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Prediabetes to type 2

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padulica

Active Member
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33
Location
Sheffield
Hi,
I had gestational diabetes 25 years ago so should have been having yearly checks, up until 4 years ago I was having theses checks. For what ever reason I have not gone to the GP for a test and they haven’t contacted me. However I have been doing regular blood sugar checks at home.
I noticed recently that my fasting blood sugar was in the pre diabetic zone so decided to get an appointment to have HBA1c done. I have been today I was told that 4 years ago my Hba1c was 43 ( which is prediabetic) I was never told this at the time . The Dr explained that the goal post had been changed 3 years ago and that was the reason why I was not told.
I told him that I test my blood sugar regularly and would be very surprised if I was type 2.
His response was that even though my blood sugars have been normal I could still be type 2 and testing regularly wasnt accurate that’s why they do HBA1c test . I agree that HBa1c is more accurate, he really put a downer on what I have been doing even though they had done nothing for me over the last 4 years.
Any ideas how long you can stop prediabetic? I fully appreciate that it depends on life style ...so how long is a piece of string as the saying goes. I am having my HBa1c done next week .
Thank you
 
padulica said:
Hi,
I had gestational diabetes 25 years ago so should have been having yearly checks, up until 4 years ago I was having theses checks. For what ever reason I have not gone to the GP for a test and they haven’t contacted me. However I have been doing regular blood sugar checks at home.
I noticed recently that my fasting blood sugar was in the pre diabetic zone so decided to get an appointment to have HBA1c done. I have been today I was told that 4 years ago my Hba1c was 43 ( which is prediabetic) I was never told this at the time . The Dr explained that the goal post had been changed 3 years ago and that was the reason why I was not told.
I told him that I test my blood sugar regularly and would be very surprised if I was type 2.
His response was that even though my blood sugars have been normal I could still be type 2 and testing regularly wasnt accurate that’s why they do HBA1c test . I agree that HBa1c is more accurate, he really put a downer on what I have been doing even though they had done nothing for me over the last 4 years.
Any ideas how long you can stop prediabetic? I fully appreciate that it depends on life style ...so how long is a piece of string as the saying goes. I am having my HBa1c done next week .
Thank you
Click to expand...
It took me a month to drop from 41 to 36. And that was with a reading that included mince pies etc for Christmas.

I went lower carb higher fat about a month ago and had my HbA1c on Monday.
 
Took mine from 47 to 31 in 3 months. Hit the keto line quite hard to be fair.

More carbs I skip the better I feel. Haven't eaten any at all since Monday even then it was barely double figures. I feel grrrreat.
 
padulica said:
Hi,
I had gestational diabetes 25 years ago so should have been having yearly checks, up until 4 years ago I was having theses checks. For what ever reason I have not gone to the GP for a test and they haven’t contacted me. However I have been doing regular blood sugar checks at home.
I noticed recently that my fasting blood sugar was in the pre diabetic zone so decided to get an appointment to have HBA1c done. I have been today I was told that 4 years ago my Hba1c was 43 ( which is prediabetic) I was never told this at the time . The Dr explained that the goal post had been changed 3 years ago and that was the reason why I was not told.
I told him that I test my blood sugar regularly and would be very surprised if I was type 2.
His response was that even though my blood sugars have been normal I could still be type 2 and testing regularly wasnt accurate that’s why they do HBA1c test . I agree that HBa1c is more accurate, he really put a downer on what I have been doing even though they had done nothing for me over the last 4 years.
Any ideas how long you can stop prediabetic? I fully appreciate that it depends on life style ...so how long is a piece of string as the saying goes. I am having my HBa1c done next week .
Thank you
Click to expand...

Hello padulica - my understanding is that around 30% of those with A1cs in the 42-47 range, who make no changes to their lifestyle go on to be diagnosed with T2 within, I think it was 5 years The balance do not. I don't believe there to be reliable data for longer than this, probably largely due to the variations surrounding the recognition of prediabetes per se, and the levels a ft which it is considered to be recognised in various countries

That information is from my memory of reading a study done in Australia a few years ago. Similar work had taken place in the US and elsewhere. Dr Google would help out with some reading if you have a look.

For anyone finding themselves in this inbetweenies place, it makes sense to review their lifestyle to consider if there are credible adjustments they could make.
 
Thanks for your positive replies . My diet over the last 4 years has been a bit hit and miss, I have gone through phases where I will eat very few carbs and then other times I will eat rubbish , biscuits, chocolate and bread a lot. I have been been doing the Michael Mosely sugar diet for the past 5 weeks with only a couple of times when I had chocolate.( on holiday ). I play badminton , walk my dog and go to the gym regularly and always have done ...so fingers crossed type 2 is not diagnosed .
 
padulica said:
....so fingers crossed type 2 is not diagnosed .
Click to expand...
Good luck with that. I was in a similar position a few days ago and genuinely didn’t know which way my numbers would go so I sympathise with you there.
 
Last edited:
Hi,
Just to let you know that my Hba1c has come back at 41....So I am pleased about that. I am on my 7th week of blood sugar diet and getting a bit fed up of it , but that goes to show it works ! It has been a wake up call so when I have finished blood sugar diet I am going to start 5:2 or something similar. Thanks again for your positive responses. As a matter of interest what does 41 equate to in finger prick blood sugar ...does anybody know ? X
 
I went from diabetic to low pre-diabetic/jhigh normal levels within a couple of months of diagnosis (see signature). I've remained in this range for the past five years, eating an LCHF diet (normally under 50g carbs a day). I'm a fairly ancient OAP and do very little in the way of exercise now. LCHF was a lifestyle change and so I reckon that i ought to be able to keep to these prediabetic levels until my pancreas gives up from old age. :D

For me my finger prick testing has been more important than my HbA1c results, as they tell me on a day to day basis how well I'm controlling glucose levels and how I react to particular foods. HbA1c is an average over time, so not as useful for actual glucose management.

Robbity
 
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