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I’m a newbie…. Hello.

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Birdsong

Birdsong

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
At risk of diabetes
So pleased to have this chat room. Just diagnosed with pre diabetes. Feeling so confused about what I can eat. Have cut carbs for 5 days and feel low and very tired today. Have I gone too drastic to soon?
 
Birdsong said:
So pleased to have this chat room. Just diagnosed with pre diabetes. Feeling so confused about what I can eat. Have cut carbs for 5 days and feel low and very tired today. Have I gone too drastic to soon?
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Welcome. Always a shock to get a diagnosis however much you may have suspicions. Reducing carbohydrates is generally the way to start rather than cutting out completely and that is really by reducing portions of the big hitters like potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, breakfast cereals and cutting cakes, biscuits and sugary drinks including fruit juice. Many find it useful to keep a food diary of everything they eat and drink with an estimate of the TOTAL carbs to see where they are at to start with. A suggested amount of carbs is 130g per day or less so you can see how far from that you are. Remember whatever approach you take has to be enjoyable and sustainable long term.
You may find this link useful as there are some do's and don'ts and some meal ideas. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
 
Thank you so much! I can honestly say you’ve really made it simple with the carb guide. I’m kind of going a little out of my mind. I suffer with health anxiety so I feel like it’s all doom and gloom. More so I feel like I haven’t a clue what is best. Doctor said I could try a ketogenic diet - 20 g of carbs a day. I think that may be drastic, but on the other hand I want to get my level - 45, down. This week I’ve cut out carbs and today feel low, tired and have such a headache. Your suggestions seem a more sensible approach. Thank you so much ☺️
 
Birdsong said:
Thank you so much! I can honestly say you’ve really made it simple with the carb guide. I’m kind of going a little out of my mind. I suffer with health anxiety so I feel like it’s all doom and gloom. More so I feel like I haven’t a clue what is best. Doctor said I could try a ketogenic diet - 20 g of carbs a day. I think that may be drastic, but on the other hand I want to get my level - 45, down. This week I’ve cut out carbs and today feel low, tired and have such a headache. Your suggestions seem a more sensible approach. Thank you so much ☺️
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You are only in the prediabetic range so yes it is wise to look at your carb intake but keto is very drastic. Many do find those symptoms from very, very low carb often it is referred to as keto flu. Make sure you keep your fluid intake up as that should help.
Reducing carbs more gradually is better as you are less likely to get issues with your eyes and nerves.
 
It’s funny you should say that as yesterday and today my eyes feel a little fuzzy?!? My god…. You are spot on and yes the website link is great. I’m sitting here typing thinking how grateful I am for people like you. Thank you for taking the time to help ☺️☺️☺️
 
Welcome to the forum @Birdsong

I know it’s easier said than done, but do try not to worry. Diabetes is generally a fairly slow-moving foe, and you have plenty of time to work out a sustainable way of managing things long-term.

There’s no need to feel like everything has to be completely ‘fixed’ right this minute. You have time to experiment, to find your feet, and as @Leadinglights says, making more gradual changes can actually be easier on the eyes and nerve endings, so a more gradual approach is often a better bet.

At 45mmol/mol you are still below the usual diagnostic threshold. People are usually said to be ‘at risk of diabetes’ (sometimes colloquially called ‘prediabetes’) when between 42-47mmol/mol, and get a formal diagnosis of diabetes with an HbA1c of 48 or higher.

At 45, it seems likely that a few fairly modest tweaks might go a long way towards rebalancing things for you?
 
thank you so much for your advice/support. This is such an amazing support page.
I agree I think a few changes at a time is the way to go. I think after the initial call from my go I was in a - right let’s go fully at this mode. I cut carbs for a week and fry rubbish on Saturday. I think my body is in total shock. After posting and reading comments from @Leadinglights it made me feel calmer. Today your reply had don’t the same. I honestly feel for all people getting any diagnosis and feeling alone… this really is a good way to get a bit of guidance and calming. ☺️
 
Birdsong said:
thank you so much for your advice/support. This is such an amazing support page.
I agree I think a few changes at a time is the way to go. I think after the initial call from my go I was in a - right let’s go fully at this mode. I cut carbs for a week and fry rubbish on Saturday. I think my body is in total shock. After posting and reading comments from @Leadinglights it made me feel calmer. Today your reply had don’t the same. I honestly feel for all people getting any diagnosis and feeling alone… this really is a good way to get a bit of guidance and calming. ☺️
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I feel what you just wrote all the time! I have been testing my blood like a maniac and that stresses me out even more! I took myself off Metformin and Glypizide after my feet started tingling. Then I ordered Dr. Jason Fung's Book: The Diabetes Code and I finally realize what is going on. He is a Canadian and teaches one what T2 is and how it should be treated. I am doing intermittent fasting for a few months now and it has helped my A1C; but it is VERY difficult.
 
Mare said:
I feel what you just wrote all the time! I have been testing my blood like a maniac and that stresses me out even more! I took myself off Metformin and Glypizide after my feet started tingling. Then I ordered Dr. Jason Fung's Book: The Diabetes Code and I finally realize what is going on. He is a Canadian and teaches one what T2 is and how it should be treated. I am doing intermittent fasting for a few months now and it has helped my A1C; but it is VERY difficult.
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I am a great fan of Jason Fung, what he says makes perfect sense to me. I know some people dismiss him as a crank but each to their own in how they identify with things.
 
Leadinglights said:
I am a great fan of Jason Fung, what he says makes perfect sense to me. I know some people dismiss him as a crank but each to their own in how they identify with things.
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Oh, do they mean as in "cranky" ( he does get emphatic, hee-hee) or do they mean he is not correct? One can not argue with hard science and that is what his books are about. I am curious about what you have heard. Thank you for the reply.
 
Mare said:
Thank you for the links. Very interesting. It is always great to review new opinions. I have not read TOC; however, Following the Diabetes Code put my A1C from 8.8 to 6.1.
It's a big tent, there's room for everyone, right?
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I often use the expression 'there's more than one way to skin a cat'. There are many things in life where just a different or alternative approach will be successful.
 
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