doses should be avoided until more data is available and all safety concerns have been assuaged.

Sources:

Baker et al. Effect of Cinnamon on Glucose Control and Lipid Parameters. Diabetes Care. 2008;31:41-3
Khan A et al. Cinnamon Improves Glucose and Lipids in People with Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2003;26:3215-18
Vanschoonbeek K et al. Cinnamon Supplementation Does Not Improve Glycemic Control in Postmenopausal Type 2 Diabetes Patients. Journal of Nutrition. 2006;136:977-980

[K31Scout]

Thanks for the info chiody. My wife is also on Plavix (anti-clot) and aspirin so she probably should not use cinnamon.

[chiody]

As it is with studies, just another source to consider in making a decision...

Take care....

[BillB]

Congrats, Marvin...

We were diagnosed almost at the same time, seems like we've been doing a lot of the same things (along with Griffen)...I am sure hoping to see my A1c down as low as yours next time, but I was pretty damned happy with 5.8 in October. And we're still waiting to see how low Griffen has his when that next bloodwork rolls around...

Your Turkey Day menu sounded awesome. I am a little bit bad for today, BG higher than I'd like to say, but I will report the hideous details in my own confessional when I have all the BG data to "tell the story."

This board rocks.

--bill

[Griffen]

Just got mine - 5.4. And labeled "NON-DIABETIC" on the lab sheet.

Oh HELL yes, that's what I'm talkin' about.

[Marvin]

Originally Posted by Griffen

Just got mine - 5.4. And labeled "NON-DIABETIC" on the lab sheet.

Oh HELL yes, that's what I'm talkin' about.

Woohoo! You are awesome!

[chiody]

Originally Posted by Griffen

Just got mine - 5.4. And labeled "NON-DIABETIC" on the lab sheet.

Oh HELL yes, that's what I'm talkin' about.

What else can I say but .... a climatic conclusion to a well executed, plan, effort, and unending struggle to keep the complications of diabetes at bay!!

Griffen, those results are what dreams are made of....CONGRATS!!

[hpjrt]

Griffen: Congratulations! That's a terrific result! You are truly an inspiration.

Marvin: You too inspire me.

Now you two better keep posting here so that we can continue to strive for your numbers!

[Marvin]

Originally Posted by hpjrt

Griffen: Congratulations! That's a terrific result! You are truly an inspiration.

Marvin: You too inspire me.

Now you two better keep posting here so that we can continue to strive for your numbers!

Hprt,
Thanks for your kind words. Again, none of us want to rest on our laurels. Though the traditional medical community considers 5.4 as "normal", I just read in Bernstein's book today that for every 0.1 over 4.9, you increase your risk of premature death, or something like that.

So, Griffen and I both have lower numbers to strive for--BUT, the important thing for ALL of us, is not some arbitrary number that the medical community sets for us, but the fact that we are all taking action to reduce our number to the "safe zone", regardless of where we start and where we are right now. We must never be discouraged and never give up!

[shunsweets]

Griffen and Marvin - Congratulations on wonderful results. Keep up the good work. You are helping all of us with your sucess!