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Concerned with blood sugar and other test results
Working in Uk came with to India for vacation on heavy non veg foods travel and stress , got a medical check done - fasting sugar at 101 , post food sugar at 198 ,hb1ac -6.1%, high Utica acid ( 9.2) and high triglycerides- 248 , is there any correlation ?( all other tests came fine ) , do I need to be concerned on the sugar levels and is there anything I can do to control it before it gets worse ? ( have been drinking quite a lot over past 2 weeks before I came to India ( daily atleast 3-4 beers - does this impact ? )
Hello~Yes, you do need to be aware of your fasting blood sugar readings, it isn't diabetes yet, but it is in the "pre-diabetic" range, sugar levels can fluctuate however, even in the morning, sometimes due to stress, or even waiting too long to take the first reading. The ideal time to take the fasting is less than 12 hours after you last meal at night, otherwise, you body starts to think it is being starved and can start to release more sugar in order to compensate. I noticed that your A1C level is 6.1, I am that as well, again, it isn't bad....yet, but needs to be watched, it means that during the last three months, you blood sugar averaged around 120 to 130.
Your high triglycerides could be a sign of starting "Metabolic Syndrome" Here is some info on that:
Metabolic syndrome is a group of health problems which are often found together in people who are obese. The combined effect of these can lead to serious health conditions, like diabetes, stroke or heart disease.
Metabolic syndrome includes:
•obesity – particularly increased fat around the belly
•high blood pressure
•high fasting glucose levels in the blood
•high fat levels in the blood (triglycerides)
•low levels of good cholesterol in the blood (HDL).
If you have metabolic syndrome or any of the warning signs of metabolic syndrome, it's highly likely you need to make some major lifestyle changes. Making these changes can delay or prevent the development of more-serious disease.
What causes metabolic syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome is often caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. People who eat too much food or consume a lot of sweetened beverages are most at risk of developing metabolic syndrome. A lack of exercise can also be a factor.
The word metabolism refers to how we process food to make energy. When we consume too much energy (food) our metabolism doesn't work as well as it should, causing problems such as insulin resistance – the main cause of type 2 diabetes.
Other causes include abnormal sleep patterns, increased stress, genetics and ageing.
Warning signs
Having 3 or more of the following factors means you have metabolic syndrome; you are at risk of developing metabolic syndrome if you have 1 or 2 of them:
•A large waist: roughly speaking, if you are a woman and you measure more than 90cm around the middle or a man who is more than 100cm, chances are you are obese and at increased risk of metabolic syndrome.
•High blood pressure: A blood pressure reading between 120/80mmHg and 140/90mmHg could mean you're at risk of developing high blood pressure. High blood pressure is considered to be 140/90 mmHg or higher.
•High blood sugar: if a fasting blood-glucose test shows results of 120 to 125 you may have prediabetes. Higher than this is a sign of diabetes.
•A triglyceride level higher than 150mg/dl. This increases your risk of heart disease.
•Reduced levels of good cholesterol (HDL): less than 50mg/dL for women or 40mg/ dL for men.
Risk factors
You are more likely to get metabolic syndrome if:
•You are over 60. The risk of metabolic syndrome increases with age – 40% of over 60s have it. However, it can also affect children, with some research showing 1 in 8 school children have 3 or more components of metabolic syndrome.
•You’re Maori or Polynesian – metabolic syndrome is more common among these ethnic groups.
•There’s a family history of conditions such as diabetes.
•You carry excess weight around your middle.
•You have a hormonal imbalance that causes conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome.
•You don't lead an active lifestyle.
•You had gestational diabetes while you were pregnant.
How is metabolic syndrome treated?
Because metabolic syndrome is a group of health problems, treatment will depend on which symptoms you have developed. You may be given medication to treat problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol.
If you have been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, or have any of its warning signs, losing weight is the most important thing you can do. This can usually be achieved by making healthy lifestyle changes, such as eating less and exercising more. See our healthy living section for tips on healthy eating and exercise and more great advice to help get you started. Learning how to manage stress will make it easier to stick with a healthy lifestyle plan.
How can I reduce my risk?
Whether you have any of the warning signs of metabolic syndrome or not, the following 8 tips will reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke:
1.Commit to a healthy diet. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Choose lean cuts of white meat or fish over red meat. Avoid processed or deep-fried foods. Eliminate table salt and experiment with other herbs and spices.
2.Lose weight. Losing just 5-10% of your body weight if you are overweight or obese can help reduce blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol.
3.Exercise more. Get plenty of regular, moderately strenuous physical activity. This can improve blood pressure and help control cholesterol. Walking briskly for around 30 minutes a day is a good start.
4.Quit smoking. Smoking cigarettes increases insulin resistance and worsens the health consequences of metabolic syndrome. Get the help you need to kick this hazardous habit.
5.Eat high-fibre foods such as whole grains, beans and vegetables. These help lower your insulin levels.
6.Eat less sugar. Foods and drinks high in sugar mess with your metabolism and cause your insulin levels to rise.
7.Eat less fat. Take it easy on foods containing saturated fats, trans fats (found in fried food, biscuits and other sweets), cholesterol and salt.
8.Have regular check-ups. See your doctor regularly to have blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels checked. Make any lifestyle changes needed if your results show signs of trouble.
I hope some of this helps. Bottom line, watch your diet and get more exercise and loose weight if necessary.
Your high triglycerides could be a sign of starting "Metabolic Syndrome" Here is some info on that:
Metabolic syndrome is a group of health problems which are often found together in people who are obese. The combined effect of these can lead to serious health conditions, like diabetes, stroke or heart disease.
Metabolic syndrome includes:
•obesity – particularly increased fat around the belly
•high blood pressure
•high fasting glucose levels in the blood
•high fat levels in the blood (triglycerides)
•low levels of good cholesterol in the blood (HDL).
If you have metabolic syndrome or any of the warning signs of metabolic syndrome, it's highly likely you need to make some major lifestyle changes. Making these changes can delay or prevent the development of more-serious disease.
What causes metabolic syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome is often caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. People who eat too much food or consume a lot of sweetened beverages are most at risk of developing metabolic syndrome. A lack of exercise can also be a factor.
The word metabolism refers to how we process food to make energy. When we consume too much energy (food) our metabolism doesn't work as well as it should, causing problems such as insulin resistance – the main cause of type 2 diabetes.
Other causes include abnormal sleep patterns, increased stress, genetics and ageing.
Warning signs
Having 3 or more of the following factors means you have metabolic syndrome; you are at risk of developing metabolic syndrome if you have 1 or 2 of them:
•A large waist: roughly speaking, if you are a woman and you measure more than 90cm around the middle or a man who is more than 100cm, chances are you are obese and at increased risk of metabolic syndrome.
•High blood pressure: A blood pressure reading between 120/80mmHg and 140/90mmHg could mean you're at risk of developing high blood pressure. High blood pressure is considered to be 140/90 mmHg or higher.
•High blood sugar: if a fasting blood-glucose test shows results of 120 to 125 you may have prediabetes. Higher than this is a sign of diabetes.
•A triglyceride level higher than 150mg/dl. This increases your risk of heart disease.
•Reduced levels of good cholesterol (HDL): less than 50mg/dL for women or 40mg/ dL for men.
Risk factors
You are more likely to get metabolic syndrome if:
•You are over 60. The risk of metabolic syndrome increases with age – 40% of over 60s have it. However, it can also affect children, with some research showing 1 in 8 school children have 3 or more components of metabolic syndrome.
•You’re Maori or Polynesian – metabolic syndrome is more common among these ethnic groups.
•There’s a family history of conditions such as diabetes.
•You carry excess weight around your middle.
•You have a hormonal imbalance that causes conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome.
•You don't lead an active lifestyle.
•You had gestational diabetes while you were pregnant.
How is metabolic syndrome treated?
Because metabolic syndrome is a group of health problems, treatment will depend on which symptoms you have developed. You may be given medication to treat problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol.
If you have been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, or have any of its warning signs, losing weight is the most important thing you can do. This can usually be achieved by making healthy lifestyle changes, such as eating less and exercising more. See our healthy living section for tips on healthy eating and exercise and more great advice to help get you started. Learning how to manage stress will make it easier to stick with a healthy lifestyle plan.
How can I reduce my risk?
Whether you have any of the warning signs of metabolic syndrome or not, the following 8 tips will reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke:
1.Commit to a healthy diet. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Choose lean cuts of white meat or fish over red meat. Avoid processed or deep-fried foods. Eliminate table salt and experiment with other herbs and spices.
2.Lose weight. Losing just 5-10% of your body weight if you are overweight or obese can help reduce blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol.
3.Exercise more. Get plenty of regular, moderately strenuous physical activity. This can improve blood pressure and help control cholesterol. Walking briskly for around 30 minutes a day is a good start.
4.Quit smoking. Smoking cigarettes increases insulin resistance and worsens the health consequences of metabolic syndrome. Get the help you need to kick this hazardous habit.
5.Eat high-fibre foods such as whole grains, beans and vegetables. These help lower your insulin levels.
6.Eat less sugar. Foods and drinks high in sugar mess with your metabolism and cause your insulin levels to rise.
7.Eat less fat. Take it easy on foods containing saturated fats, trans fats (found in fried food, biscuits and other sweets), cholesterol and salt.
8.Have regular check-ups. See your doctor regularly to have blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels checked. Make any lifestyle changes needed if your results show signs of trouble.
I hope some of this helps. Bottom line, watch your diet and get more exercise and loose weight if necessary.
1 Comments
That’s makes complete sense tks a lot of for the clear and precise explanation I will follow what is suggested
Hi, and sorry you have a moderately high blood sugar, and triglycerides. These things can definitely be controlled by diet and exercise (provided the blood sugar problem is not genetic. Drinking alcohol and not exercising will raise your triglycerides. Also eating junk food and a lot of sugary foods can raise your blood sugar too. You sound like you are normally vegetarian? or eat better? Are your blood sugar values and triglycerides usually normal? If so get back on your normal diet. I am vegan and low fat but supplement with DHA (algae) not fish and also with ground flax seed. I also just read that eating 4 brazil nuts was done in a study and it lowered cholesterol and bad fat for a whole month. There are no long term studies of this yet but once a month eating 4 brazil nuts can't hurt unless you are allergic to them. Eat lots of whole grains, veggies and you will protein from beans, legumes, tofu, edamame, various healthy options. If you don't want to diet do stop the alcohol and sugar. Then try to at least incorporate more veggies and whole grains into the diet. If still high after this there is a drug called Lopid (Gemfibrozil) it lowers triglycerides but not the sugar (of course) and doesn't lower cholesterol or LDL too much. You can't take it with a statin drug though. So just giving you some options. I do think once you get back on a normal diet you should turn this around some if you were not high before. It depends on if you are interested in a whole plant based diet. If you are check out www.dr.mcdougall.com and there are discussions diet, and questions you get answered about the diet. The book the Starch solution by Dr. McDougall is also good.
regards,
mkh9
regards,
mkh9
4 Comments
Tks for the feedback My sugar has always been under control the Uric acid has been high and known as I have been consuming a lot of alcohol , yes I eat a good amount of veg but also a lot of non veg - trying to limit the same , can u explain more about the Brazil nuts and where can I get them ?
Brazil nuts may not get your triglycerides down. So not drinking alcohol and exercise will help. The brazil nut study was a single study so you can try it but it probably isn't s cure all. Brazil nuts can be purchased on Amazon.com and come in cans too. I wouldn't eat more than 4 and only once a month. They contain a high amount of selenium so not for every day use.
mkh9
mkh9
Also, since the Brazil nut study was a small one and not a controlled study, it may or may not work.
good luck!
mkh9
good luck!
mkh9
Also, if you eat a lot of meat, especially pork, it can raise the uric acid, hard for the kidneys and maybe you can get gout. So cut back if you can.
mkh9
mkh9
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