My blood glucose level was 129 on my last blood test after fasting overnight with a 6.3 hemoglobin A1C (whatever that means) The doctor tells me if it stays high, he will have to give me medication. I am also recently suffering from high cholesterol for which he is giving me zocor. I also have had high blood pressure over a year and take plendil and diovan to keep it in check. Seems like I fell apart after I turned 60. I do not want to take any more medication. Could anyone tell me how to lower the glucose level without taking another medication? Thanks.

Originally posted by Andrea:
My blood glucose level was 129 on my last blood test after fasting overnight with a 6.3 hemoglobin A1C (whatever that means) The doctor tells me if it stays high, he will have to give me medication. I am also recently suffering from high cholesterol for which he is giving me zocor. I also have had high blood pressure over a year and take plendil and diovan to keep it in check. Seems like I fell apart after I turned 60. I do not want to take any more medication. Could anyone tell me how to lower the glucose level without taking another medication? Thanks.

Your fasting blood glucose (sugar) test should have been 125 or lower with a preferred reading of 110 or lower. The A1C test gives the average blood sugar level over the past 2 to 3 months.

Your doctor may want you on medication because you have 3 risk factors for heart disease - High Cholesteorl, High Blood Pressure - and now apparent Type 2 Diabetes.

Other than medication, and most Type 2's, at least to start out with do not need to take insulin, can help lower there blood glucose readings by a regular exercise program cleared with their doctor and limiting the simple carbohydrates such as foods and beverages containing refined sugar and refined starches. In other words, sweets, pastry, pies, etc. If this doesn't bring your fasting and 2 hour readings down to within acceptable ranges, then medication will be needed. Most medication for diabetes does not have adverse side effects. The possibility for adverse side effects is much greater with medication for high blood pressure.

Ken
KGreen2097@aol.com

Originally posted by Andrea:
My blood glucose level was 129 on my last blood test after fasting overnight with a 6.3 hemoglobin A1C (whatever that means) The doctor tells me if it stays high, he will have to give me medication. I am also recently suffering from high cholesterol for which he is giving me zocor. I also have had high blood pressure over a year and take plendil and diovan to keep it in check. Seems like I fell apart after I turned 60. I do not want to take any more medication. Could anyone tell me how to lower the glucose level without taking another medication? Thanks.

Get a copy of "Dr. Bernsteins Diabetes Solution" and/or "The Protein Power Lifeplan". Both of these books advocate reducing the amount of carbohydrates, and in particular sugar and starches (white floor, corn, rice, etc.) to bring bloodsugar and cholesterol levels back under control. Alan S.

Listen to arkie6. The Protein Power LifePlan will help you with all the issues you mentioned. I just read it and my mother is reading it. She has high blood pressure and is about 80lbs overweight. She knows 2 people at work who have gone on a low-carb diet for their high cholesterol and it has helped them a lot! I am on it for my diabetes and my blood sugars are a lot lower due to it. I am reducing the amount of medication I am on because I stay away from carbohydrates and I hope to be able to quit taking it altogether.

Give it a try, and good luck!!

Hello Andrea, The advice you've received in these replies is very good. I would like to add that you should visit the following site: Http://www.mendosa.com and work your way thru to the Glycemic Index. It shows you foods and the relative speed in which they are assimilated into your blood stream. Oddly, you will find that white bread is equal to, and if not faster than, sucrose (table sugar). When the assimilation is faster than your release of insulin, you are doing damage by glycation. Glycation is the attachment of hexose units (sugar molecules) to the proteins and/or amino acids in your body. This alters their functions in a damaging way. The HbA1c test is the measure of glycation to two amino acids, Valine and Lysine, in the hemoglobin-A of your blood. The number is the percentage of total hbA that is glycated, or damaged. This percentage is an indicator of your blood glucose control over three months, which is roughly the time it takes to recycle the hemoglobin-A in your body. Even in healthy individuals with a low blood glucose will suffer glycation from normal and spiking levels. People who drink soda would normally get a letdown about an hour after embibing. The spike in sugar results in a panic release of insulin, which is really too much. The sugar is stored and insulin is left over, causing hypoglycemia, and a resulting letdown. It's for this reason that bottlers used cocaine, then cafeine in their drinks. Bread does much the same because it is a complex sugar called carbohydrate. Look up the link I gave you...it's highly informative.