Q: About 12 years ago I was diagnosed with prediabetes since my HbA1c was 6.8. I started measuring my blood sugar and also changed my diet: no more sweets, beer or wine.
My wife asked me to measure her blood glucose because she was always thirsty. It was 260, and her HbA1c was 13.6!
With such severe diabetes, she needed action. We went on a rigorous diet with no bread, rice, potatoes, macaroni, fruit juice or ice cream (grrrrrrr). Instead we focused on vegetables, fruit and some meat. We both lost weight. Needless to say, that didn’t happen overnight.
We measure our blood sugar to determine what’s good and what’s not. For example, sweet potato was OK for her but not for me. Normal potato was OK for me but not for her.
We also figured out that eating food with high-fructose corn syrup is like eating poison for both of us. It takes three days until blood-sugar levels go back down to the usual level.
After six months, her A1C was under 7 and mine was 6.4. Today hers is 6.3 to 6.4, mine is 6 to 6.3.
A: You are living examples of how following a sensible diet and losing weight can help regulate blood sugar. Some experts concur that high fructose intake can make diabetes harder to control (Mayo Clinic Proceedings, March 2015).
– Article by Joe and Teresa Graedon
– Copyright The Seattle Times