pre-diabetes

Hi,

I'm new to this forum.  I have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes.  My fasting blood count was 116.  It has been creeping up thru the years.  I am not a sedentary person. I work out at the gym and do cardio on the days i don't lift weights.  I am 5'2'' and my weight is not what it should be but I am not fat...I have lots of muscle and curves.  Diabetes, type 2 runs in my family but I thought if I worked out, I could dodge the bullet.  I try to eat healthy all the time.  My cardiologist gave me 8 months to lose some weight....otherwise he wants me to take some meds to prevent diabetes.  I do have high blood pressure, under control.  I don't want to go on any radical diets but I want to take 15 lbs off.  Does anyone out there think going to a dietician will help me tweak my diet or any books out there that I can buy that would help me out.  I am perfectly happy with my curves but i sure don't want to get diabetes....help!!

tex-mex girl

Tex-Mex,
Just keep on doing your best and take it as it comes. Whether or not you are going to dodge the bullet, your diet and activity level are great. Just keep on keepin' on. I've never heard of meds to prevent diabetes (but that doesn't prove anything!) I believe that your doc may just want to start you on some metformin, at a low dose, to help your body use its own insulin better. Do you have a blood testing kit? You should be checking your blood glucose every morning before coffee or food. Keep a journal. This is your best tool to keep track of your glucose levels.

The regulars have heard this before but I'll say it again for your benefit. It's all about the numbers, good low fasting numbers and great two hour post meal numbers. I don't care how you get them. Exercise, a great lean meat, veggie filled diet, some meds, insulin, prayers, VOODOO!!!! What ever it takes, just keep on getting those great numbers. High numbers or prolonged medium high numbers can cause untold damage and it's not fixable. I had neuropathy symptoms in my feet long before I was diagnosed because the diagnosis numbers in the US used to be fasting above 125. I was doing that for years and years!

How I wish there had been a cautious doctor like yours starting me on meds then... I wouldn't have beginning stage renal damage, eye changes or neuropathy in my feet.... I'd be soooooo much better off now. If I were in your shoes and someone offered me meds to help or just give me the choice of ignoring it and letting everything progress... Let's just say I hope you can benefit from my experience. If they give you meds, take them! The alternative is what I'm dealing with, which reminds me... time to go take my insulin.

Hi Tex-Mex Girl. I am also new to this board and getting my head around all the information. These are my observations so far about this cross we all have to bear..... I am not to consider it as going on a diet - cos this is a lifestyle change and diets (by definition) seem to imply a short term solution. I am under the scrutiny of a diabetic clinic and have to go for monthly check-ups. I find that most helpful as each time I gleam more information and the fact that I have to visit there puts some disclipline in my life. The dietician there does not approve of weight loss in excess of 2lbs a week. She is more concerned about the make-up of the food that I eat. It has to be balanced......... Mine includes all the food groups - but the portions I am allowed are a lot smaller than I am used to and snacks are important too. She gave me a meal plan...... Carb: 30g breakfast 15gm snack 45gm lunch 15gm snack 45 gm dinner and 30gm nighttime snack. Meat and alternatives: 6-7 portions per day and fats 5. I am also going on food course in a couple of weeks to understand the best combinations of food to eat because I understand it is not only what you eat but how you eat it that is important. I am 5.11, 56 years old and overweight. Since beginning of December, by following the instructions, I have managed to drop 15lbs. Exercise is important and I started off by just walking every day. Now that the weather has turned nasty this is no longer as practical so I have joined a circuit training establishment (hate it but know that it is exercise!!!!) By doing this I have dropped my blood sugars down from regularly 15-18 (not sure of the usa equivalent) to about 5-8 every day. I still have a ways to go but feel determined.......... This group helps a lot. When I feel it is all too much I just come here. My hubby is in excellent health and can eat what he wants!!!!!!!! Is there a diabetic clinic near where you live? They are very helpful.

I'll go check and make sure I get my numbers right ...

Edited to add: According to http://www.endocrineweb.com/diabetes/diagnosis.html

"Normal people have fasting sugar levels that generally run between 70-110 mg/dl." This was a fasting level. According to them above 110 (I know I said 112) is a problem.

For all you newbies, sometimes Type 2 is just genetic and no matter how hard you try, you aren't going to dodge the bullet.  When I was diagnosed I was 5'10, 175 lbs. with an over all body fat of about 7%.  Needless to say, you don't get those numbers with any kind of a lifestyle that would be associated with diabetes. (incidently, my cholesterol and BP were normal at that time also).

So, as my Endo guy said, "If I'd just seen you walk into the office and did the standard tests, I wouldn't have dreamed you were diabetic".  Sometimes, its just genetic!!!

Warren

Hi Tex-Mex girl, you'll find a lot of information when you read through these forum subjects (Scroll back over past postings.) and of course from your own doctor and a nutritionist is you're referred to one.  Several of us here on the forum are not on any meds and have been called 'pre-diabetic' or 'insulin resistant' because our blood sugar readings haven't been consistantly high enough to go on meds.  However, you'll also find that some doctors are more aggressive than others in wanting to bring numbers down by any means.  Keep in mind that everyone might be at a different stage of diabetes and our bodies react differently to different foods.  That's why it's a very good idea to have your own blood sugar meter to monitor your readings and a food diary so you will know what gives you good readings or bad.  Again, you need to talk this over with a doctor.  So, having said all that, what works for me are the following: 1) I don't eat carbs.  No bread, no cereals, no rice or potatoes or anything with sugar or white flour.  I get carbs from vegetables, beans and low-fat yogurt.  2) Small portions at meals but in between times I have little snacks of nuts, several spoons of the yogurt, low-fat mozzarella cheese sticks or a lettuce 'wrap' with Canadian bacon.  3)  exercise.  Once in a while, however, I eat a slice of whole grain bread with Canadian bacon or natural peanut butter - though even that will raise my readings after 2 hours.  You might be able to eat food others can't eat and vice versa - you have to find what works for you at this point.  It sounds like you are doing really well in the exercise, so maybe you can bring the numbers down by changing some of your diet and also reducing the size of the meal portions.  Good luck! 

Lanie