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Newly pre diabetic, need help with testing.
- Thread starter Zebgirl
- Start Date
Randburg
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 751
- Location
- South Africa
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
- Dislikes
- Grey Cats
HI Zebgirl, Welcome
usually, people who are diagnosed( With Prediabetes, as you indicate) will try and get some idea of where your levels are at different times of the day, So it is a good idea to test:-
when you wake up in the morning
Before a meal, and 2 hours after the meal, you could test at 1 hour after as well.( But strips may be an issue) This will help you identify what foods push up your blood levels.
Keep a note of what you eat and what effect it had on you.
You will probably find that Carbohydrates like potato, pasta, white rice, bread etc, will push up your sugar levels and you need to cut down on the amount you eat, or stop eating that food.
If you need to lose weight, or want to control your Blood Glucose consider going Low Carb, it appears to work for most of us.
Look at the Forums on Low Carb, Diet, LCHF, and you will get an idea,
Look at this site, as it gives quite a lot of info
http://www.bloodsugar101.com/
Go to home and look around.
Im certain that others will advise you as well, but feel free to ask any question's and someone will help,
Good luck
usually, people who are diagnosed( With Prediabetes, as you indicate) will try and get some idea of where your levels are at different times of the day, So it is a good idea to test:-
when you wake up in the morning
Before a meal, and 2 hours after the meal, you could test at 1 hour after as well.( But strips may be an issue) This will help you identify what foods push up your blood levels.
Keep a note of what you eat and what effect it had on you.
You will probably find that Carbohydrates like potato, pasta, white rice, bread etc, will push up your sugar levels and you need to cut down on the amount you eat, or stop eating that food.
If you need to lose weight, or want to control your Blood Glucose consider going Low Carb, it appears to work for most of us.
Look at the Forums on Low Carb, Diet, LCHF, and you will get an idea,
Look at this site, as it gives quite a lot of info
http://www.bloodsugar101.com/
Go to home and look around.
Im certain that others will advise you as well, but feel free to ask any question's and someone will help,
Good luck
Yorksman
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 2,445
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
At this early stage you need to avoid certain foods and become more active. If you test yourself using a handheld meter, do it methodically and you'll see a trend over time. BG levels are up and down all the time and can vary from finger to finger. Don't get stressed by the odd result. Probably the most informative readings to begin with are early morning before breakfast. It doesn't matter what they are to begin with, but over the weeks you want to see a downward trend.
Obviously avoid all suagry foods, biscuits, chocolates, drinks, sweets etc but be aware that even white bread, with nothing on it, will raise your BG level. Try to stick with low GI foods. You can see a list here: http://www.the-gi-diet.org/lowgifoods/
Also, cut back a bit on your portion sizes if you are eating any medium GI foods.
See how it all goes over a couple of months. You may not have to take any more action but, if you do, you will have learned a lot during that time.
It all takes time and you have to learn but, it is worth it and it is not that bad so, don't worry. Just look after yourself.
Obviously avoid all suagry foods, biscuits, chocolates, drinks, sweets etc but be aware that even white bread, with nothing on it, will raise your BG level. Try to stick with low GI foods. You can see a list here: http://www.the-gi-diet.org/lowgifoods/
Also, cut back a bit on your portion sizes if you are eating any medium GI foods.
See how it all goes over a couple of months. You may not have to take any more action but, if you do, you will have learned a lot during that time.
It all takes time and you have to learn but, it is worth it and it is not that bad so, don't worry. Just look after yourself.
Loobles
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 597
- Location
- England
- Type of diabetes
- Prediabetes
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
- Dislikes
- People who interrupt you when you're talking and people who won't listen.
Hi there, I'm prediabetic too - and in the middle of making a bunch of lifestyle changes. It's not been easy but I'm getting there...3 weeks after diagnosis now and apart from the odd day, I feel better than I have in years.
My top tips are as follows:
1. If you are blaming your lifestyle for this, like I did, understand that there are changes you can make, but you shouldn't blame yourself.
2. If you are overweight, look at reducing your weight
3. Take more exercise - start with something you like and aim to be more active generally
4. You might like to keep an eye on how much carbohydrate and sugar you eat - or you might even like to check out the LCHF diet (see one of our other forums). I've lost a stone in 3 weeks on it and I rarely feel hungry or get food cravings.
5. Buy a blood glucometer and devise a stategy for finding outwhat foods keep your blood glucose at a safe level. In the short term, I tested in a morning (good indication of overall control), before and after any meals with more than a few (~10g) carbs and bedtime (to understand how much my BG was rising overnight/early morning). I have a pretty good understanding now of what I can and can't eat, but it will take another few weeks of testing to fully understand portion sizes etc.
My top tips are as follows:
1. If you are blaming your lifestyle for this, like I did, understand that there are changes you can make, but you shouldn't blame yourself.
2. If you are overweight, look at reducing your weight
3. Take more exercise - start with something you like and aim to be more active generally
4. You might like to keep an eye on how much carbohydrate and sugar you eat - or you might even like to check out the LCHF diet (see one of our other forums). I've lost a stone in 3 weeks on it and I rarely feel hungry or get food cravings.
5. Buy a blood glucometer and devise a stategy for finding outwhat foods keep your blood glucose at a safe level. In the short term, I tested in a morning (good indication of overall control), before and after any meals with more than a few (~10g) carbs and bedtime (to understand how much my BG was rising overnight/early morning). I have a pretty good understanding now of what I can and can't eat, but it will take another few weeks of testing to fully understand portion sizes etc.
Thank you everyone for your advice. I've been testing once a day but going to increase this as advice says. Just feel abit bad on myself of the damage I've done my body, I'm the one that put the food in my mouth. Well no more miss food craver. Just had a big wake up call. Time to chance here we come.
Loobles
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 597
- Location
- England
- Type of diabetes
- Prediabetes
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
- Dislikes
- People who interrupt you when you're talking and people who won't listen.
I felt exactly the same at first, but the thing is, it doesn't do any good...it doesn't turn back the clock...it doesn't stop any damage that's been done. But if you change NOW, you can change your future...that's what we need to focus on. It's not easy, but I think I can guarantee you won't regret the effort. If you need to talk, feel free to message me privately too x
Thank you loobles x I'm still a bit in shock about it all. Never thought it would happen to me so young I'm only 28 x
