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Hi everyone

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LouLou2005

LouLou2005

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
At risk of diabetes
Just wanted to say hi to everyone my name is Lou and I have recently been diagnosed with pre diabetes.
I would appreciate any advice or tips anyone would be willing to share
 
Hi @LouLou2005 and welcome to the forum. The great news is that if you are pre-diabetic, you should be able to get back to "normal" levels by a few tweaks to your diet. It's not just sugar which causes spikes, carbs are also a major factor since they turn to glucose immediately. So if you reduce your consumption of bread, potatoes, rice and pasta as well as biscuits, cake etc, you should be able to turn it around without the need for medication.
Word of warning: don't just cut out all the carbs, reduce them gently so that you don't impact your eyesight. I did just that and subsequently found out (from this lovely forum!) that it's not a good idea!
You'll find loads of hints and tips here. I was diagnosed 2.5 years ago and still learning 🙂 Welcome aboard!
 
Welcome to the forum @LouLou2005

An HbA1c of 42-47 suggests your metabolism is beginning to struggle a little, but we have had lots of members before you who have been able to turn this worrying and perhaps slightly overwhelming news into something positive. Making positive changes which they have perhaps been meaning to make for years.

Can you remember the result you had? This can help you understand how close to the ‘diagnosis line’ you are, which can sometimes suggest how significant the changes you might need to be considering.

For a good starting point you might want to sign up for the Learning Zone (orange tab in the main menu). It’s packed bite sized modules that you can work through at your own pace.

Alternatively, for a more personal account, you might like Maggie Davey’s Letter to the Newly Diagnosed or Gretchen Becker’s book T2 Diabetes, the first year, which are often recommended by forum members.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on 🙂
 
Hi guys thanks for the warm welcome
I will reply to you all in the same message if that is ok.
So to answer one of the questions I didn’t get told my results just that my levels were high and at the time didn’t think to ask as it was abit overwhelming. As not only did the nurse on the phone say that I was pre diabetic she also said that my bloods had come back that I have anemia and B12 deficiency so as you can imagine I was some what shocked.
And tbh the nurse wasn’t very informative or compassionate just sent me a email with the diagnosis and a breakdown of pre diabetes which I’ve realised a lot of the information given totally contradict most other information I had found online.
On the phone she asked me
1. Are you overweight- my answer No
2. Do you exercise - my answer Yes
3. Is there diabetes in the family - my answer No
4. Do you smoke - my answer No
Then went on to say well sometimes these things just happen ‍♂️ ( not really filling me with confidence or explaining why the hell I had been diagnosed with this )
I then got told to follow a low calorie diet like the email explains and to repeat a fasting blood test in 3 months and call was ended.
And subsequently my brain blown
I will give some background information to make it easier, I had originally gone to the doctors as I was feeling exhausted and constantly needing to drink/pee, I was also experiencing heart palpitations and feeling run down. The doctor said he thought it could be thyroid and sent me for the full blood tests.
I work for Royal Mail as a postie and walk on average 12/15 miles a day and run three times a week so my body was just not functioning the way I normally would.
And after doing my own research about pre diabetes mostly from this organisation I realised that all the things I had been diagnosed with had very similar symptoms so would be hard to figure out what was causing what. I also realised that everything the email the nurse had sent me was completely different to the advice I was finding online. And at the supermarket I also realised that a low calorie foods were high sugar.
Sorry for the long message , so after a few days of researching I wrote down all the suggested foods to eat and got them from the shops.
I have completely cut out sugary things and replaced snacks with snack a jacks. Fruit and nuts
I have completely cut out potatoes and replaced with sweet potato
Switched to low fat mature cheese and semi skimmed milk
And have switched from white bread to hovis nibble
I didn’t know what to do about pasta/ rice as I have had problems with my stomach with brown rice and pasta so if I have had some it’s been a very small portion. But Thankyou vonny for telling me it’s not a good idea to completely cut out carbs could you possibly tell me more please.
Again I was finding conflicting views and advice about buying a blood sugar monitor but decided that I would go ahead and order one so I could monitor if particular foods were spiking my sugars. And I’m glad I did as I feel a little bit more in control now. I test in the morning and 2 hours after my last meal and the reading have come down from 10.6 to around 7.7 in a week so hopefully I am doing some good.
Again im sorry for waffling
I do believe im starting to get my head around things and the diagnosis and im extremely determined to continue with the balanced diet. But there is a few worries that I have, mainly about losing a lot of weight and making sure im eating enough to maintain the amount of miles I walk a day. Also if the other problems I have been diagnosed with are going to make it harder to control the pre diabetes becoming type 2 as they are both deficiency’s the body has of getting the vitamins and nutrients from food.
Many thanks for your reply’s I really appreciate it
Lou
 
You are falling into the trap of thinking that Low fat foods are good whereas it is the carbohydrates that are the problem and people need to replace the carbs with protein and healthy fats.
I use edamame bean or black bean pasta which is low carb and for 'snacks' protein nut bars like Nature Valley or KIND or similar are all about 10g carb or less per bar.
Have a look at this link as although it is low carb approach it is with REAL food.
Some who follow low carb don't worry about the calories but keep their carb intake to less than 130g per day. As you have a monitor you can test if this is suitable to keep blood glucose at the desired level. People aim for 4-7 mmol/l before meals and fasting and no more than 8-8.5mmol/l 2 hours after eating. If levels are higher than that it is useful to test the effect of your meals by testing before you eat and after 2 hours aiming for no more than 2-3mmol/l increase.
However if your prediabetes diagnosis is correct then your fingerprick test should not be particularly high
 
Charlotte DUK said:
Hi @LouLou2005 and welcome to the forum 🙂

Our website has some information on ways that can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes. Here's the link if you want to have a look, https://bit.ly/3hAR9q7

If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask away
Click to expand...
Thankyou Charlotte I will take a look many thanks for the info and warm welcome
 
Leadinglights said:
You are falling into the trap of thinking that Low fat foods are good whereas it is the carbohydrates that are the problem and people need to replace the carbs with protein and healthy fats.
I use edamame bean or black bean pasta which is low carb and for 'snacks' protein nut bars like Nature Valley or KIND or similar are all about 10g carb or less per bar.
Have a look at this link as although it is low carb approach it is with REAL food.
Some who follow low carb don't worry about the calories but keep their carb intake to less than 130g per day. As you have a monitor you can test if this is suitable to keep blood glucose at the desired level. People aim for 4-7 mmol/l before meals and fasting and no more than 8-8.5mmol/l 2 hours after eating. If levels are higher than that it is useful to test the effect of your meals by testing before you eat and after 2 hours aiming for no more than 2-3mmol/l increase.
However if your prediabetes diagnosis is correct then your fingerprick test should not be particularly high
Click to expand...
Thankyou so much for your message
Yes from the information the nhs gave me I was falling into to the trap of low fat foods were good. But have realised that this is not the case.
I’m starting to understand the need for carbs but making sure they are monitored amounts. Thankyou for the link I will take a look now.
Yes I have the protein bars I take to work which are around the same 10g carbs and help with energy levels.
I will also be sure to try the pasta you suggested, can you get these at the supermarket?
From my tests at the moment (8 days ) my sugar levels are mostly higher in the morning between 8-9 but have come down in the last few days and are 7.4-7-7
I have had a reading of 10.6 after my main meal which was low carb pasta so I haven’t eaten that again. My average levels after eating are about 7.5- 8.0
Again many thanks for your advice and message
 
LouLou2005 said:
Thankyou so much for your message
Yes from the information the nhs gave me I was falling into to the trap of low fat foods were good. But have realised that this is not the case.
I’m starting to understand the need for carbs but making sure they are monitored amounts. Thankyou for the link I will take a look now.
Yes I have the protein bars I take to work which are around the same 10g carbs and help with energy levels.
I will also be sure to try the pasta you suggested, can you get these at the supermarket?
From my tests at the moment (8 days ) my sugar levels are mostly higher in the morning between 8-9 but have come down in the last few days and are 7.4-7-7
I have had a reading of 10.6 after my main meal which was low carb pasta so I haven’t eaten that again. My average levels after eating are about 7.5- 8.0
Again many thanks for your advice and message
Click to expand...
You can usually find the pasta in the free from section in the supermarket from memory it is about 15g carb per 100g dry weight and I find 25g dry wt portion is sufficient with plenty of whatever sauce you are having.
 
I was falling into to the trap of low fat foods were good. But have realised that this is not the case.

I would beware of general statements like that. Low fat foods can be good if you choose well. Not only that, there’s a theory that Type 2 diabetes is caused by a high fat diet, particularly animal fats.

What struck me from your earlier post is that you’re very active and not overweight. Is there a possibility you could be LADA (a form of Type 1 that comes on more slowly)?
 
Leadinglights said:
You can usually find the pasta in the free from section in the supermarket from memory it is about 15g carb per 100g dry weight and I find 25g dry wt portion is sufficient with plenty of whatever sauce you are having.
Click to expand...
Ok many thanks I will take a look
 
Inka said:
I was falling into to the trap of low fat foods were good. But have realised that this is not the case.

I would beware of general statements like that. Low fat foods can be good if you choose well. Not only that, there’s a theory that Type 2 diabetes is caused by a high fat diet, particularly animal fats.

What struck me from your earlier post is that you’re very active and not overweight. Is there a possibility you could be LADA (a form of Type 1 that comes on more slowly)?
Click to expand...
Thankyou for your message inka
Yes it is very confusing and misleading isn’t it but I am reading more and more information and advice which is helping a lot.
I have no idea about the LADA I will have a Google and mention it to the nurse when I have my next bloods Thankyou
 
Hey, I was diagnosed at your age 2 years ago. I was a keen runner, slim, no diabetes In family. Was just told over the phone that I was probably skinny on the outside fat on the inside. Charming. Scans proved I was no such thing. However antibody tests showed I’m probably a LADA. Whatever you do … don’t starve.
 
EmmaL76 said:
Hey, I was diagnosed at your age 2 years ago. I was a keen runner, slim, no diabetes In family. Was just told over the phone that I was probably skinny on the outside fat on the inside. Charming. Scans proved I was no such thing. However antibody tests showed I’m probably a LADA. Whatever you do … don’t starve.
Click to expand...
Thankyou Emma
I’m glad I’m not alone and you are the second person to mention the LADA so I will definitely ask about this
Yes I really don’t want to restrict my body anymore when I’ve been diagnosed with two deficiencies already but it’s just so hard with the rubbish advice the NHS gives you
Thanks for the message I appreciate it
Lou
 
LouLou2005 said:
Thankyou Emma
I’m glad I’m not alone and you are the second person to mention the LADA so I will definitely ask about this
Yes I really don’t want to restrict my body anymore when I’ve been diagnosed with two deficiencies already but it’s just so hard with the rubbish advice the NHS gives you
Thanks for the message I appreciate it
Lou
Click to expand...
You are certainly not alone! You got us lot now. Nice bunch here
 
LouLou2005 said:
Thankyou for your message inka
Yes it is very confusing and misleading isn’t it but I am reading more and more information and advice which is helping a lot.
I have no idea about the LADA I will have a Google and mention it to the nurse when I have my next bloods Thankyou
Click to expand...

Basically it’s a slow-progressing form of Type 1 that develops in adults. Because it’s slow, it’s often missed or assumed to be Type 2. Type 1 differs from Type 2 in that it’s an auto-immune condition. People with Type 1 can eat a pretty normal diet with the help of insulin injections to replace the insulin they’re missing.

In your situation, if there’s any doubt I’d push for extra tests. Type 1/LADA is far more common in adults than people assume.
 
Inka said:
Basically it’s a slow-progressing form of Type 1 that develops in adults. Because it’s slow, it’s often missed or assumed to be Type 2. Type 1 differs from Type 2 in that it’s an auto-immune condition. People with Type 1 can eat a pretty normal diet with the help of insulin injections to replace the insulin they’re missing.

In your situation, if there’s any doubt I’d push for extra tests. Type 1/LADA is far more common in adults than people assume.
Click to expand...
Ok thanks for explaining inka that’s very interesting and you have explained it fair better than google haha
I will definitely ask the doctor for a extra test
Would it be another blood test?
Lou
 
LouLou2005 said:
Ok thanks for explaining inka that’s very interesting and you have explained it fair better than google haha
I will definitely ask the doctor for a extra test
Would it be another blood test?
Lou
Click to expand...
There are two tests that would be done, c-peptide and GAD antibodies. The results when taken together can possibly give a diagnosis but sometimes it is not all that clear cut and they need interpretation by an expert. But still worth asking for them as the results can take quite a long time to come back as not many labs are able to do them. The samples of blood have to be frozen soon after being taken so you may have to go the hospital phlebotomy dept.
 
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