new here and new to diabetes

[pinoy]

Hello everybody. I am new here and have just been diagnosed with prediabetes. I have been doing some online research on diabetes education or even classes to take in my area. (from Florida by the way).

I didn't realize how expensive classes can be without insurance. I did come across site called "diabetes your way.com" and thought that it would be something that I would be willing to do to to educate myself on diabetes but wanted some feed back first. Figured somebody on here has been to it before or can suggest another alternative without spending hundreds of dollars on classes.

Thanks in advanced.

 

[Northerner]

Hi pinoy, welcome to the forum 🙂 Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. My best advice would be to get a copy of 'The First Year: Type 2 Diabetes: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed' by Gretchen Becker. I know you are not yet diagnosed Type 2, but if you modify your diet and activity levels as if you were then you will hopefully be able to get your blood sugars under control and avoid a full diagnosis. The lifestyle and diet that is most beneficial for people with diabetes is a healthy lifestyle for all, diabetic or not 🙂

Also, have a read of Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter. With this information you should gain a good understanding of how to attain good blood sugar control and a return to health. I would also advise looking into the GL Diet - not a weight loss diet, but an approach to selecting food which will be kinder to your blood sugars by releasing energy slowly and steadily.

Hopefully, this knowledge will help you decide whether you need to pay out for courses or not. In the UK there are lots of local voluntary groups for people with diabetes - perhaps there is something similar in the US that you could join? Perhaps the ADA can help? Being in the company of others who understand the condition can be very helpful and make you feel less isolated. Good luck with everything, I would love to hear how you progress with things. Please come back and ask any questions you may have and we will do our best to help 🙂

 

[LeeLee]

Welcome Pinoy. You CAN take control and extend the time before you need treatment.

When I was first diagnosed, I lost some weight (70 lbs) and ate more healthily - and went 8 years on diet control alone. Then I got complacent, lost control of my eating, gained half the weight back and then had to start medicating in April 2012. Now eating healthily again and lost 63 lbs in 9 months, sugar back in control. There's lots of good advice here.

 

[Mark T]

Welcome to the forum Pinoy 🙂

 

[haz]

Hi Pinoy - this is a great place for advice - just be careful - our scoring system is totally different from the USA - you guys love BIG numbers! I lived in US and would advise that you may have to search your local community for support groups that don't eat up insurance. Do you not have insurance? - Do you qualify for medicaid or medicare? - if so you may be able to get your testing kits for free. The American Diabetes Association is also great for info and they have offices in every state. Pinoy - is that Filipino? - if so there is a special section in the ADA website for Pacific Islanders, with some good advice.
Good luck, stay in touch. haz