I had gestational diabetes and have recently been given a pre diabetes diagnosis. I am feeling determined to reverse this, get my levels down and get healthier! I remember a few things from my GD in pregnancy but here to learn and stay motivated.
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Just joined - feeling determined
- Thread starter EmmsMy
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Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Welcome to the forum.
You have been given a prediabetes diagnosis and that is a warning sign that you need to make some lifestyle changes which depending where you are in the range 42-47mmol/mol should not be too onerous. Reducing portions of high carbohydrate foods and cutting out things like cakes and biscuits unless home made low carb ones and sugary drinks including fruit juice may be sufficient.
This link may give you some pointers for the foods to be careful with https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
How you approach it may be different from when you had GD as control would probably have needed to be stricter and you may have been given insulin or other oral meds which should not be needed now if you get your diet sorted out.
You have been given a prediabetes diagnosis and that is a warning sign that you need to make some lifestyle changes which depending where you are in the range 42-47mmol/mol should not be too onerous. Reducing portions of high carbohydrate foods and cutting out things like cakes and biscuits unless home made low carb ones and sugary drinks including fruit juice may be sufficient.
This link may give you some pointers for the foods to be careful with https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
How you approach it may be different from when you had GD as control would probably have needed to be stricter and you may have been given insulin or other oral meds which should not be needed now if you get your diet sorted out.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @EmmsMy
Good to hear you are motivated and determined to make some positive changes - that can be half the battle!
Many people on the forum later reflect that their brush with diabetes became a catalyst which prompted them to make positive changes towards a healthier and more active life. Perhaps changes that they had been intending to make for years.
Hopefully with a few tweaks and changes to your menu, you can steer away from a formal diabetes diagnosis.
Were you told the result of the HbA1c check that indicated your risk of diabetes? It’s likely to be a number between 42 and 47mmol/mol, and can give you an idea how close to the cut off point you are currently cruising.
Good to hear you are motivated and determined to make some positive changes - that can be half the battle!
Many people on the forum later reflect that their brush with diabetes became a catalyst which prompted them to make positive changes towards a healthier and more active life. Perhaps changes that they had been intending to make for years.
Hopefully with a few tweaks and changes to your menu, you can steer away from a formal diabetes diagnosis.
Were you told the result of the HbA1c check that indicated your risk of diabetes? It’s likely to be a number between 42 and 47mmol/mol, and can give you an idea how close to the cut off point you are currently cruising.
thanks for your message, I don’t recall being told a number, but I assume my doctor can access that information if I call and ask.
I haven’t quite got my head around when I’m going to fit in exercise but I’m managing to make food changes right away
I haven’t quite got my head around when I’m going to fit in exercise but I’m managing to make food changes right away
Exercise is good, but you don't need to go to a gym or do strenuous exercise. The NHS advises everybody (not just diabetic or overweight) to get 5 brisk walks or 30 min five times per week. You don't need to do more than that. A brisk walk is individual - meaning you can talk while walking at that pace, but you can't sing at that pace.
With diabetes (as with weight loss and Blood Pressure control) exercise helps hardly at all above that minimum. It 's the food choices you make that do the heavy lifting. For example Type 2 Diabetes is non-progressive and can go into remission with correct diet choice, but is progressive with medication alone - even with stronger and stronger and more and more medication !
Drummer
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I found that getting my diet right was the key - exercise doesn't need to be planned - well, not if you count dancing around the kitchen to the cd versions of what was played back in the last century.
Wow thanks, I downloaded this app called active 10 and I do more than 30 mins of brisk walking every day so that’s good to know. So maybe I can just focus on exercise for happiness!
That link has been really interesting reading, thank you
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
That really shouldn’t be underestimated!
Getting out in the open air, ideally somewhere as green as you can manage near you, has a clinically measurable positive effect on mood and mental wellbeing that lasts far longer than the activity itself.
Plus increased heart rate and blood flow help with insulin sensitivity - and again this lasts longer than the actual activity. For an additional 24-48 hours in some people.
What exercise would you choose for happiness/enjoyment?
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