I have just been diagnosed with prediabetes. My blood test was in August and when I rand the surgery for the results they said it was fine but needed repeating in 3 months. 3 months later and I am told I have prediabetes. I am cross as I could have been doing something about it during those 3 months. I am not sure what test I had as my level showed at 46 (48 for diagnosis of diabetes type 2). I can't see the nurse till 18 November so am a bit in the dark. I have read this forum from beginning to end and have got some great information. I am going to start with a low carb diet and cut out all the rubbish I have been eating. I walk for an hour a day with the dog but the GP told me that wasn't enough. I was thinking of running but don't think it is the weather to start. I may invest in a rowing machine instead. I will see if my weight goes down in the 2 weeks before I see the nurse. I must have eaten something 'bad' during the day as my stomach was a good inch bigger than it was this morning. Is it normal to feel hungry and lightheaded with low carb? I suppose it is also sugar withdrawal.
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prediabetes
- Thread starter aqualung
- Start Date
Thommothebear
Well-Known Member
Rowing machine has helped me, along with cycling, a lot of walking and low carbing. The rowing machine is good for High Intensity Interval training (mix of aerobic and anabolic exercise) s it uses all the major muscle groups which certainly raises your metabolic rate and keeps it higher for anything up to 30 hours after a session. i try and do at least an hour of exercise a day, more if I can and I reduced my BG levels by 25% and cholesterol for over 30%in only a couple of months. I truly wish I had found this forum when I was pre diabetic instead of blindly following the rubbish NICE guidelines, might have avoided the full diagnosis of type 2, there is some great advice here and I can now truly say I never felt better.
Sent from a melting iceberg. help!!!
Sent from a melting iceberg. help!!!
daisy1
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- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
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- Tablets (oral)
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Hi aqualung and welcome to the forum 
Since you say you have read a lot on the forum you may have already seen this but just in case you haven't, here is the information for new members. Ask all the questions you need to and someone will help.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS
Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.
A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find well over 70,000 people who are demonstrating this.
On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.
The role of carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.
If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.
The bad news
Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.
The good news
People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.
Controlling your carbs
The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.
The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.
Choosing better carbohydrates
Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes ... rains.html
The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.
Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes
Eating what works for you
Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.
To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:
Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.
You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic
Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Since you say you have read a lot on the forum you may have already seen this but just in case you haven't, here is the information for new members. Ask all the questions you need to and someone will help.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS
Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.
A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find well over 70,000 people who are demonstrating this.
On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.
The role of carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.
If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.
The bad news
Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.
The good news
People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.
Controlling your carbs
The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
- Reduce your carbohydrate intake
- Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.
The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.
Choosing better carbohydrates
Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes ... rains.html
The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.
Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes
Eating what works for you
Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.
To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:
Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
- structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
- self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education
Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.
You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic
Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
thanks for your replies. Thommothebear thank you for the tips on the rowing machine. Daisy I had read the information but it is always good to read it again and I am still trying to understand it all. I am getting to know what foods not to eat but still not sure what I can eat. Am I better off making my porridge with milk, water or a mixture of both. Since I am not testing my blood sugar regularly at the moment my main aim is to lose weight (cos I can track and monitor that myself) and hopefully losing weight will lower my blood sugar and cholesterol. Till I see the nurse I am a bit in the dark but I want to make a start.
dawnmc
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 2,453
- Location
- Sheffield
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
Personally I can't eat porridge even though it is low GI, it is still carbs, with a meter you can monitor what food works for you. Don't worry about the fat either - we have been brain washed to think its bad. So for me breakfast is bacon and eggs, or an omelette with veg in, or full fat Greek yogurt with berries. If you can nip this in the bud with a 'proper' diet then count yourself lucky. Google 'blood sugar 101' for lots of excellent advise.
Thommothebear
Well-Known Member
Personally I would avoid porridge altogether as its far too carby for me and spikes me horribly, but if I had no alternative I'd make it with either just water, or full fat milk. Milk has carbs in it, but the fat in full fat milk slows absorption a little.
If the main purpose of exercise is BG control then I'd suggest 20mins of light exercise immediately after each meal, that will also contribute to weight loss. You can mix in a little High intensity intervals on one of the sessions a day also which will make a bigger difference and has an effect of keeping your metabolism running at a higher level for quite some time afterwards. A routine I often use is 20 minute stroll after breakfast, after lunch 45 minutes of high intensity intervals (say 4 mins at low level, 1-2 mins at high level, 4 minutes at low level, another 1-2 mins high etc etc), then another stroll after the evening meal. I also mix a little strength training in as well as the more muscle mass you can build the more you are able to burn off the blood glucose.
I also recommend using something like MyFitnessPal to track both your meals and your exercise so you know exactly how you are doing, theres a few of us with profiles on MyFitnessPal, my ID there is the same as here.
Sent from a melting iceberg. help!!!
If the main purpose of exercise is BG control then I'd suggest 20mins of light exercise immediately after each meal, that will also contribute to weight loss. You can mix in a little High intensity intervals on one of the sessions a day also which will make a bigger difference and has an effect of keeping your metabolism running at a higher level for quite some time afterwards. A routine I often use is 20 minute stroll after breakfast, after lunch 45 minutes of high intensity intervals (say 4 mins at low level, 1-2 mins at high level, 4 minutes at low level, another 1-2 mins high etc etc), then another stroll after the evening meal. I also mix a little strength training in as well as the more muscle mass you can build the more you are able to burn off the blood glucose.
I also recommend using something like MyFitnessPal to track both your meals and your exercise so you know exactly how you are doing, theres a few of us with profiles on MyFitnessPal, my ID there is the same as here.
Sent from a melting iceberg. help!!!
Thommothebear
Well-Known Member
Personally I would avoid porridge altogether as its far too carby for me and spikes me horribly, but if I had no alternative I'd make it with either just water, or full fat milk. Milk has carbs in it, but the fat in full fat milk slows absorption a little.
If the main purpose of exercise is BG control then I'd suggest 20mins of light exercise immediately after each meal, that will also contribute to weight loss. You can mix in a little High intensity intervals on one of the sessions a day also which will make a bigger difference and has an effect of keeping your metabolism running at a higher level for quite some time afterwards. A routine I often use is 20 minute stroll after breakfast, after lunch 45 minutes of high intensity intervals (say 4 mins at low level, 1-2 mins at high level, 4 minutes at low level, another 1-2 mins high etc etc), then another stroll after the evening meal. I also mix a little strength training in as well as the more muscle mass you can build the more you are able to burn off the blood glucose.
I also recommend using something like MyFitnessPal to track both your meals and your exercise so you know exactly how you are doing, theres a few of us with profiles on MyFitnessPal, my ID there is the same as here.
Sent from a melting iceberg. help!!!
If the main purpose of exercise is BG control then I'd suggest 20mins of light exercise immediately after each meal, that will also contribute to weight loss. You can mix in a little High intensity intervals on one of the sessions a day also which will make a bigger difference and has an effect of keeping your metabolism running at a higher level for quite some time afterwards. A routine I often use is 20 minute stroll after breakfast, after lunch 45 minutes of high intensity intervals (say 4 mins at low level, 1-2 mins at high level, 4 minutes at low level, another 1-2 mins high etc etc), then another stroll after the evening meal. I also mix a little strength training in as well as the more muscle mass you can build the more you are able to burn off the blood glucose.
I also recommend using something like MyFitnessPal to track both your meals and your exercise so you know exactly how you are doing, theres a few of us with profiles on MyFitnessPal, my ID there is the same as here.
Sent from a melting iceberg. help!!!
Thank you for all your replies. I gave the porridge a miss this morning and had boiled eggs and ham instead. I had breakfast at 7am and by 9,30 was hungry. It was hard but I managed to get through till lunch time snacking on almonds. I had soup for lunch and there must have been something in it that my stomach didn't like as it it now so bloated. I am OK with not eating the main carbs but need to start looking a bit more in depth. OH is making it twice s hard by 'forgetting' that I am not eating carbs. When I asked him what we were having for tea he said chicken, veg and jacket potato. Still it's early days...
Thank you, thank you, thank you! It has been a tough few days but I think I have turned a corner (probably the first of many!). I had my breakfast then have had a few almonds and hazlenuts, I have taken the dog out and whereas before I would have had something to eat before I went just in case I didn't - and I survived! The other thing I noticed is that normally I would be walking paces behind my husband, today I kept up with him all the way round. I am going out at 11.30 and normally I would have had a bowl of cereal to keep me going, today I am having half of my lunch. I realise this is baby steps but I am so proud of myself. I couldn't have done this without all the support and advice on here.
Carbdodger
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 102
Hello there
Sounds like you are making good progress. I personally stick to around 30 g of carbs a day which keeps my BGS and HBa1c at non-diabetic numbers. It was difficult at first to realise where the hidden carbs were so using the Collins Little gem Calorie Counter really opened my eyes (ignore the calorie column and use the carb column). Realising which veggies were high carb was a bit of an eye opener.
I've also not eaten a pre-made soup or ready meal for about 3 years now. Maybe the soup you had was high in carbs? Lots of the ones you buy pre-made are based on potato so check the carb count on the packet/tin.
If you have weight to lose that will help control your readings and low carb helps people lose weight effectively. Of course you may be one of the slim T 2's (I was) so control by diet and exercise is even more critical.
Cd
Sounds like you are making good progress. I personally stick to around 30 g of carbs a day which keeps my BGS and HBa1c at non-diabetic numbers. It was difficult at first to realise where the hidden carbs were so using the Collins Little gem Calorie Counter really opened my eyes (ignore the calorie column and use the carb column). Realising which veggies were high carb was a bit of an eye opener.
I've also not eaten a pre-made soup or ready meal for about 3 years now. Maybe the soup you had was high in carbs? Lots of the ones you buy pre-made are based on potato so check the carb count on the packet/tin.
If you have weight to lose that will help control your readings and low carb helps people lose weight effectively. Of course you may be one of the slim T 2's (I was) so control by diet and exercise is even more critical.
Cd
FatGenes999
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 265
- Location
- USA
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Dislikes
- Smug health care professionals; pretense, pomposity and presumptuousness; people who have a disregard for other people's health and safety; being "fenced-in"; arbitrary authority; nonsensical rules; political correctness; stupidity that masquerades as profundity.
I think that in my case the determining factor was that a pattern of higher BG numbers was occurring more frequently for over a period of a few years. That is why I am now fully deemed officially T2 Diabetic. Also, other than the fluctuating numbers, up until recently I also had no symptoms.
Hi all, I found that taking Fresh Olive Leaf extract over at least 2 months really helps me feel better, sleep better and lower my BG, I highly recommend it as the company has done research which shows the results are as good as metformin. I don't seem to be so tired anymore either but not sure if that is to do with my exercise or the supplement.
