My blood test has come back as abnormal .It says indicates a risk of diabetes. My range is 42-47.I cannt see the diabetic nurse until ten 18 th December .I will be 72 on Xmas eve .
What should I be doing please.I am 9 stone 12,so I am not over eight .
My diet is good I am not a big eater .I am vegetarian,gluten and dairy free ,and I go to slimming world every week.
What should I be eating or not be eating please.Will I have a blood test again in a few weeks time or will they say another year.?
a years time .I very shocked this has come up .i don’t drink or smoke .
Any help of advice would be appreciated.
Hi
@Maygirl, and welcome,
So many vices you can't tick off, and still these results... I can imagine the numbers come as a shock, but "risk of diabetes" in this case, is not the same as diabetes. The numbers you mention are indicative of
prediabetes, so not quite diabetic yet. (Could it be you mentioned the range rather than your results? It should be just one number?) And at 72, sometimes, your blood glucose is just a little higher, as it can rise a little with age. Also, at 72, you might be on medications that could nudge your blood glucose up a little, like steroids (prednison for instance) or statins? No idea if that is the case, but if it is, well... You sound a little like you're trying to find where
you went wrong on a personal level, and the truth is, you likely didn't. I know, T2's get a bad reputation, but it's actually quite genetic, if not brought on by medication. And those meds, if you are on those, are likely to be rather nessesary, so... Checking whether you can do something with your diet would be good. If you can't change one thing, change another, right?
Slimming world doesn't cater to people with metabolic syndrome (which practically all type 2 diabetics have), if you do have a genetic tendency to be diabetic. Assuming you're not on medications that might be driving things up some. And it's pretty hard to avoid carbs when you're a vegan. Some here manage it, but it makes for a narrow diet unless you're very creative in the kitchen. (I'm quite in awe of those who can do it, really.) Because that's the problem we deal with: our bodies don't cope with carbohydrates well. And naturally, carbohydrate-free foods are usually of the variety that was alive and breathing at some point, or comes from animals that are. Meat, fish, poultry, cheeses, eggs etc would not spike your blood sugars, but I assume they're a no-go and you'd prefer it if they remain so. And honestly, I think if your numbers are pre-diabetic, just a slight change in your diet might be enough to get it back into the normal range. So maybe less potatoes, corn, lentils or other pulses, and more above ground green veg, for instance. Cauliflower rice, I love it.
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/category/vegetarian-diet-forum.71/ is the corner of this site where you might find some ideas that could work for you, to lower blood glucose while sticking with the diet you likely want to keep adhering to. Just keep the fats and protein coming, (avocado, coconut oil etc), because if you cut the carbs some, you'll need protein and fats to keep your weight and energy steady.
All in all... No need to panic just yet. Your nurse is likely to put you on metformin, as that's the first port of call more often than not. Keep in mind
not to take it on an empty stomach, because it can cause some rather horrible gastic distress. But until your appointment, check the carbs in your daily meals and drinks, see whether there's something to be gained there. (Liquid carbs hit our bodies faster than solid ones do). Like I said, if you're in the prediabetic range, odds are you don't have to change all that much. But that's speculation on my part.
Hang in there eh. We've got you.
Jo
