I had a doc appt. the other day. Nothing special. Just follow up for the new inhaler (love it) and blood work (hate it). As always, they had trouble finding a vein but it only took two sticks.
When I saw the doc, she had one of the blood tests back already. My fasting glucose was 135. Not good. Norm is about 90 or less. 135 is in the diabetes range. She then ordered another test called the A1c test. Luckily they had enough left over and I didn’t have to be stuck again.
I got some scripts refilled, got a lecture about some other stuff, then left. The blood test would take several hours to get back but they’d hear something that afternoon. Needless to say, I wasn’t happy. My grandmother, my mom, and my bro all have/had diabetes. So it’s been something I’ve been aware of for some time. And we’d been watching my glucose levels, too. But never had the fasting result been that high. I tend to be more hypoglycemic (too low).
Later that day, we got the call. The A1c test result said 4.7%. That is, like, way low.
To explain, the A1c test kinda sorta can give you the average of your blood sugar levels for the past several weeks. A diabetic needs to keep that number below 6.5 or 7. A non-diabetic person usually has between 4-6. I’ve read up on the test and I haven’t a freakin’ clue what it is saying.
But what the two different results mean – and they are very different – is that I am now an official “pre-diabetic”. My glucose levels are experiencing huge swings as my body tries to get the insulin to do what it is supposed to.
I had several hours to sit here and think while I waited for the news. I thought about what I was about to lose. Pasta. Chocolate. Mtn Dew. The ability to eat a meal without thinking about what was going in and calculate the damage to benefit ratio.
Pre-diabetes doesn’t mean I will actually get diabetes. Chances are I will but I could keep it at bay for some time. That is IF I can do all the good things. I can’t exercise but I can change my diet. I’m to go see a diabetic counselor/nutritionist. I saw one many years ago and she was about as useless as tits on a bull. Hopefully, whoever I see this time will be better.
We’ve already started looking at our food. More salad. Less colas. Smaller, multiple meals with small snacks. Cheese, fruit, nuts.
Anyone have any advice?
You ever thought of writing a memoir? You’ve kind of hit the jackpot with the old body, haven’t you! Hang in there, sweetheart. The only advice I can think of that you might not already have covered is to look for forums for diabetics where you can get support and humour. And as for diet, you might like to look for cookbooks from countries and regions where the rate of diabetes is low. It might give you new taste sensations while being good for you. I’m thinking of you.
For now, we are waiting to see the nutritionist to see what he/she says. Lorna will be going with me since she is the cook in the house.
I’ve been “hypoglycemic” for years so we know what to give me when the shakes happen. Ironically, I’m in the throes of one of those bouts now. That’s why I was so shocked at the fasting glucose level.
I have days where I absolutely cannot eat enough. Two hours or so after a meal, I am sweating, shaking, can’t form sentences. (and no, I don’t drink) And I have days where I can go all day and not eat, not feeling hungry at all.
The one thing that would make the biggest difference — the four letter word that starts with “d” — loose some weight. But, I’m not gonna lead the way/weigh.
Yeah, weight loss would be great. With the bicycle thingy I’ll be getting in a few weeks along with the food changes, it should happen but I’m not holding my breath.
What would be ideal would be if I started pool exercises. But it is so much effort just to get there and get out and get back home.
I saw your post on tudiabetes but I am an unregistered lurker there so could not respond. I am a type 1 on an insulin pump but no more about that. It may be that you are prediabetic and can avoid getting it–with food changes since you can’t exercise. I don’t know if swimming works for you.
My best advice is to get the paperback The CalorieKing Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter 2010 to use as a reference as you plan your new meals. It is very accurate, in my opinion, and much better than info on food packages and in most diet plans. I got mine from amazon.com and they are cheap, $8.99. I got one for the car (for eating out) and one for the house. It includes a huge number of foods. Example: diet plans usually say 1 small apple, which would be 2 inches. I never saw a 2 inch apple but this book gives you the info by weight of several apple sizes. (I bought a fancy diet scale too, but..) Or check on calorieking.com to learn more about it. I am running out of space but I live near you! below Leicester. I am overweight myself and trying to work on it. this book has helped!