Newbie Diagnosed Prediabetic

[Noggin]

Hi, I got a text a few days ago from my GP to say that a recent blood test had revealed a prediabetic condition - no explanation, just a link to a website. Simultaneously I received another text from them saying they were immediately standing down all services and cancelling appointments due to the need for Covid boosters and on no account to contact the surgery for anything but an emergency!

I feel completely stranded and I don't know what to do. I did have gestational diabetes with both my babies but that was 40 years ago now. I've no idea what my blood sugar measures at the moment, no idea whether I should be testing, no idea where to get testing equipment from and what measurement of blood sugar I should be aiming for.

Added to this, I have a feeling that my sugar is getting quite high now because I don't feel well at all. I feel depressed and highly anxious, so anxious I can't watch a suspense film or read a thriller at the moment without it pushing my anxiety up to scary levels; all of a sudden I can't sleep and lie awake feeling unbearable tension in my body and last night the anxiety got so bad it almost turned into terror. I feel unbearably irritated and angry and this is just not me. I feel in such a mess and as though I'm sliding downwards into a kind of apathy where I feel as though I can't be bothered with anything and can't concentrate enough to even sort out what I should be eating.

I'd appreciate any help you can give me. I honestly feel as though I'm going crazy with all these symptoms and I feel so ill. TIA.

 

[janw]

Hi and Welcome 🙂
I am not surprised you have all this anxiety and stress, you have been given no advice at all.
Pre-diabetic means you are under the diabetic threshold. What you need to do is slowly start to reduce your carbs - don't rush into it, one day at a time, one meal at a time. You have nothing to worry about, your blood glucose is just a bit higher than it should be, but you haven't reached the height that would make you a diabetic ... so all you need to do right now is slowly lower your carbs and try to do more exercise even if that is doing steps, dancing round your kitchen, sitting on a chair doing weight-lifting with cans, walking, swimming, cycling (real bike or exercise) - basically anything that gets you moving and breathing a bit heavier.
Carbs and sugar - sugar you know - sweets, cakes, biscuits, but carbs turn to glucose and these include potatoes, pasta, rice, bread, pastry, breakfast cereals, vegetables that grow under the earth, fruits such as the tropical type, bananas, oranges - you are best to just eat berries, with the occasional apple or pear with some 100% nut butter {peanut, almond or cashew). Meats and fish are 0 carbs, as are eggs, and small pieces of cheese are good for protein. You don't have to worry that much about calories either, mainly the carbs. You do not need to go low fat, we mainly go full fat and you can happily have cream in your coffee - it has lower carbs than milk - see, there are bonuses to be had 🙂
A Blood Glucose (BG) meter can be a godsend, but most prediabetics and Type 2s have to self fund these unfortunately. One of the cheapest to use right now is the GlucoNavii, the kit is around £10 from Amazon or Home Health, it only comes with 10 lancets and test strips a-piece, so you would need to order more of those at the same time. I have just changed to this model as I can't get the extras for my old one anymore, but I am more than happy with it. You look for somewhere between 4 and 7 on waking, and no more than 2 - 3 increase after eating, this is how you find out which carbs give you spikes or not and where you can make adjustments. I won't go into details, but once you get a kit be sure to ask any questions so you understand what you are doing and what to look for, change the finger and area each time you finger prick is one piece of good advice I can offer you. I don't want to overload you, but you do have some good questions there and there are many of us who are willing to help and guide you.
There is a wealth of experience on here from those that know and live it every day - GPs don't know much unless they are diabetics themselves. Also we are all different, we each have to find out what works for us and what doesn't. If we can help stop you moving up - or even to move you back down a stage, we will be more than happy to take the walk with you. You are not alone, remember that. x
PS I find it useful to keep an online food diary too, I log everything I eat and drink, it keeps a tally of the carbs, fat and protein, as well as calories, salt and fibre etc. I use a free version - MyFitnessPal - this one gives the UK carb value - some give the USA version where you need to deduct the FIBER from the carbs - the UK one has the FIBRE already deducted.

 

[Drummer]

Hello @Noggin. As you are not in the diabetes range then all you might need to do is take a look at a typical day's intake of carbohydrate and replace some of the high carb foods with something a bit lower.
No need to treat yourself as in need of drastic changes - perhaps decide to take yourself out for a walk a few times a week or takes some other exercise - I bought myself a trampoline. It isn't essential to exercise to reverse diabetes, but it is good for us.
Avoiding low fat foods is a good idea, protein and fats are the essential foods and yet we are encouraged not to eat them - it seems very odd. If you have lots of things which don't feel quite right you might have been trying to follow the widely touted but incorrect advice on what constitutes a healthy diet.
You might find that obtaining a blood glucose tester will help with the anxiety as your surgery is distracted giving vaccines, and it might help you to know that many people have managed to reverse full blown diabetes using a meter and changing their diet with very little outside assistance, though you can always come to the forum for advice and encouragement.

 

[Windy]

Morning @Noggin There's some information here about prediabetes which might be useful to you. There's a link to the Know your risk tool and if you live in England, you may be eligable for a place on the Healthier you NHS diabetes prevention programme.
I'm sorry to hear about the lack of support from your surgery, I also got a text message that they were prioritising covid vaccinations at my GPs. I know they're busy, but that's not much help to you at the moment.
Ask any questions you have as finding answers to the things that worry you will help with your anxiety levels. Staring into the unknown is much worse than staring at the known and making a plan to deal with that.
Best wishes, Sarah

 

[Noggin]

Hi and Welcome 🙂
I am not surprised you have all this anxiety and stress, you have been given no advice at all.
Pre-diabetic means you are under the diabetic threshold. What you need to do is slowly start to reduce your carbs - don't rush into it, one day at a time, one meal at a time. You have nothing to worry about, your blood glucose is just a bit higher than it should be, but you haven't reached the height that would make you a diabetic ... so all you need to do right now is slowly lower your carbs and try to do more exercise even if that is doing steps, dancing round your kitchen, sitting on a chair doing weight-lifting with cans, walking, swimming, cycling (real bike or exercise) - basically anything that gets you moving and breathing a bit heavier.
Carbs and sugar - sugar you know - sweets, cakes, biscuits, but carbs turn to glucose and these include potatoes, pasta, rice, bread, pastry, breakfast cereals, vegetables that grow under the earth, fruits such as the tropical type, bananas, oranges - you are best to just eat berries, with the occasional apple or pear with some 100% nut butter {peanut, almond or cashew). Meats and fish are 0 carbs, as are eggs, and small pieces of cheese are good for protein. You don't have to worry that much about calories either, mainly the carbs. You do not need to go low fat, we mainly go full fat and you can happily have cream in your coffee - it has lower carbs than milk - see, there are bonuses to be had 🙂
A Blood Glucose (BG) meter can be a godsend, but most prediabetics and Type 2s have to self fund these unfortunately. One of the cheapest to use right now is the GlucoNavii, the kit is around £10 from Amazon or Home Health, it only comes with 10 lancets and test strips a-piece, so you would need to order more of those at the same time. I have just changed to this model as I can't get the extras for my old one anymore, but I am more than happy with it. You look for somewhere between 4 and 7 on waking, and no more than 2 - 3 increase after eating, this is how you find out which carbs give you spikes or not and where you can make adjustments. I won't go into details, but once you get a kit be sure to ask any questions so you understand what you are doing and what to look for, change the finger and area each time you finger prick is one piece of good advice I can offer you. I don't want to overload you, but you do have some good questions there and there are many of us who are willing to help and guide you.
There is a wealth of experience on here from those that know and live it every day - GPs don't know much unless they are diabetics themselves. Also we are all different, we each have to find out what works for us and what doesn't. If we can help stop you moving up - or even to move you back down a stage, we will be more than happy to take the walk with you. You are not alone, remember that. x
PS I find it useful to keep an online food diary too, I log everything I eat and drink, it keeps a tally of the carbs, fat and protein, as well as calories, salt and fibre etc. I use a free version - MyFitnessPal - this one gives the UK carb value - some give the USA version where you need to deduct the FIBER from the carbs - the UK one has the FIBRE already deducted.

Thank you SO much for taking the time to write your kind reply. I must admit I felt completely abandoned by my GP surgery. Anyway, I bought a glucose testing meter today, which is making me feel more in control. I've also downloaded the app that pairs with it. I now need a simple way of working out how many carbs I've eaten; there seem to be a few different apps for this but I downloaded one only to find it's a calorie counter. Is there one you can recommend please?
Kind regards,
Noggin

 

[Noggin]

Hello @Noggin. As you are not in the diabetes range then all you might need to do is take a look at a typical day's intake of carbohydrate and replace some of the high carb foods with something a bit lower.
No need to treat yourself as in need of drastic changes - perhaps decide to take yourself out for a walk a few times a week or takes some other exercise - I bought myself a trampoline. It isn't essential to exercise to reverse diabetes, but it is good for us.
Avoiding low fat foods is a good idea, protein and fats are the essential foods and yet we are encouraged not to eat them - it seems very odd. If you have lots of things which don't feel quite right you might have been trying to follow the widely touted but incorrect advice on what constitutes a healthy diet.
You might find that obtaining a blood glucose tester will help with the anxiety as your surgery is distracted giving vaccines, and it might help you to know that many people have managed to reverse full blown diabetes using a meter and changing their diet with very little outside assistance, though you can always come to the forum for advice and encouragement.

Thank you very much for your kind reply. Unfortunately I'm very limited as to what exercise I can do because of fibromyalgia so I'm really relying on a change in diet.
I take your point about the fats; they get a very bad press!
I got a blood glucose tester today and, you're right, it has made me feel more in control.
I'm now looking for a simple carb counter app?
Kind regards,
Noggin

 

[janw]

I use My Fitness Pal, the free version HERE It covers all the foods I eat.
It looks like it is calorie focussed, but covers most everything within foods - and it is the UK version of carbs, so what it says is what it is.
Edit to add - I use it on my laptop and the app on my phone, so I can add food and drink wherever I am

 

[Leadinglights]

Thank you SO much for taking the time to write your kind reply. I must admit I felt completely abandoned by my GP surgery. Anyway, I bought a glucose testing meter today, which is making me feel more in control. I've also downloaded the app that pairs with it. I now need a simple way of working out how many carbs I've eaten; there seem to be a few different apps for this but I downloaded one only to find it's a calorie counter. Is there one you can recommend please?

Carbs and cals is a book or a subscription app or some people use Nutracheck or just do a google search for TOTAL carb for X and of course the information on the back of packets. As it is usually in g carb /100g a bit of arithmetic will be needed to work out carbs for your portion

 

[Noggin]

Morning @Noggin There's some information here about prediabetes which might be useful to you. There's a link to the Know your risk tool and if you live in England, you may be eligable for a place on the Healthier you NHS diabetes prevention programme.
I'm sorry to hear about the lack of support from your surgery, I also got a text message that they were prioritising covid vaccinations at my GPs. I know they're busy, but that's not much help to you at the moment.
Ask any questions you have as finding answers to the things that worry you will help with your anxiety levels. Staring into the unknown is much worse than staring at the known and making a plan to deal with that.
Best wishes, Sarah

Thank you, Windy. I love this site already.
Kind regards,
Audrey

 

[Alan S]

Hi, I got a text a few days ago from my GP to say that a recent blood test had revealed a prediabetic condition - no explanation, just a link to a website. Simultaneously I received another text from them saying they were immediately standing down all services and cancelling appointments due to the need for Covid boosters and on no account to contact the surgery for anything but an emergency!

Wow! That is disgraceful! Are you able to change to a different GP after the Christmas?

I feel completely stranded and I don't know what to do. I did have gestational diabetes with both my babies but that was 40 years ago now. I've no idea what my blood sugar measures at the moment, no idea whether I should be testing, no idea where to get testing equipment from and what measurement of blood sugar I should be aiming for.

Others here can help with advice on supplies; I try to answer all the other questions here (click on it): Getting Started

I know you will have lots of questions after you read that and the pages it links to. Come back and ask them all.

 

[grovesy]

Wow! That is disgraceful! Are you able to change to a different GP after the Christmas?

Others here can help with advice on supplies; I try to answer all the other questions here (click on it): Getting Started

I know you will have lots of questions after you read that and the pages it links to. Come back and ask them all.

GP's here have been instructed by the Government to concentrate on the delivering booster program of vaccines and emergencies.

 

[Noggin]

I use My Fitness Pal, the free version HERE It covers all the foods I eat.
It looks like it is calorie focussed, but covers most everything within foods - and it is the UK version of carbs, so what it says is what it is.
Edit to add - I use it on my laptop and the app on my phone, so I can add food and drink wherever I am

Thanks so much. Unfortunately it won't accept my UK postcode. I have, however, sent off for a carb counting book which will hopefully arrive shortly after Xmas. I hope you have a lovely Xmas.
Kind regards
Noggin

 

[Noggin]

Wow! That is disgraceful! Are you able to change to a different GP after the Christmas?

Others here can help with advice on supplies; I try to answer all the other questions here (click on it): Getting Started

I know you will have lots of questions after you read that and the pages it links to. Come back and ask them all.

Thank you very much, Alan. I am glad to be receiving good support from this group. Unfortunately, our government have given instructions to GP practices to concentrate urgently on giving booster Covid vaccines to prevent the NHS becoming overwhelmed. It's just really unfortunate that these 2 events coincided just at the wrong time for me. My anxiety has improved considerably over the last few days, however, because of all you knowledgable people.
Kind regards,
Audrey

 

[Deleted member 21371]

Thank you very much, Alan. I am glad to be receiving good support from this group. Unfortunately, our government have given instructions to GP practices to concentrate urgently on giving booster Covid vaccines to prevent the NHS becoming overwhelmed. It's just really unfortunate that these 2 events coincided just at the wrong time for me. My anxiety has improved considerably over the last few days, however, because of all you knowledgable people.
Kind regards,
Audrey

Hopefully things will improve after the new year, and normal service will be back.
You said you are only prediabetic, so it's not anything to panic about yet.
A few tweaks to what you eat will help, until things get back to normal here, but until then, we are all in the same boat.

 

[janw]

Thanks so much. Unfortunately it won't accept my UK postcode. I have, however, sent off for a carb counting book which will hopefully arrive shortly after Xmas. I hope you have a lovely Xmas.
Kind regards
Noggin

Hmm, I am in the UK so I don't know why it wouldn't accept your postcode, that is odd.
Merry Christmas to you, too

 

[trophywench]

Re postcode, have you tried omitting the space between the two parts of it, or ensuring you didn't press the zero rather than an 'O' ?

 

[grovesy]

If you were trying to register for for the NHS programme that was mentioned it could be your CCG is not part of the programme.

 

[Windy]

Audrey, I use a spreadsheet and a copy of pocket carbs and cals to log my meals on. I downloaded Libre Office (it's free, unlike excel) and keep a note of everything in there, including my BG levels before and after meals. I'm not sure it's a very elegant way of recording it, but it works for me.
Glad to hear you're less anxious, hope you have a relaxing Christmas and new year, Sarah

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum Audrey @Noggin

Sorry you were left to fend for yourself after being told about being at risk of diabetes - really unfortunate timing with the booster programme overtaking everything the very same day, and not ideal at all. I can completely understand how stressful that must have been!

Glad you have found the forum suggestions helpful so far. Try not to be too worried or upset - many folks on the forum later reflect that their brush with diabetes ended up being a very positive thing for them, and that it became a catalyst to make some positive changes to their lifestyle and way of eating, increase levels of activity, and lose some weight if they are carrying extra.

Some people end up feeling fitter and healthier than they have for years!