Hello - I'm BigKit and I'm prediabetic

[BigKit]

Prediabetic again according to my GP. The last time I managed to not be prediabetic I just stayed off the Malteser boxes and it made a difference. I've been referred to the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme through my GP. I only went to the GP due to my consistently fat ankles and feet. My mum (Type 2 Diabetes) had that too and they were massive towards the last few years of her life so it's a bit of a worry. I've always had one leg fatter than the other though but this time I can't get shoes on.
Anyway, I'm really fat and my kidneys are a bit 'dry'. I've had lots of tests and they're all coming back as 'reassuringly normal' - their words. So here I am again. I have a sweet tooth, am firmly in menopause and have put on shedloads of weight over the past year. However, I haven't eaten pasta for many years although that doesn't mean much when I usually have a small can of Coke everyday... oh dear.

 

[VashtiB]

Hello and welcome @BigKit

If you are pre diabetic it's a great opportunity to make some dietary changes that will stop you from becoming a full blown diabetic. You may well be able to make more minor changes and stay non-diabetic.

My suggestion is to get a meter and test to see what level of carb intake your body can handle. Then my suggestion would be to keep it below that level. It may be after a while and your levels dropping you can increase your carb intake.

I wish I had done that. I hope you do.

Good luck and welcome.

 

[Geordie_P]

I'd like to second VashtiB on this one- this is a golden chance. Drop the carbs, swap your daily coke for a coke zero, and you may well be able to stave off full-blown diabetes. Even in the event that you can't, following the same programme will help you lose weight and mitigate metabolic issues in the future. The dietary changes involved shouldn't be too gruelling either. I absolutely wish you all the best on this one, because although you're more than welcome here, I'd love it if you could escape from joining this particular club!

 

[valann]

Hello and welcome @BigKit

If you are pre diabetic it's a great opportunity to make some dietary changes that will stop you from becoming a full blown diabetic. You may well be able to make more minor changes and stay non-diabetic.

My suggestion is to get a meter and test to see what level of carb intake your body can handle. Then my suggestion would be to keep it below that level. It may be after a while and your levels dropping you can increase your carb intake.

I wish I had done that. I hope you do.

Good luck and welcome.

Hi BigKit,

Firstly, welcome to the forum

Secondly, I totally agree with VashtiB, get a meter and make some dietary changes. It will be great start to not becoming diabetic.

 

[BigKit]

Thank you all for replying.

VashtiB - I've got an Aviva Accu-check (no coding required) a few years ago and just put a new battery in it the other day. I think I may need to give the care line a ring as there's a consistent error message that won't go away. Thing is I don't know what level of carbs my body can handle anyway. I know pasta makes me feel really tired after I eat it and beetroot makes me feel a bit lightheaded, strangely most root veg does and they taste really sweet to me. I just don't eat them much now except at Christmas.

 

[BigKit]

Geordie_P and valann - you'll be pleased to know I've binned the Coke. I tried the zero version of Dr Pepper this afternoon and that was just heartburn in a can, yuck. I'll off those quite happily.

I'm recording my food, drinks and activity levels on the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme now. It takes 9 months apparently. It'll be interesting to see how it compares with the usual 'NHS fill up on carbs' healthy eating ideas. I personally can't but I do have a sweet tooth. Some times I can go a whole day without eating sweets or biscuits. It's baby steps for me and I know it's a big change. I don't want to be this fat. To be honest, I also don't want to join the Diabetes Club either, it's just that I find it really hard. You'll be pleased to know I gave away my bag of marshmallow maltesers at work, I have a box of Maltesers in my work stash I haven't touched for three weeks and my box of Tunnock's Teacakes went out of date from my own will power! Go me!

 

[Outlier]

What a great start! You deserve to do well, and you will.

Be kind to yourself when transferring your diet from Oldnotgoodforyou to Newwowlookat the difference. Don't just stop having the things you enjoy, but substitute things you DO enjoy. For instance no more xxx because its harmful to me, but today I'm going to have diabetic-friendly yyy because I really love it.

 

[Blade Runner]

Geordie_P and valann - you'll be pleased to know I've binned the Coke. I tried the zero version of Dr Pepper this afternoon and that was just heartburn in a can, yuck. I'll off those quite happily.

I'm recording my food, drinks and activity levels on the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme now. It takes 9 months apparently. It'll be interesting to see how it compares with the usual 'NHS fill up on carbs' healthy eating ideas. I personally can't but I do have a sweet tooth. Some times I can go a whole day without eating sweets or biscuits. It's baby steps for me and I know it's a big change. I don't want to be this fat. To be honest, I also don't want to join the Diabetes Club either, it's just that I find it really hard. You'll be pleased to know I gave away my bag of marshmallow maltesers at work, I have a box of Maltesers in my work stash I haven't touched for three weeks and my box of Tunnock's Teacakes went out of date from my own will power! Go me!

Yo BK!,

Welcome to the forum nobody wants to be on, and way to go on your progress so far

I hope you can avoid this (excuse the pun) bloody awful condition. It's like nothing you can imagine health wise if it gets out of control. I will say this though, and i'm probably not going to be popular..but don't completely knock off ALL the sugar. We need some just to basically function, especially brain wise.

So maybe a chokky bisquit with a cup of tea now and then?, and keep the malteasers stash in a draw for that omg! i must have one! moment, as its a lot easier to give something up if you know its there in a total emergency. (Smoking springs to mind)

I already had Type2 diabetes when i was told this by a hospital specialist. Having Type 1 maybe different. But either way everything in moderation is the way to go. Finally, get yourself one of these (Free trial, but you must have an NFC phone)

https://www.freestylelibre.co.uk/libre/

As VashtiB mentioned, it will give you a frankly fascinating idea of how your body reacts to naughties and the good stuff, and keep this very nasty wolf from the door.

Good luck

 

[Deleted member 475901]

I had, and still have a sweet tooth, so finding substitutes was essential for me to be able to keep to a low carb life.
Full fat Greek yogurt with raspberries to my usual after dinner treat, but I also make low carb cake sometimes or a fake fruit crumble (ie rhubarb with sweetener - erythritol works best - and a crumble topping made with ground almonds and a pinch of butter) serve with double cream. I also switched from milk chocolate to a couple of squares of 85% dark.
I sometimes make 90s bread, also with ground almonds, for a sandwich.
Getting my blood sugar down into the normal range took less than 3 months, and as a side benefit I lost loads of weight and my lipids improved.

 

[BigKit]

Wow TriciaWs well done on the weight loss.

I'm particularly pleased to read that you can eat full fat yogurt as I can't stand low fat stuff (Belly pork is my favourite) and low fat anything just feels claggy in my mouth.

 

[BigKit]

and to Blade Runner and Outlier - thanks for the reassurance on the sweet stuff. I need to go for moderation I think instead of 'open the bag/packet and eat the bag/packet' from now on. Cheers all for the welcome and support.

 

[valann]

Geordie_P and valann - you'll be pleased to know I've binned the Coke. I tried the zero version of Dr Pepper this afternoon and that was just heartburn in a can, yuck. I'll off those quite happily.

I personally can't but I do have a sweet tooth. Some times I can go a whole day without eating sweets or biscuits. It's baby steps for me and I know it's a big change. I don't want to be this fat. To be honest, I also don't want to join the Diabetes Club either, it's just that I find it really hard. You'll be pleased to know I gave away my bag of marshmallow maltesers at work, I have a box of Maltesers in my work stash I haven't touched for three weeks and my box of Tunnock's Teacakes went out of date from my own will power! Go me!

Well done BigKit, you're making an excellent start and no one wants to be diabetic or join the forum really, but you are and yes it's hard but doable. I really believe if those baby steps big time, so follow your heart and do what's right for you, but do keep testing daily to keep an eye on the sugars. Eventually if they don't drop much you may feel you want to walk or jog along to the next step to help yourself.

If you really need a fizzy drink then have a look at Tango Apple 0% sugar, that is my go to now and it doesn't affect my BG at all.