Prediabetes I had a health check last Feb and a diagnosis of hypertension was made after 24 hr monitor.

[Gardengnome]

Very recently I have accessed my medical notes online and the full NHS health check results are there to read. So I was surprised to see HbA1c is automatically done and the result was 41mmol/mol. I think this is bumping on the pre diabetes level so I asked the doctor about it ,being surprised that the nurse hadn't mentioned it. She did do a dipstick urine test and said that was OK. I mentioned this to the doctor recently and he agreed 41 mmol/mol was too high and I should watch my diet. He offered to give me another HBA1c test if I wanted it. Do I have this done or is it better not to know?

 

[chubbyian]

Helo gardengnome
I would suggest that it always best to know as much as you can about your body, that way yo have a chance of keeping your quality of life as good as you can. 41 is not really high, that relates to about 7.5 mmol/l which is quite controllable, so you really should think about getting things sorted asap hope this is of some help.

 

[Gardengnome]

Thank you for your reply Chubbyian. The doctor has told me to make an appointment in the New year for a follow up HbA1c blood test. I think it's best to know one way or the other. The dr himself thinks the lifestyle changes I adopted a year ago on diagnosis of hypertension will almost certainly have helped. I just hope he's right. My BMI was 23.9 last Feb so not quite overweight but I lost 2.5 stone and reduced it to 18.9 and although I was always active I took up walking at least every other day. This was as much to keep knee arthritis in check as for the hypertension. However I'm not convinced it's only overweight folk who are at risk for diabetes as my late stepfather was diagnosed with T2 when he was 75 but was skinny like a rake and was fit and very active. I'm 71 myself. I adopted a low carb and high fat diet and cut out all the low fat yogurts and milk. I eat an egg for breakfast each day, I am sure the NHS 'Eatwell' plate wouldn't approve but then I don't approve of that! How can they justify all the carbs they advocate especially to anyone who is at risk for diabetes? I do hope I have already sorted things but will find out soon enough. The thought of a diagnosis of diabetes or pre diabetes and all that it implies is too awful to contemplate!

 

[douglas99]

Would it be ok to ask if the hypertension is completely sorted now as well, or are you on meds for it and controlling it that way?

 

[Gardengnome]

I did have to go onto meds for the hypertension, sadly. I hate being reliant on pills but seems I didn't really have a choice. However I only take just over the minimum dose of Losartan and that keeps it well within bounds using a home monitor and taking the readings with me when I go to the surgery.. Just as well as I think I'd be grossly over medicated if I didn't do my own readings as in the surgery it goes through the roof!! I feel had I not lost the weight and done the exercise [I bought a dog to walk!] I might well need a lot more medication.