I guess I am pre-diabetic!

[barbieguy 10]

Hello. 1 week ago I found out my fasting blood sugar was 123. I am 44, overweight, and have a family history of diabetes. My brother was dx at age 16 with type 1. My paternal grandfather had both legs amputated from diabetes. My paternal grandmother was diagnosed a few years before she passed away. So, that said, I found a site that said 123 is pre-diabetes and 126 and above is diabetes. My doc said to lose weight and retest blood sugar in 4 to 6 months.

I would like to hear from others who are in my same situation.

Thanks so much.

[Guest Mazarin]

I am not sure what your figures mean as I am in the UK and they are tested a little different.

 

I was told I was a possible diabetic back in April and I am awaiting a GTT in August which will confirm one way or another.

 

I am too overweight, and am only 28 there is a small history of type 2 in my family and my mum is a type 1 diabetic for the past 8 years or so....

 

I was not really given much advice on this when I found out in April, it was a case of go away change your diet, and cut out sugar!

 

So I used the web and some books and have started to make some changes, but I find I crave sugar in the afternoon and no matter what I try I cannot resist it this is possible due to insulin resistence....

 

I am hoping if I am type 2, I will be perscribed metformin to help control it and I hear it helps with the sugar cravings....

[Gunnie 10]

Good to see you over here. I think the Metformin will help you a lot along with your change in diet. I think it has helped me lose 20 pounds so far. Just be ready for the stomach aches and feeling sick for a few weeks. Mine were so bad I quit taking it thinking I was having a bad reaction. My doctor sternly told me to continue taking it, and the side effects went away. Since then I have upped my dosage to deal with another medical condition that the Met helps with, and can now take it on an empty stomach! Keep your head up, and know that what you are doing now is so worth it and you will see positive results very soon!

[mg_2204 10]

123 mg/dl is 6.8 mmol/L by the way...

 

Hello BarbieGuy and welcome to this wonderful forum!

 

If I had just one thing to tell you... listen to your doctor, do everything in your power to lose weight (the healthy way of course! Don't fall into diet traps), exercise (a vital part!), change your diet and lifestyle, go see a dietician if need be... and take good care of yourself right now. Don't even put it off to tomorrow!

 

If you can avoid being a lifelong member of this club... I say you do it.

 

If you want to stay focussed, read as much as you can on diabetes, and also its complications. Read from other members of this forum. Knowledge will empower you.

 

The very best to you,

[RBmumsie 10]

Been there - Barbieguy

 

Your chances of becoming truly diabetic are good (that's the bad news). The good news is - Lose weight, exercise and follow your dr's instructions and you'll probably be able to dodge the diabetic bullet for several more years. So, crack down and be strict with yourself now. (You should be able to ease up a bit in a few months) You'll be glad you did.

[jewelrynut 10]

Barbieguy, I am a newly diagnosed Type 2. It took over a year for the doctors to find out what was wrong with me (a urologist actually diagnosed me) because my fasting blood sugars were okay. After several doctor visits and several test run, my urologist ordered a glucose tolerance test be done. Results were near 300! For this kind of test, diagnoses of diabetes is at 200 or over according to the ADA. My family doctor was shocked (I am not much overweight) Wasn't a big surprise though to me being that diabetes runs in my family and I had gestational diabetes with my last 2 children (8 & 10 years ago). Wish doctors would do more 2 hour post test, I believe more diabetics would learn earlier in life before complications started setting in if they did. I already have neuropathy in my left foot and it started after I cut out the sugar, imagine that! :questionm

 

Jewelrynut

[RoundelRider 10]

Im in a similar boat. My BG level hovers around 125-130 fasting. My doc perscribed a monitor, medicine to protect my kidneys, and a class on diabetes. Im lowering my carb intake and sugar intake (almost eliminated the sugar totally). Im bicycling again for excersize and in the past 2 weeks have lost almost 10 pounds!

 

As stated before, check and watch your diet, and find some sort of cardio workout to do, this can help lower BG levels. Im on a learning curve too!!!!

 

Best of Luck!

[jewelrynut 10]

Thanks for your reply. I was not put on any meds and I initially was going to my family doctor who said he didnt usually prescribe the glucose monitors unless his patients were on meds (had to have it prescribed so insurance would cover most of it). But there were times that I felt pretty bad right after I started dieting so he prescribed it and said could be just my body not use to the level changes but he did it just in case I was having some lows.

 

I am curious what kind of medicine your doctor put you on to protect your kidneys? I haven't had a lot of trouble with my kidneys yet except pain in that area every now and then. Doctors haven't found anything though.

 

Jewelrynut

[RoundelRider 10]

lisinopril is what he put me on. It treats numerous things (relaxing blood vessils) and helps protect kidneys. Im not having any trouble with them, its just precautionary at this time.

 

I did see a "Diabetes specialist" thats in-house at my dr. office. they offer a series of one-on-one classes to help understand whats going on and ways to help treat it/diet. She is the one that actually prescribed my monitor.

[jewelrynut 10]

This is probably a more accurate explanation of Type 2 diabetes. It is a link to the diabetes.com web page and shows an illustration and an explanation of what happens to Type 2 diabetics. If it doesn't work then you can just go to diabetes.com and bring it up yourself.

 

http://www.diabetes.com/WPGEWeb/controller/VideoPresentationView/languageId=1000/assetId=ap010001

 

jewerlynut

[barbieguy 10]

Hello everyone. I have really tried hard to exercize daily and to cut out sugars and to lose weight. I have lost 6 pounds so far!! Yippee!!!!!!

Don't go back for fasting blood sugar count for 3 to 5 more months.

BarbieGuy

[jewelrynut 10]

Good for you! Keep up the good work!

 

Jewelrynut

[poidog 10]

Hi Barbieguy! Well done on your recent success. I'm 42, and a newly diagnosed pre-diabetic w/ an initial fasting BGL at 138! In the last two weeks I edecided to commit to daily exercise (walking for now), and a diet based on ADA 2000 calorie guidelines. I stay away from all refined sugar and grains, and eat 4-5 moderate portions a day. I've not yet been to any classes, and only yesterday began monitoring. In the past two days, my BG was reading 105 to 110 cosistently. The past two weeks I've lost a total of 6lbs (294 down from 300), and my energy level is starting to perk up.

 

I really do believe that proper diet and excercise is essential. I'm finding that gaining more knowledge, and reading forums like this, will ensure a future success for controlling this condition. Keep us posted.

 

God Bless,

Dave

[barbieguy 10]

Hello poidog,

Thank you for the congratulations. I am now at a 7 pound loss. But I have overwhelming urges for candy and sweets. It's almost like an alcoholic craving a drink------well, I think that is what it is like. I also think it's habit. I would always eat candy after a meal, before a meal, for a meal, oh well......you get the picture. I have to break this habit.

Congrats on your weight loss and walking and energy level going up!

Keep up the good work!

barbieguy

[poidog 10]

Good going Barbieguy. Looks like we're about the same size, and in the same boat healthwise. Keep up the good work.

 

I've always beleived sugar (processed) to be more of a drug than a sweetner for food. Many experience the same addictive reaction to it. I hear taking liberal amounts of the amino acid Glutamine really helps with sugar cravings. You can do a search on this. Be sure to let your Doctor know of any new supplements you are taking.

[barbieguy 10]

Hello poidog,

Yes, it seems as if we are in the same boat.

I haven't walked for awhile and I've been overeating. But.....this too shall pass.

I will get back to doing the right thing.

Good luck to you.

barbieguy