Another newbie

[Grandad]

A recent routine blood test has revealed the possibility of diabetes. GP's records say I was clear when last tested for it in 2019. I'm told that it's unusual to develop it at 88.

Waiting for first session with a diabetes clinician to find out more. In the meantime looking at the general advice on what and what not to eat. The "take more exercise" advice is more tricky - after 75 years of continuous serious cycling a heart condition has recently reduced this to a daily walk.

I foresee many visits to this forum!

 

[Leadinglights]

A recent routine blood test has revealed the possibility of diabetes. GP's records say I was clear when last tested for it in 2019. I'm told that it's unusual to develop it at 88.

Waiting for first session with a diabetes clinician to find out more. In the meantime looking at the general advice on what and what not to eat. The "take more exercise" advice is more tricky - after 75 years of continuous serious cycling a heart condition has recently reduced this to a daily walk.

I foresee many visits to this forum!

Welcome to the forum, I bet it was a shock to get your diagnosis but hopefully as you have said 'possibility' you will not be too far into the diabetic zone. Recent guidance is that the diagnostic level should be more lenient for those of more mature years and a personalised target is more appropriate. I would not worry too much or rush into any dietary changes as depending on what your HbA1C is, hopefully you have been told then only modest changes will be needed rather than anything major.
Being more watchful of your intake of some high carbohydrate foods like cakes and biscuits and sugary drinks as well as the less obvious potatoes, rice, pasta, bread which are the big hitters.
It is good that you can remain active and walking is good exercise.

 

[Inka]

Welcome @Grandad 🙂

 

[Docb]

Hi @Grandad and welcome from me - incidentally another grandad and in what I tend to call wrinkly territory which gives me a slightly different perspective to T2 diabetes than some of the young whippersnappers on the forum.

Let us know how you get on with your diabetes clinician when it would be sensible to get the Hba1c result that led to the diagnosis.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Waiting for first session with a diabetes clinician to find out more. In the meantime looking at the general advice on what and what not to eat. The "take more exercise" advice is more tricky - after 75 years of continuous serious cycling a heart condition has recently reduced this to a daily walk.

Welcome to the forum @Grandad

Were you told the result of your HbA1c that showed you were at risk of diabetes? This would usually be a number between 42-47mmol/mol. It can help to know how ‘near the edge’ you are, as it might inform to what degree your metabolism is beginning to struggle, and how significant the changes to your current menu might need to be.

It’s also worth mentioning that HbA1c generally rises naturally in later life - so slightly higher results may partially be just connected to the passage of time?

One of the biggest questions when trying to get to grips with your risk of diabetes is often ‘what can I eat’ and while there are obvious things like cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks that you will want to cut right back on straight away, you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits.

That doesn’t mean you have to try to avoid those things entirely, but it can really help to be mindful of portion sizes, and to try to limit your overall intake.