Recently diagnosed at risk - looking for some pointers

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Proud to be erratic said:
Steve, select from the top line of this site the green coloured circle with the letter S and that will put you into an edit mode for your personal info that you originally provided when you registered for the forum. Within the array of options select Signature and it will provide you with a blank box that you can complete as you wish.

Having said "as you wish" 12 months ago @everyday ups and downs put out a low key request asking those of us with long signatures to consider shortening them. I am attaching that link.


This edit mode also allows you to look back and find something you might have written about at some other time: select Your content. The other options are self-explanatory, I think.
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@Proud to be erratic. Thanks for this information, and the reason for keeping information shorter. Just what I needed.
suziewoozie79 said:
I hear what everyone is saying and defo dont think i would be looking at to diagose you as diabetic, especilly your hemogloben at the number thats pretty good, were there sugar in your urine and what did your bloods come in at, what was your avergae blood count as well, people who dont have diabetes is usually around 4 and 7, usuall 7 after they have eat other than that usually 4, people who drink a very suagry drink can go well about 7 but within an hour iys back down to between 4 and 7. I would do what that other person told you prick your finger test your blood 20 minutes before you have a meal,then leave it 30 minutes do it again and then another 30 minutes after that, it should be on the higher level owards 7 after a meal, but above thatdepends what you eat, but test again 30 minutes and see ifit stays up or goes up becaise it should be going down if your not diabetic, it could be because your fit and walk etc this is whats giving you the perfect hba1c reading, Diabetics should always have a 30 minute walk to and hour walk a day cause the feet pump the blood round the body and your feet are very important cause they have more nerves in them than your whole body, SO a regualr walk once a day after a meal, best main meal helps pump everything through your body thats suppose to, and this can prolong a better life for the problems diabetics occur, I am 43 years diabetic andwhat i have just said i never done any that, but now yes i hae no problems with eyes legs feet, well up untill now, i lived of a strict diet weighing counting very old ways, sorry i could write a book lol but check your blood count pal before and after meals and then again 30 minutes after the one after your meal....if there not averging between 4 and 7, then am affraid you are diabetic pal
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@suziewoozie79. Thanks. My other blood test results were OK - from my recollection, but I will go back and check. I take your point about regular walking, which we do when it’s not pouring with rain!
 
CaliUberDriver said:
As a T1D, in regards to blood glucose monitoring, I can really recommend just using finger prickers, with a cheap blood glucose monitor - it's a really low financial investment, and basically painless, overall it shouldn't cost more than 30 or 35 pounds if you don't go for something really high end. You could also go for a continuous glucose monitor, although that's a huge investment, particularly if you don't need it for very long.
You are very unlikely to get diagnosed, but checking your glucose levels is probably a good idea, just for peace of mind. If you aren't sure what kind of pricker / monitor to get, please do just shoot me a message, I'll let you know what I use.
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@CaliUberDriver: Thanks for this advice. I’ll be asking the DN about finger prickers when I get my next test in April, so may contact you again then if I need a specific recommendation.
 
Hi Steve it's franthepotter I've been off the forum for a bit so apologise for the late addition to this thread. I'm on weight loss after a T2 diagnosis ... high hba1c and symptoms (eyesight, cold legs, falling asleep). Its regarding your breakfast. In Dec I started the same look at my diet and was really shocked. I always thought banana in overnight oats would be a great low GI/high fibre breakfast but it's really high in carbs and much too much for me. I'm better with an egg plus nuts. I've lost 4kg on my way to 8kg over 3 months ... 1kg a month
 
Franthepotter said:
Hi Steve it's franthepotter I've been off the forum for a bit so apologise for the late addition to this thread. I'm on weight loss after a T2 diagnosis ... high hba1c and symptoms (eyesight, cold legs, falling asleep). Its regarding your breakfast. In Dec I started the same look at my diet and was really shocked. I always thought banana in overnight oats would be a great low GI/high fibre breakfast but it's really high in carbs and much too much for me. I'm better with an egg plus nuts. I've lost 4kg on my way to 8kg over 3 months ... 1kg a month
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Ps I am using a continuous monitor (libra 2) so I get immediately feedback. The NHS don't provide these for T2 so it's an expense I'm footing for 3 months to see my glucose levels in real time. (Libra 2 is about 50 quid a fortnight)
 
Franthepotter said:
Hi Steve it's franthepotter I've been off the forum for a bit so apologise for the late addition to this thread. I'm on weight loss after a T2 diagnosis ... high hba1c and symptoms (eyesight, cold legs, falling asleep). Its regarding your breakfast. In Dec I started the same look at my diet and was really shocked. I always thought banana in overnight oats would be a great low GI/high fibre breakfast but it's really high in carbs and much too much for me. I'm better with an egg plus nuts. I've lost 4kg on my way to 8kg over 3 months ... 1kg a month
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@Franthepotter. Yes, even the NHS’s Prevention Programme failed to challenge my assumptions: we all kept a food diary for a while, but it was made clear that it was private, not to be shared with others on the course or with the trainer, and there was no suggestion that we should do any calculations. It was only when I stumbled across this forum that it became clear how unsuitable my breakfast was.
 
Steve J said:
@Exflex. Interesting article (and website, not come across it before). One in nine adults, presumably a greater proportion of > 70’s, who need to understand the importance of lifestyle changes.
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Diabetes UK have been working this area for many years - including ‘know your risk’ roadshow events where people can get helpful pointers towards understanding their own likelihood of developing diabetes. Along with lobbying the Government to understand the potential implications of the hundreds of thousands of cases estimated to be currently undiagnosed.

This from last year
www.diabetes.org.uk

Number of people living with diabetes in the UK tops 5 million for the first time

UPDATE, 22 MAY 2024: We now have new information on the amount of people living with the diabetes, and for more information you can visit our guide on diabetes statistics. The number of people living with diabetes has topped five million for the first time, our analysis shows.
www.diabetes.org.uk www.diabetes.org.uk

And the more recent ONS figures suggesting more like 1,000,000 potential undiagnosed cases with perhaps 1 in 9 UK adults at risk.
 
Steve J said:
@CaliUberDriver: Thanks for this advice. I’ll be asking the DN about finger prickers when I get my next test in April, so may contact you again then if I need a specific recommendation.
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It is unlikely that you would be prescribed a blood glucose monitor as even diagnosed Type 2 will not get them unless they are lucky. It is a valuable tool to support your efforts with dietary changes and which is why many self fund. Inexpensive monitors can be bought on line, a couple with the cheaper strips are the GlucoNavii or TEE2 but worth shopping around as prices change, the strips are specific to the monitor. Generally cheaper on line than at the pharmacy.
So why wait until April?
 
Steve J said:
@Franthepotter. Yes, even the NHS’s Prevention Programme failed to challenge my assumptions: we all kept a food diary for a while, but it was made clear that it was private, not to be shared with others on the course or with the trainer, and there was no suggestion that we should do any calculations. It was only when I stumbled across this forum that it became clear how unsuitable my breakfast was.
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I'm battling with keeping on the weight loss regime it's hard!!!
 
Leadinglights said:
It is unlikely that you would be prescribed a blood glucose monitor as even diagnosed Type 2 will not get them unless they are lucky. It is a valuable tool to support your efforts with dietary changes and which is why many self fund. Inexpensive monitors can be bought on line, a couple with the cheaper strips are the GlucoNavii or TEE2 but worth shopping around as prices change, the strips are specific to the monitor. Generally cheaper on line than at the pharmacy.
So why wait until April?
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@Leadinglights. Thanks for this information. There has been a lot to absorb since I joined the forum a few days ago! These are my take-home findings so far: firstly, there is evidence that (given my age) my HbA1c is not abnormally high; secondly, I now realise that my seemingly healthy diet is anything but. My immediate challenge is to (sustainably) wean myself off my carb-rich diet. This, in itself, is consuming enough of my mental bandwidth; coping with regular blood glucose monitoring at this time would be a step too far I fear. But, in the event that my HbA1c level continues to rise then I will have no hesitation in self-funding regular monitoring.
 
I found it helpful to follow a diet plan. A Newcastle Diet with real food suited me at the time but it was rigorous. In hindsight the three phases of the Harcombe Diet would have been less demanding: initial weight loss, sustained weight loss, lifelong maintenance. Did I mention that before?
 
Thanks to all those who gave me advice and pointers earlier in the year. I’m pleased to report that my HbA1c is down 6 points at 39 following five months of a lower carb diet. I started at about 130 g carb per day in February and achieved my target weight loss of 6 lb max within a few months, though I have increased carbs to about 160 g per day in recent months to maintain my current weight (my BMI is at the bottom of the normal range). I have replaced the calories with more protein and good(-ish) fats and think the current diet is sustainable. I don’t know what it has done for my blood cholesterol / lipids, but will have to wait until January for a retest.
 
That's a great drop, Steve - back into normal range. Well done, thanks for sharing and keep us posted on how increasing your carbs works out.
 
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