7.8 reading. First time I’ve tested and scared.

[TashaB81]

Hi all. I’ve been worried about Diabetes for a while as I’m very overweight. I tested last night 2 hours after my dinner and it showed 7. Tested again this morning after not eating anything since 6.30pm and it’s 7.8 From what I’ve read online that’s really high after fasting?Panicking now

 

[Kaylz]

of course the 7 2 hours after eating doesn't mean much without a reading just before you ate but may I ask what you had to eat?

Meters aren't 100% accurate so I wouldn't be overly concerned about one 7.8 spot check to be honest
xx

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hello @TashaB81

Welcome to the forum

Sorry to hear you are anxious about your BG levels.

Are you having any symptoms (eg excess urination, increased thirst) or is it simply your weight that is making you worry about risk? Is there any diabetes in your family?

Perhaps the best thing to do, is to use the BG meter you have to check before and again 2hrs after eating to examine your food choices, and moderate your carbohydrate intake to try to keep ‘meal rises’ down to as near 2-3mmol/L as you can.

Reducing carb intake can be a great trigger for weight loss, and more stable BG will be much easier on your body.

If you begin to make changes to your diet now, rather than formally waiting for a diabetes diagnosis, there is a good opportunity for you to find a sustainable way of eating and living that will reduce your weight and keep your diabetes risk at bay 🙂

 

[TashaB81]

Hey,thanks for replying. It’s mainly my weight. I’m ashamed to say it but I’m 20 stone and only 5’2. No history, just worried as I’m constantly on the loo and thirsty a lot but maybe normal enough. Last night we had mince and onion pie and chips. I really need to sort my diet out ‍♀️
just getting confused with readings and what the normal ranges are as seeing conflicting info online. Thankyou xo

 

[Kaylz]

Last night we had mince and onion pie and chips.

Well most diabetics would have a far higher reading than 7mmol 2 hours after pie and chips (a lot of carbs) which is what diabetics struggle to tolerate xx

 

[TashaB81]

Thankyou,I feel a bit silly posting now as maybe I’m worrying too much. It says on the chart (that came with the tester), that anything over 7 would indicate pre-diabetes. Just have it on my mind now Xo

 

[TashaB81]

Hello @TashaB81

Welcome to the forum

Sorry to hear you are anxious about your BG levels.

Are you having any symptoms (eg excess urination, increased thirst) or is it simply your weight that is making you worry about risk? Is there any diabetes in your family?

Perhaps the best thing to do, is to use the BG meter you have to check before and again 2hrs after eating to examine your food choices, and moderate your carbohydrate intake to try to keep ‘meal rises’ down to as near 2-3mmol/L as you can.

Reducing carb intake can be a great trigger for weight loss, and more stable BG will be much easier on your body.

If you begin to make changes to your diet now, rather than formally waiting for a diabetes diagnosis, there is a good opportunity for you to find a sustainable way of eating and living that will reduce your weight and keep your diabetes risk at bay 🙂

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hey,thanks for replying. It’s mainly my weight. I’m ashamed to say it but I’m 20 stone and only 5’2. No history, just worried as I’m constantly on the loo and thirsty a lot but maybe normal enough. Last night we had mince and onion pie and chips. I really need to sort my diet out ‍♀
just getting confused with readings and what the normal ranges are as seeing conflicting info online. Thankyou xo

Increased thirst and urination may be a sign that your metabolism is starting to struggle. If you want to know for sure, you could ask your GP for an HbA1c check, which will establish more of an overall picture of your blood glucose profile over the last 3 months or so.

But whether you have a tick in the diabetes box or not, you seem to have an understanding that some of the choices you are currently making are not great for you and for your future health. This is a brilliant first step.

Start making changes now as if you had a full blown diabetes diagnosis. Reduce your carbohydrate intake...check your different meals with before-and-after BG checks... add a little exercise or activity into each day...

You will feel lighter, brighter, have more energy, you will sleep better and feel more alive - and as an added bonus you may avoid a diagnosis of diabetes altogether!

 

[TashaB81]

Really appreciate the advice. Thankyou. What should normal levels be?

 

[Docb]

Hi Tasha. I think you are overcomplicating things a bit with blood glucose testing and the readings you are getting don't suggest an immediate diabetes problem. You know you are way overweight and need to do something about it. No need to be ashamed, you need to work out a plan to get it down and your bathroom scales will be a lot more useful than a blood glucose meter.

That might sound a bit harsh and I know getting your weight right can be a struggle, but by taking things slowly, looking for progress over months rather than weeks you can get there.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

At this stage the numbers themselves matter far less than the difference before and after food. If you eat a meal that pushes your BG up by 5 or 6 try cutting the carb content by half or a third.

You may find breakfast is the trickiest time BG-wise.

Ultimately you will be aiming for 4-7 premeals and no higher than 8.5 2 hours after your first bite of a meal. But to begin with tweak meals to keep the BG rise down - establish the amount of carbohydrate your body can cope with 🙂

Incidentally, home BG meters are not rated for diagnosis purposes.

 

[Eddy Edson]

Hi Tasha. I think you are overcomplicating things a bit with blood glucose testing and the readings you are getting don't suggest an immediate diabetes problem. You know you are way overweight and need to do something about it. No need to be ashamed, you need to work out a plan to get it down and your bathroom scales will be a lot more useful than a blood glucose meter.

That might sound a bit harsh and I know getting your weight right can be a struggle, but by taking things slowly, looking for progress over months rather than weeks you can get there.

Listen to @Docb for he speaks wise words. Losing sme weight is likely to be the best thing you can do.

And I'd also get an HbA1c test and a diabetes check from yr doc if you can.

 

[trophywench]

Yep - diet's the answer to it all LOL The thing that folk with diabetes is carbohydrates in their entirety ie not just from sugar - hence the pastry around the pie and the spuds aargghh. But cutting some of them out will truly help you drop some weight as well as keeping diabetes at bay, plus the fact that protein and fats keep a human body feel full for a lot longer than carbs do - so there's only 'good' as a possible outcome of eating less of them!

 

[brisr949]

Thankyou,I feel a bit silly posting now as maybe I’m worrying too much. It says on the chart (that came with the tester), that anything over 7 would indicate pre-diabetes. Just have it on my mind now Xo

To ease your mind there are no silly questions or little queries on here and anything you ask you will always get an answer here.
Adam

 

[ColinUK]

To ease your mind there are no silly questions or little queries on here and anything you ask you will always get an answer here.
Adam

Dunno about that, I ask silly questions all the time!