Pre diabetes

Hey Bethsmum, I don't fully understand how diabetes is diagnosed in the UK, but I think you'll receive a diagnosis in the next few days (and be feeling a lot better soon).

I crossed over from pre-diabetes to diabetes ten years ago, but still had no symptoms when my A1C was 8.3% four years ago. It was only in the last 6 months that I began having symptoms, but I was also under a lot of stress due to my work during those years too, so perhaps I didn't realize I was having symptoms. In mid-February of this year, I was seen for what I thought was a bladder infection, it wasn't, and the doctor ordered an A1C. It was 9.9%, which is what brought me here.

I think once you have a meter and begin testing throughout the day you'll see that your blood glucose levels are up and down quite a bit, which will validate how awful you've been feeling. Diet, exercise, and frequent testing will make a huge difference in your ability to get your blood glucose levels down with time and perseverance.

As I recall, it took me a full month to get my blood glucose levels down and stable with diet and exercise. For others, it often only takes a week or two.

Though my blood glucose levels are now well managed, they are still not within the normal range so still working on it. My fasting glucose upon awakening is now 95 to 110 mg/dL (5.3 - 6.1 mmol/L). My last A1C was 5.5%. I've been on the diet 5 months now, and walking daily. It's all helped greatly.

I initially got a high quality meter, lance device, and test strips. What works best for me is to test 4 to 7-9 times a day, which quickly became a financial hardship because the strips were costing me 88 cents each locally, 68 cents online. When I had my diabetic eye exam, it was suggested to me to find the cheapest strips I could find and the meter to go along with it. I went to Walmart and found that I could buy 100 strips for $18 which would be 18 cents a strip, so bought that meter and began using those strips.

This journey was difficult and angst provoking for me initially. As I began testing, and learning what to eat and not eat, my confidence grew that I was going to be okay.

I think the worst part of being ill and the often drawn out diagnostic process is...all the unknowns. You're almost there. You'll soon be "in the know". Diet, exercise, and testing will restore your health and you'll soon be doing what you enjoy again.

Hope it goes well for you @Bethsmum . I was told I was pre-diabetic about 5 weeks ago and between my wife and I we have made big changes in how we eat and exercise. I never did any exercise until we bought some new bikes and I am now actually starting to enjoy it.

Definitely dust it off!! I'm just back from a bike ride. Did 7.6 miles and feel good for it.

How were the A1c blood results? Hope you're fine.

Gosh poor you, what a wait. Hope the result is good
anyway. It might be a good idea if you have to see the dr to make a list of questions to ask him/her. Without one I always forget to ask something .

Your fasting blood glucose results strongly suggest some form of diabetes, or pre-diabetes. Regardless of your HbA1c result, some or all of your symptoms could be caused by something else, which your doctor will need to look into.

I suggest getting a notebook and writing down a list of all your symptoms, and a list of questions to ask your doctor. You can also jot down key things the doctor says. Keep updating your symptoms and questions in the book between appointments.

I manage my type 2 diabetes a little differently to most others here. I've been diagnosed for about 3 years. I have a meter and use it occasionally. I used it a lot when first diagnosed. The main way I keep an eye on my diabetes is regular blood tests - HbA1c and other things like liver and kidney function, and cholesterol. Now that things are stabilised, and my diet, exercise and weight hardly ever change, I find 3-6 monthly testing is adequate. If something changes then I will start home testing again until things are stable. I also have an annual review with my doctor, who checks my feet and reviews the overall situation, blood tests, weight etc. I have 2-yearly diabetes eye checks. I often see my doctor for other things and she usually checks my blood pressure then. I think everyone should get an annual BP check and more often if it is high.

I am saying all this to reassure you that you may not need to monitor things as closely in the future as you do at the start. I hope this takes some worry off you. Try not to stress too much about your symptoms and your blood glucose level at the moment. Unless there is something else going on, I don't think a few days or weeks is going to make a difference to your long term health. It's quite likely you will feel better once your glucose is lower and any other causes of your symptoms are treated.