Hello :) Just found out I’m “pre-diabetic”

[Lioncub]

Hi everyone, I have been lurking on here since the blood test 2 weeks ago that has today told me what I expected. I had gestational diabetes 8 years ago and the results of my 40th birthday blood test (I was told not to worry about screening til I turned 40) were 45, so in the “pre-diabetic” range.

I can’t get an appointment with the diabetes nurse until 2 weeks time so I’m looking for advice of what to do in the meantime. I have dug out my blood test kit from GD days but all strips are, not surprisingly, out of date. Should I buy some new strips and start testing/recording a food diary? GP said they don’t need to do home blood testing unless on medication but reading advice on here it looks like regular testing might be helpful? Obviously I’d have to buy new test strips but I’m happy to do so if it will help me gain useful information/ control of things (I may be something of a control freak )

Anyway, thank you for all the advice I have already read and hello!

 

[Loulou23]

Hello Lioncub
I would recommend self testing and food diary as it’s the only way you can know how each food affects you as we are all different.
Lots of people try and reduce carbs as this can help (it’s made a big difference for me) and it’s sometimes a surprise what you can eat versus what you need to avoid (certainly in large quantities).
There’s load of knowledgeable people on here. I’m still new to diabetes but I feel like the forum has helped me take back control - I’m still learning and don’t get it right all the time but that’s ok it’s a good place to start.
Good luck and ask questions as there’s always someone on here with good advice 🙂

 

[CathyB]

Hi Lioncub, I agree with Loulou in that testing is key to working out what foods your body can tolerate and what spikes your readings. The food diary is a great way to track what you have eaten, what results you got and what you might tweak. Remember it’s not just the obvious sugars but carbohydrates that will be a problem. Rice, pasta, potatoes or bread, although many of us tolerate Burgen bread ok.
Depend what meter you have, the code free seems to be the cheapest with 50 strips being only £8.

 

[Lioncub]

Thank you 🙂 @CathyB my monitor is an 8yo contour one, looks like strips are £20 for 50. I guess in the long term the code free will be more cost effective.

 

[Ljc]

Hello Lioncub, welcome to the forum. Yes go for the SD Codefree meter, all meters sold in the UK have to conform to certain standards, so though it’s test strips are much cheaper sound £8 for a pot of 50 it’s a perfectly good meter.
Do you need a link for the Codefree.

Being pre diabetic or as it’s now often called, glucose intolerant, your in with a good chance of turning this around 🙂

 

[CathyB]

Thank you 🙂 @CathyB my monitor is an 8yo contour one, looks like strips are £20 for 50. I guess in the long term the code free will be more cost effective.

https://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/blood-glucose-monitor/ It’s the £12.89 meter that most of us have

 

[Lioncub]

Thank you @CathyB - I ordered that one a couple of days ago and it arrived today so I’m going to start a food diary as of tea time. Just cooking now, chicken curry and rice - wish me luck

 

[CathyB]

Thank you @CathyB - I ordered that one a couple of days ago and it arrived today so I’m going to start a food diary as of tea time. Just cooking now, chicken curry and rice - wish me luck

You might want to consider swapping the rice for cauliflower rice....normal rice is high in carbs

 

[Lioncub]

Yeah... just found that
Was going for “eat what I normally eat and test BS to see what happens” but went from 5.8 pre-meal to 10.3 after 1hr and 8.5 after 2hrs.

 

[KARNAK]

but went from 5.8 pre-meal to 10.3 after 1hr and 8.5 after 2hrs.

Hopefully lesson learned @Lioncub we`ve all been there. Take advice from experienced members but most of all take care of yourself.

Sorry welcome to the forum.