Just Got my Casual "Oh your blood test showed prediabetes"

JoKalsbeek · Oct 18, 2023

SargeMaximus said:
I do have several layers of thermal underwear tho

@JoKalsbeek

So I had my appendix taken out last year and there was no mention of high glucose. This just seems so odd to me. Aside from callouses on my big toes, my feet are fine. Yes I had a cavity this year and they say there are more but I attribute that to my lax brushing lately due to time constraints (I work so much i barely have enough time to eat when I'm home and pack my lunch for the next day before it's time for bed)

I don't drink pop or beer normally. This year I drank pop a few times trying to up my fast carbs. What was happening is I was getting constipated and I reasoned that my body didn't have enough energy to digest all the slow carbs I was eating. Adding a few fast carbs helped me immensely (again, the opposite of what you say should be happening). It wasn't until I added strategic fast carbs that my energy levels improved. Prior to this year, I never drank pop or beer more than once or twice a year. I've only ever been drunk once, never done drugs. I'm a health nut, always eating whole foods unless my energy is so low I grab a burger and feel better. Things like that.

The common theme for me is that I eat healthy till my health suffers, then I use junk food to restore it. Again, the opposite of what I'm taking away from this, but those are the facts.
As for the rest I guess I just gotta keep at it. Ditching oats should be easy enough. I'll grab some cauliflower today. Thanks

Before planned surgery, the kind that is sort of optional like a knee replacement, they won't do it unless your HbA1c is under some semblance of control. With an appendix they either cut you open, or it ruptures and you die; they don't have options. They don't do a HbA1c, they go straight to surgery.

There's lots of information on the internet. I can try and relay everything you say, but truth is, I can't say anything unless I know what was going on in your body at the time. Whether your gut health is good, whether you're low on vitamins and minerals or stacking them, whether glucose is low or high... So that's kind of useless. What isn't useless is you knowing what's what. Your blood glucose is up enough to get a prediabetic reading. I didn't have the luxury of knowing something was wrong, until I'd been very high for a long time, and there was damage done. You get to avoid damage, if you choose to! Yay! In whatever way you see fit. Knowledge truly is power. Get a meter, do readings, learn what your body can cope with and how that fits into your life. Because someone 6 hours of flying away can tell you whatever she wants to, it's still your body and it is unique. Gather info, and see if anything that's suggested, works for you.

And now I do have to run or I'll be late for the flu jab.
Jo

ajbod · Oct 18, 2023

Your body stores 3 different types of fat, Glucogon, which is ready to go at a moments notice, easily converted back to Glucose, this is where marathon runners hit the wall, when that store is empty.
Visceral fat, which is more a medium term store, this takes longer to convert back, and is only used after the Glucogon store has run out.
If there is no room for more Visceral fat. The liver produces the subcutaneous fat which is the belly fat, love handles etc. This is the last fat that gets pulled from storage, when nothing else is around.
When we eat carbs, they are rapidly broken down into Glucose, which The Insulin is supposed to deal with by moving it into our cells for energy. Our cells can convert this to Glycogon and store it internally until needed. Insulin resistance means the cells don't accept the Glucose properly. This means too much is hanging around in our blood stream, so our bodies produce more Insulin to try to force the level down, this increases resistance still further, and fails, so our livers have to step in and respond to The Insulin signal by converting the Glucose, and storing it away.
Imagine your on a motorbike, you have a full tank, with a gallon reserve, and a jerry can strapped on the back.
You run on the normal tank (Glucogon), when nearly empty you switch to reserve (visceral fat), and if needed use the jerry can of fuel (subcutaneous fat). If you refill the tank (eat) regularly, you never use the reserve or jerry can.
You will have felt bad trying Keto because your body was craving sugar, unless you can push through and force your body to not take the lazy route of sugar, but utilise fats, this will not stop. And the loss of electrolytes really makes you feel terrible, the simplest electrolyte supplement that i used as recommended on a Keto forum, was 1 tsp of FOOD grade epsom salts, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp lo-salt, potassium based. this i mixed up in 1 litre of water, and drank throughout the day.

SargeMaximus · Oct 18, 2023

ajbod said:
Your body stores 3 different types of fat, Glucogon, which is ready to go at a moments notice, easily converted back to Glucose, this is where marathon runners hit the wall, when that store is empty.
Visceral fat, which is more a medium term store, this takes longer to convert back, and is only used after the Glucogon store has run out.
If there is no room for more Visceral fat. The liver produces the subcutaneous fat which is the belly fat, love handles etc. This is the last fat that gets pulled from storage, when nothing else is around.
When we eat carbs, they are rapidly broken down into Glucose, which The Insulin is supposed to deal with by moving it into our cells for energy. Our cells can convert this to Glycogon and store it internally until needed. Insulin resistance means the cells don't accept the Glucose properly. This means too much is hanging around in our blood stream, so our bodies produce more Insulin to try to force the level down, this increases resistance still further, and fails, so our livers have to step in and respond to The Insulin signal by converting the Glucose, and storing it away.
Imagine your on a motorbike, you have a full tank, with a gallon reserve, and a jerry can strapped on the back.
You run on the normal tank (Glucogon), when nearly empty you switch to reserve (visceral fat), and if needed use the jerry can of fuel (subcutaneous fat). If you refill the tank (eat) regularly, you never use the reserve or jerry can.
You will have felt bad trying Keto because your body was craving sugar, unless you can push through and force your body to not take the lazy route of sugar, but utilise fats, this will not stop. And the loss of electrolytes really makes you feel terrible, the simplest electrolyte supplement that i used as recommended on a Keto forum, was 1 tsp of FOOD grade epsom salts, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp lo-salt, potassium based. this i mixed up in 1 litre of water, and drank throughout the day.

Ok but I didn't just feel bad on keto, I had lower tolerance to a mildly warm day. Seems so whack. Anyhow I see my doctor tomorrow, hopefully I can get to the bottom of this. For years I been getting blood tests because I'm a hypochondriac and they always mention "no diabetes" till yesterday. So it's not sitting right with me rn. Denial perhaps, but we'll see tomorrow.

AndBreathe · Oct 18, 2023

SargeMaximus said:
Yes I want to GAIN weight/muscle too tho. So it's hard. I tried keto for about a month before I nearly died I am certain of it
Also I can't justify hard boiled eggs. The shells never come off clean.It wastes time and it wastes edible egg that sticks to the shell.
I do have an open mind. I've tried nearly every diet one can think of. It's easy for you to say I was just experiencing keto flu when you never felt what I felt the day I stopped.

I used to, no longer with my diet changes. Bread/gluten caused arthritis in my right hand when I was a teen. I don't have it anymore. I'm also prone to rosacea and have it even today. Can't figure out what causes it.

It is perfectly possible to gain weight on a low carb diet. In fact, a number of the longer termers have found their weight creeping up a bit, whilst still maintaining low carb.

A few years ago, I had surgery and lost weight as a result of a complication of the surgery. It wasn't the fastest bounce back in weight, but it came back steadily by upping, firstly protein, then fats.

There is no need to mainline on hard boiled eggs on a low carb diet. They can be a convenient element to a meal, or as a snack, with zero carbs. Depending on how I intend to eat the egg, I will often decapitate it, like an "ordinary" boiled egg, and remove the content with a teaspoon. Alternatively, boiled egg, mashed, with butter is a delicious snack, eaten with a spoon.

If you want to take it to work, small clip-topped containers work well.

Could you perhaps explain what "nearly died on it" means in terms of your historic experience? I don't believe I said YOU had carb flu. I said carb withdrawal is often referred to as carb flu.

Some folks also find, again, most likely when a big shift is made in one step, that the electrolytes go a bit off kilter. Carbs carry fluids in the system, so with a reduction in carbs, that isn't happening. Where this happens, folks find a pinch of salt (not enough to influence taste) in a drink helps enormously. Alternatively a commercially available electrolyte soluble tablet (such as endurance athletes use) can help significantly.

Of course, bottom line is it's up to you to decide on your way forward. If you aren't committed to any given approach you are unlikely to stick with it.

I think it is important to know that there are people here who have walked your journey, including the desire to gain weight who are willing to help.

SargeMaximus · Oct 18, 2023

AndBreathe said:
It is perfectly possible to gain weight on a low carb diet. In fact, a number of the longer termers have found their weight creeping up a bit, whilst still maintaining low carb.

A few years ago, I had surgery and lost weight as a result of a complication of the surgery. It wasn't the fastest bounce back in weight, but it came back steadily by upping, firstly protein, then fats.

There is no need to mainline on hard boiled eggs on a low carb diet. They can be a convenient element to a meal, or as a snack, with zero carbs. Depending on how I intend to eat the egg, I will often decapitate it, like an "ordinary" boiled egg, and remove the content with a teaspoon. Alternatively, boiled egg, mashed, with butter is a delicious snack, eaten with a spoon.

If you want to take it to work, small clip-topped containers work well.

Could you perhaps explain what "nearly died on it" means in terms of your historic experience? I don't believe I said YOU had carb flu. I said carb withdrawal is often referred to as carb flu.

Some folks also find, again, most likely when a big shift is made in one step, that the electrolytes go a bit off kilter. Carbs carry fluids in the system, so with a reduction in carbs, that isn't happening. Where this happens, folks find a pinch of salt (not enough to influence taste) in a drink helps enormously. Alternatively a commercially available electrolyte soluble tablet (such as endurance athletes use) can help significantly.

Of course, bottom line is it's up to you to decide on your way forward. If you aren't committed to any given approach you are unlikely to stick with it.

I think it is important to know that there are people here who have walked your journey, including the desire to gain weight who are willing to help.

Yeah so I was drinking salt water specifically for the keto flu. I followed a guy on youtube and took all the precautions he recommended. Anyways I mentioned it in this topic but the TL;DR version is it was only 20 degrees Celsius out (this year I worked construction in 35 with no real fatigue), yet when I was on keto in only 20 degrees I could barely walk, felt like I was gonna fall asleep beyond my control. Felt gravity pulling on me hard. I grabbed a burger and felt better immediately. Burgers have white bread, and sugar in the mustard and ketchup. So take it as you will. I took it as a sign keto was killing me.

Margarettt · Oct 18, 2023

JoKalsbeek said:
Before planned surgery, the kind that is sort of optional like a knee replacement, they won't do it unless your HbA1c is under some semblance of control. With an appendix they either cut you open, or it ruptures and you die; they don't have options. They don't do a HbA1c, they go straight to surgery.

Yup. New knee number 2 is on the 14th November. I received a letter saying they were aware I was diabetic and my hba1c has to be less than 65 for surgery to go ahead. Interestingly they didn't do an hba1c before knee number 1 in May (the nurse checked my records when I asked) I was probably diabetic then but no one knew. It was 54 at diagnosis in August so I'm not too worried about the pre op check on November 8th.

AndBreathe · Oct 18, 2023

SargeMaximus said:
Yeah so I was drinking salt water specifically for the keto flu. I followed a guy on youtube and took all the precautions he recommended. Anyways I mentioned it in this topic but the TL;DR version is it was only 20 degrees Celsius out (this year I worked construction in 35 with no real fatigue), yet when I was on keto in only 20 degrees I could barely walk, felt like I was gonna fall asleep beyond my control. Felt gravity pulling on me hard. I grabbed a burger and felt better immediately. Burgers have white bread, and sugar in the mustard and ketchup. So take it as you will. I took it as a sign keto was killing me.

Too late to know now, of course, but I wonder if you were dehydrated. What you describe, with the heavy legs is a bit like how I feel when dehydrated.

I'm fortunate enough to spend a bit of time in the Tropics each year. Last year we were there a little later than usual. I was walking 10-20km a day in near 40c, but then warm/hot is my happy place.

If you found your white bread burger sorted your carb withdrawal, how did it work for your gluten challenges?

SargeMaximus · Oct 19, 2023

AndBreathe said:
Too late to know now, of course, but I wonder if you were dehydrated. What you describe, with the heavy legs is a bit like how I feel when dehydrated.

I'm fortunate enough to spend a bit of time in the Tropics each year. Last year we were there a little later than usual. I was walking 10-20km a day in near 40c, but then warm/hot is my happy place.

If you found your white bread burger sorted your carb withdrawal, how did it work for your gluten challenges?

So I was off gluten for many years but went back on it for a time because I was seemingly healed. Well it eventually started wreaking havoc again hence why I was going off it. There was a period of time where gluten didn't seem to affect me negatively at all. Seemed to need time before it became noticeable again.

AndBreathe · Oct 19, 2023

SargeMaximus said:
So I was off gluten for many years but went back on it for a time because I was seemingly healed. Well it eventually started wreaking havoc again hence why I was going off it. There was a period of time where gluten didn't seem to affect me negatively at all. Seemed to need time before it became noticeable again.

Unfortunately, if you have issues with gluten, you really have to give it up, 100%. "Just a bit" or "cutting down" just increases the chances that any damage goes unnoticed for longer.

Outlier · Oct 19, 2023

The boiled egg secret: put eggs in cold water, bring to boil, switch off and leave in water for 10 minutes, drain and cover with cold water, leave for 5 minutes, drain and cover with cold water, drain when cold. Then they peel perfectly and you aren't wasting half the egg because it's clinging to the shell.

CatsFive · Oct 19, 2023

Outlier said:
The boiled egg secret: put eggs in cold water, bring to boil, switch off and leave in water for 10 minutes, drain and cover with cold water, leave for 5 minutes, drain and cover with cold water, drain when cold. Then they peel perfectly and you aren't wasting half the egg because it's clinging to the shell.

But I don't like hard-boiled eggs!

CatsFive · Oct 19, 2023

SargeMaximus said:
Yeah so I was drinking salt water specifically for the keto flu.

How salty? Something like a teaspoon of salt in a litre of water? If you make it too salty it doesn't counter dehydration.

ajbod · Oct 19, 2023

Unfortunately only having salt, without potassium and magnesium causes an imbalance in the electrolytes. Higher sodium levels push potassium levels lower, which can rapidly reach ambulance time. The exact same thing happened to my mother in law this time last year. It throws the heart rhythm out of whack. You really will feel awful.

SargeMaximus · Oct 19, 2023

AndBreathe said:
Unfortunately, if you have issues with gluten, you really have to give it up, 100%. "Just a bit" or "cutting down" just increases the chances that any damage goes unnoticed for longer.

Yes I know that now. I’ve made changes and cut out gluten once again, as I mentioned.

Outlier · Oct 19, 2023

CatsFive said:
But I don't like hard-boiled eggs!

I should have made clear - that was for SargeMaximus.

SargeMaximus · Oct 19, 2023

Outlier said:
I should have made clear - that was for SargeMaximus.

I’ve tried the cold water method. Didn’t work. Eggs just don’t seem worth it to me

Paul_ · Oct 19, 2023

Resurgam said:
I don't quite get why you think that low carb is low calorie - it is, if necessary quite a high calorie diet.
Any cut of meat, as long as it is not very lean is a good choice.

@SargeMaximus - In addition to Resurgam's suggestion, also worth adding that lean meats can also be used and the calorific intake can be upped using oils, plus low carb dressings/marinades. I use lower fat protein, such as chicken, as a "vehicle" for added flavour in meals, whilst also getting the low-carb protein hit from it too. A pack of chicken or ham can also be bought on-the-go, so gives options for quick and easy low carb snacks/meals while out if you need to grab some food.

Low carb is pretty flexible all round and can suit most tastes or preferences.

SargeMaximus · Oct 19, 2023

Not sure if this is related but I went low carb all day yesterday and my rosacea flared up worse than it has been in months. My face and ears have gone red and flaky

ajbod · Oct 19, 2023

That is the complete opposite to the medical advice. low carb improves Rosacea. One day at low carb will not have much of an impact. If you were fat adapted it would be a different story, Until you have reached dietetic ketosis, by going through the keto flu, and coming out the other side, you will NOT get any of the benefits of low carb. You may drop your Glucose levels, but will not be getting all the sustenance from the carbs you eat, and will not be fat burning, (running on Ketone bodies). So severe lack of energy, raised levels of inflammation, such as Rosacea.

SargeMaximus · Oct 19, 2023

ajbod said:
That is the complete opposite to the medical advice. low carb improves Rosacea. One day at low carb will not have much of an impact. If you were fat adapted it would be a different story, Until you have reached dietetic ketosis, by going through the keto flu, and coming out the other side, you will NOT get any of the benefits of low carb. You may drop your Glucose levels, but will not be getting all the sustenance from the carbs you eat, and will not be fat burning, (running on Ketone bodies). So severe lack of energy, raised levels of inflammation, such as Rosacea.

Ah so again the opposite is what happened is usual. Not seeing why this is such a good idea

Also, got a few people telling me this test results weren’t valid because I never took it fasted. This wasn’t a test for diabetes either so I will speak with my doctor today. I’m starting to think it’s all a misunderstanding

Just Got my Casual "Oh your blood test showed prediabetes"

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