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Recently diagnosed as pre-diabetic

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ClaireAR

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At risk of diabetes
Hi everyone, I've just joined this forum and thought I should say hello. After a routine blood test my GP surgery told me I was pre-diabetic at the end of June and invited me to sign up for the National Diabetes Prevention Programme which I did but that's the last I've heard. In the meantime I've tried to educate myself on what pre-diabetes is and have bought numerous books and have completely changed the way I eat as a result. I'm 55 years old, have never been overweight (per the NHS guidelines), am quite active and had always thought I ate healthily with very little sugar and fat in my diet but I'd totally missed the dangers associated with carbs which it has to be said I've always loved. It's also true that the weight I do carry is all round my waist which I now realise was another danger sign.
The one thing I'm really not sure about is whether I should be having any more blood tests or indeed getting anything from my GP. I'd rather assumed that I'd get all the information I needed from the NHS programme but there's no sign of that happening any time soon and, given the dreadful pressure the NHS is under at the moment, I can't say I'm that surprised. I don't want to add to that pressure by making GP appointments that aren't necessary but if there's anyone out there who is a bit further forward than I am it would be great to hear some advice on what, if anything I should be doing. I'd love to know if the changes to my diet I've made are having an impact but I'm not sure where to start in terms of home blood sugar tests (if that's what I should be doing) so any advice there also gratefully received.
Thank you
Claire
 
Hi @ClaireAR and welcome to the forum. Like you I had no idea that carbs could cause diabetes...I thought it was just sweet stuff which I hardly ever ate, so it came as a shock to find I was well and truly into the diabetic range with an hba1c of 76!
The good news is that if you are just pre-diabetic, you should be able to turn it around just by reducing the amount of carbs you eat.
After diagnosis, I was called in for more bloods after 3 months, then 6 and now annual tests. I suggest that you review your diet and reduce the carbs, then if you're not called back by 6 months at the latest, to ask for more bloods to see if you've reduced your BG to less than 42 (start of pre-diabetic range).
Best of luck!
 
Welcome to the forum. People do feel a bit abandoned by their GP but as you say they are overwhelmed by the number of patients they have, not that that is any excuse.
These days one has to become one's own expert and it looks as if you have made a good start with that. Many do find home monitoring gives them the control over managing their condition. A prediabetes diagnosis really is a bit of a wakeup call to make some dietary changes and that can be very powerful in reducing blood glucose.
Having a sensible regime of testing can tell you if you are tolerating the amount of carbohydrates you are having for your meals. People test before they eat and after 2 hours looking for an increase of no more than 2-3mmol/l or no more than 8-8.5mmol/l. If it is then you know you will need to reduce the carb content of your meal by reducing your portion, cutting something out or substituting a lower carb food.
There is no reason not to have filling tasty meals.
If you want to test then the GlucoNavii or Spirit TEE2 are monitors with the cheapest strips, but you will most likely to have to self-fund but it would be a good investment in your health.
Have a look at this link for good information and ideas for modifying your diet. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
Remember you need to reduce carbs but that does not mean NO carbs, and healthy fats will help you not to feel hungry.
 
Welcome to the forum @ClaireAR

Were you given the result of your HbA1c? That will help you to understand how close to the diagnosis line you are?

Generally you’d get a follow-up check, bit different surgeries leave different amounts of time between checks, so that there’s a while for any changes the person has been making to take effect.

Since HbA1c gives an indication of glucose levels over 3-4 months, it would usually only be worth rechecking after 3months or so.
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Welcome to the forum @ClaireAR

Were you given the result of your HbA1c? That will help you to understand how close to the diagnosis line you are?

Generally you’d get a follow-up check, bit different surgeries leave different amounts of time between checks, so that there’s a while for any changes the person has been making to take effect.

Since HbA1c gives an indication of glucose levels over 3-4 months, it would usually only be worth rechecking after 3months or so.
Click to expand...
Thanks Mike. I literally got a text telling me my recent blood test results (which were mainly taken to monitor my underactive thyroid) were satisfactory but my blood sugar levels were slightly elevated and this is known as pre-diabetes (first time I'd ever heard this term!). No more details than that. I have read about the HbA1c test and as I was on holiday for most of August when it was much more difficult to control my diet I was thinking I should maybe contact the surgery in December if I haven't heard from them by then - that will also be 6 months on from the original blood test. I've been trying really hard to eliminate sugar and cut right back on carbs so I'm very keen to find out if it's having an impact.
 
Yes ’pre diabetes’ isn’t really a diagnosis, it’s more a shorthand phrase to suggest that a person is at increased risk of developing diabetes.

It seemed to come out of the US, but is increasingly used by healthcare professionals in the UK.

Hope the changes you’ve been making have had a positive impact, and you get an encouraging result at your next check.

Let us know how things go 🙂
 
Hi , I am at my witt's end with two friends who have both been told that they are both pre diabetic.

Unfortunately I don't think that neither of them fully understand the seriousness of the disease.

What one of my friends says well it's reversible !!

I don't want to fall out with either of them but any suggestions how I can move forward would be greatly appreciated.
 
offspin said:
Hi , I am at my witt's end with two friends who have both been told that they are both pre diabetic.

Unfortunately I don't think that neither of them fully understand the seriousness of the disease.

What one of my friends says well it's reversible !!

I don't want to fall out with either of them but any suggestions how I can move forward would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Maybe point them in the direction of this forum.
They are in a good position to do something about it with some modest changes.
But as they say you can lead a horse to water but can't make it drink.
Send them this link and maybe they will see that you can still eat normal food. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
 
Leadinglights said:
Maybe point them in the direction of this forum.
They are in a good position to do something about it with some modest changes.
But as they say you can lead a horse to water but can't make it drink.
Send them this link and maybe they will see that you can still eat normal food. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk
Click to expand...

Hi , I did not imagine for one minute I would be writing this but one of my friends had her first call yesterday from a pre diabetic nurse.

Starting next week to she will be going to potentially 12 meeting
 
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