Results abnormal again

[Maz2]

Just had a look at my results on GP website. They have gone from normal 40 which I have had for the past few years to 42. GP has said repeat next year again.

I know I am not diabetic and I sound a bit pathetic but I feel completely devastated. I don't eat loads of high glycaemic foods or sweet stuff and I am already underweight as it is although not by much.

I have no idea what to do about it. Should I try fasting?

I do test against foods. I will have to start doing it regularly again. Maybe I am eating something that I think is OK but isn't but no idea what.

 

[Leadinglights]

Just had a look at my results on GP website. They have gone from normal 40 which I have had for the past few years to 42. GP has said repeat next year again.

I know I am not diabetic and I sound a bit pathetic but I feel completely devastated. I don't eat loads of high glycaemic foods or sweet stuff and I am already underweight as it is although not by much.

I have no idea what to do about it. Should I try fasting?

I do test against foods. I will have to start doing it regularly again. Maybe I am eating something that I think is OK but isn't but no idea what.

It sounds like that is maybe just a gradual creep on the amount of carbs you are having, a couple of mmol/mol increase is likely just normal variation and is still just on the first rung of prediabetes. However the recent guidelines coming from some research about allowing more leniency for more mature folk recommending a more personalised approach taking other risk factors into account.
In you position I should do nothing other than keeping doing what you are, but if you are are underweight then increase your protein and healthy fats. High protein yoghurts, eggs, avocados, nuts.

 

[Maz2]

It sounds like that is maybe just a gradual creep on the amount of carbs you are having, a couple of mmol/mol increase is likely just normal variation and is still just on the first rung of prediabetes. However the recent guidelines coming from some research about allowing more leniency for more mature folk recommending a more personalised approach taking other risk factors into account.
In you position I should do nothing other than keeping doing what you are, but if you are are underweight then increase your protein and healthy fats. High protein yoghurts, eggs, avocados, nuts.

Thank you very much leadinglights. You are correct as I have been trying to eat a little more carbs but not ridiculous amounts. Another thing I am noticing is that, sometimes, I am not that hungry but am having lunch or breakfast, for example, because I am underweight by a little bit and feel that I should.

I was not aware of the recent guidelines so will have a look at that. We have a GP who specialises in diabetes and he told me that I may be more insulin resistant with age and to stop losing weight. I am 70 years old.

My husband has said that the GPs are not too concerned about it so I should stop worrying about it. I have asked my surgery for someone to call me back and they going to get an HCA to speak to me on Monday as I was upset when I spoke to them. GPs incidentally have said just test next year and no further action. My hubby and my one of my friends has said that speaks volumes.

 

[Maz2]

"Normal variation" may be why GPs are not getting upset about it.

 

[Leadinglights]

"Normal variation" may be why GPs are not getting upset about it.

The definition of remission is below 48mmol/mol without medication which to my mind seems odd in that that is the diagnostic threshold for a diabetes diagnosis.
Personally I aim to keep 40mmol/mol or under as it gives a buffer zone. My nurse thinks that is marvellous.
I suspect they deal with people who are nowhere near that and don't actually care.
You priority should be to maintain your weight, which you can still do without having extra carbs if you go or proteins and healthy fats. Have some cream on your sugar free jelly with berries. You could make fruit crumble with the topping made from ground almonds, low sugar granola, seeds and nuts and butter.

 

[Maz2]

The definition of remission is below 48mmol/mol without medication which to my mind seems odd in that that is the diagnostic threshold for a diabetes diagnosis.
Personally I aim to keep 40mmol/mol or under as it gives a buffer zone. My nurse thinks that is marvellous.
I suspect they deal with people who are nowhere near that and don't actually care.
You priority should be to maintain your weight, which you can still do without having extra carbs if you go or proteins and healthy fats. Have some cream on your sugar free jelly with berries. You could make fruit crumble with the topping made from ground almonds, low sugar granola, seeds and nuts and butter.

I know quite a few people who are diabetic and some of them don't give a toss. I certainly gave a toss about even being pre-diabetic and worked hard to get it down. I worry about having too much fat as my cholesterol is on its limit now. My GPs have told me previously I can't expect my body to behave like a 30 year old now and I just have to do the best I can. They don't seem cross with me, I am just cross with myself.

Oh well, will test more regularly now and see what I can do whilst taking on more protein. I am not giving in.

 

[Leadinglights]

I know quite a few people who are diabetic and some of them don't give a toss. I certainly gave a toss about even being pre-diabetic and worked hard to get it down. I worry about having too much fat as my cholesterol is on its limit now. My GPs have told me previously I can't expect my body to behave like a 30 year old now and I just have to do the best I can. They don't seem cross with me, I am just cross with myself.

Oh well, will test more regularly now and see what I can do whilst taking on more protein. I am not giving in.

Healthy fats are beneficial in helping to improve cholesterol good/bad ratios. The body need cholesterol for all sorts of function, tissue healing, hormone synthesis etc and the body usually makes what it needs, rather than it being from dietary fats.
I take a low dose statin and although I eat full fat yoghurt, cheese, butter my cholesterol is low and triglycerides half of the low threshold and ratios very good.*

 

[Maz2]

Healthy fats are beneficial in helping to improve cholesterol good/bad ratios. The body need cholesterol for all sorts of function, tissue healing, hormone synthesis etc and the body usually makes what it needs, rather than it being from dietary fats.
I take a low dose statin and although I eat full fat yoghurt, cheese, butter my cholesterol is low and triglycerides half of the low threshold and ratios very good.*

Thank you for that leadinglights. My triglycerides are fine. I have two friends with sky high cholesterol and they eat very little fat.

 

[trophywench]

What you eat actually has VERY little effect on your serum cholesterol level. They can't even measure LDL from a blood sample, so it is always estimated using the measured levels of your Total chol, Trigs and HDL to calculate the estimation.

 

[Lucyr]

What you eat actually has VERY little effect on your serum cholesterol level.

Mine dropped from 5.1 to 4.3 after changing my diet so I don’t think it’s fair to say diet has very little impact

 

[Maz2]

I think you are right Trophy Wench as my friends are normal weight and eat very little fat and theirs is sky high. I have another friend who is very overweight and does not care what she eats and her cholesterol is around 3 and her blood sugars are fine too.

 

[Martin.A]

Mine dropped from 5.1 to 4.3 after changing my diet so I don’t think it’s fair to say diet has very little impact

Likewise - 5.1 to 4.4, and now 3.85 just before Xmas. I'd like to think that's because I chose to limit my saturated fat intake to RDA, have added nuts, seeds and oily fish to my diet, have a Benecol with breakfast and use a Benecol spread - all done with the aim of bringing down my cholesterol level.

Unless, of course, the drop is completely unconnected to any of that and is just a massive coincidence.

 

[Lucyr]

Likewise - 5.1 to 4.4, and now 3.85 just before Xmas. I'd like to think that's because I chose to limit my saturated fat intake to RDA, have added nuts, seeds and oily fish to my diet, have a Benecol with breakfast and use a Benecol spread - all done with the aim of bringing down my cholesterol level.

Unless, of course, the drop is completely unconnected to any of that and is just a massive coincidence.

I don’t use Benecol but my cholesterol dropped after I switched to an olive oil spread and started eating oily fish

 

[Maz2]

I don’t use Benecol but my cholesterol dropped after I switched to an olive oil spread and started eating oily fish

I think it shows how individual people are. I use olive oil spread, eat oily fish and don't have butter, cream, or anything really high in fat I don't think but it is still hovering on its "limit." A lot of this is down to individuals and what works for one person may not work for another. Well done with getting it down though.

 

[Maz2]

Likewise - 5.1 to 4.4, and now 3.85 just before Xmas. I'd like to think that's because I chose to limit my saturated fat intake to RDA, have added nuts, seeds and oily fish to my diet, have a Benecol with breakfast and use a Benecol spread - all done with the aim of bringing down my cholesterol level.

Unless, of course, the drop is completely unconnected to any of that and is just a massive coincidence.

Forgive my ignorance Martin but what is RDA please? My friend uses Benecol and hers won't budge. I think it just shows how individual we all are. I know a lady who eats butter, cream, cheese, chocolates, biscuits and anything she wishes when she wishes and her cholesterol is really low and her blood sugars are normal too. Having said that it could be doing other things I don't know.

 

[Leadinglights]

Forgive my ignorance Martin but what is RDA please? My friend uses Benecol and hers won't budge. I think it just shows how individual we all are. I know a lady who eats butter, cream, cheese, chocolates, biscuits and anything she wishes when she wishes and her cholesterol is really low and her blood sugars are normal too. Having said that it could be doing other things I don't know.

recommended dietary allowance

 

[Martin.A]

Forgive my ignorance Martin but what is RDA please? My friend uses Benecol and hers won't budge. I think it just shows how individual we all are. I know a lady who eats butter, cream, cheese, chocolates, biscuits and anything she wishes when she wishes and her cholesterol is really low and her blood sugars are normal too. Having said that it could be doing other things I don't know.

It's from a set of government guidelines on diet called Recommended Dietary Allowances. The RDA for saturated fat is 30g per day for the 'average' man, 20g per day for the 'average' woman. The nutritional information on food packaging will usually show the percentage of the RDA per 100g and, sometimes, per portion but is more usually called RI (Reference Intake).

 

[Maz2]

It's from a set of government guidelines on diet called Recommended Dietary Allowances. The RDA for saturated fat is 30g per day for the 'average' man, 20g per day for the 'average' woman. The nutritional information on food packaging will usually show the the percentage of the RDA per 100g and, sometimes, per portion but is more usually called RI (Reference Intake).

Thank you. Obvious when somebody tell you🙂

 

[Martin.A]

My friend uses Benecol and hers won't budge.

The claim is a 7-10% reduction in cholesterol levels over 2-3 weeks, if taken with food. As we all know they wouldn't be allowed to make those claims unless they're evidence-based. Your friend might not be seeing a drop but maybe it's stopping it from going any higher..??