So frustrated

[Camoo]

i was diagnosed with prediabetes last Wednesday, 46 was my number. i tried to explain to the nurse about my family history of heart disease and type 2diabetes. dad, nan and all but one aunts and uncles died of stroke/ heart attack after dealing with type 2. all under 60. im also south east asian. she said that may have an impact, but, it was not an excuse. that i needed to take ownership. i was very annoyed at this response, because i was trying to explain, i know that it is a serious health risk.
she then asked me about my diet, i explained what i had planned food wise over 3 days. she responded well its not your diet then. she said it must be exercise then, that was the reason i wasnt losing weight, at this point i may agree somewhat , we could all do more, my fitbit often gives me a gentle reminder, but i do at least 10-15k steps 4 days a week and average 40+ flights of stairs when in work. so my lifestyle certainly isnt sedentary. but im definitely not a fitness demon.
i had to point out that i had lost 3stone over the past 18 months. not the fastest loss, but it is the longest i have maintained a loss and not put the weight back on and more..
she printed some info from the internet about 4 pages and told me to comeback in 12 months to have another blood test. i was so upset when i left. she automatically assumed that i was sitting around doing nothing to improve my health. i dont understand, how or
why 12 months? when the results were so close to actually being diagnosed as type 2 diabetic, why not a 3month check?
sorry if this is long winded i just needed to get it of my chest....and breathe...

 

[Dr Snoddy]

I'm so sorry that you have encountered this response when you are clearly very concerned about your diagnosis and have been prepared to take responsibility. Would you mind sharing your 3 day eating plan with us? Although the nurse said your prediabetes could not be due to your diet many of us have learned that what the NHS advises and what actually works can be two entirely different things!

 

[Mbaker]

Bedside manner is horrendous. You'll find a softer landing here.

You can break the cycle. I would suggest to review the YouTube works of Ivor Cummins (Widow Maker) he is brilliant and actively collapsed risk. The documentary Extra Time is extremely positive.

 

[Camoo]

I cook all my food from scratch, I don't count calories but stop when not hungry.
day 1: breakfast porridge oats made with water and sweetener (i cant stand milk) topped wit banana.
lunch homemade chicken and veg soup, 2ryvita with dairlea.

dinner kedgeree, smoked haddock, boiled egg, rice, onion , jalapeno peppers ( just love these at the moment as you will see)
day2, breakfast, 3 boiled eggs.( love eggs) 2 toast wholemeal thick sliced, with margerine.

lunch, koka noodles with jalapeno peppers, spring onions and hot pepper sauce.

dinner, beef curry, homemade from scratch no jars or packet sauces. 45gms of rice with turmeric, cardamom and jalapeno peppers.

snack 1 large orange

day 3 breakfast, 3 boiled eggs , 2 wholemeal toast. margerine

lunch, 1 banana , 1 orange

dinner, broccoli and stilton soup
(off the good food website ) left out the oil because i have a soupmaker. and around 60gms of dark rye sourdough bread. i dont know if this is any better or worse than ordinary bread ,but highly recommend the flavor with that soup

 

[Camoo]

I'm so sorry that you have encountered this response when you are clearly very concerned about your diagnosis and have been prepared to take responsibility. Would you mind sharing your 3 day eating plan with us? Although the nurse said your prediabetes could not be due to your diet many of us have learned that what the NHS advises and what actually works can be two entirely different things!

 

[Camoo]

I cook all my food from scratch, I don't count calories but stop when not hungry.
day 1: breakfast porridge oats made with water and sweetener (i cant stand milk) topped wit banana.
lunch homemade chicken and veg soup, 2ryvita with dairlea.

dinner kedgeree, smoked haddock, boiled egg, rice, onion , jalapeno peppers ( just love these at the moment as you will see)
day2, breakfast, 3 boiled eggs.( love eggs) 2 toast wholemeal thick sliced, with margerine.

lunch, koka noodles with jalapeno peppers, spring onions and hot pepper sauce.

dinner, beef curry, homemade from scratch no jars or packet sauces. 45gms of rice with turmeric, cardamom and jalapeno peppers.

snack 1 large orange

day 3 breakfast, 3 boiled eggs , 2 wholemeal toast. margerine

lunch, 1 banana , 1 orange

dinner, broccoli and stilton soup
(off the good food website ) left out the oil because i have a soupmaker. and around 60gms of dark rye sourdough bread. i dont know if this is any better or worse than ordinary bread ,but highly recommend the flavor with that soup

 

[Dr Snoddy]

I agree with your not counting calories approach and for someone without diabetes this would be a varied and nutritious eating pattern. However, if you were gluten intolerant would you continue to eat gluten? Your prediabetes diagnosis and your family history suggests that you are carbohydrate intolerant and it is the carbohydrates that need to go. So the fruit, toast, rice and oats are all raising your blood glucose levels and can be replaced by more protein and healthy fats. Jo has written a really good guide to low carb eating.
@JoKalsbeek the nutritional thingy . Someone more techy than me will be able to come up with a link. Take heart, a change of approach to your food is possible.

 

[Member496333]

Agree with @Dr Snoddy there’s a ton of carbohydrate in your diet. Sorry but it won’t be doing you any favours. Porridge, bread, rice, bananas etc. are all bad juju for anyone with prediabetes or fully blown type 2.

@JoKalsbeek link in my signature.

 

[Trevor vP]

I cook all my food from scratch, I don't count calories but stop when not hungry.
day 1: breakfast porridge oats made with water and sweetener (i cant stand milk) topped wit banana.
lunch homemade chicken and veg soup, 2ryvita with dairlea.

dinner kedgeree, smoked haddock, boiled egg, rice, onion , jalapeno peppers ( just love these at the moment as you will see)
day2, breakfast, 3 boiled eggs.( love eggs) 2 toast wholemeal thick sliced, with margerine.

lunch, koka noodles with jalapeno peppers, spring onions and hot pepper sauce.

dinner, beef curry, homemade from scratch no jars or packet sauces. 45gms of rice with turmeric, cardamom and jalapeno peppers.

snack 1 large orange

day 3 breakfast, 3 boiled eggs , 2 wholemeal toast. margerine

lunch, 1 banana , 1 orange

dinner, broccoli and stilton soup
(off the good food website ) left out the oil because i have a soupmaker. and around 60gms of dark rye sourdough bread. i dont know if this is any better or worse than ordinary bread ,but highly recommend the flavor with that soup

It is awesome that you cook your own food and you are active.

However as you will find, if you use a blood glucose finger prick meter a few items will probably really spike your blood sugar.
Bread, Rice, Oats, Noodles and a lot of fruit in one sitting like you had in day 3 lunch.

If you can get a glucose monitor you will very quickly see what makes your blood glucose rise and not come down.

I personally find Carb&Cal app amazing a lot of type 1 diabetics use it to work out our Insulin needs and a lot of type 2 use it to quickly work out amount of carbs they are having.

I create all my standard meal recipe in it like curries/stew etc.. and sometimes pretty surprised at the Carbs it has.

 

[Camoo]

It is awesome that you cook your own food and you are active.

However as you will find, if you use a blood glucose finger prick meter a few items will probably really spike your blood sugar.
Bread, Rice, Oats, Noodles and a lot of fruit in one sitting like you had in day 3 lunch.

If you can get a glucose monitor you will very quickly see what makes your blood glucose rise and not come down.

I personally find Carb&Cal app amazing a lot of type 1 diabetics use it to work out our Insulin needs and a lot of type 2 use it to quickly work out amount of carbs they are having.

I create all my standard meal recipe in it like curries/stew etc.. and sometimes pretty surprised at the Carbs it has.

It is awesome that you cook your own food and you are active.

However as you will find, if you use a blood glucose finger prick meter a few items will probably really spike your blood sugar.
Bread, Rice, Oats, Noodles and a lot of fruit in one sitting like you had in day 3 lunch.

If you can get a glucose monitor you will very quickly see what makes your blood glucose rise and not come down.

I personally find Carb&Cal app amazing a lot of type 1 diabetics use it to work out our Insulin needs and a lot of type 2 use it to quickly work out amount of carbs they are having.

I create all my standard meal recipe in it like curries/stew etc.. and sometimes pretty surprised at the Carbs it has.

Thank you I will definitely check the app out x

 

[Camoo]

I agree with your not counting calories approach and for someone without diabetes this would be a varied and nutritious eating pattern. However, if you were gluten intolerant would you continue to eat gluten? Your prediabetes diagnosis and your family history suggests that you are carbohydrate intolerant and it is the carbohydrates that need to go. So the fruit, toast, rice and oats are all raising your blood glucose levels and can be replaced by more protein and healthy fats. Jo has written a really good guide to low carb eating.
@JoKalsbeek the nutritional thingy . Someone more techy than me will be able to come up with a link. Take heart, a change of approach to your food is possible.

Thank you I have just read the nutritional thingy, it is starting to make sense. Of course there may be a few hiccups along the way, but it is a lot more useful than the 4 pages , I got x

 

[Camoo]

Agree with @Dr Snoddy there’s a ton of carbohydrate in your diet. Sorry but it won’t be doing you any favours. Porridge, bread, rice, bananas etc. are all bad juju for anyone with prediabetes or fully blown type 2.

@JoKalsbeek link in my signature.

Thank you, you don't know until you are given the information you need . It's actually quite disturbing that I wasn't given any of this information

 

[Buster_]

It's actually quite disturbing that I wasn't given any of this information

This is a frustration shared by many here. The NHS is seriously behind the curve on this issue, and their dietary advice to type 2 diabetics is actively harmful. The fact that the diabetes specialist nurse you encountered did not flag up the problems with the rice, bread, noodles, oats etc in your diet is both typical and shockingly negligent.

 

[Member496333]

Thank you, you don't know until you are given the information you need . It's actually quite disturbing that I wasn't given any of this information

Oh yeah for sure. Don’t worry you’re not alone there. Majority in healthcare toe the party line and either don’t offer any advice at all or tell you to eat all the wrong things.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

i was diagnosed with prediabetes last Wednesday, 46 was my number. i tried to explain to the nurse about my family history of heart disease and type 2diabetes. dad, nan and all but one aunts and uncles died of stroke/ heart attack after dealing with type 2. all under 60. im also south east asian. she said that may have an impact, but, it was not an excuse. that i needed to take ownership. i was very annoyed at this response, because i was trying to explain, i know that it is a serious health risk.
she then asked me about my diet, i explained what i had planned food wise over 3 days. she responded well its not your diet then. she said it must be exercise then, that was the reason i wasnt losing weight, at this point i may agree somewhat , we could all do more, my fitbit often gives me a gentle reminder, but i do at least 10-15k steps 4 days a week and average 40+ flights of stairs when in work. so my lifestyle certainly isnt sedentary. but im definitely not a fitness demon.
i had to point out that i had lost 3stone over the past 18 months. not the fastest loss, but it is the longest i have maintained a loss and not put the weight back on and more..
she printed some info from the internet about 4 pages and told me to comeback in 12 months to have another blood test. i was so upset when i left. she automatically assumed that i was sitting around doing nothing to improve my health. i dont understand, how or
why 12 months? when the results were so close to actually being diagnosed as type 2 diabetic, why not a 3month check?
sorry if this is long winded i just needed to get it of my chest....and breathe...

I've seen various specialists who all assumed I was a gluttonous, lazy alcoholic. (I barely ate, was exhausted when I woke, and teetotal.) Assumptions are made based on what people consider to be logical causes... But if you are genetically inclined to not tolerate carbs well, you end up getting larger, with high blood sugars, likely non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and absolutely crippling fatigue. Even if you do everything "right", things can go wrong. And that is NOT your fault, especially when you get rubbish advice. But now you know there's stuff your body can't handle, and that your nurse is an idiot.

Take ownership...? Show her. Adjust your diet to suit your body's needs and capabilities, and when you go back for the next check you'll be slimmer, healthier, and well into the normal range. With absolutely no help from that useless "professional". You've got this.

 

[KennyA]

I cook all my food from scratch, I don't count calories but stop when not hungry.
day 1: breakfast porridge oats made with water and sweetener (i cant stand milk) topped wit banana.
lunch homemade chicken and veg soup, 2ryvita with dairlea.

dinner kedgeree, smoked haddock, boiled egg, rice, onion , jalapeno peppers ( just love these at the moment as you will see)
day2, breakfast, 3 boiled eggs.( love eggs) 2 toast wholemeal thick sliced, with margerine.

lunch, koka noodles with jalapeno peppers, spring onions and hot pepper sauce.

dinner, beef curry, homemade from scratch no jars or packet sauces. 45gms of rice with turmeric, cardamom and jalapeno peppers.

snack 1 large orange

day 3 breakfast, 3 boiled eggs , 2 wholemeal toast. margerine

lunch, 1 banana , 1 orange

dinner, broccoli and stilton soup
(off the good food website ) left out the oil because i have a soupmaker. and around 60gms of dark rye sourdough bread. i dont know if this is any better or worse than ordinary bread ,but highly recommend the flavor with that soup

You've had bad advice from the health service, in my opinion. That bad advice is all too common and for T2s anyway is particularly unhelpful. It boils down to "keep doing that thing that's causing you the problems".

Your diet is full of carbs (it's pretty close to what I used to eat - bread, bananas, rice, porridge etc) and that is no good for anyone with any hint of insulin resistance. In my case, eating what the health service recommended (what the media says is "healthy eating") took me to a diabetes diagnosis and numerous symptoms. I've put more about this on my blog here - https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog/kennya.517579/ . Not going to repeat what others have already said but the good news is that you can be quickly (matter of a few months) back in normal range by adjusting what you eat to remove carbohydrate. Can't say what in particular, or how much, because we respond differently to foods so there's no one size fits all solution. You find your own path by fingerprick testing and seeing how your body responds.

 

[Camoo]

I've seen various specialists who all assumed I was a gluttonous, lazy alcoholic. (I barely ate, was exhausted when I woke, and teetotal.) Assumptions are made based on what people consider to be logical causes... But if you are genetically inclined to not tolerate carbs well, you end up getting larger, with high blood sugars, likely non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and absolutely crippling fatigue. Even if you do everything "right", things can go wrong. And that is NOT your fault, especially when you get rubbish advice. But now you know there's stuff your body can't handle, and that your nurse is an idiot.

Take ownership...? Show her. Adjust your diet to suit your body's needs and capabilities, and when you go back for the next check you'll be slimmer, healthier, and well into the normal range. With absolutely no help from that useless "professional". You've got this.

After all the advice here I feel a lot more positive about the future, actually my family's experience of type 2 was not positive. Looking back I can see that my dad on doctors advice cut out all the wrong things...it was so sad, he had gone from eating a vibrant indian cuisine( perhaps to many carbs) to a really restrictive diet basically eating just boiled carrots and potatoes for the last 5 years, which just made him more unwell x

 

[andromache]

After all the advice here I feel a lot more positive about the future, actually my family's experience of type 2 was not positive. Looking back I can see that my dad on doctors advice cut out all the wrong things...it was so sad, he had gone from eating a vibrant indian cuisine( perhaps to many carbs) to a really restrictive diet basically eating just boiled carrots and potatoes for the last 5 years, which just made him more unwell x

I really feel for you about your dear dad. It was much the same for mine.