First time post, I'm pre-diabetic

[FGFlan]

There is a history of diabetes in my family and at 60 I'm now having to potentially deal with type 2. I saw what it did to my mother and how it exasperated other medical conditions she had. I've been aware of high blood sugars for the last decade if not longer using the personal glucose meters i.e. 5.6–6.7 mmol/L fasting. In recent years I became aware of something called HbA1c and how it's a much better measure of where you are at long term wise so I started looking at this rather than the pin prick snapshot values given by the cheap glucose meters. My HbA1c for several years at least seems to have hovered at around 43-45 mmol/mol, Back in December 2024 it was 45 so I'm edging up. I need to be extra careful and it's time to taken control so I have a few questions. I'm also a little concerned as I'm going to be having medical treatment coming up which I'm told may raise my blood sugars for a while. I'm fairly fit and commute by bike almost everyday, have an active job and am not overweight.

Okay so I'm thinking of getting one of those Libre CGM sensors just so I can see what's going on with my blood sugars and to maybe stir me into action to take this seriously enough to make changes to my diet. I watched an interesting program by the Glucose Goddess and how they were monitoring people using these CGMs and how if you are going to eat something sweet do so after a protein/fat based meal to help reduce the spike. I don't know if people are fans of her or not but it seemed interesting.

Another question is about frequency of testing from my GP surgery. When I last tested it was 45 mmol/mol and I didn't hear a peep from them so it looks like they are leaving it up to me. This to me is criminal!! By bringing patients in, catching it early and ramming home the consequences of non-action it can save a fortune on treatment when it's left too late.

• Would anyone be able to recommend a book to get me started on understanding type 2 diabetes and a book on foods I should be eating/avoiding? Even better if that can be encompassed in one book.
• How often can I fairly expect my NHS doctor to conduct a blood test to see where my HbA1c is at?
• Does anyone get their HbA1c done privately and is this expensive?
• Is a CGM (thinking of Libre v2 Plus) for 2 weeks to a month a good idea for me to see what effect food is having on my blood so as to enable dietary changes

Many thanks if you've got this far and I would appreciate your insights please.

 

[Leadinglights]

There is a history of diabetes in my family and at 60 I'm now having to potentially deal with type 2. I saw what it did to my mother and how it exasperated other medical conditions she had. I've been aware of high blood sugars for the last decade if not longer using the personal glucose meters i.e. 5.6–6.7 mmol/L fasting. In recent years I became aware of something called HbA1c and how it's a much better measure of where you are at long term wise so I started looking at this rather than the pin prick snapshot values given by the cheap glucose meters. My HbA1c for several years at least seems to have hovered at around 43-45 mmol/mol, Back in December 2024 it was 45 so I'm edging up. I need to be extra careful and it's time to taken control so I have a few questions. I'm also a little concerned as I'm going to be having medical treatment coming up which I'm told may raise my blood sugars for a while. I'm fairly fit and commute by bike almost everyday, have an active job and am not overweight.

Okay so I'm thinking of getting one of those Libre CGM sensors just so I can see what's going on with my blood sugars and to maybe stir me into action to take this seriously enough to make changes to my diet. I watched an interesting program by the Glucose Goddess and how they were monitoring people using these CGMs and how if you are going to eat something sweet do so after a protein/fat based meal to help reduce the spike. I don't know if people are fans of her or not but it seemed interesting.

Another question is about frequency of testing from my GP surgery. When I last tested it was 45 mmol/mol and I didn't hear a peep from them so it looks like they are leaving it up to me. This to me is criminal!! By bringing patients in, catching it early and ramming home the consequences of non-action it can save a fortune on treatment when it's left too late.

• Would anyone be able to recommend a book to get me started on understanding type 2 diabetes and a book on foods I should be eating/avoiding? Even better if that can be encompassed in one book.
• How often can I fairly expect my NHS doctor to conduct a blood test to see where my HbA1c is at?
• Does anyone get their HbA1c done privately and is this expensive?
• Is a CGM (thinking of Libre v2 Plus) for 2 weeks to a month a good idea for me to see what effect food is having on my blood so as to enable dietary changes

Many thanks if you've got this far and I would appreciate your insights please.

Welcome to the forum
If people are pre-diabetic then the testing frequency of the HbA1C is normally every year and depending on your surgery foot and eye screening as well. Obviously if people have any reason to suspect their blood glucose level has increased, thirst, frequent loo visits, thrush or wounds not healing or changes to eyesight then it is a good plan to ask for a HbA1C test before the year.
If you are still in the prediabetes range then some modest changes may be all that is needed, The first would be to cut out sweet things and sugary drinks as there is no need to be having unnecessary carbohydrates, despite what the Glucose Goddess says.
This link is pretty comprehensive in explanation and has some menu plans and recipes for a low carbohydrate approach which may find successful.

Freshwell Low Carb Project - Home

lowcarbfreshwell.com

It is based on the suggested no more that 130g carbs not just sugar per day.
Some people find a CGM helpful but it can be just as effective to establish a strategic routine of finger prick testing and cheaper.
Often people can over react to the information the CGM gives and it is important to understand it's limitations.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @FGFlan

Yes as @Leadinglights says, an annual check is customary for people ‘at risk of diabetes’ (sometimes called pre-diabetes).

Libre offer a free trial of a 2 week sensor which you might want to sign-up for if you are eligible. Alternatively you could simply buy a single sensor direct £50ish to see how you get on with it. Once you have a confirmed diabetes diagnosis, you can complete a form to avoid paying the VAT on medical products for your diabetes, which would bring them down below £50.

A full CGM is quite expensive, and you may decide that using an affordable BG meter with relatively affordable strips (eg the Spirit Tee2 or Contour Blue) would allow you to take a reading immediately before eating and again 2 hrs after the first bite. These pairs of readings give really actionable data around how you have responded to different meals. Ideally you’d want to see a rise of no more than 2-3mmol/L at the 2hr mark, and ultimately aim for 4-7mmol/L before meals and no higher than 8.5mmol/L at 2hrs.

Good luck whatever you decide to do 🙂