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Another newbie.

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gemini2

Newbie
Messages
2
Type of diabetes
Don't have diabetes
Hello. I am new here too. I had a shock last week when I went to see my GP. The background to this is that I have been taking part in some research with the University of Cambridge into blood donation frequency as I am a regular blood donor. I also agreed to join their research into coronary heart disease. They asked me to have some blood tests which I did for cholesterol and triglycerides and also fructose was mentioned. I did so and about two weeks ago I had a letter from my GP surgery asking me to go for a hbac1 test. Following this I had another letter to say to see her on a routine appointment. I went the following week which was a week ago tomorrow. She told me that the test had shown that, although I was not prediabetic yet, I am on the borderline of it. I was very shocked and upset as I always thought I had followed a healthy diet although I had become concerned lately about the reports about fruit intake and the sugar. I have always eaten about 6 pieces a day including a couple in the evening. My GP advised me to cut down to about 2-3 only. I have to admit I had been a devil for pinching a couple of dried dates when I was putting out the breakfast things last thing at night. Not every night, just sometimes I would take a couple of dried dates. I read recently in Michael Moseley's blood sugar diet book that it is the equivalent of eating two punnets of strawberries, which just before bed, would be pretty horrifying.

I have been upset all week worrying about diabetes complications like kidney failure and blindness etc.

My GP is going to retake the test in 3 months and has told me not to panic and said she is not terribly worried about it but has given me a booklet with diet and lifestyle advice. I have to admit to laziness at night when I come home from work and also on one of my rest days. The other one is quite busy and includes Zumba. I also do 30 a day on my commutes which are 3 days a week. GP tested my blood pressure and it was OK and she said my weight is fine for my height - 9 st 6 lbs and 5 feet 6 inches. I cannot do the blood sugar diet as Michael Moseley advises not to do the 800 cal diet if you have a BMI of 21 or less (mine is 21.7). I have cut the carbs this week as I thought that might be an idea.

Any advice would be welcome. I want to try to delay and even prevent diabetes if I can.

My apologies if this sounds a bit melodramatic but I am an over anxious person.
 
Borderline prediabetic? So....normal. My advice is to eat real unprocessed food. Cut back on refined carbs, including stuff made from whole grains. Eliminate factory processed food, including veg oil. Don't be afraid of healthy fats, which includes dairy and the fat in fresh meat.
 
Hi @gemini2

As NoCrbs4Me has stated above, you're not actually pre-diabetic yet, so there's no need to get anxious about the situation. Putting a positive spin on things, you're exceptionally lucky to have caught any tendency for raised blood glucose levels so early, most are not afforded that luxury.

If you just cut your carbohydrate intake a little you'll probably be just fine. If you enjoy eating fruit, then we generally find that berries are better for us than things like bananas, grapes, apples and pears which can have a fair few carbs in them.

Good luck (and don't worry).
 
Reckon your GP (IMHO) is right. Too many sugars. And stay away from fruit juices as well. That's not targeted at you at all but the population in general could do with cutting down on carbs and anything sweet, that for many (well, a decent number), leads to the inevitable.

Wish you well on your travels.
 
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