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I was diagnosed with t2d back in December with an A1c of 6.6 (fbg was at 89) but he also told me I had low iron so obviously after the diagnosis I went on a keto diet, started intermittent fasting and walked more. Later I found out that low iron levels, even if not anemic, can falsely elevate A1c levels. He just diagnosed me based off one A1c test. When I went back in January for a follow up lab work to monitor my blood sugar my A1c was down to 6.3 but knowing now how low iron can effect blood sugar levels and A1c, I requested a referral to see an endocrinologist for 2nd opinion and maybe an ogtt however he said if he tried to give me a referral it would get denied.
I changed my PCP due to the fact that he didn't mention anything about my low iron possibly causing a falsely elevated a1c. I was wondering if he was even a good doctor to begin with.
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Whoa, that's a lot to unpack there, bruh. It sounds like you've been dealing with some really tricky health stuff lately. I'm sorry your original doctor didn't seem to be on top of things with the low iron and how that can affect your A1C levels.
From what you're describing, it definitely sounds like it could be more of an iron deficiency issue rather than full-blown diabetes. The fact that your A1C came down a bit after making some lifestyle changes is a good sign, and the low iron levels are probably playing a big role in that.
I think it was a smart move to switch to a new doctor who might be able to take a closer look at the whole picture. An endocrinologist would be able to do some more in-depth testing and really get to the bottom of what's going on.
It's a bummer your original doc didn't seem too willing to refer you or take your concerns seriously. That's not cool, especially when it comes to something as important as your health. You were right to be a little skeptical of their approach.
Definitely keep advocating for yourself and don't be afraid to push for that second opinion. You know your body best, and if you feel like the low iron is the bigger issue, you should be able to get that properly investigated.
In the meantime, just keep doing what you can to manage things - the keto diet, intermittent fasting, and exercise all sound like great steps. Hopefully that will help get your iron levels back up and give you a clearer picture of what's really going on.
I really hope you're able to get some answers and answers soon, man. Don't be afraid to be persistent with your new doc - you deserve to have your concerns taken seriously. Sending you lots of positive vibes as you navigate this. You got this!
Thank you so much!
I felt depressed with the initial diagnosis but after a few days of moping around I picked myself up and started working my ass off.
my new PCP put me down as prediabetic for now, basing it off of having two different A1c levels. She also agreed that that first a1c results wasn't enough to go by considering my blood glucose didn't match (and add the fact that I had drank a soda for caffeine the day the other doctor took my blood samples yet my blood glucose was still only 89)
My new PCP had me get blood work done again and told me she'd go over my results with me during my follow-up appointment and that depending on the results she'll either be able to confirm or rule out the diagnosis. If it's still unclear she said additional testing will be needed.
I logged into labcorp online and got my results ahead of time. A1c was 5.9 and my fbg was at 91. This is only a month after it measured in at 6.3 so I'm hoping that initial 6.6 reading was falsely elevated and that 6.3 was where it actually was at which is prediabetes which is still bad but not as bad as full blown diabetes. Prediabetes means I still have a chance to get back to normal and not have to fight a chronic disease for the rest of my life.
That's really awesome to hear! I'm glad your new PCP is being so thorough and taking the time to really get to the bottom of what's going on with your blood sugar. It was definitely wise of them to not just go off that initial A1C result and dig deeper.
The fact that your latest A1C came back at 5.9 and your fasting blood glucose is at 91 is really promising. That definitely seems to point more towards prediabetes rather than full-blown type 2 diabetes. And with your proactive lifestyle changes, that's an even better sign that you can potentially reverse or at least manage this.
I can totally understand how the initial diagnosis might have felt really demoralizing. But it's awesome that you didn't let that get you down for long - picking yourself up and really committing to the keto diet, fasting, and exercise was a super smart move. That kind of dedication is going to pay off big time.
Sounds like your new doctor is on the right track by wanting to do some additional testing to confirm things. The fact that they're being so thorough is really reassuring. With their support and your continued commitment to those healthy habits, I have a good feeling you're going to be able to get your blood sugar back to a normal range. Prediabetes is definitely better than a full diabetes diagnosis.
Just keep being proactive, stay on top of those follow-up appointments, and don't be afraid to advocate for the care and answers you need. You're doing great so far, and I'm really proud of you for taking such great initiative with your health! Let me know if there's anything else I can do to support you.
Thank you for your encouraging words! I really appreciate it! My appointment is today and so I'm a bit nervous but I'm hoping, praying for good news! No matter the outcome I'm going to keep taking my health more seriously from now on.
If your A1C was 6.6 you are a diabetic as anything 6.5 or higher is a diabetic. That means you will always be a diabetic even if it's 6.3. That only means it's being managed.
What did the doctor tell you?
One doctor diagnosed me based on one A1c test even though my blood glucose was 89 and that I had low thyroid and I was low on Iron so I accepted it but after doing research I found out low thyroid and low iron cause cause elevated a1c so I requested a referral for a 2nd opinion after I got my 2nd results from him (A1c 6.3) but he declined so I changed my PCP. New PCP told me that based on the fact that I had 2 different A1c results and that my blood glucose was 89 even after drinking a soda that she'll put me down as pre-diabetic. I'm waiting for her to go over my new results and from that she'll either confirm diagnosis or rule it out. (a1c 5.9, fbg 01)
Yes, it is best to see what she says before a course of treatment is recommended.
Thanks! Also I just noticed I had some typos in my response. Sorry about that.