I was recently diagnosed as pre-diabetic and have Gastroparesis

[Samana]

Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum. Currently, I feel a little in the dark after being diagnosed with pre-diabetes as awaiting some help with diet ideas as I have an Hba1c of 45% and not sure what foods to have as I also have Gastroparesis. I would love to hear anyone else's experiences of pre-diabetes and what they are doing to monitor their bloods or dietary wise. Any help would be very welcome. Thank you in advance. Best wishes to you all 🙂

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Samana

Percentages used to be the unit of measure for HbA1c, but it looks like you have been given your result in the more recent IFCC units of 45mmol/mol (6.3%) - there’s a converter on this page if it helps.

Being told you are ‘at risk of diabetes’ (prediabetes) would be between 42-47mmol/mol

What foods are you recommended to eat to help with your gastroparesis? Are you on a small particle diet?

Do you have a home BG monitor? Perhaps the simplest strategy might be to start with your gastroparesis menu, and check before and after meals to see what sort of blood glucose variations you get?

 

[Samana]

Welcome to the forum @Samana

Percentages used to be the unit of measure for HbA1c, but it looks like you have been given your result in the more recent IFCC units of 45mmol/mol (6.3%) - there’s a converter on this page if it helps.

Being told you are ‘at risk of diabetes’ (prediabetes) would be between 42-47mmol/mol

What foods are you recommended to eat to help with your gastroparesis? Are you on a small particle diet?

Do you have a home BG monitor? Perhaps the simplest strategy might be to start with your gastroparesis menu, and check before and after meals to see what sort of blood glucose variations you get?

Hi everydayupsanddowns,

Yes you are right I've been given the reading in 45mmols it's all new to me and was all a bit rushed and vague... it was more 45...
I saw the diabetic nurse last week who wasn't exactly very helpful, well there were two actually... but one has said she is referring me to a diabetic dietician, and there is a waiting list, so not got any advice as yet with foods... with Gastroparesis, it's about having smaller portions of lower fibre foods, so I've developed my own kind of list in a way over time but it's taken a long time to get here and was advised to have sugars and carbs to give me a boost of energy as I really lack energy anyway, so unable to do much.

I have Fibromyalgia and ME also with Osteoarthritis and do have issues with mobility, but would like to lose about a stone in weight if I could and looking now to take tiny steps towards that now I have the pre-diabetes.

I just got the blood monitor after argument with the nurse... but then they handed me one! Then said I didn't need it so feel ashamed to even use it now! So it's still in the box!
So should I just check my blood before my meal say breakfast? Then leave it how long afterwards to get a reading?

What you have suggested sounds a nice simple way to start and I can always add in or tweak anything I feel like I can change. Thank you for you suggestions and questions they are very helpful, if you should think of anything please let me know. I'm not great on systems so hope I see your message. Many thanks once again! Samana

 

[Drummer]

The usual advice would be to check blood glucose two hours after starting to eat, to see how you react to the meal.
We don't need carbohydrate for energy - they are not an essential part of our diet, but protein and fats are.
Of course, some carbs give texture and flavour and add to the variety of meals - mine are odd anyway, having just eaten beef and strawberries for breakfast.
I was eating far more carbs, far less fat at various times during my adult life - it being hammered that it was 'healthy' even though it made me feel dreadful - I was even assessed for ME a couple of times at my lowest points.
If your after meal readings are fairly low - maybe under 10mmol/l then tweaking the carb content, cutting down or making substitutions might be all that is required to turn things around. Checking just before starting to eat a few times would give you an idea of starting points. An increase of 3 whole numbers to start off with would seem to indicate a reasonable intake of carbs, reducing it down to 2 or less would - I think - be lifting the impact off your metabolism.
When I was regularly seeing levels under 8 after eating I stuck to those meals and saw the numbers reducing down to under 7 and I realised I had lost weight too - I am still changing shape and getting more of a waist after more than 5 years from diagnosis.

 

[Samana]

The usual advice would be to check blood glucose two hours after starting to eat, to see how you react to the meal.
We don't need carbohydrate for energy - they are not an essential part of our diet, but protein and fats are.
Of course, some carbs give texture and flavour and add to the variety of meals - mine are odd anyway, having just eaten beef and strawberries for breakfast.
I was eating far more carbs, far less fat at various times during my adult life - it being hammered that it was 'healthy' even though it made me feel dreadful - I was even assessed for ME a couple of times at my lowest points.
If your after meal readings are fairly low - maybe under 10mmol/l then tweaking the carb content, cutting down or making substitutions might be all that is required to turn things around. Checking just before starting to eat a few times would give you an idea of starting points. An increase of 3 whole numbers to start off with would seem to indicate a reasonable intake of carbs, reducing it down to 2 or less would - I think - be lifting the impact off your metabolism.
When I was regularly seeing levels under 8 after eating I stuck to those meals and saw the numbers reducing down to under 7 and I realised I had lost weight too - I am still changing shape and getting more of a waist after more than 5 years from diagnosis.

Hi Drummer,
thank you for replying, will check that out after two hours and get a picture/pattern of what mine are over the coming days.
I have to be careful with fats with the Gastroparesis but can have some/little amounts spread out regularly. Interesting about beef and strawberries... nice way to start the day! 😉
Yes, carbs or too many make me feel yuk too! If after my 'meal reading' you mean two hours after? then my reading is 10mmol/l? Or straight after eating?
'An increase of 3 whole numbers to start off with would seem to indicate a reasonable intake of carbs, reducing it down to 2 or less would - I think - be lifting the impact off your metabolism.'... What does this mean? I'm new to this...
Sounds like what ever you are doing it's working well for you, that's great! I want to lose a stone in weight too, so any help or tips would be very welcome, many thanks for all you have shared already 🙂

 

[Leadinglights]

As you have other considerations with the foods you can eat it would be a good idea if you have the sort of meal you would normally have and test before you eat and then again after 2 hours. If the increase is no more than 2-3mmol/l then that indicates you have tolerated to carbs in that meal. If it is more than that then you will need to tweak something and reduce the carbs a bit.
Once your levels start to come down your aim would be for your 2 hour post meals to be no more than 8-8.5mmol/l.
The range you would like to be seeing is 4-7mmol/l before meals and fasting (morning readings).
I'm not sure how the Gastroparesis would impact on what you should expect in terms of blood glucose levels.

 

[Samana]

As you have other considerations with the foods you can eat it would be a good idea if you have the sort of meal you would normally have and test before you eat and then again after 2 hours. If the increase is no more than 2-3mmol/l then that indicates you have tolerated to carbs in that meal. If it is more than that then you will need to tweak something and reduce the carbs a bit.
Once your levels start to come down your aim would be for your 2 hour post meals to be no more than 8-8.5mmol/l.
The range you would like to be seeing is 4-7mmol/l before meals and fasting (morning readings).
I'm not sure how the Gastroparesis would impact on what you should expect in terms of blood glucose levels.

Hi Leadinglights,
That's a good idea! so I kind of get a benchmark... great, I'll start there! Testing my blood levels both before and two hours after. Ooh great information re the carbs, thank you!
I bought the diabetes carbs and cals book, it's good how it shows you the breakdown in foods, it helps. I don't want to spend my life weighing everything but guess you get used to it after a while, by just looking at the foods you eat regularly.
Gastroparesis can affect the blood sugars as the food can be slow to release from the stomach often but I have a starting point so that is good. Thank you for your reply I will work with this. If there is anything else you want to share around this please do I'm open to any tips I can try out. I will feedback, many thanks 🙂

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi Leadinglights,
That's a good idea! so I kind of get a benchmark... great, I'll start there! Testing my blood levels both before and two hours after. Ooh great information re the carbs, thank you!
I bought the diabetes carbs and cals book, it's good how it shows you the breakdown in foods, it helps. I don't want to spend my life weighing everything but guess you get used to it after a while, by just looking at the foods you eat regularly.
Gastroparesis can affect the blood sugars as the food can be slow to release from the stomach often but I have a starting point so that is good. Thank you for your reply I will work with this. If there is anything else you want to share around this please do I'm open to any tips I can try out. I will feedback, many thanks 🙂

You may need a bit of trial and error at timing of your testing then as the 2 hour point may not give you the highest blood glucose level from that meal but you will certainly get some idea, but worth keeping good records of your meals and blood glucose readings. If you have something that seems fine after 2 hours then the next time maybe test after 3 hours if glucose is slower to release.
Initially weighing is a good idea as some foods can be deceptive but a set of measuring cups or spoons would then be less faff.

 

[Samana]

You may need a bit of trial and error at timing of your testing then as the 2 hour point may not give you the highest blood glucose level from that meal but you will certainly get some idea, but worth keeping good records of your meals and blood glucose readings. If you have something that seems fine after 2 hours then the next time maybe test after 3 hours if glucose is slower to release.
Initially weighing is a good idea as some foods can be deceptive but a set of measuring cups or spoons would then be less faff.

Yes that's fine. I was told to only do random readings by the GP and not to even do it by the nurse she didn't want me to have the blood testing monitor... I have it but not used it yet... this was just last week.
Okay, yes I see what you mean about the timings in monitoring.
Yes, I was shocked by the weight of some foods already! I have cups and measuring spoons so will use those too, thank you that's really useful
How are you doing with it all?

 

[Drummer]

Hi Drummer,
thank you for replying, will check that out after two hours and get a picture/pattern of what mine are over the coming days.
I have to be careful with fats with the Gastroparesis but can have some/little amounts spread out regularly. Interesting about beef and strawberries... nice way to start the day! 😉
Yes, carbs or too many make me feel yuk too! If after my 'meal reading' you mean two hours after? then my reading is 10mmol/l? Or straight after eating?
'An increase of 3 whole numbers to start off with would seem to indicate a reasonable intake of carbs, reducing it down to 2 or less would - I think - be lifting the impact off your metabolism.'... What does this mean? I'm new to this...
Sounds like what ever you are doing it's working well for you, that's great! I want to lose a stone in weight too, so any help or tips would be very welcome, many thanks for all you have shared already 🙂

The timing usually is just before starting to eat, and then two hours later - from the pre meal time.
Once you see how that looks you would probably need to do a few checks to see if you need to do anything different - just to see how you are affected - but I'd leave that for a little while, just get a feel for things first and do the fancier stuff later if it seems necessary.
My blood glucose readings were in the teens when diagnosed and reducing the carbs and getting lower levels felt like coming up for air.
I lost a lot of weight - I had stopped weighing myself some time before diagnosis as I was putting on weight every time I stepped on the scales, but once I reduced the carbs I was eating the weight just went, I didn't even think about it and didn't notice until my trousers started to slide south - I thought that the elastic had gone.

 

[Leadinglights]

Yes that's fine. I was told to only do random readings by the GP and not to even do it by the nurse she didn't want me to have the blood testing monitor... I have it but not used it yet... this was just last week.
Okay, yes I see what you mean about the timings in monitoring.
Yes, I was shocked by the weight of some foods already! I have cups and measuring spoons so will use those too, thank you that's really useful
How are you doing with it all?

As you are in prediabetes territory I don't think you are going to have to make too many changes to make a difference. Take it day by day or even just start with one meal a day for testing.

 

[Samana]

The timing usually is just before starting to eat, and then two hours later - from the pre meal time.
Once you see how that looks you would probably need to do a few checks to see if you need to do anything different - just to see how you are affected - but I'd leave that for a little while, just get a feel for things first and do the fancier stuff later if it seems necessary.
My blood glucose readings were in the teens when diagnosed and reducing the carbs and getting lower levels felt like coming up for air.
I lost a lot of weight - I had stopped weighing myself some time before diagnosis as I was putting on weight every time I stepped on the scales, but once I reduced the carbs I was eating the weight just went, I didn't even think about it and didn't notice until my trousers started to slide south - I thought that the elastic had gone.

Good morning Drummer,
Ahh right okay thanks, I will remember that as I had an emergency this morning so had to dash out and didn't take the blood monitor with me. I will check lunch today maybe and get a picture of that. I'm thinking about just getting a normal average of what I eat for breakfast lunch and dinner and snacks etc blood readings as you suggested so get an idea then add in some tweaks.
Wow, your story about coming up for air sounds great! I love that! You have done brilliantly! Yes, I think I need to look at some of my carbs, I need simple carbs for the Gastroparesis but there is room for some fine tuning and changes in areas I'm sure. Any other tips anytime I would welcome and sharing any other things you've experienced will be great, I don't feel alone in this anymore. It's like we are all on this journey together and you are very inspiring, thank you!

 

[Samana]

As you are in prediabetes territory I don't think you are going to have to make too many changes to make a difference. Take it day by day or even just start with one meal a day for testing.

Ahh yes that might be a better way of doing it, I was just interacting with Drummer and working on establishing the best way forward and maybe it might be a meal at a time. I would like to lose a stone so looking at how I can do this as I'm not too mobile also might be via food and a little extra movement when I can. Yes I agree it's more about subtle tweaks over time. Thank you for your input, if you think of anything else please share

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Ahh yes that might be a better way of doing it, I was just interacting with Drummer and working on establishing the best way forward and maybe it might be a meal at a time. I would like to lose a stone so looking at how I can do this as I'm not too mobile also might be via food and a little extra movement when I can. Yes I agree it's more about subtle tweaks over time. Thank you for your input, if you think of anything else please share

Glad you are working out a good way forward that will work for you. Hopefully those small tweaks will have had a positive effect when you get your next results, and you’ll be able to balance the needs of both your diabetes and your gastroparesis.

 

[Samana]

Glad you are working out a good way forward that will work for you. Hopefully those small tweaks will have had a positive effect when you get your next results, and you’ll be able to balance the needs of both your diabetes and your gastroparesis.

Hi everydayupsanddowns,
thank you I'm getting more of a feel for what foods I already am having and better ways to eat and what carbs I can start tweaking and how it makes me feel, plus got my blood monitor ready to start checking to give me a benchmark too so will just have a play and see how I go and make some new choices and check in every few days and give you an update and hopefully it might help others too or others can add their experiences etc, thank you for your support and guidance it's gratefully received I'm feeling very encouraged now.
Oh I almost forgot, I got a virtual dietician group appt for next week but it's more for general pre-diabetes and won't relate to me having Gastroparesis, so will see how it goes, I can ask questions I guess but glad I joined this group everyone has been very helpful.