Hi - prediabetic (?), pre-doctors!

[Hindolbittern]

Hi. I've been reading the threads with interest and would welcome any advice from you knowledgeable lot. My Type 2 older brother came to stay and as I'd just done 8wks of The Blood Sugar Diet and lost two stones (and had stayed low carb, especially as we were feeding him) I thought I'd use his testing machine. Clearly I was anticipating fabulous results!

Results not so totally fabulous! A couple of fasting results up in the 8s - although the caveat is that he very much adds to my stress levels (sibling winding-up buttons pressed!) For the last week, since he went home, my fasting test results range from 6.1 to 6.6. I've bought a testing machine and "borrowed" a stash of his strips.

Coming home from work my pre-dinner results, when I've done them, have ranged from 4.1 to 4.8.

I'm 12 stone, 56 yrs old, try to do 10k steps, we cook from scratch and, at the moment, I'm still sticking closely to BSD v low carb levels. Obviously, with my bro, I do have Type 2 in the family and definitely tend toward apple shape (dammit!). I don't have an abnormal thirst or feel unwell in any way. Because of his diagnosis I've done quite a bit of reading here & elsewhere about nutrition and how it relates to (his) glucose levels. At the back of my mind I do wonder if I've got myself a slight dose of hypochondria as a result!

But, as I understand it readings above 6 show a risk of developing type 2. So I plan to keep self-monitoring for now rather than go to the doctors (not been for several years and not wildly keen to start down that line, partly because I worry about their knowledge levels and resources) and, at 5'6", I want to lose another two stone.

Any thoughts and advice are very welcome! Thanks.

 

[grovesy]

Welcome.

 

[Hindolbittern]

Welcome.

Hi - thanks. 🙂

 

[Copepod]

Welcome to the forum, Hindolbittern. Well done on recognising your higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes because of genetic predisposition and taking action.
Cooking from scratch is great. Walking lots means you're tackling exercise, too. As you mention wanting to lose 2 stones, you're right that reducing weight would probably reduce your blood glucose readings, too, even though your genetics won't let you change from apple to pear shape.
Lots of ideas in Food / recipes and Weight Loss Group, plus Exercise / sport.

 

[Hindolbittern]

Welcome to the forum, Hindolbittern. Well done on recognising your higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes because of genetic predisposition and taking action.
Cooking from scratch is great. Walking lots means you're tackling exercise, too. As you mention wanting to lose 2 stones, you're right that reducing weight would probably reduce your blood glucose readings, too, even though your genetics won't let you change from apple to pear shape.
Lots of ideas in Food / recipes and Weight Loss Group, plus Exercise / sport.

Brilliant - thanks. Reading back I should have put the specific question that is my main uncertainty properly.

Are fasting results in the 6s a concern (esp as I'm currently very low carb)? I've had conflicting views from reading and advice.

Thanks again.

 

[Steff]

Hi HB a warm welcome

 

[Hindolbittern]

Hi HB a warm welcome

Thanks! X

 

[Amigo]

Hi HB, its true that recommended fasting levels for a non diabetic should ideally be below 5.5 with 5.6 to 7 in the pre-diabetic range. However you're doing brilliantly well and achieving really good levels generally that you should be fine continuing what you're doing. With those levels I can guarantee a Hba1c well outside of diabetic range. Further weight loss will help because it reduces visceral fat from around the organs and increases insulin sensitivity. Also you're not suffering any symptoms.

I wish I'd been as pro-active when I was showing glucose impairment issues! Well done!

 

[Hindolbittern]

Oh brilliant - that's really great to hear, especially the Hba1c news. I'll relax about the readings more now. I was very uncertain about interpreting what my readings meant. But I shall still keep trying to reduce the old inner fat!

As an aside, it is interesting that, doing the 2 stone through BSD, I haven't had as many "Oh you've lost weight" comments as I'd expect, so I suspect quite a portion of the 2 stone might well be visceral fat. I certainly feel springier and lighter. Which pleases my common sense, although my vanity is a tiny bit miffed!

 

[Copepod]

Here's hoping that continued weight loss will bring more "you've lost weight" comments. But you imply you've had some, just not as many as you expect. Perhaps seeing people you haven't seen for some time will up the count?
Feeling "springier and lighter" is a great result!

 

[Hindolbittern]

Here's hoping that continued weight loss will bring more "you've lost weight" comments. But you imply you've had some, just not as many as you expect. Perhaps seeing people you haven't seen for some time will up the count?
Feeling "springier and lighter" is a great result!

Thanks again. You're right, the main one is from a woman I haven't seen for a few weeks. The other one was at the weekend and a chap who said I looked radiant. It was sunny and I did have a white blouse on, so I'm half taking that 😉 Frankly, it was a bit odd!

 

[Grogg1]

I've lost 3 stone but no one said anything much until I was almost 3 stone light. Now they constantly comment how trim I'm looking. Perhaps they are being polite!

 

[Martin Canty]

Hi HB,

Congratulations on the weight loss.... You are wise to monitor your BG, recognizing that there is T2 in the family; I would stick with the low carb & that may help prevent developing full blown T2. My approach is also made from scratch using quality ingredients & I feel fitter, have more energy & have lost 60lb (in 2 years since DX) despite not having counted a calorie in years (just carbs).

 

[Hindolbittern]

I've lost 3 stone but no one said anything much until I was almost 3 stone light. Now they constantly comment how trim I'm looking. Perhaps they are being polite!

I saw quite a few people I know today and several of them spotted the weight loss - which was very reassuring. I'm half suspicious that they've been reading my entries here now 😉. 3 stone is marvellous - very well done. I'm inspired.

 

[Hindolbittern]

Hi HB,

Congratulations on the weight loss.... You are wise to monitor your BG, recognizing that there is T2 in the family; I would stick with the low carb & that may help prevent developing full blown T2. My approach is also made from scratch using quality ingredients & I feel fitter, have more energy & have lost 60lb (in 2 years since DX) despite not having counted a calorie in years (just carbs).

60lbs - that's over 4 stone. Wonderful! Yes, I think I'll carry on carrying on with what I'm doing - and keep monitoring. I definitely feel better too. I'm hardly missing the carbs. It helps that it feels a fitting and natural way to eat in the summer , I'm hoping that by the autumn (when I know I usually tend to turn to more carb laden food) I'll be permanently fixed in the pattern.

 

[Martin Canty]

when I know I usually tend to turn to more carb laden food

It takes a while but definitely the urge for carbs will be lessened significantly, pre DX my meals were an awful lot of carbs (and big servings) now very few carbs & a fraction of the serving size. I spent the summer & Fall of 2015 gradually reducing my carbs until I actually went LCHF as a deliberate dietary choice (it was a logical extension of the direction I was heading without knowing anything about LCHF).....

Great time to spend a few months developing your recipes over the Summer.

 

[Hindolbittern]

It takes a while but definitely the urge for carbs will be lessened significantly, pre DX my meals were an awful lot of carbs (and big servings) now very few carbs & a fraction of the serving size. I spent the summer & Fall of 2015 gradually reducing my carbs until I actually went LCHF as a deliberate dietary choice (it was a logical extension of the direction I was heading without knowing anything about LCHF).....

Great time to spend a few months developing your recipes over the Summer.

I'm enjoying the challenge of piling the flavour in. I bought Tom Kerridge's Dopamine Diet book and had noted that a lot of that feels more winter/autumny. So I think that will come into its own then. Meanwhile it's salad a go-go round here. Lucikly I do love a lettuce!