Prediabetes

[Peter Foster]

Hi all. Sorry I'm new to this. My doctor recently told me I have glucose in the blood and have prediabetes. I'm seeing a nurse about it next week. Ok so the confusion, reading different sites give different advise on what to eat drink and blood sugar monitoring. I have even been told by a boots pharmacist not to monitor my blood sugar until I reach type 2. Surly I'm not alone with these initial problems. Or at least I hope. Now I no it's prediabetes but I want to work now to help prevent it progressing. Any help or advise would be much appreciated. Thanks Pete

 

[Bubbsie]

Hi all. Sorry I'm new to this. My doctor recently told me I have glucose in the blood and have prediabetes. I'm seeing a nurse about it next week. Ok so the confusion, reading different sites give different advise on what to eat drink and blood sugar monitoring. I have even been told by a boots pharmacist not to monitor my blood sugar until I reach type 2. Surly I'm not alone with these initial problems. Or at least I hope. Now I no it's prediabetes but I want to work now to help prevent it progressing. Any help or advise would be much appreciated. Thanks Pete

Peter its difficult when you are given conflicting advice from the Health Care Professionals...however...I think this would help you decide whether to test or not & what action you could/should take...'Prediabetes What You Need To Know To Keep Diabetes Away' written by Gretchen Becker...she is type2 diabetic herself one of the most valuable aides in managing my diabetes was another book written by her Type2 Diabetes The First Year...where she writes about her own condition from diagnosis onwards month by month...you can preview the book on Amazon before deciding whether to buy it...or you may be able to find it at your local library...it will answer the questions you have posed above & hopefully help you make the right decision...good luck.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear you are getting confusing information @Peter Foster Hopefully things will get a little clearer when you have our appointment with the nurse next week.

Regarding self-monitoring and whether or not you should get yourself a blood glucose monitor, I think it is quite unlikely that you will be offered one by your surgery. Many HCPs primarily consider blood glucose monitoring to be important for people with type 2 diabetes on insulin or hypoglycaemic medication in order to check for hypoglycaemia. In fact you may be told that self-monitoring is not necessary on your position.

Many members here use BG monitoring to evaluate how well their body is coping with the food they are eating, and to help them modify their diet to reduce portions and types of foods that result in elevated blood glucose.

If you are intetested in finding out more about this sort of monitoring and adjusting, you can find helpful advice here: http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.co.uk/2006/10/test-review-adjust.html

Several members here who have been told they have pre-diabetes have found self-monitoring very helpful, but it is a very individual decision.

Hope the appointments go well, let us know how you get on.

 

[Peter Foster]

Hi thanks the replies. My fasting blood sugar was 6.2 and I'm told it is prediabetes. Thankfully it's diet and exercise treatable at the moment. I am being checked again in 6 months and advised monitoring my blood sugar shouldn't be an issue until the outcome of the next appointment. I did impress on the nurse I have changed my diet already and it was agreed I had done more than would of been asked. Many thanks again and I will keep reading other threads to help me learn more about this.

 

[Ljc]

Welcome to the forum Peter. Pre diabetes means you have the chance to turn this around 🙂.
Imo the best way to treat pre diabetes ,is to treat it as T2 Diabetes by changing ones diet and if possible exersize.

I assume the 6.2 fasting test was the Hb1ac, if so that’s 44 in new money and only just puts you over the threshold of pre diabetes which is 42 to 47
Here’s the conversion chart
http://baspath.co.uk/Hba1c_table.pdf

It’s very unlikely you will be provided a glucose meter and test strips, most of us here think this is a cost cutting measure that will end up costing the nhs more money in the long run because of increased diabetic complications, .

The it’s the ongoing cost of testing strips you have to watch, brands at chemists cost £15 to £30 for a pot of 50 .
The SD Codefree meter used by many here has strips that cost around £8 for 50, plus you can claim VAT relief easily, it’s available from

Directly from Homehealth codefree-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-mmoll-or-mgdl
Or Amazon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Codefree-G...fm-21&linkId=f39210144fdc26c27738e45b6d957003

You’ll need to buy more test strips and lancets as they only provide 10 oe in starter packs
Also we use the mmoll measurement in the uk .
You are entitled to claim VAT relief , which helps a little.

Why not come and have a look at this thread to see what we eat, pay particular attention to T2 posters there
what-did-you-eat-yesterday

 

[Ralph-YK]

Welcome to the forum Peter.
You've listed yourself as Type 1. Is there such a thing as a prediabetic Type 1? If you think you're T1, check with your practice. And Say Type 1.

glucose in the blood

Everyone has. The issue is how much and being able to use it.
Type 1 have a lack of insulin. Type 2 can have insulin, it just doesn't work very well. There is a difference in treatment.

 

[Ljc]

Welcome to the forum Peter.
You've listed yourself as Type 1. Is there such a thing as a prediabetic Type 1? If you think you're T1, check with your practice. And Say Type 1.

Everyone has. The issue is how much and being able to use it.
Type 1 have a lack of insulin. Type 2 can have insulin, it just doesn't work very well. There is a difference in treatment.

I think T1 a misprint Ralph

 

[bamba]

One way to look at Pre-diabetes is 'Diabetes you won't get treatment for' - the best approach is to look at the risk factors.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/preventing-type-2-diabetes/diabetes-risk-factors

You can't change your race, and the only way your age will change is up ( and that is the optomistic perspective 🙂 ).
You are unlikely to get shorter ( unless you look at the very pessimistic outcomes )

You can change your diet, and thus change weight/ waistline measurements and thus improve BMI and blood pressure.
If you are able to, exercise more.

 

[bamba]

Directly from Homehealth codefree-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-mmoll-or-mgdl
Or Amazon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Codefree-G...fm-21&linkId=f39210144fdc26c27738e45b6d957003

You’ll need to buy more test strips and lancets as they only provide 10 oe in starter packs
Also we use the mmoll measurement in the uk .
You are entitled to claim VAT relief , which helps a little.

Home Health:

https://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/blood-glucose-test-strips/

You can get supplies of strips and lancets direct from Home Health too using the following discount codes:

5 packs 264086
10 packs 975833

Don't forget to check the box stating you have diabetes and the VAT is deducted

 

[Ralph-YK]

I think T1 a misprint Ralph

Quite possibly. I like to check though, and avoid any confusion.

 

[Martin Canty]

Hi all. Sorry I'm new to this. My doctor recently told me I have glucose in the blood and have prediabetes. I'm seeing a nurse about it next week. Ok so the confusion, reading different sites give different advise on what to eat drink and blood sugar monitoring. I have even been told by a boots pharmacist not to monitor my blood sugar until I reach type 2. Surly I'm not alone with these initial problems. Or at least I hope. Now I no it's prediabetes but I want to work now to help prevent it progressing. Any help or advise would be much appreciated. Thanks Pete

Hi Pete, welcome to the group....

Dr. Google is not your friend, my advice is to read this forum, ask questions from people who actually live with Diabetes; many of us can control it really well.....

As for initial steps, cut or reduce major carb sources such as bread, pasta, rice, cereals & starchy vegetables such as potatoes... Instead replacing them with green leafy vegetables. As for testing, go for it, I find testing an invaluable tool for helping monitor my Diabetes.

 

[Ljc]

Quite possibly. I like to check though, and avoid any confusion.

Yes it’s best to check.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

One way to look at Pre-diabetes is 'Diabetes you won't get treatment for' - the best approach is to look at the risk factors.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/preventing-type-2-diabetes/diabetes-risk-factors

You can't change your race, and the only way your age will change is up ( and that is the optomistic perspective 🙂 ).
You are unlikely to get shorter ( unless you look at the very pessimistic outcomes )

You can change your diet, and thus change weight/ waistline measurements and thus improve BMI and blood pressure.
If you are able to, exercise more.

We have had several members join here following a 'prediabetes' diagnosis/conversation who have made significant changes and been able to normalise their BG levels and move towards improved health and wellbeing.

I've also seen some cynical suggestions that the invention/diagnosis of 'prediabetes' which has not existed for very long was driven in part by large pharmaceutical companies in order to widen and already large and growing market. 😱

 

[Pine Marten]

Hi thanks the replies. My fasting blood sugar was 6.2 and I'm told it is prediabetes. Thankfully it's diet and exercise treatable at the moment. I am being checked again in 6 months and advised monitoring my blood sugar shouldn't be an issue until the outcome of the next appointment. I did impress on the nurse I have changed my diet already and it was agreed I had done more than would of been asked. Many thanks again and I will keep reading other threads to help me learn more about this.

Hi Peter Foster, this is interesting for me as my husband had a blood test recently and he is just in the same camp (43, or 6.1 in old money). His mother was, and his brother is, type 2 so he needs to be checked regularly.

I would second advice to cut carbs, and to get a meter if you want to - don't be put off by medical people who say you don't need to, or you'll get depressed, or any other rubbish. It is your choice, and most of us here have found it invaluable to test different foods and see the reaction. You're in a good place to make changes and improve your health - I only wish I had known about starchy carbs when I was diagnosed, instead of following the official 'eat well plate's advice to eat them at every meal! 🙄

All the best to you.

 

[Martin Canty]

move towards improved health and wellbeing.

Alas, the general population as a whole could benefit from what we are doing in terms of D&E.... I never thought that I was living an particularly unhealthy lifestyle until I totally reevaluated my life in terms of Diet & Exercise... I just assumed that the increase in weight was as a consequence to getting older.....

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Alas, the general population as a whole could benefit from what we are doing in terms of D&E.... I never thought that I was living an particularly unhealthy lifestyle until I totally reevaluated my life in terms of Diet & Exercise... I just assumed that the increase in weight was as a consequence to getting older.....

I think that's a really important point Martin. All the focus on blaming people neglects the simple fact that quite often people who end up with a diagnosis are not necessarily shovelling down cakes and sweets all the time. It's just that the general 'western diet' (even if abiding strictly to the 'healthy eating guidelines' and *only* having 250-300g of starchy carbs each day) cannot be borne by some metabolisms. And those metabolisms then begin to struggle which (in some cases) leads to weight gain, and then people are told it's the weight that is the problem and it's assumed that it's 'all their own fault'

Add to that a culture in which industrial food manufacturers have created a sense of 'every moment of every day is an opportunity to consume something' and offer outlets and opportunities absolutely everywhere and you can easily see how diagnosis rates are on the rise.

 

[Drummer]

I was fully diabetic, but that was because I can't cope with carbs, never have been able to - but somehow that message falls on deaf ears.
These days I eat under 50 gm of carbs a day and I seem to be just fine - I am getting back to a normal weight and shape, have normal test results and I feel a lot better.