Referred to healthier you

[Dave R]

Hi
I have been referred to healthier you program. I had a blood test last September and was told the glucose was high and didn't realise the significance of this. I have found myself eating more and more sweet stuff and needing a pee more especially at night. I have now reduced my sugar intake and am losing weight. Since 2015 i have change from 16 stone to 14.5 but i am still with a bmi of 30. This is around my middle. I am now taking this very seriously and hope to get my bmi to a safe level in a slow controlled way. I am thankful for all the help.

 

[Dave R]

Bubbsie you seemed to have been in a similar situation and have turned things around. Can you explained what happened. If there was no healthier you program for you did this mean you were getting sicker before seeing your doctor.

 

[Bubbsie]

Bubbsie you seemed to have been in a similar situation and have turned things around. Can you explained what happened. If there was no healthier you program for you did this mean you were getting sicker before seeing your doctor.

Dave my diabetes was discovered by accident...I got really ill in 2016 with an infection...lots of hospital treatment...then when I got home my blood pressure was through the roof...went to the GP...a blood test confirmed the diabetes...prior to that I did have the classic symptoms (but no idea I was diabetic)...tired all the time I could sleep all day...lethargic...couldn't be bothered...and I'd put on a lot of weight...then without trying lost weight...those are classic symptoms...you are doing all the right things...reducing carbs...;losing weight...have you had a recent HbA1c test...do you know what the results of your first blood test was...on your status it says you are a carer..so its not clear if you are diabetic or are worried you may be?

 

[Dave R]

I have 7 brothers and 1sister. 2 brothers have had heart attack and 2 have had stroke.i am the middle of 9 and am 61 years So my odds are not good. In 2015 I decided to get healthier and lost weight. However over the last year I started to coast and put weight on and decided to lose again. Because I was at risk the doc decided I needed annual checks. I also have blood pressure and cholesterol issues. I have walked 5000 miles since 2015. A little at a time. I wasn't sure what to put I have a 88 percent risk of type 2. The healthier you program says that 30 - 60% Will get no worse and average weight loss is 1,5kg. Over 9 months. You must have steel will power to stay off the drugs. How have you done it.

 

[Ruby/London]

Hello Dave. I have only been here for a few weeks and it has been really helped me get to grips with things. I am far too new to give anyone advice but wish you luck on your journey. For me, the task seems less daunting with online friends. 🙂

 

[Dave R]

Hba1 of 44 Sept 18
38 with CHEMIST jun 2018 But I'm told the first one is diagnostic from blood tezt

Hello Dave. I have only been here for a few weeks and it has been really helped me get to grips with things. I am far too new to give anyone advice but wish you luck on your journey. For me, the task seems less daunting with online friends. 🙂

I am on a group program once a week for a month and then once a month for 9 months which is trying to teach us how not to be a diabetic. I never realised how dangerous this is and another forum showed how mentally diabetis can affect people so I really want to live healthy.

 

[Bubbsie]

You must have steel will power to stay off the drugs. How have you done it.

Dave your HbA1c puts you in pre-diabetic range...the levels are as follows under 42 mmols non-diabetic...42-47 pre-diabetic 48 & over is diabetic range...I have only ever used Metformin which does not lower your blood glucose per se...it reduces the amount of 'sugar' produced by our liver... so limits how much of that we absorb...it makes us more receptive to insulin...we still need to reduce the carbs we eat...I reduced my BGs slowly it's almost 2 years since I was diagnosed so it has taken me a while to get there...there's no reason you cannot reduce your risk of developing T2 diabetes if you follow a low carb diet & take good advice...I have never heard of the healthier you programme...I'm wondering if you are here in the UK?...you seem to be making all the right changes...good luck.

 

[Martin Canty]

You must have steel will power to stay off the drugs. How have you done it.

The prospect of being in good control is significant motivation, there is the excitement of getting A1c results back, the motivation of daily checking of Blood Glucose levels.... These contribute to the "steel will power", also, in my case I have lost a lot of weight (about 60lb) & feel healthier than I have done for many years, I enjoy exercise now. In all, if I had continued on on my pre-DX route I think I would have shortened my life considerably; now I am looking forward to a long & rewarding life.
The other thing that contributes to my determination to control D is the prospect of complications, they terrify me!!!

 

[Dave R]

Yoj seem to have done really well. I suppose taking it seriously from the beginning and not waiting until complications set in is the most important thing. I am helping my wife to see that we must check food labels and stay away from red sugar ones.

 

[CathyB]

Hi Dave, do remember that when checking your labels it’s not just sugar that you are looking at, carbohydrate content is just as important as this will also increase your blood glucose levels. To get my diabetes under control I completely cut potatoes, rice, pasta and bread other than Burgen bread which is a steady and linseed low carb option I use for sandwiches or toast. Fruit is also something I had to cut completely until my numbers were back in normal range, now I can have the occasional apple but that’s it.

 

[Martin Canty]

@Dave R , My strategy is thus:
Cut or reduce carb sources such as Bread, Rice, Pasta, Cereals & Starchy Vegetables, replacing them with green leafy vegetables grown above ground...... You can still have your favorites, e,g, a nice curry with cauliflower "rice" instead of real rice.... By making a few substitutions your meals can be more nutritious & far more healthy...

My philosophy is that "Made from Scratch" is the way to go (just how our parents prepared food)... This allows us to control just what goes into our meals.

The medical & nutritional professions don't necessarily agree with Low Carbing but (in my case) it has allowed me a good degree of control over D, I slipped up last winter & let control slip & was rewarded with an A1c of 5.9... I hope that my next one (due now) is 5.5 or lower.....

 

[Dave R]

Martin that is good it just shows what can be done. We are all human and will slip up on occasion and I think for myself the danger is kidding yourself that you have conquered it when it will never really go away.

 

[Martin Canty]

the danger is kidding yourself that you have conquered it when it will never really go away.

Exactly..... Every so often there is discussion regarding "Well Controlled", "Reversed", "Remission" & "Cured".... Out of the 4 I prefer "Well Controlled" but can accept "Remission".... After all, we developed D & no matter how good our numbers are currently, if we are not careful then we will be back in the same position as before....