Hi all, I am new here. I have not got Diabetes. Well i have not been diagnosed. I have testing my BG levels and although most are in 5.2 to 6.8 range, my morning ones are sometimes 7.6. I have about 3st to lose. I started low carb diet 5wks ago and have lost 11lbs so i am on the right track. If i keep this up and get as much weight off as possible will my levels go down? I have read that a reading of 7.6 is classed as diabetic but is that the case if it is just random? I dont want to go to Dr yet as she will only say lose wight so I am gonna try to get rid of much as I can first. I also do 30 mins on exercise bike 3/4 times a wk. Am i doing something wrong?
-
Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »
help
- Thread starter Cazbob
- Start Date
James1968
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 441
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
No the best thing you have done is ask for advice on here,lots of very good knowledge on this site,I am sure someone will be along shortly to give you all the info you need.
Bluetit1802
Legend
Fasting blood glucose levels are unreliable as many factors influence them, but 7.6 is high for a non-diabetic.. Your 5.2 to 6.8 look normal if they include post meal tests.
Your doctor will almost certainly tell you to lose weight, but he should also do an HbA1c test. If that comes out positive for diabetes then you will be put on the care pathway - and if you do have diabetes this is a good plan as you will be monitored and looked after (hopefully). If you don't have diabetes but have pre-diabetes, then you should still be monitored (hopefully). If you are non-diabetic you will be sent on your way. In my opinion you would be better going to see the doc and finding out for certain where you stand, and if necessary receive the appropriate care now, rather than later.
AM1874
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 1,383
- Location
- West Lancs
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Dislikes
- Not much
Hi @Cazbob .. and welcome
As @Bluetit1802 has said, the only way that you can know whether or not you are diabetic (or pre-diabetic) is through an HbA1c test .. this is an an average of your blood sugar levels over a three month periob .. it is not possible to reach a diagnosis from a single (or a small number of) readings. You should talk to your Doc or practice nurse about this.
Having said that, your fasting blood sugar result is a little on the high side, so you may be correct in assuming a diagnosis of diabetes. Whatever the outcome, though, you have certainly made a good move coming here. Since joining this forum, the folks here have given me so much info, advice and support that I am now much more confident about the journey ahead. So ask your questions and be assured that you will receive the answers that you need. It can all seem uphill to start with but, in my experience, it gets easier .. very quickly.
There is a lot of conflicting and sometimes confusing information around .. but the key point to take on board is that managing and controlling your diabetes (or pre-diabetes) through exercise, diet and testing your blood glucose seems to be the best way forward for many people. For me, committing to an LCHF (Low Carb High Fat) lifestyle and testing 3-5 times a day seems to be working and you'll find that there is a wealth of info, relevant advice and positive support about LCHF on the forum ..
I see that @Guzzler has already tagged @ daisy1 for you and I suggest that you read up on the valuable material that she will soon be sending you. You also say that you are following LCHF so I think that you might find the discussion on the Low Carb Diet forum helpful .. together with the following Diet Doctor websites, which will give you all the info that you need about carb levels and about what and what not to eat ...
Low Carb Intro and Information and Low Carbs in 60 Seconds
It's good that you are testing and I'm sure that with your LCHF lifestyle change will soon bring your levels and your weight down. I recommend that you test before meals and then again two hours after you started to eat. You will soon develop your own testing pattern which will enable you to monitor trends over time and to spot any foods that cause your blood sugar to "spike" or fall ouside the normal ranges. The ranges that you are looking for are ..
# Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
# 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
I've been testing 3-5 times a day since I was diagnosed in February, which means that I now know what my BG levels are .. and I can now manage them
Hope this helps
As @Bluetit1802 has said, the only way that you can know whether or not you are diabetic (or pre-diabetic) is through an HbA1c test .. this is an an average of your blood sugar levels over a three month periob .. it is not possible to reach a diagnosis from a single (or a small number of) readings. You should talk to your Doc or practice nurse about this.
Having said that, your fasting blood sugar result is a little on the high side, so you may be correct in assuming a diagnosis of diabetes. Whatever the outcome, though, you have certainly made a good move coming here. Since joining this forum, the folks here have given me so much info, advice and support that I am now much more confident about the journey ahead. So ask your questions and be assured that you will receive the answers that you need. It can all seem uphill to start with but, in my experience, it gets easier .. very quickly.
There is a lot of conflicting and sometimes confusing information around .. but the key point to take on board is that managing and controlling your diabetes (or pre-diabetes) through exercise, diet and testing your blood glucose seems to be the best way forward for many people. For me, committing to an LCHF (Low Carb High Fat) lifestyle and testing 3-5 times a day seems to be working and you'll find that there is a wealth of info, relevant advice and positive support about LCHF on the forum ..
I see that @Guzzler has already tagged @ daisy1 for you and I suggest that you read up on the valuable material that she will soon be sending you. You also say that you are following LCHF so I think that you might find the discussion on the Low Carb Diet forum helpful .. together with the following Diet Doctor websites, which will give you all the info that you need about carb levels and about what and what not to eat ...
Low Carb Intro and Information and Low Carbs in 60 Seconds
It's good that you are testing and I'm sure that with your LCHF lifestyle change will soon bring your levels and your weight down. I recommend that you test before meals and then again two hours after you started to eat. You will soon develop your own testing pattern which will enable you to monitor trends over time and to spot any foods that cause your blood sugar to "spike" or fall ouside the normal ranges. The ranges that you are looking for are ..
# Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
# 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
I've been testing 3-5 times a day since I was diagnosed in February, which means that I now know what my BG levels are .. and I can now manage them
Hope this helps
Thanks for all the replies. I dont want to go to doctor until i have lost the weight, I know i have had a few at 7.6/7.8 over the last 5 wks but i have also had more in the 5.2/6.8 range. It has made me wake up to the fact that i may be pre-diabetic and that has driven me on with the lchf diet. I am doing ok with it at the moment and have taken to checking the carbs on everything!! I used to sit and eat a punnet of grapes instead of having my fave choc or crisps... how wrong was that!! struggling to get my head round the fact that i can have bacon, eggs, tom and mushrooms instead of cereal and lose weight. i just hope that if i lose the weight the levels will come down.
Bluetit1802
Legend
I still urge you to go the doctor. Your levels will come down with weight loss and a low carb diet, but IF you are diabetic, you will still be diabetic even with lower levels and a trimmer figure, and also at risk of levels rising again if you go back to grapes and carbs and gain weight again. Better to be a diagnosed diabetic on the care pathway than an undiagnosed one receiving no care. Just my opinion.
daisy1
Legend
- Messages
- 26,457
- Location
- Switzerland
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
- Dislikes
- Cruelty towards animals.
@Cazbob
Hello Cazbob and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope it will be useful to you should you need it. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will help.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS
Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.
A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 250,000 people who are demonstrating this.
On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.
The role of carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.
If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.
The bad news
Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.
The good news
People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.
Controlling your carbs
The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.
The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.
Choosing better carbohydrates
The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.
Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
Eating what works for you
Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.
To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:
Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.
You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.
Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. They're all free.
Hello Cazbob and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope it will be useful to you should you need it. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will help.BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS
Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.
A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 250,000 people who are demonstrating this.
On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.
The role of carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.
If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.
The bad news
Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.
The good news
People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.
Controlling your carbs
The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
- Reduce your carbohydrate intake
- Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.
The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.
Choosing better carbohydrates
The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.
Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
Eating what works for you
Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.
To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:
Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
- structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
- self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education
Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.
You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.
Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. They're all free.
- Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
- Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
