Pre diabetes

[Robbiewest]

Hi. I have just been told I have pre diabetes. Should I be testing my blood regularly at home?
Thanks

 

[ColinUK]

Hi. I have just been told I have pre diabetes. Should I be testing my blood regularly at home?
Thanks

Hi,
Do you recall what the GP said your HbA1C was? That’s the number they use to determine whether you’re pre diabetic or not.

And what were the circumstances which led the medico to tell you?

It’s not a bad idea to check blood glucose at home but it might be that you can make changes without.

 

[Leadinglights]

Welcome to the forum
A diagnosis of pre diabetes is basically a wake up call to do something about your diet but it most likely only need some moderate changes. Prediabetes means your HbA1C is between 42 and 47 mmol/mol so depending on where you are in the range will indicate how much you need to do.
As it is ALL carbohydrates which convert to glucose reducing those will bring your levels down. Cutting out cakes, biscuits and sugary drinks and reducing portions of other high carb foods like potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, breakfast cereals, tropical fruits will most likely be sufficient.
Getting a blood glucose monitor will allow you to check what foods may be causing a problem by testing before you eat and after 2 hours, an increase of no more than 2-3mmol/l and no more than 8mmol/l 2 hrs post meal.
Initially you might do quite a bit of testing but will soon establish what food you can tolerate.
Inexpensive monitors with the cheapest test strips are the GlucoNavil or TEE2 available on line Amazon or similar.
You get a few strips with the kit but should buy extra at the same time. It gives you control over your condition.
I liken it to checking your speedometer to make sure you are not exceeding the speed limit.

 

[Robbiewest]

My blood count was 47. I think I will get a home test kit. I am determined to change this so I don’t develop diabetes.

 

[Leadinglights]

My blood count was 47. I think I will get a home test kit. I am determined to change this so I don’t develop diabetes.

Yes you are at the top end of the range so identifying which of those high carb foods you may need to be cutting out or just reducing portions or making some substitutions would be helpful.
Starting by making a food diary of everything you eat and drink with quantities and an estimate of Total carb amount would help you see where savings can be made. It is better to reduce your carb intake slowly, so say by one third for a couple of weeks, then another third until you get to where you want or need to be, this helps to avoid any eye and nerve issues which some people get.
The book or app Carbs and Cals is a good resource but there are other apps but looking at the total carb amount on packets or a google search for Food X and Total carbs usually given as g /100g so a bit of arithmetic needed to work out for the portion you are having.
If you want to post some typical meals then we can comment on where some of the issues might be.

 

[Mrs Mimoo]

I can't tell you what to do (obvs) but it might be a good idea to lose a decent amount of weight and this is a good plan to reverse the prediabetes> a low carb diet is a great way to do that. There are so may good things on this website. I had HBA1C of 55 so diabetic. I am losing a quantitiy of weight to reverse that after discussions with Diabetes nurse and Professor Roy Taylor (his books are excellent). I already got down to HbA1C of 49 by losing 6 kg and my target is to lose 15-20 kg. I was heavy.....

 

[Docb]

Hi @Robbiewest and welcome to the forum. Agree with the others, a few changes in your diet, principally cutting down on carb intake should get things sorted. With regard to getting a meter. If used wisely, you will get quicker feedback on the effects of any changes you make and you don't have to wait three months for your next HbA1c to see if things have worked.

Message is, no need to panic. Let us know how you go.

 

[trophywench]

I can't tell you what to do (obvs) but it might be a good idea to lose a decent amount of weight and this is a good plan to reverse the prediabetes> a low carb diet is a great way to do that. There are so may good things on this website. I had HBA1C of 55 so diabetic. I am losing a quantitiy of weight to reverse that after discussions with Diabetes nurse and Professor Roy Taylor (his books are excellent). I already got down to HbA1C of 49 by losing 6 kg and my target is to lose 15-20 kg. I was heavy.....

Sorry, where did @Robbiewest say he needed to lose weight? Obvs if he is too heavy that would help, but for all we know so far he could be thin as a lath and an Olympic athlete! 🙄

 

[Robbiewest]

Yes you are at the top end of the range so identifying which of those high carb foods you may need to be cutting out or just reducing portions or making some substitutions would be helpful.
Starting by making a food diary of everything you eat and drink with quantities and an estimate of Total carb amount would help you see where savings can be made. It is better to reduce your carb intake slowly, so say by one third for a couple of weeks, then another third until you get to where you want or need to be, this helps to avoid any eye and nerve issues which some people get.
The book or app Carbs and Cals is a good resource but there are other apps but looking at the total carb amount on packets or a google search for Food X and Total carbs usually given as g /100g so a bit of arithmetic needed to work out for the portion you are having.
If you want to post some typical meals then we can comment on where some of the issues might be.

Is there a recommended amount of carbs I should be aiming for in a day?

 

[Leadinglights]

Is there a recommended amount of carbs I should be aiming for in a day?

It is a very individual thing depending on your tolerance but if you are thinking of adopting a low carb regime then no ore than 130g per day is a starting point. Many people do go lower but that is something they would determine by testing where they need to be to keep blood glucose levels in range. Many people compensate for the low carbs by increasing healthy fats and protein but just go for not low fat as opposed to high fat which some people adopt.
But as I said reducing to that slowly over a period of weeks is better.
There are of course a number of different approaches but the important thing is finding a way which suits you and is sustainable.

 

[Robbiewest]

It is a very individual thing depending on your tolerance but if you are thinking of adopting a low carb regime then no ore than 130g per day is a starting point. Many people do go lower but that is something they would determine by testing where they need to be to keep blood glucose levels in range. Many people compensate for the low carbs by increasing healthy fats and protein but just go for not low fat as opposed to high fat which some people adopt.
But as I said reducing to that slowly over a period of weeks is better.
There are of course a number of different approaches but the important thing is finding a way which suits you and is sustainable.

Thank you

 

[Robbiewest]

I can't tell you what to do (obvs) but it might be a good idea to lose a decent amount of weight and this is a good plan to reverse the prediabetes> a low carb diet is a great way to do that. There are so may good things on this website. I had HBA1C of 55 so diabetic. I am losing a quantitiy of weight to reverse that after discussions with Diabetes nurse and Professor Roy Taylor (his books are excellent). I already got down to HbA1C of 49 by losing 6 kg and my target is to lose 15-20 kg. I was heavy.....

I have read his book and it made so much sense to me. Good luck with your health x

 

[Robbiewest]

Hi @Robbiewest and welcome to the forum. Agree with the others, a few changes in your diet, principally cutting down on carb intake should get things sorted. With regard to getting a meter. If used wisely, you will get quicker feedback on the effects of any changes you make and you don't have to wait three months for your next HbA1c to see if things have worked.

Message is, no need to panic. Let us know how you go.

Thank you. I am glad I found this site.