Just Saying Hello to All

[toyotatom]

I have been on this site for around 6 weeks now and it is a very informative site for sure.
I have a couple of questions to ask about diabetes.
I am a pre-diabetic at this point with A1C so far of 6.3, 6.0 and the last 5.9. I lost some weight and am exercising 3X a week fairly hard and watching what I eat.

My question is how about how long do you think it will take me to end up on medication down the road if continue to diet and exercise regularly. Im not looking forward to that but I know this disease will get worse over time.

My other question is my BG goes up around 15 points overnight pretty regularly. Why does this happen and can anything be done to slow it down. That usually my highest reading for the day except for spikes after eating. My BG goes down lower 2 hours after eating than when I wake up in the morning.
Thanks to all

[princesslinda]

Welcome Tom, Glad you found the forums.

With your A1Cs having been over 6, I would think you would be considered T2 diabetic, diet controlled, as opposed to "Pre-D" as normal A1C is considered by my lab to be between 4 and 6.

Congrats on your weight loss and lowering of your A1C.

As to your question about medication...when the time comes that your blood sugars can't be controlled by just lifestyle changes, you'll have to try something else. It would be difficult to say how long that will be, as diabetes is a progressive disease, and sometimes despite our best efforts, it progresses to where medications are needed. I've known people who have diet-controlled for many years before needing medicines....others like myself, have been on meds since diagnosis.

Do you count carbs?

My morning #s are higher than i'd like as well, and do go down after I eat. I've found that if I eat a high-protein snack before bedtime (handful of nuts or piece of cheese), these numbers are better. Also, if I exercise in the evenings, my morning numbers are better.

A really informative book about diabetes you might want to consider is "Type 2 Diabetes, The First Year," by Gretchen Becker. It has a lot of practical information that any newly-diagnosed T2 (or pre-diabetic for that matter) would find interesting.

Again, welcome to the forum! Look around, ask lots of questions. We're here to help.

[kgm0612]

HI & Welcome to the forum, ToyotaTom. Nice people and tons of great information to be found here.

There is a possibility you may NEVER need medication down the road. It all depends on your eating & exercise habits and what your pancreas decides to do in the future.

To answer your second question........your blood sugar is higher in the morning when you test because of what is known as "DP or Dawn Phenomenon". You'll have to go searching on the board, but there's a lot of information on it.

You may want to have a light protein snack before bed to keep your blood sugar steady and your liver from "dumping" on you during the night........thus causing the higher morning BS.

Good Luck!

Karen

[morrisma]

Welcome to the club.

The need for meds depends on so many factors. Clearly you are on a great path exercising and watching what you eat. Learn what you can now so you are prepared for anything that comes.

Also, don't put off using the meds if they are needed. This disease can really make you pay a price for that.
Good luck,
Mike

[toyotatom]

Thanks all for your responses
Princesslinda, I don't count carbs on a regular basis but I have cut down on the potates, rice and have switched to whole wheat bread instead of the usual white bread. In the morning I have Kashi, Heart to Heart, mixed with Fiber One cereal somewhere around 1 1/2 cups total with milk. Lunch is usually a turkey sandwich with cheese on whole wheat bread. Dinners are usually meats and vegetables and a very small amount of starch. I have cut out the after dinner sweet treat all together since the doctor informed me of my problem,THAT WAS HARD TO DO, but I knew it had to happen.
I will have to play around with that DP thing and see if I can get lower #s in the morning
I actually bought that book you mentioned when we were in Vermont traveling, a very good book.

Again, Thanks to all

[xMenace]

Welcome.

DP's are the bane of us all. If you find something that works, please share. The best tools I know of are insulin pumps and metformin, neither of which will help you.

[Kim_in_TN]

Welcome! This is a great place to be! I'm still new as well! Lots of friendly people and great information!

[toyotatom]

Thanks again all
I just got my latest A!C and it was 5.6, the doctor was please and i was also.

[xMenace]

Awesome! You are obviously doing a great job. :D