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Prediabetic?

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Lisafitz

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
At risk of diabetes
Hi 🙂
Just had 2nd lot of bloods back from the GP.
Hba1c was 47 3 weeks ago, then 48 last week.
I have to see the practice nurse on Monday, so any tips on what I need to be asking etc while I'm there?
I eat healthily, am just in the normal BMI range, and get loads of exercise.
I had GD 7 years ago, which I needed insulin for, but since then I've been OK.
I was also diagnosed with Hashimotos postpartum, and take thyroxine.
Pretty much a 47 year old wreck just reaching out for a bit of knowledge/advice 🙂 🙂
 
Unfortunately a lot of the advice about healthy diet is not right for a type two diabetic- we can't cope with carbs, so it is best that we do not eat all that many - and not eating to allow things to settle is also a good idea.
I eat twice a day, first thing and again in the evening. I drink coffee with cream, have salads and stir fries, plus meat, fish, eggs, cheese, seafood, full fat yoghurt and frozen berries a couple of times a week.
 
Unfortunately a lot of the advice about healthy diet is not right for a type two diabetic- we can't cope with carbs, so it is best that we do not eat all that many - and not eating to allow things to settle is also a good idea.
I eat twice a day, first thing and again in the evening. I drink coffee with cream, have salads and stir fries, plus meat, fish, eggs, cheese, seafood, full fat yoghurt and frozen berries a couple of times a week.
Thanks for replying! Am I type 2 or prediabetic with those numbers? They didn't say much on the phone. At the very least I need to make changes then?
 
You are just on the border between prediabetic and diabetic, so if you can cut down on the carbs in your diet, there's a good chance you can get your HbA1c back into healthy range and not need diabetes meds. If the nurse says you need to go onto meds, I'd ask if you can try diet first - but get your diet tips here rather than from the NHS, as their dietary advice tends to be outdated and not very good for diabetics!

You will need to cut down on all carbs - including fruit, starchy carbs like pasta, bread, potatoes, and pizza, and pre-packed breakfast cereals, which are very sugary - not just on the obvious things like cakes and puddings. Also low-fat foods aren't good for diabetics as they tend to contain lots of sugar - and avoid fruit juice as it will spike your blood sugar very rapidly. But as you're so borderline you'll may be able to get away with rather more carbs than some of the type 2s here eat, so small portions of things like brown bread, brown rice, wholemeal pasta, and oats may be OK for you.
 
Hi Lisa, welcome!
I’m with Drummer, I was on slimming world when I got my diagnosis with a reading of 22 😱 I thought I was eating healthy with lots of fresh fruit, potatoes without butter etc, I was advised by my gp to ‘eat healthy and avoid sugar’, but after lurking in the background here for a few weeks and binge reading back posts, it was overwhelmingly clear that the lived experience was to reduce carbs. I now also eat butter, cream, cheese, love a steak with stir fry or salad with avocado and coleslaw, after years of struggling my weight was dropping and my numbers were also coming down. Within 6 months I was back in normal range and have stayed there since, I am now 4 stone lighter without even trying 🙄 I cut out pasta, rice, potatoes and the only bread I have is LivLife from Waitrose, a low carb option that works for toast or sandwiches in a rush. I have never been happier or healthier :D
 
Guys, thanks so much! I'm a bit of a carb fiend, so this weekend I'm going to look at my options for reducing carb intake. I really want to avoid meds if possible, so it's worth knuckling down and making big changes. I have an appointment on Monday so I will fight my corner for no drugs yet.
I really appreciate the replies!
 
Hi Lisa, welcome!
I’m with Drummer, I was on slimming world when I got my diagnosis with a reading of 22 😱 I thought I was eating healthy with lots of fresh fruit, potatoes without butter etc, I was advised by my gp to ‘eat healthy and avoid sugar’, but after lurking in the background here for a few weeks and binge reading back posts, it was overwhelmingly clear that the lived experience was to reduce carbs. I now also eat butter, cream, cheese, love a steak with stir fry or salad with avocado and coleslaw, after years of struggling my weight was dropping and my numbers were also coming down. Within 6 months I was back in normal range and have stayed there since, I am now 4 stone lighter without even trying 🙄 I cut out pasta, rice, potatoes and the only bread I have is LivLife from Waitrose, a low carb option that works for toast or sandwiches in a rush. I have never been happier or healthier :D
Your diet sounds like heaven!
 
Yes eating a low carb, high fat diet is very pleasant. I too was a heavy carb eater pre diagnosis, with bread and potatoes being my mainstay. I always ate wholemeal options and skin on tattties whenever possible and I could not imagine a life without these foods, but 7 months down the line and I don't eat bread at all and just have a very small portion of potato occasionally. I do eat very well though.... my breakfast this morning was a 2 egg mushroom, onion and cheese omelette with a large side salad of lettuce and rocket, 3 cherry tomatoes, cucumber and avocado and a coffee with cream. That pretty much sets me up for the day and I just have a chunk of cheese or some nuts at lunchtime and then meat or fish with lots of veggies on an evening and creamy Greek yoghurt with a few fresh raspberries. I often cook my green veggies in butter and or serve them with cream cheese. If you are significantly reducing your carbohydrate intake, you need to get your energy from another source. If you need to lose weight, then your body will burn it's own body stores, but since you say that you don't really need to lose any weight, then increasing the fat in your diet will provide that alternative source of energy.
I make ratatouille with a mass of really good olive oil, onions, courgette, aubergine and tomatoes and have it with good quality burgers, or steak or high meat content sausages. Cauliflower cheese is another favourite a la @Drummer where you just undercook a head of cauli, drain and coat with cream cheese and then sprinkle grated cheese over the top and brown in the oven or under the grill..... thereby not using milk and thickening agents like flour which all increase the carb content.
Tonight I will be having salmon fillets pan fried in butter with aubergine (to soak up the surplus cooking fat) spinach sweated in butter with a dollop of cream cheese mixed in before serving and broccoli with a very small portion of sweet potato... I cook a whole sweet potato and the reheat the leftovers for meals later in the week. Same if I am having potatoes. I cook a pan full and then reheat the leftovers, either by slicing and pan frying or mashing with butter and cream cheese and perhaps some chives. There is a school of thought that the cooling and reheating process causes the starchy carbs in potatoes and pasta to become less easily digested and therefore spike you less. I am not sure this bears out in my case but some people say their BG test meter upholds the theory.
Good luck bringing your BG down through diet. I was a chocaholic and sugar addict before diagnosis and I very rarely crave these things now. Surprisingly the only thing I miss about bread is the convenience of it.... ie sandwiches for a quick snack or something to soak up the yolk of a dippy egg, or bulk out a bowl of soup...... and the fibre, which my bowel misses and I have to take a psyllium and chia seed supplement to help things along.
 
Yes eating a low carb, high fat diet is very pleasant. I too was a heavy carb eater pre diagnosis, with bread and potatoes being my mainstay. I always ate wholemeal options and skin on tattties whenever possible and I could not imagine a life without these foods, but 7 months down the line and I don't eat bread at all and just have a very small portion of potato occasionally. I do eat very well though.... my breakfast this morning was a 2 egg mushroom, onion and cheese omelette with a large side salad of lettuce and rocket, 3 cherry tomatoes, cucumber and avocado and a coffee with cream. That pretty much sets me up for the day and I just have a chunk of cheese or some nuts at lunchtime and then meat or fish with lots of veggies on an evening and creamy Greek yoghurt with a few fresh raspberries. I often cook my green veggies in butter and or serve them with cream cheese. If you are significantly reducing your carbohydrate intake, you need to get your energy from another source. If you need to lose weight, then your body will burn it's own body stores, but since you say that you don't really need to lose any weight, then increasing the fat in your diet will provide that alternative source of energy.
I make ratatouille with a mass of really good olive oil, onions, courgette, aubergine and tomatoes and have it with good quality burgers, or steak or high meat content sausages. Cauliflower cheese is another favourite a la @Drummer where you just undercook a head of cauli, drain and coat with cream cheese and then sprinkle grated cheese over the top and brown in the oven or under the grill..... thereby not using milk and thickening agents like flour which all increase the carb content.
Tonight I will be having salmon fillets pan fried in butter with aubergine (to soak up the surplus cooking fat) spinach sweated in butter with a dollop of cream cheese mixed in before serving and broccoli with a very small portion of sweet potato... I cook a whole sweet potato and the reheat the leftovers for meals later in the week. Same if I am having potatoes. I cook a pan full and then reheat the leftovers, either by slicing and pan frying or mashing with butter and cream cheese and perhaps some chives. There is a school of thought that the cooling and reheating process causes the starchy carbs in potatoes and pasta to become less easily digested and therefore spike you less. I am not sure this bears out in my case but some people say their BG test meter upholds the theory.
Good luck bringing your BG down through diet. I was a chocaholic and sugar addict before diagnosis and I very rarely crave these things now. Surprisingly the only thing I miss about bread is the convenience of it.... ie sandwiches for a quick snack or something to soak up the yolk of a dippy egg, or bulk out a bowl of soup...... and the fibre, which my bowel misses and I have to take a psyllium and chia seed supplement to help things along.
Thanks so much Barbara!
I find bread very convenient, especially for packed lunches at work. I also eat a lot of basmati rice, at least 5 times a week. It will be a steep learning curve! On the plus side, I love meat, fish and veggie's, so I know I have a wide range of foods available. Your ratatouille sounds delish...that might be my first recipe steal xx
 
If you are going for that, I usually add garlic with the onions at the start of the frying off process, a good half a tsp of mixed herbs and a slug of red wine near the end when it is simmering. Look out for aubergines and courgettes which are on special or reduced and make a big pan full and keep half in the fridge or freeze it. It can also be topped with Gruyere cheese or equivalent and put under the grill. Sometimes I eat it just as a snack, warm or cold as well as having it with meat for a meal. My sister likes it with salmon but for some reason I don't like tomatoes with fish.
 
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