Ian, I have to say my view differs to yours in many points you make, so I will make my response alongside your own, but in a green font.
1. The only 'safe' Blood Glucose range for pre-diabetes' is the normal range i.e . an HBA1c of under 42.
My belief is that "safe" blood glucose ranges are very personal. We encounter people joining here whose blood glucose numbers are relatively modest, yet at diagnosis, have pre-existing complications - peripheran neuropathy, sometmes kidney impacts and so on, yet others appear diagnosed with very high numbers, yet appear unscathed. Of course, the former may find their complications improve, or indeed disappear, and the latter could have issues in the future.
I'm not suggesting it is desirable to live with high numbers. The higher the numbers, the greater likelyhood of issues arising,
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1.A. Pre-diabetes is still diabetes, but not bad enough for a doctor to prescribe medication yet. Most GPs trained more than 5 years ago would confidently wager their car (but perhaps not their house) that your pre-diabetes will progress into full diabetes.
So 'pre-diabetes' is still diabetes!
I disagree that pre-diabetes is diabetes. Were it diabetes, it would be called that. In my view pre-diabetes is a shot across the bows that the individual's glucose metabolism isn't funtioning well, for whatever reason. The individual then has a choice to either attempt some lifestyle changes in an effort to improve things, or wait and see what happens.
I don't have a link to hand, but there was a piece of work done in Australia, tracking those diagnosed with pre-diabetes, who did not make any interventions. At the end of 5yrs, if I recall the term correctly, only something like 30% of those being tracked had progressed to levels meaning a diagnosis of diagnosis.
My suggestion to anyone learning their blood levels had reached pre-diabetic levels wiuild be to try to improve matters by tweaking their diet and perhaps exercising more, if they are able to, then retest after a measured period. From there, they can review and decide what needs to be done, moving forward.
2. Levels, different countries use different measuring systems and occasionally set/re-set) different levels. The current generally accepted upper level Hba1c for the normal range is 42 - but many in here aim for under 40.
My understanding is the upper level of "normal" blood glucose levels is 41.
I agree individuals have their own blood glucose targets. Some will be in the normal range, but others, for a plethora of reasons will have targets in the prediabetic, or diabetic ranges. The reasons an individual has any given target are as many as there are people living with diabetes or pre-diabetes.
3. You are probably getting confused between Sugars and Carbs. Their is a distinction between the two for normal healthy people. But for almost all Type 2 diabetics a carb is exactly the same as a sugar - all that changes is the time taken for it to be converted into Sugar in the bloodstream (Blood Glucose).
So forget, until proven different for you (with a BG meter), all this talk about Good/Healthy carbs and the distinction between Low GI and High GI foods. We are all different in our tolerance of Carbs, but all Type 2 diabetics have a certain degree of intolerance to carbs - they are (mostly) like a poison to us.
I would disaree that carbs are like poison. Demonising any food or food group isn't helpful. Unless you ae living a fully carniovore or a 100% fat lifestyle, it is extremely likely you are consuming carbs.
Personally, I prefer to consider that excessive carb levels, resulting in excessively elevated blood sugar levels have a potential to be harmful, but in my world, they're not poison. Again, personally, I haven't had bread, cakes or pasta for quite some time, but that is my choice. I have the additional wrinkle of needing to eat a gluten-free diet, but potatoes and rice are occasional elements of meals for me. Of course, were I to indulge in those significantly more often things might be different, but my last A1c was 27, so I'm content enough, for the time being, with my choices.
Having said all that we are all different, so some type 2 diabetics may be able to eat a banana (or half a banana) with something high in fat like double cream and still not suffer a spike in Blood Glucose - but unfortunately those are very few indeed.
So to put it in the starkest terms:
1. Government health guidelines - such as 'healthy carbs' and '5 a day' at the very least make some people very ill (perhaps even cause amputation, blindness and death).
Excessive carbs, whether from bananas, mangoes, pasta or whatever are what can lead to elevated blood sugars, and in turn may lead to complications. In reality, some people may be able to tolerate more carbs than others. Indeed, I almost always have at least 5 portions of vegetables or lower carb fruit per day. The devil is indeed in the detail.
2. Conventional medical treatment for type 2 diabetes actually makes the condition worse!
A very sweeping statement. It can be true, but for others, they do well on medication.
I always think it worth reminding myself that the groups of people we have here are not your most typical. Many people arrive here, when their treatment or approach isn't yielding the results they had hoped for, but how many are out there doing OK?
I am a member of my local Diabetes UK group. It's a likely, thriving, group of people over a wide age range, and the members live with a variety of types of diabetes.
One young man in particular, has recently lost 5 or 6 stones, and curious about his approach, I enquired. He went to Slimming World, or WeightWatchers. I can't recall exactly. This far he has maintained his weight for a year or so, so it's looking good for him.
In my mind, there is no one true was to approach diabetes, and for me, making suggestions to another, the most important thing is that they chose to go down a route they can see as sustainable.
3. You can't trust most dieticians, doctors and other 'Healthcare Professionals' - even those who specialise in diabetes!
I would certainly agree that the health car e professional interactions can be mixed.
4. You must be sceptical and yet open minded. If a BG meter backs up what somebody says - then it may well be true - if it doesn't -well then it is more likely to be false, at least for you!
This is where my mantra of eating to my meter comes into things. I see personal, real-time feedback to my lifestyle - whether dietary of exercise. I let my meter be my guide. I listened to other, but what worked for then needn't necessarily be for me.