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pre diabetic Bettie :(

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bettie

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Hi I have been in a Pre diabetic mode for about 2 years. Last week my overnite blood fasting glucose test at my G P s was 6.8. I know that if I get to a 7 reading that I have diabetes .
My question is whether I should buy a meter for my home use to check my glucose levels? Or is this being a bit presumptious. I am due to go back to my doctors to have a glucose tolerance test in 6 months time. I really really want to try & get my levels back to normal .. I know I have to lose weight & cut down on carbs. Has anyone acheived a turn around in their diabetes reading just by altering their lifestyle?
Thanks for reading this
Bettie. :roll:
 
Hi Bettie and welcome to the forum. :D

You have found your way to a really valuable resource. :) If you are pre-diabetic you are in an ideal position to get yourself out of danger of becoming diabetic. You do NOT want to become diabetic believe me! :shock:

Yes, I think that you should buy yourself a meter and strips and test to see what food is doing to your body and BG levels. That way you can learn how to make wise decisions! You also need a Collins gem Carb Counter book or a similar book which will give you the low down on the carb values of a wide range of foods. I will post below the advice to new T2s which is regularly posted by Ken or Sue and is invaluable. 8) Even though you have not been diagnosed do follow the advice as it will make all the difference!


"Welcome to the forum. here is the advice we usually give to newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics.This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different .

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

The main carbs to avoid or reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such a bread, potatoes, pasta and rice also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating then two hours after eating you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.

As for a tester, try asking the nurse/doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work ! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try !!

As a Type 2 the latest 2010 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l.
2 hrs after meals......no more than 8.5 mmol/l.
If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do 30 minutes moderate exercise a day. It doesn't have to be strenuous."


Come back to us and let us know how you get on.
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Hi Synonyn,
Your info is most enlightening as I really don't know much about this subject. Only the experience of watching my own mum die from the complications of diabetes! Which is the main reason that I DON'T want to fall into the same catergory. As you can imagine!
I didn't even realize that you could buy a meter without needing a perscription from a doctor :oops:
Anyhow I'm going to print out your info & try to abide by it! Very difficult to omit carbs....I love my roast spuds & sugar loaded desserts!
I suppose an occasional glass of wine is also taboo! :cry:
Cheers :roll: Bettie.
ps I will be back!
 
An occasional glass of red wine is most acceptable! :D Sometimes a small malt is good too! :D Use a Collins gem Carb Counter book which will really help you to make wise choices. 8)

The cutting of carbs is the real key and is not so very difficult. My diet is now meat, fish, eggs or cheese with veggies, salad bits and fruits. You can do a lot with those as basics and it really is worth it as you just do NOT want full blown diabetes if you can possibly avoid it!

ATB and let us know how you get on! :)
 
Bettie
the difference between 6.8 and 7 is so small, It would be wise for you to behave as if you are a diagnosed diabetic. Plenty of care on diet and loads of exercise. You may well find you can get those fasting numbers down, or you may not, but will have changed to a healthy lifestyle
Hana
 
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