Advice regarding managing Type2 without medication.

[JITR]

@Quizzy

Good advice from LeadingLights and DocB.

After diagnosis I lost 22 kg to get down to my target weight/waist measurement. Now I feel a bit worse if it goes up by 2 kg, and appreciably better again when I get that 2kg off.

During weight loss I found I needed more protein than the recommend daily allowance of 0.75 g/kg body weight (e.g. 60g/day when 80 kg). Now I aim for 1.2-1.4 g/kg. Apparently we need more protein as we get older. I suppose that applies to me too, at 82!

So, if you are not doing so already, I'd pay attention to protein first. And then, unless you are more than just underweight now, I'd go by how you feel in yourself.

 

[Drummer]

I second @JITR about the protein, as I bought a load of flavoured beef before Christmas, which my husband will not touch, so I have been having beef broth for breakfast. I just finished making up and putting into place some shelving I bought in the Black Friday sales, good sturdy stuff so fairly heavy. The last two showed a warning on the outside, two people needed - or, as it turns out, one determined granny.
It always did amuse people that I would think nothing of carrying two speakers or kit boxes when I was working as a roadie, but I have always been fairly strong. Perhaps that is why the physical effects of a statin hit me so hard when I could no longer manage to move the knitting machines for servicing to do a full day's work.
I did manage - same mind and determination, but it was a struggle and I needed to pace myself carefully, but luckily the Arts University were fine about the extended time required. Last year I was back to my old schedule even though they had more machines.
I'm just rereading the book by Leakey and Lewin 'Origins Reconsidered', and the importance of meat eating in the evolution from small brained Hominid to Homo Sapiens is reiterated very clearly.

 

[Lisa1973]

Hi I’m new I not sure where I post my concerns sugar levels

 

[Docb]

Hi I’m new I not sure where I post my concerns sugar levels

Just start a new thread, either on this board or the newbies board. Ask whatever you like. Somebody will have ideas that might help.

 

[medidia]

I think you are getting general lab notes, your personal target might be different. At your age, particularly if you are at risk of falls your target might be higher. Mine is 58 although I'm lower now, so they may change it.
As you describe yourself as skinny, I would wait to speak to your GP before you start restricting your diet and possibly lose weight (I mean restricting some food groups as opposed to just tweaking a few things in your diet).

 

[Maz2]

Welcome to the forum @maredcam18

And well done for keeping yourself so slim and active. HbA1c levels do tend to gradually rise as we get older, and as yours are just hovering around the diagnostic threshold it may be that a few relatively modest tweaks and changes are all that are required to gently nudge your HbA1c back down a little.

There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to managing diabetes, and you can see a lot of variation in the details of different people’s approaches. Some find a slightly lower carbohydrate way of eating (eg less than 130g per day) very effective. Others find very low carb suits them better. Still others find that very low carb (less than 50g per day) actually increases insulin resistance, and slightly higher carb is better for them.

It’s all about finding an approach that is sustainable, enjoyable, and steers your results in the right direction. 🙂

That is interesting about the hba1c rises with age. I went pre-diabetic - 42, got back to normal now up at 42 again. I am 71. GP did think as I do not carry weight that it might be increased insulin resistance as I am getting older. I am trying again to get it back down.

 

[JITR]

Why would that be the case?

Gradual decline in beta cells capacity to produce insulin.

 

[beating_my_betes]

Gradual decline in beta cells capacity to produce insulin.

This is of course a possibility. But there're are a few assumptions being made here.

 

[Quizzy]

My Type 2 was diagnosed during 2012 at the same time that I was training at the gym for a six-day hike in Iceland. I continued training at the gym for several months after returning from Iceland and eventualy reduced my glucose from 6.9 to 6.4.
I have never been obese, there is a family history of Type 2, and my weight at my recent annual check-up was 60kg; it rarely fluctuates.
However my HbA1c has increased from 48 to 49 and the note from the lab suggests that I discuss with my health provider the need to start taking Metformin. My telephone review will take place on Thursday 24th and I am tempted to ask for another review in six months time instead of rushing into the medication solution.
I have googled the subject of pre-diabetes and read how long-term exposure to glucose even at those levels can be just as damaging
so I would like to ask advice from the Community. I am approaching my 74th birthday and still active, recently completing 16.5 miles on the moorland surrounding my home town.
I no longer attend the gym but wonder if it would be a good idea to resume the activity. As my physique is 'skinny' it occasionally raised a few eyebrows of the 'pump-it-up' group inside the gym. I have weights and stress bands at home and do the occasional plank etc. but I tend not to be disciplined.

What a relief to find someone like me, skinny (47Kg) and (not so) active but diabetic. My GP was so surprised he got me a CT scan (presumably expected something wrong with my pancreas) that was fine! At 89 I expect everything has got a bit tired. I have reduced my score from 48 to 42 by not eating Ambrosia creamed rice and other high carbs during bouts of insomnia and thanks to another member's advice to have a late meal I am sleeping better. I changed breakfast from granola or muesli to an omelette with tomatoes or mushrooms and half a slice of a small wholemeal/seeded loaf. Holland and Barratt sell Keto Granola 4.9g carbs per 30g serving which does for other days. Jealous of your moorland miles!

 

[Maz2]

I feel some affinity with maredcam18... 9 months after type 2 diagnosis and, after reducing carbs and losing 2Kg (now under weight), my blood sugar is 42, there is not much more I can reduce. Perhaps if I had maredcam18's activity level I’d get into “pre”, but I am 89 and doddery to my shame, I wish I’d inherited my mother’s genes. Advice welcome!

I think your hba1c could be due to increased insulin resistance with age. I am younger than you and my GP told me that was probably the case with me. I had got to 42 hba1c and, despite losing weight from 9 st 2 lbs to 7 stone 10 lbs i.e. going from a normal weight to underweight it still went up to 43. GP told me to stop losing weight as he thought it might be increased insulin resistance. It has gone back to normal and then to 42 again. It is normal again on this year's test.

I would like to say you have done extremely well getting back down to 42. Well done you.

 

[Maz2]

What a relief to find someone like me, skinny (47Kg) and (not so) active but diabetic. My GP was so surprised he got me a CT scan (presumably expected something wrong with my pancreas) that was fine! At 89 I expect everything has got a bit tired. I have reduced my score from 48 to 42 by not eating Ambrosia creamed rice and other high carbs during bouts of insomnia and thanks to another member's advice to have a late meal I am sleeping better. I changed breakfast from granola or muesli to an omelette with tomatoes or mushrooms and half a slice of a small wholemeal/seeded loaf. Holland and Barratt sell Keto Granola 4.9g carbs per 30g serving which does for other days. Jealous of your moorland miles!

Not sure if you have come across the books by the late Michael Moseley but they are very good for recipes if you like and feel like cooking.