Pre-diabetes Newbie

[SunshineSue]

Hi there

I have just joined this forum to get in touch with other people around the world with similar condition /diabetes and to learn more about how to help myself. So today I found out that on an HBA1C blood test my result was 43. I didn’t even know the surgery were going to do this type of test until the result came through. Now I found this out which I am still processing. I knew something was wrong and had several physical symptoms but wasn’t expecting this, thought it would be one of my stomach problems as usual. I just wondered who else on here has this and what I can learn to help myself. I do have some knowledge as I am a nurse and obviously know the wrong things I do with my diet. However I do think acute stress on chronic has been and still is a huge contributor ………

 

[Windy]

Morning @SunshineSue welcome to the forum. I was diagnosed in October and it came as a bit of a shock, but it runs in my family, so I had in the back of my mind it was a possibility.
You're much better medically qualified than me (not sure my 40 year old Brownie first aid badge counts!), but this is what I've gleaned from reading about diabetes - it's caused by genetics and weight gain/diet, and can also be brought on through stress. Of the these, you can't address your genetics or, sadly the amount of stress that your job/life is probably giving you at the moment, as I'm aware that the NHS is under massive pressure. But you can address diet and exercise. You're only just into the pre-diabetic numbers, you can hopefully push it back by exercise (going out for walks/cycle rides etc) or by finding a lower calorie, perhaps lower carb diet to follow once Christmas is out the way? I bought books recommended here and picked recipes from some of them. The blood sugar diet recipe book has some nice recipes and photographs in, even if you don't choose to follow the diet itself.
Ask questions and make a plan though!, Best wishes, Sarah

 

[SunshineSue]

Morning @SunshineSue welcome to the forum. I was diagnosed in October and it came as a bit of a shock, but it runs in my family, so I had in the back of my mind it was a possibility.
You're much better medically qualified than me (not sure my 40 year old Brownie first aid badge counts!), but this is what I've gleaned from reading about diabetes - it's caused by genetics and weight gain/diet, and can also be brought on through stress. Of the these, you can't address your genetics or, sadly the amount of stress that your job/life is probably giving you at the moment, as I'm aware that the NHS is under massive pressure. But you can address diet and exercise. You're only just into the pre-diabetic numbers, you can hopefully push it back by exercise (going out for walks/cycle rides etc) or by finding a lower calorie, perhaps lower carb diet to follow once Christmas is out the way? I bought books recommended here and picked recipes from some of them. The blood sugar diet recipe book has some nice recipes and photographs in, even if you don't choose to follow the diet itself.
Ask questions and make a plan though!, Best wishes, Sarah

Hi Sarah Thankyou you so much, it was a shock and kind of still is! I will definitely look at the books now and buy. I need to lose about 5/6 stone to lose to get to a reasonable weight, which is massive! Xx

 

[Windy]

Hi Sue, I'm not that far off that much weight to lose. I was 100Kg (15 1/2 stone ish) when I was diagnosed, and have lost 9Kg (19 lbs) so far. My target weight is 60Kg (9 stone 6), so I've got a way to go too. But I'm aiming for a 15Kg loss initially, as I'm hoping to get into diabetes remission, though I know there's not guarantees it'll work. If you haven't found it already, there's a weight loss group here and some stuff on the Diabetes UK site about weight loss which shows the benefits, but I appreciate you probably know all this stuff already because of your job!
Best wishes, you can do it (probably get Christmas out the way first though, as there's lots of temptation about then). Sarah

 

[Windy]

Also, there's a link on the prediabetes page about help if you're pre diabetic which says "If your results show that you are at moderate or high risk, you could be eligible for a free place on the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme in England." Not sure if you're based in England, but it's worth going through the tool if you are and you're interested.

 

[Drummer]

The good news is that eating a low carb diet means weight can vanish away without effort, and it seems to bring on a more cheerful and capable frame of mind.
Some people find it odd that I might have steak and mushrooms with other stirfry type foods for breakfast, but I only need to eat at 12 hourly intervals these days.

 

[Alan S]

Hi there

I have just joined this forum to get in touch with other people around the world with similar condition /diabetes and to learn more about how to help myself. So today I found out that on an HBA1C blood test my result was 43.

G'day. Although 43 is clearly diagnostic the good news is that you have been caught early. You are likely to be able to take control with some lifestyle changes, especially diet.

I do have some knowledge as I am a nurse and obviously know the wrong things I do with my diet.

Be a little wary of your past training on diet. I see you also want to lose weight. That can be important but it is your secondary goal. Your primary goal is achieving and maintaining healthy blood glucose levels. There can be differences in your menu selections for those different goals.

I wrote this to help you begin: 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.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @SunshineSue

It’s not at all unusual to feel knocked completely sideways by a diagnosis with diabetes. And while ‘prediabetes’ isn’t a specific diagnosis and really only denotes being at risk of potentially developing diabetes, it can still carry the same emotional effect.

Good to hear you are thinking of making adjustments to your menu to make easier for your body to cope with. While there are obvious things like cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks that you will want to cut out straight away, you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits. That’s not to say that you have to avoid all those things entirely, but portion control, and finding out which types have the biggest effect on your BG levels is a really practical step.

It's possible that you may only need to make fairly modest changes to your diet, to steer away from a full T2 diagnosis, but many newcomers here find it helpful to react as if they had already developed T2.

Try not to be disheartened about your ’at risk’ status, many people on the forum later reflect that this news 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.

Often you don’t realise how weary, worn down and lethargic you have been feeling. Erratic and rising blood glucose levels can be exhausting and are linked with low mood, but this may have come on quite gradually. Making a few positive changes can give you more energy, a clearer mind, and a brighter outlook. You may end up feeling healthier than you have in years!

 

[SunshineSue]

Hi! Thankyou, the last paragraph in particular resonates.. ie have felt my mood go down over the last 6/9 months. I seem to be getting bigger and bigger…and quite rapidly. I have to do something!

 

[SunshineSue]

Hi Sue, I'm not that far off that much weight to lose. I was 100Kg (15 1/2 stone ish) when I was diagnosed, and have lost 9Kg (19 lbs) so far. My target weight is 60Kg (9 stone 6), so I've got a way to go too. But I'm aiming for a 15Kg loss initially, as I'm hoping to get into diabetes remission, though I know there's not guarantees it'll work. If you haven't found it already, there's a weight loss group here and some stuff on the Diabetes UK site about weight loss which shows the benefits, but I appreciate you probably know all this stuff already because of your job!
Best wishes, you can do it (probably get Christmas out the way first though, as there's lots of temptation about then). Sarah

Thankyou so much Sarah, that’s really helpful xx