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Prediabetic, new to the forum. Hi everyone!

knockknock123

knockknock123

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Don't have diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
I am a 23 year old male and I recently had my HBA1C checked and it came out to be 5.54%. The doctor told me that I was prediabetic and that I had to start taking precautions now. Glad I found this forum!
 
I commend your doctor for giving you the heads up which will enable you to take some control over your health. However, I think he might be a bit previous in doing this. I can't find a scale which classes your reading as pre-diabetic even though there is no such official diagnosis. The ADA has set a lower limit of 5.7 and your reading is lower than that.

My point is that you can look into your diet etc. but you are not in a lot of trouble at the moment.
 
Welcome, from a perplexed forumite

5.54% does not make you pre-diabetic! Usually the number is above 5.6% (see edit) so you are close. If you are pre-diabetic (and may be you should consider yourself in that state) then the best thing to do to nip it in the bud is to lose inches from around your waist. You really need your waist to be under half your height.

A good way to lose weight is to stop eating sugar and limit fructose intake (ie fruit and fruit juices) and also look at something like the 5:2 diet to get you under way. Most of us go even further and stop eating most carbohydrates (as D sufferers they are our nemesis) and that includes potatoes, bread, rice, pizza, fruit, sugar in all forms, cake, flour,... That means no fast food: curry, fish+chips, burgers, chinese, pasta and the list goes on.

So small changes now will make a huge difference for your future.

Exercise will help to waken up your muscles to use the insulin so you do not store fat but it does not really help you lose weight. Definitely gives that feel good factor though

Hope that helps

edit: thinking about it I think the Pre-D figure used is 6% (42 mmol/mol) so you are somewhat off of it. May be your doctor is giving you an early wake up call with D diagnosed at 6.5% (48 mmol/mol). Your 5.54% (37 mmol/mol) is well within.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi and welcome. Yes, that figure is quite good. Just control the carbs in your diet and at the moment you should be fine. It may be that you never have full-blown diabetes.
 
knockknock123 said:
I am a 23 year old male and I recently had my HBA1C checked and it came out to be 5.54%. The doctor told me that I was prediabetic and that I had to start taking precautions now. Glad I found this forum!
Click to expand...

I always check on food packaging the sugar content and saturated fat. You also have to remember there is a lot of "hidden" sugars too, especially in fruit.
 
Squire Fulwood said:
I commend your doctor for giving you the heads up which will enable you to take some control over your health. However, I think he might be a bit previous in doing this. I can't find a scale which classes your reading as pre-diabetic even though there is no such official diagnosis. The ADA has set a lower limit of 5.7 and your reading is lower than that.

My point is that you can look into your diet etc. but you are not in a lot of trouble at the moment.
Click to expand...

I forgot to mention that the reading a year ago was 5.1. Now it is 5.54. I guess the doctor was concerned about the increase. Anyway, I feel that it's a good idea to take action right now. I appreciate your reply :)
 
Andrew Colvin said:
Welcome, from a perplexed forumite

5.54% does not make you pre-diabetic! Usually the number is above 5.6% (see edit) so you are close. If you are pre-diabetic (and may be you should consider yourself in that state) then the best thing to do to nip it in the bud is to lose inches from around your waist. You really need your waist to be under half your height.

A good way to lose weight is to stop eating sugar and limit fructose intake (ie fruit and fruit juices) and also look at something like the 5:2 diet to get you under way. Most of us go even further and stop eating most carbohydrates (as D sufferers they are our nemesis) and that includes potatoes, bread, rice, pizza, fruit, sugar in all forms, cake, flour,... That means no fast food: curry, fish+chips, burgers, chinese, pasta and the list goes on.

So small changes now will make a huge difference for your future.

Exercise will help to waken up your muscles to use the insulin so you do not store fat but it does not really help you lose weight. Definitely gives that feel good factor though

Hope that helps

edit: thinking about it I think the Pre-D figure used is 6% (42 mmol/mol) so you are somewhat off of it. May be your doctor is giving you an early wake up call with D diagnosed at 6.5% (48 mmol/mol). Your 5.54% (37 mmol/mol) is well within.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestions :)
I have some quick questions though:

1) If you eliminate most carbs, where do you get your energy to function from?

2) I thought curry had no sugars in it? Though it burns my stomach, I love curry

3) I am confused by the statement that exercise will not help me lose weight. I thought by creating a calorie deficit through exercise and eating the right foods, I could lose weight?
 
knockknock123 said:
Thanks for the suggestions :)
I have some quick questions though:

1) If you eliminate most carbs, where do you get your energy to function from?

2) I thought curry had no sugars in it? Though it burns my stomach, I love curry

3) I am confused by the statement that exercise will not help me lose weight. I thought by creating a calorie deficit through exercise and eating the right foods, I could lose weight?
Click to expand...
1) From the remaining carbs you eat, and from the fat component you increase.

2) It depends on the recipe. Some sauces have carbs, from the ingredients. And rice is very carby. I think a curry without rice or naan bread can be low carb.

3) It takes a lot of exercise to burn a small amount of calories. Also, exercise can build muscle, which also weighs a bit. Exercise does help you lose weight, but by a smaller amount than people think. It is very good for your body chemistry and your mood. It's good to build muscle because then your body processes glucose better.
 
CatLadyNZ said:
1) From the remaining carbs you eat, and from the fat component you increase.

2) It depends on the recipe. Some sauces have carbs, from the ingredients. And rice is very carby. I think a curry without rice or naan bread can be low carb.

3) It takes a lot of exercise to burn a small amount of calories. Also, exercise can build muscle, which also weighs a bit. Exercise does help you lose weight, but by a smaller amount than people think. It is very good for your body chemistry and your mood. It's good to build muscle because then your body processes glucose better.
Click to expand...

cool, thanks :)
 
knockknock123 said:
Thanks for the suggestions :)
I have some quick questions though:

1) If you eliminate most carbs, where do you get your energy to function from?

2) I thought curry had no sugars in it? Though it burns my stomach, I love curry

3) I am confused by the statement that exercise will not help me lose weight. I thought by creating a calorie deficit through exercise and eating the right foods, I could lose weight?
Click to expand...

If you can make homemade curry!

You can get some brands of curry( i.e. pataks) that are relatively low per serving!
 
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