Hi All, Im new to this forum and Pre-diabetes

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Jadespring29

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At risk of diabetes
Approximately two months ago, I had blood work done, and I was informed my A1c was 5.9 and that I was prediabetic. This came as quite a shock to me as I’ve been a pretty healthy person, active and not overweight and no family history of diabetes. My cholesterol was also high. I have been working very hard to reverse this. Made substantial diet changes and exercising more. I have been scratching my head at this and wondering if there could be a problem with my pancreas that caused this. another concern is that I have been on. BHRT therapy for 3 years. Estriol/Estradiol/Progesterone Hormone capsules.
 
Welcome to the forum. People often find it a shock and surprise that they get a diabetes diagnosis or in your case prediabetes but it can provide an opportunity to have a look at your diet. Sadly many foods which are regarded as healthy are not so for people who cannot metabolise carbohydrates efficiently as they either don't produce enough insulin or the insulin cannot be used efficiently to cope with the amount of carbohydrates that people are eating. That is not just sugar or sugary drinks but foods like bread, rice and pasta even if it is brown or wholemeal, potatoes and tropical fruits and fruit juice.
Just reducing your portion size of those foods and having extra veg and salads and fruit like berries together with meat, fish, eggs, cheese and dairy should help your blood glucose to reduce.
 
Thank you. I have cut the white starches out almost completely and reduced any foods with added sugars to almost nothing. I am not fond of processed foods to begin with. I am not saying my diet was perfect before or now, but I made some big changes.
 
Leadinglights said:
Welcome to the forum. People often find it a shock and surprise that they get a diabetes diagnosis or in your case prediabetes but it can provide an opportunity to have a look at your diet. Sadly many foods which are regarded as healthy are not so for people who cannot metabolise carbohydrates efficiently as they either don't produce enough insulin or the insulin cannot be used efficiently to cope with the amount of carbohydrates that people are eating. That is not just sugar or sugary drinks but foods like bread, rice and pasta even if it is brown or wholemeal, potatoes and tropical fruits and fruit juice.
Just reducing your portion size of those foods and having extra veg and salads and fruit like berries together with meat, fish, eggs, cheese and dairy should help your blood glucose to reduce.
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I do have to be conscientious of bad fats as well since cholesterol was high.
 
Jadespring29 said:
I have been scratching my head at this and wondering if there could be a problem with my pancreas that caused this.
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Sorry to hear you've been told you are at risk of developing diabetes @Jadespring29 :(

It looks like you've been given your HbA1c in the old units (%)?

5.9% is equivalent to 41mmol/mol, and the usual range associated with being at risk of diabetes is 42-47mmol/mol - so it looks like you are at the lower end of the risk scale?

What is HbA1c?

HbA1c is your average blood glucose (sugar) levels for the last two to three months. If you have diabetes, an ideal HbA1c level is 48mmol/mol (6.5%) or below. If you're at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, your target HbA1c level should be below 42mmol/mol (6%).
www.diabetes.org.uk www.diabetes.org.uk

Has your GP surgery suggested a follow-up appointment in a few months to confirm things?
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Sorry to hear you've been told you are at risk of developing diabetes @Jadespring29 :(

It looks like you've been given your HbA1c in the old units (%)?

5.9% is equivalent to 41mmol/mol, and the usual range associated with being at risk of diabetes is 42-47mmol/mol - so it looks like you are at the lower end of the risk scale?

What is HbA1c?

HbA1c is your average blood glucose (sugar) levels for the last two to three months. If you have diabetes, an ideal HbA1c level is 48mmol/mol (6.5%) or below. If you're at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, your target HbA1c level should be below 42mmol/mol (6%).
www.diabetes.org.uk www.diabetes.org.uk

Has your GP surgery suggested a follow-up appointment in a few months to confirm things?
Click to expand...
I did not know this. yes, supposed to do a 3 or 4 month foliow up. I did purchase a glucose meter to try to keep track of my blood sugar. When I take it in the morning before any meals, it is typically over 100 (betwwen 108-133) I have been told this is a high number for fasting glucose. I have also been on hormone replacement therapy for 3 yrs. bio identical hormones. I have read some information about the effects on gallbladder and in turn pancreas from these hormones wondering if this is triggering the higher blood sugar. I am considering weaning myself off to see if my glucose will lower.
 
Jadespring29 said:
I did not know this. yes, supposed to do a 3 or 4 month foliow up. I did purchase a glucose meter to try to keep track of my blood sugar. When I take it in the morning before any meals, it is typically over 100 (betwwen 108-133) I have been told this is a high number for fasting glucose. I have also been on hormone replacement therapy for 3 yrs. bio identical hormones. I have read some information about the effects on gallbladder and in turn pancreas from these hormones wondering if this is triggering the higher blood sugar. I am considering weaning myself off to see if my glucose will lower
Click to expand...
I see your monitor is set on mg/dl rather than mmol/l which is what is used in the UK.
Dividing by 18 will convert, so doing that your fasting reading are between 6 and 7.3mmol/l which is perhaps higher than you might like but not way out. For a diagnosed Type 2 4-7mmol/l fasting and before meals and no more than 8mmol/l 2 hours after eating.
However some people find that their level rises as soon as they get up and move around so try testing in bed to see if that makes a difference.
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Sorry to hear you've been told you are at risk of developing diabetes @Jadespring29 :(

It looks like you've been given your HbA1c in the old units (%)?

5.9% is equivalent to 41mmol/mol, and the usual range associated with being at risk of diabetes is 42-47mmol/mol - so it looks like you are at the lower end of the risk scale?

What is HbA1c?

HbA1c is your average blood glucose (sugar) levels for the last two to three months. If you have diabetes, an ideal HbA1c level is 48mmol/mol (6.5%) or below. If you're at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, your target HbA1c level should be below 42mmol/mol (6%).
www.diabetes.org.uk www.diabetes.org.uk

Has your GP surgery suggested a follow-up appointment in a few months to confirm things?
Click to expand...
Thank you. Yes, I am supposed to do a follow up.
 
Leadinglights said:
I see your monitor is set on mg/dl rather than mmol/l which is what is used in the UK.
Dividing by 18 will convert, so doing that your fasting reading are between 6 and 7.3mmol/l which is perhaps higher than you might like but not way out. For a diagnosed Type 2 4-7mmol/l fasting and before meals and no more than 8mmol/l 2 hours after eating.
However some people find that their level rises as soon as they get up and move around so try testing in bed to see if that makes a difference.
Click to expand...
I will try testing in bed. Sometimes I wait until later in the morning to test (before I eat) and it's usually lower.
 
Jadespring29 said:
Approximately two months ago, I had blood work done, and I was informed my A1c was 5.9 and that I was prediabetic. This came as quite a shock to me as I’ve been a pretty healthy person, active and not overweight and no family history of diabetes. My cholesterol was also high. I have been working very hard to reverse this. Made substantial diet changes and exercising more. I have been scratching my head at this and wondering if there could be a problem with my pancreas that caused this. another concern is that I have been on. BHRT therapy for 3 years. Estriol/Estradiol/Progesterone Hormone capsules.
Click to expand...
Hello jade
 
Jadespring29 said:
yes, supposed to do a 3 or 4 month foliow up. I did purchase a glucose meter to try to keep track of my blood sugar. When I take it in the morning before any meals, it is typically over 100 (betwwen 108-133) I have been told this is a high number for fasting glucose.
Click to expand...

Ah I hadn't realised you were based in the US Jade!

We use different units in the UK, and would need to divide your numbers by 18 to understand them better.

100mg/dl = 5.6mmol/L
108-133mg/dl = 6-7.4mmol/L

🙂

In the UK recommendations for people with T2 before meals are to be 4-7mmol/L (72-126mg/dl), and no higher than 8.5mmol/L (153mg/dl) by 2 hrs after meals

So it looks like your levels are slightly raised, but with a few modest changes to your menu and total carbohydrate intake (and perhaps losing some weight if you are carrying a few extra pounds) you should be able to reduce your risk of developing T2 diabetes 🙂
 
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