Pre-Diabetes

[Tristar]

I have recently had a complex PCI heart attack and am fit and not overweight. No history of diabetes in the family. Whilst in hospital I had 6 blood samples taken with no mention of pre diabetes. I am taking statins plus 5 other medications as a consequence of my heart attack. My GP called me in for a standard blood test following my heart attack and has just informed me that I have Pre Diabetes. Questions: why didn’t the hospital see this during my blood tests? Could one or more of my medications be causing this diagnosis? Thanks for your help.

 

[Leadinglights]

I have recently had a complex PCI heart attack and am fit and not overweight. No history of diabetes in the family. Whilst in hospital I had 6 blood samples taken with no mention of pre diabetes. I am taking statins plus 5 other medications as a consequence of my heart attack. My GP called me in for a standard blood test following my heart attack and has just informed me that I have Pre Diabetes. Questions: why didn’t the hospital see this during my blood tests? Could one or more of my medications be causing this diagnosis? Thanks for your help.

Sorry to hear of your heart attack, I hope you are on the mend and the medications are keeping you stable.
The blood tests taken in the hospital may not have included the test used to diagnose diabetes which would have been an HbA1C whereas the raft of tests the GP may have ordered would likely include that.
You should be given the number of the result which if prediabetes would be between 42 and 47mmol/mol, depending on how close to the top end will indicate how much you will need to do to reduce it a bit. Than will be cutting out cakes, biscuits, pastry, sugary drinks including fruit juice and reducing portion size of other high carb food like potatoes, rice, pasta, breakfast cereals and tropical fruits. Obviously you will need to balance the changes with your other condition and medications.
But have a look at this link as there is good explanation and some meal plans that may suit you.https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
If you think it may be your meds than you can check out the side effects on the NHS website but it is more likely to be the stress of what happened as that can increase blood glucose as can infection and being unwell.

 

[Tristar]

Thank you for your very informative response. Very useful.

 

[Leadinglights]

Thank you for your very informative response. Very useful.

I have just seen your age and it may be that your GP will be perfectly happy with an HbA1C in the prediabetes range as there are some newer NICE guidelines that indicate a more lenient blood glucose level is acceptable for more mature people.
Just being mindful of your diet and be aware that it is carbohydrates that the body sometimes will struggle to cope with but I would say (my non medical opinion) that there is no need to be too concerned.

 

[Tristar]

I have just seen your age and it may be that your GP will be perfectly happy with an HbA1C in the prediabetes range as there are some newer NICE guidelines that indicate a more lenient blood glucose level is acceptable for more mature people.
Just being mindful of your diet and be aware that it is carbohydrates that the body sometimes will struggle to cope with but I would say (my non medical opinion) that there is no need to be too concerned.

Thank you.

 

[Maz2]

I have just seen your age and it may be that your GP will be perfectly happy with an HbA1C in the prediabetes range as there are some newer NICE guidelines that indicate a more lenient blood glucose level is acceptable for more mature people.
Just being mindful of your diet and be aware that it is carbohydrates that the body sometimes will struggle to cope with but I would say (my non medical opinion) that there is no need to be too concerned.

Thank you for that info. I was not aware of the new NICE guidelines but had read about some research in the US which said older people should be given more leniency with the pre-diabetes levels.

I was speaking to our Diabetic Nurse a few months back as I had been pre-diabetic on 42 then reduced it but could never get below 40. It stayed normal for 6 years but crept back to 42 this year. I wasn't expecting another test this year but thought it would be 2025. Suspect they were playing Covid catch up. Anyway, GP did not seem too concerned and referred me to Diabetic Nurse for a chat as I was upset about it. She explained that when you are older you are not as likely as younger people to be able to keep to the low levels but to see what I could do to get it back down again which I am now battling with.

 

[Leadinglights]

Thank you for that info. I was not aware of the new NICE guidelines but had read about some research in the US which said older people should be given more leniency with the pre-diabetes levels.

I was speaking to our Diabetic Nurse a few months back as I had been pre-diabetic on 42 then reduced it but could never get below 40. It stayed normal for 6 years but crept back to 42 this year. I wasn't expecting another test this year but thought it would be 2025. Suspect they were playing Covid catch up. Anyway, GP did not seem too concerned and referred me to Diabetic Nurse for a chat as I was upset about it. She explained that when you are older you are not as likely as younger people to be able to keep to the low levels but to see what I could do to get it back down again which I am now battling with.

I think you just have to do what you are comfortable with and just keep a watchful eye on your diet so you don't let it slip so you creep up.
I don't think people show use it as an excuse to not bother.
It arose from some research were older people were being overmedicated to keep their HbA1C at low levels which potentially was putting them at risk of other issues.

 

[Maz2]

I have just seen your age and it may be that your GP will be perfectly happy with an HbA1C in the prediabetes range as there are some newer NICE guidelines that indicate a more lenient blood glucose level is acceptable for more mature people.
Just being mindful of your diet and be aware that it is carbohydrates that the body sometimes will struggle to cope with but I would say (my non medical opinion) that there is no need to be too concerned.

I think you just have to do what you are comfortable with and just keep a watchful eye on your diet so you don't let it slip so you creep up.
I don't think people show use it as an excuse to not bother.
It arose from some research were older people were being overmedicated to keep their HbA1C at low levels which potentially was putting them at risk of other issues.

I am certainly going to try to get it back to normal. I recall when it first happened in 2016 the GP saying about being older and things being more difficult and things creeping up on you and I said "but I don't have to meet it halfway and I am not going to let it beat me." That is when I came here for advice. I do not want to have to take medication because I have got to a certain age without making an effort to deal with it.

No-one at my surgery is suggesting it doesn't matter but I think they are just trying to stop me beating myself up too much about it. One of my GPs told me to stop losing weight as I was not overweight to start with (I ended up underweight) as it is not weight related. Sometimes I wish it was as it would make life easier. One of our doctors who specialises in diabetes thinks it might be increased insulin resistance with that dreaded word again - age!!