Long time lurker first post. I have scoured to my hearts content but have found no answer. So here goes. I am wondering if a high Hba1c will keep you from reaching ketosis. Been breathing into my cheepo breathalyzer and all 0.0’s. So if you remember what was your Hba1c when you found your nirvana.
Hba1c and ketosis
Darcy
#2
One of my questions has been how I could have high blood glucose yet still be in ketosis. Some people suggested maybe it was actually ketoacidosis but I think I have safely ruled that out. So from my personal experience, elevated HbA1C or blood glucose levels do not necessarily mean you can’t be in ketosis. I use the NovaMax blood test meter, and I have measured between .6 (when I tried Metformin) all the way up to 4 (early on in keto). Lately it’s been 1-2.
edit: Oops, I should have mentioned my A1C at my last test (a month ago) was 8.9.
jon_h
(Jon H.)
#3
Ok Darcy thanks for you responce. I will continue to tweak this WOE and see if I can get there. I would imagine I am close as I dropped my a1c 2 full points in 2 months. The WOE is definitely helping.
jilliangordona
(jilliangordona)
#5
I bought one of those breathalyzers and have never ever gotten a reading on it personally. I’ve been keto for months and recently had blood work done which showed a healthy a1c
jon_h
(Jon H.)
#6
How very interesting. I was hoping the breathalizer would work as I am to cheap to spend the money on the test strips. Doc wouldn’t wright a script for them as I am t2. Thanks for the feedback and encouragement.
Cheryl311
(Cheryl Hall)
#7
Make sure your batteries are good - mine is a Greenwon and it works great. @Jimbo on a different thread said he finally figured out why he wasn’t getting readings - he needed to change the batteries. Just a thought.
Berengal
(Sjur Gjøstein Karevoll)
#9
Ketosis isn’t a function of low blood glucose, but of gluconeogenesis, which in turn is a function of low insulin. It’s therefore possible to be in ketosis while your blood sugar is high as long as your insulin is low at the same time. This is how t1 diabetics get ketoacidosis: They produce glucose and ketones (which by the way are both insulinogenic) but they are incapable of regulating the process through insulin and it becomes a runaway process.
If you are a t2 diabetic or pre-diabetic is possible a chronically high insulin level will keep you out of ketosis. However, if you are going keto to manage or reverse diabetes, ketosis isn’t a necessary part of the diet, just a side effect.
jon_h
(Jon H.)
#10
Thank you Berengal for the nicely timed response. This is the exact information I was searching for. As to if I ever reach ketosis I am not overly concerned. I have had what I would consider a big success up till this point. I was just searching for some other tangible positive feedback on my progress down this long road. As long as I keep having positive results I will motor on till a stall and then start to modify. I guess the message here still is the same as I have read here multiple times, do the Marcos till they need adjusting. Thanks everyone for the help.
justme
(Linda Culbreth)
#11
I have done keto eating since January, 2017. However, until I started extended fasting and IF, I did not register any ketones. Now, I do.I was raising insulin levels vai too much snacking and eating too many nuts and seeds.
Jason_v
#12
GNG is not a function of “low insulin”. insulin is a function of blood glucose concentration. HBa1c has nothing to do with your ketone level, its a measure of how high your avergae blood glucose has been over the last 3 months.
ketones are a function of fat oxidation, and to a lesser extent the process of GNG in the absence of carbohydrates
jon_h
(Jon H.)
#13
@justme I to am prone to snacking so those items have not been replenished as they have been used up. I have been keto for 7 weeks now and like most of America I want it now. So here I sit being grasshopper. @Jason_v I had and idea that a1c was not related was just wondering. I had not seen any info on it and yall seem like a bright bunch so I brought it here. now to read a bit on insulinogenic I have not seen that word used yet. keep it coming folks this is how we of the inexperienced learn. hopefully I am not the only one learning from all this anyhow. Again thanks for the feedback everyone.
jon_h
(Jon H.)
#15
@jilliangordona yep had my daughter swap them out because she is prediabetic and started this WOE with me and she registered .03. thanks again for the tip.
justme
(Linda Culbreth)
#16
Jon, have you listened to any of Dr Jason Fung’s videos? Here’s a link that has 6 on it - each more or less an hour long. Number V goes into diabetes and of course, insulin.
https://intensivedietarymanagement.com/category/lectures/the-aetiology-of-obesity-lecture-series/
All are worth the time to gain more understanding and knowledge.