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Newbie T2 Pre

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MikePreT2

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Relationship to Diabetes
At risk of diabetes
Hello all. Very depressed and upset. Been diagnosed as Pre T2 diabetes. Also care for partner with Young Onset Dementia. Walk 2-5 miles a day with him, eat small and varied portions, don’t smoke, drink little. 1 or 2 kilos overweight only too. Spent a life running, cycling, squash, gym and exercising. Reading 43 on scale and packed off to complete a 9 month health pre-diabetes course. I have no extra time in my life for changes in lifestyle, cooking more, exercising or shopping around for ingredients as my partner needs 24 deep care and support (washing, toileting, shaving/everything!). Deeply depressed that I have observed all the health advice my whole life to then feel like a naughty boy for putting on 2 kilos of weight and apparently eating all the wrong foods (dont eat fast food, fizzy sugary drinks, sweets). Can’t possibly exercise any more as it costs £4 just to park in town and walk for an hour or so plus I have a torn cartlidge in my knee can’t climb elevations or stairs and have to drag my partner along who walks very slowly. Feel that no one understands the sheer effort required in 24 care and then to be told to add more chores and find time to do all these extra things? I’m not suicidal but I’m almost at my wits end. I have no immediate support for my partner / you get nothing from the NHS and family all too busy. Need cheering up and help I think...

Mike
 
Hello @MikePreT2 , welcome to the the forum. You have my sympathy and understanding, I looked after my mum 24/7 for a few years she had mixed dementia. and now you’ve been told you have pre diabetes.
You have come to the right place for anything related to diabetes, I’ll pm you details of a peer support forum that you may find helpful run bu the Alzheimer’s society.
Oh and we do have a laugh too, we have some really good jokes around the site

Pre diabetes means you have a good chance of turning this around. An Hb1ac score of 42 means you have only just crossed over the threshold into pre diabetes, it literally starts at 42 , diabetes starts at 48

I understand you don’t have the time to go searching around the site so ask as many questions as you need to.
Type 2 diabetes though the media say otherwise,is not only about weight and lifestyle , genetics is involved too , their are a supprising number of thin active people who get diagnosed too.

Basically It’s carbohydrates that our bodies can’t handle to well, esp the fast acting ones, potatoes esp mashed, rice, pasta bread white, breakfast cereals and things made with flour it doesn’t mean you can’t have them, but do try to cut down on them , till you find good substitutes fill up on veg that grows above ground as it tends to be less carby than root veg .
Other things to be careful of are fruit juice and we need to be careful with fruit, yes it’s cindidered healthy but fructose is just another form of sugar , people often tolerate berries (grapes are little sugar bombs ) better.

I know that sounds awful but you will be pleased to know that we have no problems with protein and good fats.

Just to get you started , the following is by no means exhaustive
So if you eat meat, meat is fine as are high meat content sausages and burgers, eggs cooked anyway you like , cheese, milk, butter, some nuts are low carb, mushrooms , leafy green veg
When you have time have a read of these
maggie-daveys-letter-to-newly-diagnosed-type-2s

test-review-adjust by Alan S
 
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Hi - Lin's given you very good advice there - whatever the media say, T2 diabetes isn't solely caused by weight gain and eating and drinking all the wrong things as she's told you. Don't listen to all the people who tell you their granny has it and now she's blind, or their next door neighbour's uncle's cousin's leg had to be amputated - cos it absolutely AIN'T going to happen to you, is it? No, it isn't - cos you are going to make absolutely certain it won't, aren't you? Right!

What you have had, is an early warning that your body has decided to have the tendency not to be handle carbs as well as it used to, hence if you take steps by obtaining a glucose monitor, testing before and after eating carbs (takes about one minute to do virtually without moving) you will fairly soon be able to learn which foods and what amount of them, your body can handle OK in one go. Please would someone put up a link to where to obtain the SD Codefree meter and strips (that one's the cheapest when you are self funding) and please also a link to Alan S's 'Test Review Adjust' cos our mouse has decided not to work and I dunno how to copy & paste without it !

You would think I'd know that since they hadn't invented them when I first used computers, but there again they were mainframes and they hadn't invented the internet either! LOL

Good luck - it's only ever a big deal if YOU let it be.
 
Hi @MikePreT2, first of all welcome to the forum 🙂. Reading Lins @Ljc post shows what a caring and passionate forum you have joined. Please read as much as you can and try to take on board as much as you can. There is no set hours, you can ask or advise any time of the day there is always` someone around to give you a positive reply to your questions. Take care my friend we are here for you.
 
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The adjustments required to reduce carbohydrate in the diet were not at all difficult for me - but I have low carbed for a long time, I just picked up the veges I needed along with those for the family, chose the main part of the meal to suit everyone and that is still the way I go on now that I am only cooking for two again.
There is little requirement for extra exercise although I have found that I can because I have extra energy and no hindrances. Possibly you will find that you can cope better with al your responsibilities with lower blood glucose levels.
Possibly the acquisition of some kitchen appliances might help - such things as a pressure cooker, a grill with a temperature sensor, a slow cooker - or whatever suits your lifestyle might be useful in the circumstances.
It is looking more and more as though all the advice we have had about a healthy diet is now being exposed as flawed, so it is no wonder those who followed it feel betrayed, but you are only just at the top end of normal, so a few adjustments should allow your blood glucose to drop back and your body will - with any luck - be restored to dealing with carbs again.
 
Thanks Lin - no, I think a little nipper might have got at it when we were on holiday, possibly one called Cassie who looks positively angelic even when she's behaving like she has horns! Her soulmate Caleb was here earlier and wasn't actually all that bad for once. One thing about it, he moved a scrap bit of pipe and dropped it where it shouldn't have been - how his mother and great grandparents laughed when he trod on it whilst walking backwards, it rolled and smack down he went!
 
Thank You so much for this (I’m so touched by yours and the other responses).

I’ve never been a quitter but I think this just came at the wrong time for me (I’m moving house on top of everything else).

I feel better about the facts and the way forward and that it’s not my fault. I do think a bit of emotional help from my GP would have helped but they’re so busy I know.

Thank you again.

Mike
 
Thank you so much for your advice and positive words (inspiring) sadly I’m in a very difficult house move and have had to stay with an elderly relative for the last 3 months on top of everything else and unfortunately she’s rather negative though I do respond well to positive messages. I’ve already ordered the meter and feeling better about the way forward. The few medical people I’ve spoken to so far didn’t put my mind at ease at all and surely that’s half the battle. I know they’re busy but they need to be a bit more holistic I think.


Thank you

Mike
 
hello, bit new and replying on iPhone so editing is a problem as well as trying to see name of who I’m replying to.

Thank you for your advice and support. I’m moving soon on top of other things and can start by making sure my kitchen has the right tools in. Also good to know what things are causing excessive blood sugar or things that my body can’t manage.

I am about 1/3 vegetarian already so I’m really happy about lots of veg in my diet.

Thank you again,

Mike
 
Thank so much, I’m very touched by the support and advice and feel much less embattled. I am a fighter and I put in 100% when needed but maybe a bit to war weary after do many things on my plate recently (moving house that’s gone awry).

I’ll definitely keep in with the forum and hope that I’m replying correctly?

Thank you very much.


Mike
 
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As long as the veges you chose are low carb you should not go hungry, but I find that it is always handy to have cooked meat available - it being low carb by its very nature. I tend to have cream cheese and celery in the fridge, also nuts - I look for the cheapest option - almonds in the baking aisle are cheaper than the ones with the walnuts and brazils. There is frozen fish, high meat sausages, frozen cauliflower and berries always on hand plus other frozen veges, also frozen chips for the DH, and loaves of bread, frozen to stay fresh and tins of new potatoes to cater for his requirements.
 
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