Hi please share your thoughts

[Kala]

Hi, I am 45 years female, I have tested hba1c as 54, I have been above hba1c around 53, 52 over 4 years . I am still diagnosed as pre diabetes, never the doctors suggested to take any medication. This time as the test results raise to 54 the GP asked me to come back for a test in 3 weeks. I could see that if thehba1c is above 48 then I should get a treatment.My question is why I did not get any treatment so far. Thanks

 

[grovesy]

Hi, I am 45 years female, I have tested hba1c as 54, I have been above hba1c around 53, 52 over 4 years . I am still diagnosed as pre diabetes, never the doctors suggested to take any medication. This time as the test results raise to 54 the GP asked me to come back for a test in 3 weeks. I could see that if thehba1c is above 48 then I should get a treatment.My question is why I did not get any treatment so far. Thanks

Well that is a question you should be asking your GP. Most people at the levels would have been advised to try lifestyle changes.

 

[Kala]

Well that is a question you should be asking your GP. Most people at the levels would have been advised to try lifestyle changes.

Thanks, I will do that

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Yes many GPs like to see if an initial period of diet and lifestyle changes can reduce blood glucose levels without the need for prescribing medication.

One of the most effective strategies you can try is to reduce the total carbohydrate content (not just ‘of which sugars’) of your meals. There are obvious things like cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks that you will want to cut out straight away, but you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits, so reducing portion sizes of these is a really important step.

Unfortunately there is no one fixed approach that will work for everyone, but many members here have found it helpful to begin trying to stick to 100g-130g of total carbohydrates throughout the day as a starting point.

Good luck and let us know how you get on 🙂

 

[Leadinglights]

I think your G P is taking an enlightened view in allowing you to try to get your levels down by some lifestyle changes, although as you say you have been at those levels in the low fifties for a number of years, were you not given any advice about reducing your carbohydrates or have you done that to no effect in which case that might signal they would want you to go on medication. However if you can convince them you are willing to make those changes they may hang off for say 3 months.
Losing weight if you have weight to lose and increasing exercise are all things which will help. You need to take a serious look at your diet and if you start to keep a food diary of all the things you eat and drink that will give a good starting point for where you can make some savings on your carb intake.
The book or app Carbs and Cals ids a useful resource for giving you the carb value of a whole range of foods and will help you make some better choices.
Have a look at the thread What did you eat yesterday to see what meals people with Type 2 have. Some people may be on medication or even insulin so would have more carbs than can be tolerated by some.
You should consider getting a blood glucose monitor so you can test the effect of your meals on your levels, it is unlikely you would be given one by your G P but many people self fund the monitor and strips. Inexpensive ones are available on -line the GlucoNavil or Spirtit TEE2 being ones being reliable with strips at £8 per 50 as this is the consumable part so the cost of the strips is relevant. If you establish a testing regime of before you eat and after 2 hours and see no more than 3mmol/l increase then that meal was OK for you. This allows you to make better choices of food or portion size.
I hope you get on OK with your appointment.

 

[Kala]

Yes many GPs like to see if an initial period of diet and lifestyle changes can reduce blood glucose levels without the need for prescribing medication.

One of the most effective strategies you can try is to reduce the total carbohydrate content (not just ‘of which sugars’) of your meals. There are obvious things like cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks that you will want to cut out straight away, but you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits, so reducing portion sizes of these is a really important step.

Unfortunately there is no one fixed approach that will work for everyone, but many members here have found it helpful to begin trying to stick to 100g-130g of total carbohydrates throughout the day as a starting point.

Good luck and let us know how you get on 🙂

Thank you so much, I have started working on, reduced my carbohydrate in take, hoping for a good result ☺

 

[Kala]

I think your G P is taking an enlightened view in allowing you to try to get your levels down by some lifestyle changes, although as you say you have been at those levels in the low fifties for a number of years, were you not given any advice about reducing your carbohydrates or have you done that to no effect in which case that might signal they would want you to go on medication. However if you can convince them you are willing to make those changes they may hang off for say 3 months.
Losing weight if you have weight to lose and increasing exercise are all things which will help. You need to take a serious look at your diet and if you start to keep a food diary of all the things you eat and drink that will give a good starting point for where you can make some savings on your carb intake.
The book or app Carbs and Cals ids a useful resource for giving you the carb value of a whole range of foods and will help you make some better choices.
Have a look at the thread What did you eat yesterday to see what meals people with Type 2 have. Some people may be on medication or even insulin so would have more carbs than can be tolerated by some.
You should consider getting a blood glucose monitor so you can test the effect of your meals on your levels, it is unlikely you would be given one by your G P but many people self fund the monitor and strips. Inexpensive ones are available on -line the GlucoNavil or Spirtit TEE2 being ones being reliable with strips at £8 per 50 as this is the consumable part so the cost of the strips is relevant. If you establish a testing regime of before you eat and after 2 hours and see no more than 3mmol/l increase then that meal was OK for you. This allows you to make better choices of food or portion size.
I hope you get on OK with your appointment.

Thanks, will do, I did not know 50 is something we should be in, as my GP always says pre diabete I didn't take it seriously. I put on extra a stone during pandemic and did not get my blood test done around 2 years. Now I know I should take seriously, I am already started working on loosing weight and exercise at the least half an hour per day, hoping for a good result when I see my GP next time. Thanks again

 

[Christy]

Good luck @Kala Much better to sort with lifestyle changes if this is possible for you. Lots of great help here 🙂42 to 47 is the pre diabetes range. 48 and above gives the diabetes diagnosis.

 

[Leadinglights]

Thanks, will do, I did not know 50 is something we should be in, as my GP always says pre diabete I didn't take it seriously. I put on extra a stone during pandemic and did not get my blood test done around 2 years. Now I know I should take seriously, I am already started working on loosing weight and exercise at the least half an hour per day, hoping for a good result when I see my GP next time. Thanks again

Yes, you should be aiming to get your levels to below 48mmol/mol with the eventual aim of below 42mmol/mol but that is better done slowly to avoid vision issues so give yourself a realistic target and time scale. As people often say it is a marathon not a sprint but you do need to take that first step.

 

[Drummer]

I find it rather strange that you have not been given a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, as you have been for some years, according to the usual guidelines.
Medication might not be required for many type twos to have normal readings again - it is all about the carbohydrates and finding out what you can cope with - but you ought to have been given the diagnosis and advice years ago and then you might now be back to normal numbers.

 

[Kala]

Good luck @Kala Much better to sort with lifestyle changes if this is possible for you. Lots of great help here 🙂42 to 47 is the pre diabetes range. 48 and above gives the diabetes diagnosis.

Thanks

 

[Kala]

I find it rather strange that you have not been given a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, as you have been for some years, according to the usual guidelines.
Medication might not be required for many type twos to have normal readings again - it is all about the carbohydrates and finding out what you can cope with - but you ought to have been given the diagnosis and advice years ago and then you might now be back to normal numbers.

Thanks a lot, I am taking it serious this time , working on , hoping for a good results