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Saying Hi and why I'm here

K

KennyMillar

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
At risk of diabetes
Pronouns
He/Him
Hi everyone.
I've joined this forum because I know hee-haw about diabetes, and would like to understand the risk factors etc.
I'm male, 56, and overweight at 18 stone, 5'6".
I have been trying to loose weight but find it a real struggle.

I'm a freelance electronics designer and do quite a bit of work in SFX for Movies and TV.
I'm married with 4 grown-up kids, 2 of which are still at home.

I'll post my question in the general forum and hope I don't sound silly!
Thanks for having me!
 
Welcome @KennyMillar 🙂 You don’t sound silly🙂 Here’s some information about the Type 2 risk factors:

www.diabetes.org.uk

Diabetes risk factors

About 90% of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. The signs may not be obvious, or there may be no signs at all. Some people can live with it for might be up to 10 years before being diagnosed. That’s why it’s very important to know the diabetes risk factors.
www.diabetes.org.uk www.diabetes.org.uk

.
 
Inka said:
Welcome @KennyMillar 🙂 You don’t sound silly🙂 Here’s some information about the Type 2 risk factors:

www.diabetes.org.uk

Diabetes risk factors

About 90% of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. The signs may not be obvious, or there may be no signs at all. Some people can live with it for might be up to 10 years before being diagnosed. That’s why it’s very important to know the diabetes risk factors.
www.diabetes.org.uk www.diabetes.org.uk

.
Click to expand...
Thank you! I'll check out that link you posted.
 
KennyMillar said:
Hi everyone.
I've joined this forum because I know hee-haw about diabetes, and would like to understand the risk factors etc.
I'm male, 56, and overweight at 18 stone, 5'6".
I have been trying to loose weight but find it a real struggle.

I'm a freelance electronics designer and do quite a bit of work in SFX for Movies and TV.
I'm married with 4 grown-up kids, 2 of which are still at home.

I'll post my question in the general forum and hope I don't sound silly!
Thanks for having me!
Click to expand...
It sounds like losing weight would help your situation and help keep your blood glucose for creeping up.
Have a look at this link that is low carb but based on real food and meals that your family could share. There is good explanation and some meal plans. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
 
Hi @KennyMillar and welcome to the forum

I assume you have had a hba1c test and your doctor has told you, you are at risk or pre-diabetic, can you remember what your score was as this will be your starting point

Alan 😉
 
Hello and welcome to the Forum!

I'm sure that you'll get lots of non judgemental advice, but perhaps a brief outline of my experience might help and/or encourage you?

A couple of years ago I was about 95kg and variable blood sugar/HbA1c readings (ie high!)
Then I set about losing some weight - at first it was a fairly strict regime with diet shakes/ bars/schemes from the likes of Exante, Kee, and others, and following the advice, (ie instructions!) from Michael Moseley, David Cavan, Roy Taylor
All this brought my weight down to about 83kg, and a steadier HbA1c
And sticking to a strict diabetic diet - there are several versions from DUK , YouTube, and those authors

I also did more exercise - just walking around town, looking at old buildings and the parts that I didn't really know, and the back lanes and footpaths that all areas have
I went to a Tai Chi class for a couple of years. I still do it, though probably not up to the standard of a real expert, but it is, nevertheless, exercise
Tai Chi is a martial art, but not as aggressive as things like judo or karate, it is more to do with balance, co ordination, and stretching; nevertheless at the end of a session you definitely feel as though you've done something
There is also a meditation/motivation/mental aspect which keeps me at it, and on the straight & narrow for diet, off the booze, and so on.
Find a class near you, or on YouTube; some of the videos are made by experts and are very impressive, but there are also ones aimed at beginners; just Search & watch

Start simple & easy with diet & exercise and build it up from there

Or Search YouTube for indoor exercises; for seniors (even if you're not); and similar titles and follow the Links & Prompts, you're bound to find something, and make it a regular thing.

Now I have changed to a low carbohydrate Mediterranean diet for the past few months - my blood sugars are OK as are my cholesterol levels & blood pressure without any medication
My target is to get below 80kg by the end of summer
 
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Hi @KennyMillar and a very warm welcome from me 🙂 . We're a friendly bunch here, so just ask away with any questions you may have....
 
KennyMillar said:
Hi, sorry, but I've not had an Hba1c test.
Click to expand...
You have said in your signature you are pre-diabetic so I just wonder how you know that as it would usually be indicated from an HbA1C blood test which in basic terms gives your average blood glucose over the previous 3 months. It is a good idea if you can to request that from your GP, it would put your mind at rest that that is actually where you are and not actually diabetic as if so more robust action would be needed.
 
Leadinglights said:
You have said in your signature you are pre-diabetic so I just wonder how you know that as it would usually be indicated from an HbA1C blood test which in basic terms gives your average blood glucose over the previous 3 months. It is a good idea if you can to request that from your GP, it would put your mind at rest that that is actually where you are and not actually diabetic as if so more robust action would be needed.
Click to expand...
I selected "at risk" rather than pre-diabetic (maybe it's the same thing!) but that came from the risk calculator on this site.
 
Hi mate, nowt wrong with asking questions. Already had some good answers, so hopefully they will be helpful to you.
I was not far off 18st not that long ago, and I'm only 5'8" and I had very high HbA1c, eg: well over 100! and diagnosed as T2...
You can make positive changes, even small ones will help.
I did one of the very low cal/carb diets (12 weeks on shakes), its not the only method, but going low carb seems to help a lot of T2's. I lost a lot of weight, lowered my BG levels and my HbA1c and my BP too and lost many inches off my waist.
If you can give more info, eg: type of foods you eat, amount of exercise you do, any other health issues, any medication you may be on, etc, etc, it will all help with advice/ guidance people can give you.
A lot of peeps think "low carb" just means sugars, eg: cakes, sweets, crisps, etc, but a lot of food that some consider "healthy" can also be high in carbs, eg: banana, some veg, some fruit, etc.
NB: not every type of lifestyle change, or medication, or diet/eating regime, suits every person, so you need to find what works for you.
You have already taken a positive step just by coming on here and asking a question.
You can make a difference, you really can.... its never too late. 😎
 
@pjgtech Thank you. I will take your suggestions on board!
I enjoy fruit and veg and will need to look clsoer at what's high in carbs - unfortunately bananas is one of my favourites!
Thanks everyone for their support!
 
@KennyMillar
With you risk score of 28 and the symptoms the symptoms you list, I agree you need a full blood test including HbA1c.

I only discovered my HbA1c was off the the scale when I asked the pharmacist doing my annual review what I could do to avoid a stroke like my father. Reply, we'd better organise blood tests. Result: I had T2D, my iron levels were far too high, my liver might have been damaged.

Fortunately a scan revealed my liver was OK but 'fatty liver' was confirmed. Treatment: diet.

Like me, you know you need to lose weight. The basic formula is protein and non-starchy vegetables. For immediate guidance from GPs who have pioneered low carb diets I'd look at Dr David Unwin's diet sheet and the Freshwell Meal Planner and its red, amber and green food lists.

When I started I had not the slightest idea about diet. I could not have managed without the Cronometer app (free version) to track my nutrients. I just enter the weight of ingredients and it does the rest. Highly recommended if it fits in with your arrangements.

Treat all this as a golden opportunity for a reset you will never regret.
 
JITR said:
@KennyMillar
With you risk score of 28 and the symptoms the symptoms you list, I agree you need a full blood test including HbA1c.

I only discovered my HbA1c was off the the scale when I asked the pharmacist doing my annual review what I could do to avoid a stroke like my father. Reply, we'd better organise blood tests. Result: I had T2D, my iron levels were far too high, my liver might have been damaged.

Fortunately a scan revealed my liver was OK but 'fatty liver' was confirmed. Treatment: diet.

Like me, you know you need to lose weight. The basic formula is protein and non-starchy vegetables. For immediate guidance from GPs who have pioneered low carb diets I'd look at Dr David Unwin's diet sheet and the Freshwell Meal Planner and its red, amber and green food lists.

When I started I had not the slightest idea about diet. I could not have managed without the Cronometer app (free version) to track my nutrients. I just enter the weight of ingredients and it does the rest. Highly recommended if it fits in with your arrangements.

Treat all this as a golden opportunity for a reset you will never regret.
Click to expand...
David Unwin is another author to add to the list that I've made in my earlier Post

I think they have all made YT Videos as well, and all worth watching

As mentioned, you've had loads of advice, enough to keep you occupied for the forseeable future!
 
@KennyMillar Even if you are not into high ranges of diabetes, you may be like me and eating carbs is like putting the wrong fuel into a vehicle that can just about cope but doesn't run well on it.
I was in that situation all my adult life, from early 20s to the age of 65, when I was diagnosed type 2. I knew that when following Atkins I felt brilliant, more energy and a bit of weight loss - but my GP and other HCPs were adamant that I needed to eat a low fat high carb diet to be healthy. It never felt that way.
The great thing about low carb was that my weight actually reduced without effort. I never thought about it until my clothes started to slide south - I thought the elastic must have gone. I don't weigh myself as after decades of being shouted at for not losing weight on the diet written out for me I think it is a sort of PTSD, but I have had to alter of buy new clothes regularly since diagnosis.
 
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