Newly diagnosed prediabetic

[Samana]

Hi Samana

It sounds like you've got a pretty good handle on it and are doing everyting you can, It's just that everything has come at once which sounds overwhelming. The Amber laptop screen is good as I'm sure you know that blue light reduces melatonin and inhibits sleep.

I had some Occupational Therapy from a very nice lady once. I was overwhelmed by pretty much everything. She suggested that I cut a job in half if it seems too much. If it's still too much, cut it in half again and again.... This worked very well for me and I still use it to this day.
I remember I had 2 jobs to do at home and needed tools for both. I was overwhelmed so I drove to the builder's merchants and bought tools for the first job. Then I drove home and did the first job. The back to the merchants to buy the tools for the second job, back home and did that. It might sound a little barmy, but I go both jobs done and it didn't take much longer so who cares? 🙂

I do wish you luck with all your challenges, including sleep. As you say, one step at a time.

Cheers

Steve

Hi Steve,
Yes it is that everything has come at once and overwhelming you are right. So handling any one thing can be like juggling and getting no where at times. I feel like I'm making slow progress which is good. Yes the amber light at night helps you sleep better and I love to watch something not too taxing before I sleep.
I get you! All my goals are set in bite size baby steps so they are manageable and doable that way I can do it and love doing what I do and strangely achieve so much more! It's like it takes away all of the pressure! It's a great way of doing things.
Actually, that's not barmy at all and doing one thing at a time, gives your whole attention to that one job and loses the overwhelm and you get to do a good job in the process so get it totally. I'm with you on that. Doing this helps me to keep my concentration, I can no longer multitask so find it so much better to give all my attention to one thing at a time. Love your goal focus. Exactly, who cares? You got the job done and no rush, take the pressure off yourself. We've had a few small DIY jobs outstanding and been waiting for a few days of good weather... we did two of them in the last week and found two more to do and I've just added them to the list and will do them in due course. Now got the items we need so may do them in the coming weeks. I take one week at a time, I don't know how you plan and even them my weeks can change due to health, energy etc so I can only loosely plan and that's taken a long time to get used to.
I've written enough for now. If you want to share more, feel free, it's lovely just chatting about stuff even if not directly Diabetes, it's all connected to how it affects us on a daily basis with our health and how we can get around things. Have a great day!

 

[picitup]

Hi Samana
As I said, it seems you have a good handle on evrything you need to do so hopefully things will continue to improve for you. I'm not generally too fussed about the speed of progress, just that I progress!

My wife has a Kindle which she reads in bed in Amber mode and it really helps her drop off. The only issue is, if she reads it on the train she falls asleep lol.

I've been digging around for another monitor with cheaper strips than mu glucorx nexus. With a bit of digging, you can get reasonable prices for the strips on eBay, but I saw the Core blood glucose monitoring system VAT relief:

Core blood glucose monitoring system VAT relief

The Core Blood Glucose Monitoring System includes a CoreOK meter, test strips and more to help you test your blood sugar levels. Buy your kit from Diabetes UK.

shop.diabetes.org.uk

The strips are only £8.33 with VAT relief for 50 so half the price of the Nexus strips at Boots. It also has 4 timers so useful for post meal testing and a PC interface so I can draw nice graph. I don't get out much 🙂

Well, I'm shattered today. 3 separate days on the bike doing an entire mile and it's hit me. All this tells me is I was (am) completely unfit. That's fine though, a day recovering and I'll be off again tomorrow. I read an article on the Internet that if you cycle, the heavier you are, the more calories you burn and I was sold.

You sound very organised. I don't plan much, I'm a bit more reactive. Part of the problem is that I have no real concept of time and being retired doesn't help and neither does being bipolar. Time runs very slowly for me when I have a low mood and spins by when I'm up. I challenge anyone to keep track of that

I witter on so that's all for now. Apart from:

I have a question; if the hba1c test is an average of your BG over 3 months - can you replicate this with a BG meter? I'd like to check my progress myself if I can. Maybe do a fasting test every morning and take the average? I have no idea!

Keep Smilin'

Steve

 

[Windy]

if the hba1c test is an average of your BG over 3 months - can you replicate this with a BG meter?

Not reliably, no. The HbA1c is what's happening over the 3 months, and you couldn't replicate that unless you were taking your BG all the time, and even then, I'm not sure it'd be very precise as BG meters aren't as accurate as the laboratory tests used to find out your HbA1c.
Sarah

 

[Deleted member 21371]

Hi Samana
As I said, it seems you have a good handle on evrything you need to do so hopefully things will continue to improve for you. I'm not generally too fussed about the speed of progress, just that I progress!

My wife has a Kindle which she reads in bed in Amber mode and it really helps her drop off. The only issue is, if she reads it on the train she falls asleep lol.

I've been digging around for another monitor with cheaper strips than mu glucorx nexus. With a bit of digging, you can get reasonable prices for the strips on eBay, but I saw the Core blood glucose monitoring system VAT relief:

Core blood glucose monitoring system VAT relief

The Core Blood Glucose Monitoring System includes a CoreOK meter, test strips and more to help you test your blood sugar levels. Buy your kit from Diabetes UK.

shop.diabetes.org.uk

The strips are only £8.33 with VAT relief for 50 so half the price of the Nexus strips at Boots. It also has 4 timers so useful for post meal testing and a PC interface so I can draw nice graph. I don't get out much 🙂

Well, I'm shattered today. 3 separate days on the bike doing an entire mile and it's hit me. All this tells me is I was (am) completely unfit. That's fine though, a day recovering and I'll be off again tomorrow. I read an article on the Internet that if you cycle, the heavier you are, the more calories you burn and I was sold.

You sound very organised. I don't plan much, I'm a bit more reactive. Part of the problem is that I have no real concept of time and being retired doesn't help and neither does being bipolar. Time runs very slowly for me when I have a low mood and spins by when I'm up. I challenge anyone to keep track of that

I witter on so that's all for now. Apart from:

I have a question; if the hba1c test is an average of your BG over 3 months - can you replicate this with a BG meter? I'd like to check my progress myself if I can. Maybe do a fasting test every morning and take the average? I have no idea!

Keep Smilin'

Steve

There is a correlation, but if you keep your BG to the best you can, your Hba1c will follow.

 

[Drummer]

SOME correlation - but I dropped my carbs from under 50 gm per day to under 40 to try to lower my Hba1c from 42 down into the 30s.
A year later and my Hba1c was - 42.

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi Samana
As I said, it seems you have a good handle on evrything you need to do so hopefully things will continue to improve for you. I'm not generally too fussed about the speed of progress, just that I progress!

My wife has a Kindle which she reads in bed in Amber mode and it really helps her drop off. The only issue is, if she reads it on the train she falls asleep lol.

I've been digging around for another monitor with cheaper strips than mu glucorx nexus. With a bit of digging, you can get reasonable prices for the strips on eBay, but I saw the Core blood glucose monitoring system VAT relief:

Core blood glucose monitoring system VAT relief

The Core Blood Glucose Monitoring System includes a CoreOK meter, test strips and more to help you test your blood sugar levels. Buy your kit from Diabetes UK.

shop.diabetes.org.uk

The strips are only £8.33 with VAT relief for 50 so half the price of the Nexus strips at Boots. It also has 4 timers so useful for post meal testing and a PC interface so I can draw nice graph. I don't get out much 🙂

Well, I'm shattered today. 3 separate days on the bike doing an entire mile and it's hit me. All this tells me is I was (am) completely unfit. That's fine though, a day recovering and I'll be off again tomorrow. I read an article on the Internet that if you cycle, the heavier you are, the more calories you burn and I was sold.

You sound very organised. I don't plan much, I'm a bit more reactive. Part of the problem is that I have no real concept of time and being retired doesn't help and neither does being bipolar. Time runs very slowly for me when I have a low mood and spins by when I'm up. I challenge anyone to keep track of that

I witter on so that's all for now. Apart from:

I have a question; if the hba1c test is an average of your BG over 3 months - can you replicate this with a BG meter? I'd like to check my progress myself if I can. Maybe do a fasting test every morning and take the average? I have no idea!

Keep Smilin'

Steve

The GlucoNavii has test strips at £13 for 100 from Amazon and the monitor is about £10.

 

[Samana]

Hi Samana
As I said, it seems you have a good handle on evrything you need to do so hopefully things will continue to improve for you. I'm not generally too fussed about the speed of progress, just that I progress!

My wife has a Kindle which she reads in bed in Amber mode and it really helps her drop off. The only issue is, if she reads it on the train she falls asleep lol.

I've been digging around for another monitor with cheaper strips than mu glucorx nexus. With a bit of digging, you can get reasonable prices for the strips on eBay, but I saw the Core blood glucose monitoring system VAT relief:

Core blood glucose monitoring system VAT relief

The Core Blood Glucose Monitoring System includes a CoreOK meter, test strips and more to help you test your blood sugar levels. Buy your kit from Diabetes UK.

shop.diabetes.org.uk

The strips are only £8.33 with VAT relief for 50 so half the price of the Nexus strips at Boots. It also has 4 timers so useful for post meal testing and a PC interface so I can draw nice graph. I don't get out much 🙂

Well, I'm shattered today. 3 separate days on the bike doing an entire mile and it's hit me. All this tells me is I was (am) completely unfit. That's fine though, a day recovering and I'll be off again tomorrow. I read an article on the Internet that if you cycle, the heavier you are, the more calories you burn and I was sold.

You sound very organised. I don't plan much, I'm a bit more reactive. Part of the problem is that I have no real concept of time and being retired doesn't help and neither does being bipolar. Time runs very slowly for me when I have a low mood and spins by when I'm up. I challenge anyone to keep track of that

I witter on so that's all for now. Apart from:

I have a question; if the hba1c test is an average of your BG over 3 months - can you replicate this with a BG meter? I'd like to check my progress myself if I can. Maybe do a fasting test every morning and take the average? I have no idea!

Keep Smilin'

Steve

Hi Steve,
Yes true it's just about things progressing and sometimes if things don't work it's just a sign we need to do something a different way.
I have a Kindle e-reader too! Yes they are great! I've not found the amber part on mine, perhaps it's n the Fire? But anyway yes it does help you drop off, I tend to dim the screen also anyway and that helps.

Ooh the blood monitor sounds really good! Do you have to pay for yours? I live in Wales, but had to prize it out of the nurse's hand almost, she didn't want me to have it and said I needed to get the strips and lancets if that's what you call them put on a repeater, still have to do that but afraid to ask! I may need to pay if they don't want me to have them. So I might do what you have done...I have the blood monitor though.

Wow, it sounds really good! It has a few extra things with timers etc I've just looked it up. Hahaha, you can draw a nice graph... you don't get out much 🙂 I like it!

You're doing well! You're are making the effort that is what counts! We all have off days and that's okay. Just do what you can when you can. I'm the same, I have exercises for me knees and hips and some days I can't do them but when I can I do, so be kind to yourself and like you say tomorrow is another day and you can see how far you get tomorrow, key is also not to overdo it. Cycling is good! How is the weight loss going? I do have a bad memory so forgive me! I do my best!

Hahaha, yes I can be painfully organised! I no longer work either and my husband is retired so just enjoying life the best we can. I do get what you are saying about your health... I have different health issues and some very new current ones that have all come at once to handle and it really has knocked me! I'll find my way back, but usually I pick myself up faster than I have of late, but I'm getting there baby step by baby step.

I chatter too sometimes hahaha... I don't mind if you don't sometimes... it does you good

Brilliant question... I was eventually going to get around to asking that myself! I can't see why our blood test would be any different to theirs can you? Where I go for my Hba1c you can have breakfast before you go, it's a none fasting one... is that the same request you get for yours? Or do you get asked to fast? It wouldn't hurt to do it would it? It would give you an idea where you are at... let me know if you do or your thoughts... it makes sense to me!

Have a lovely evening

Samana

 

[Samana]

The GlucoNavii has test strips at £13 for 100 from Amazon and the monitor is about £10.

That sounds a good deal! Do you need to buy the lancets separately? I'm new to this. Currently I got one from the nurse but might not get help with renewing the extras.

 

[Windy]

That sounds a good deal! Do you need to buy the lancets separately? I'm new to this. Currently I got one from the nurse but might not get help with renewing the extras.

I don't know if you can get them on prescription, as I buy mine off of Amazon. They're "28g lancets" for the Gluco navii's lancet pen, and come in a pack of 50.

 

[picitup]

The GlucoNavii has test strips at £13 for 100 from Amazon and the monitor is about £10.

Hi

I couldn't find the monitor or strips at this price on Amazon - maybe if you have a link?

Cheers

Steve

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi

I couldn't find the monitor or strips at this price on Amazon - maybe if you have a link?

Cheers

Steve

https://www.amazon.co.uk/GlucoNavii-Blood-Glucose-Monitor-Starter/

Uses CodeFree strips
Goes without saying the prices do seem to have gone up since I last looked. So may now not be better than you can get.

 

[Samana]

Hi Samana
As I said, it seems you have a good handle on evrything you need to do so hopefully things will continue to improve for you. I'm not generally too fussed about the speed of progress, just that I progress!

My wife has a Kindle which she reads in bed in Amber mode and it really helps her drop off. The only issue is, if she reads it on the train she falls asleep lol.

I've been digging around for another monitor with cheaper strips than mu glucorx nexus. With a bit of digging, you can get reasonable prices for the strips on eBay, but I saw the Core blood glucose monitoring system VAT relief:

Core blood glucose monitoring system VAT relief

The Core Blood Glucose Monitoring System includes a CoreOK meter, test strips and more to help you test your blood sugar levels. Buy your kit from Diabetes UK.

shop.diabetes.org.uk

The strips are only £8.33 with VAT relief for 50 so half the price of the Nexus strips at Boots. It also has 4 timers so useful for post meal testing and a PC interface so I can draw nice graph. I don't get out much 🙂

Well, I'm shattered today. 3 separate days on the bike doing an entire mile and it's hit me. All this tells me is I was (am) completely unfit. That's fine though, a day recovering and I'll be off again tomorrow. I read an article on the Internet that if you cycle, the heavier you are, the more calories you burn and I was sold.

You sound very organised. I don't plan much, I'm a bit more reactive. Part of the problem is that I have no real concept of time and being retired doesn't help and neither does being bipolar. Time runs very slowly for me when I have a low mood and spins by when I'm up. I challenge anyone to keep track of that

I witter on so that's all for now. Apart from:

I have a question; if the hba1c test is an average of your BG over 3 months - can you replicate this with a BG meter? I'd like to check my progress myself if I can. Maybe do a fasting test every morning and take the average? I have no idea!

Keep Smilin'

Steve

Morning Steve,
I was thinking about your question this morning as I was starting to use my blood monitor and realised that doing your normal blood monitor tests won't be the same as the Hba1c... Mine was 45mmols and this morning I did a test before breakfast on my monitor and it was 7.4mmols so it won't work the same will it? It might give you an idea if it's higher or lower but that might be about it in general but not an exact science with Hba1c... just my thoughts I may be wrong.
I'm going to check my bloods again after two hours as a benchmark, but only have 10 strips to start with and have to request more, so will get onto that too at some point, I will psyche myself up for that 🙂

Have a good day, hope you feel okay for a little cycling today and if you don't there is always tomorrow.

Samana

 

[Samana]

I don't know if you can get them on prescription, as I buy mine off of Amazon. They're "28g lancets" for the Gluco navii's lancet pen, and come in a pack of 50.

Ooh, thanks Windy, that's good to know where to get these and the best places. I will see what I can get and then I can use this as a plan B if need to, great info thank you!

 

[picitup]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/GlucoNavii-Blood-Glucose-Monitor-Starter/

Uses CodeFree strips
Goes without saying the prices do seem to have gone up since I last looked. So may now not be better than you can get.

Hi

I couldn't access the link, but searched for GlucoNavii Blood Glucose Monitor Starter and found it. Yes, that's pretty cheap too. Good info as people will want to keep their choices open.

When my Core meter arrives, I'll post up about it. I'm going to bung my Gluco RX Nexus with 100 strips and 50 lancets up on eBay to try and recover some of the cost.

Cheers

Steve

 

[picitup]

Hi Steve,
Yes true it's just about things progressing and sometimes if things don't work it's just a sign we need to do something a different way.
I have a Kindle e-reader too! Yes they are great! I've not found the amber part on mine, perhaps it's n the Fire? But anyway yes it does help you drop off, I tend to dim the screen also anyway and that helps.

Ooh the blood monitor sounds really good! Do you have to pay for yours? I live in Wales, but had to prize it out of the nurse's hand almost, she didn't want me to have it and said I needed to get the strips and lancets if that's what you call them put on a repeater, still have to do that but afraid to ask! I may need to pay if they don't want me to have them. So I might do what you have done...I have the blood monitor though.

Wow, it sounds really good! It has a few extra things with timers etc I've just looked it up. Hahaha, you can draw a nice graph... you don't get out much 🙂 I like it!

You're doing well! You're are making the effort that is what counts! We all have off days and that's okay. Just do what you can when you can. I'm the same, I have exercises for me knees and hips and some days I can't do them but when I can I do, so be kind to yourself and like you say tomorrow is another day and you can see how far you get tomorrow, key is also not to overdo it. Cycling is good! How is the weight loss going? I do have a bad memory so forgive me! I do my best!

Hahaha, yes I can be painfully organised! I no longer work either and my husband is retired so just enjoying life the best we can. I do get what you are saying about your health... I have different health issues and some very new current ones that have all come at once to handle and it really has knocked me! I'll find my way back, but usually I pick myself up faster than I have of late, but I'm getting there baby step by baby step.

I chatter too sometimes hahaha... I don't mind if you don't sometimes... it does you good

Brilliant question... I was eventually going to get around to asking that myself! I can't see why our blood test would be any different to theirs can you? Where I go for my Hba1c you can have breakfast before you go, it's a none fasting one... is that the same request you get for yours? Or do you get asked to fast? It wouldn't hurt to do it would it? It would give you an idea where you are at... let me know if you do or your thoughts... it makes sense to me!

Have a lovely evening

Samana🙂

Hi Samana

Well, I'm tired again today, but it's not like before, just physical tiredness. I shall go for a bike ride today, to keep it up, but just tootle along lol. I won't overdo it as overdoing it leads to injury and the you can't do it at all. Softly softly....

Jan (my wife) has the Kindle Fire as you thought. On hers, you tap a page of the book and a menu appears at the top. There's a font setting shown as Aa. You choose this and you can change the text size and colour. It's not Amber as I said, but Sepia which she uses. Hope this helps 🙂

I just assumed that I had to pay for mine. I've not seen the fat nurse yet, but I bet getting a free one is like pulling teeth as it seems to have been with yours. If you can get them for free, I'd push them to do it. My guess is you've paid enough NI contributions throughout your life. If you bust your arm, you don't pay for the cast do you? (militant side coming out) 😡

On the weight front, I seem to have lost another 2lb! Not sure how that happened?? I checked in the mirror and my head's still attached. I don't suppose the loss will continue to be this fast as I know it tapers off.

It does sound like you're dealing with a lot at once. I do wish you luck with it all, but you clearly have the coping skills to manage it all so keep going and I'm sure you'll get to a better place.

When I had my hba1c test, I asked the question and was told it's not a fasting one so you can enjoy your brekky lol. I think as the hba1c is a 3 month average, a single meal (or not) makes not difference.

I see from the replies that trying to mimic a hba1c test with a glucose meter is probably a no-go. I just wanted to know how I'm progressing. It's nice to have the information to hand, I think. Oh well. I can't test anyway atm as I'm waiting for my new meter to arrive and I want to keep my old test strips unopened so I can flog them with my meter on fleabay.

Chat as much as you like - we can all learn from each other 🙂

That's all for now. Just need to digest my sandwich then off for a pedal. When I get me moped out on the road.....

Keep Smilin'

Steve

 

[picitup]

Well the Core glucose monitor arrived today and I'm pleased with it. As usual, it comes with 10 test strips (I ordered another 50) and 10 lancets, a battery and the lancet tool, so enough to get started. There was no control solution included. It takes one of the button batteries, A CR2302 which you an get dirt cheap of eBay so I'll order a couple of spares.

The first thing you have to do is set the date and time, which I can't work out how to do, so I'll try for 12 hours and may then be forced to read the user guide (Blokes eh?)

It's a good deal with the strips only being £8.33 with VAT relief for 50. I bet the manufacturers make a mint, stamping out millions of them for a few quid. Ok I'll stop complaining now lol.

I'm tired (again) today but for a good reason. I drove us up to Tamworth to see my grandkids in their dance show, then off to brum to see my sister and back home with traffic jams on the ways back so around 12 hours driving in all. I'm keen to get on my bike later, though to put my muscles back to where they should be 🙄.

I'll set up the Core meter later and report back.

Cheers

Steve

 

[NotWorriedAtAll]

Hi Samana

Well, I'm tired again today, but it's not like before, just physical tiredness. I shall go for a bike ride today, to keep it up, but just tootle along lol. I won't overdo it as overdoing it leads to injury and the you can't do it at all. Softly softly....

Jan (my wife) has the Kindle Fire as you thought. On hers, you tap a page of the book and a menu appears at the top. There's a font setting shown as Aa. You choose this and you can change the text size and colour. It's not Amber as I said, but Sepia which she uses. Hope this helps 🙂

I just assumed that I had to pay for mine. I've not seen the fat nurse yet, but I bet getting a free one is like pulling teeth as it seems to have been with yours. If you can get them for free, I'd push them to do it. My guess is you've paid enough NI contributions throughout your life. If you bust your arm, you don't pay for the cast do you? (militant side coming out) 😡

On the weight front, I seem to have lost another 2lb! Not sure how that happened?? I checked in the mirror and my head's still attached. I don't suppose the loss will continue to be this fast as I know it tapers off.

It does sound like you're dealing with a lot at once. I do wish you luck with it all, but you clearly have the coping skills to manage it all so keep going and I'm sure you'll get to a better place.

When I had my hba1c test, I asked the question and was told it's not a fasting one so you can enjoy your brekky lol. I think as the hba1c is a 3 month average, a single meal (or not) makes not difference.

I see from the replies that trying to mimic a hba1c test with a glucose meter is probably a no-go. I just wanted to know how I'm progressing. It's nice to have the information to hand, I think. Oh well. I can't test anyway atm as I'm waiting for my new meter to arrive and I want to keep my old test strips unopened so I can flog them with my meter on fleabay.

Chat as much as you like - we can all learn from each other 🙂

That's all for now. Just need to digest my sandwich then off for a pedal. When I get me moped out on the road.....

Keep Smilin'

Steve

Just thought I'd mention how my latest hba1c test matched with my testing at home.
I measure before eating and an hour afterwards and sometimes after exercising to see how things are going. I do not use any meds so I rely on keeping my carb intake very low (20g or fewer per day) and testing when I eat something different or eat something I shouldn't (the very rare fish and chips) and then I exercise and/or drink peppermint tea until it all settles back to what is my normal.

My overall three month average on my machine at home was reading 5.8mmols and my hba1c came out at 40 so that is pretty close between the two.

 

[picitup]

That's interesting thanks. It gives me something to go on 🙂

 

[Mare]

Those are really good numbers! My A1C ias 6.1; but my numbers can go sky-high and I mean, up to 235 if I overeat, so I am re-learning the ropes. I am always hungry.

 

[NotWorriedAtAll]

Hi Samana
My sleep is pretty good although if something wakes me up in the night, I can't get back off again so I get up. Thankfully this doesn't happen too often. I have a good bedtime routine and go to bed at 10:00 every night and get up around 7 so a good 9 hours. I'm expecting deeper sleep soon due to my bike escapades - a little more physically tired so improved sleep and less tiredness? We can but try....
Do you suffer from stress and do you spend time relaxing? The only way I can relax is to put my headphones on and listen to music, blotting out everything. I guess you've heard of it, but if not, google 'sleep hygiene' which might help.

I used to wake up in the early morning which is called 'middle of the night insomnia' and there's no help from sleeping tablets as these get you off, but wear out in the night. After some time, it corrected itself I'm pleased to say.

Cheers

Steve

Have you been checked fro sleep apnoea? I used to sleep a good 8 - 10 hours a night but I was still tired during the day. After a sleep test with a gizmo on my finger overnight it turned out I was stopping breathing 40+ times an hour and had obstrictive sleep apnoea. I have a CPAP machine now and it made a big difference to my sleepiness and then eating fewer than 20g carbs per day sorted the rest of my health problems out and I don't need meds any more.