Pre diabetes at 27 - could it be wrong?

[user242526]

Hi,

I've recently been feeling unwell (actually thought I was anemic) just feel exhausted all the time and doctor requested routine bloods. I received the result today which states that I'm pre diabetic and I should book in with the nurse for guidance.

Could this be wrong? How do I reverse it? I'm 27. Both of my parents are diabetic but I thought it's something I wouldn't have to worry about until later on in life.

I had a baby 10 months ago so I'm not the ideal BMI (struggling to lose belly fat) I'm 5ft2 and 64KG. I go on walks (to try and lose some more of the baby weight) and don't eat too much sugar (again to try and lose more of the baby weight)

Could the result just be wrong?

Thanks

Diabetes is genetic. There are lots of people who are a perfectly normal weight and get type 2. Type 1 is becoming more prevalent in adults (late onset type 1). More and more research is being done to show genetics is the biggest factor.

It’s not your fault. Hopefully you can reverse with a low carb diet. If you can’t, please remember it’s not your fault.

Gently, but no, your parents have it and you're overweight so type 2 is a possibility but the good thing is is that you already recognise that your situation is not ideal.

Go to see the nurse, get the help and guidance you need. Read up about it and how to help yourself and what foods would suit you better as it's not just about eating sugar.

Make small consistent changes, don't try to overhaul your life overnight.

My husband was diagnosed with type 2 aged 40 after quite a while of symptoms, not overweight, but strong family history and inactive with overall not great diet. Family history is pretty important in type 2, I believe. Can you think of it as a good thing you found out now while you can still do something about it? It's a shock, but manageable; knowing is better than not knowing.

You are more at risk with both parents having diabetes, presumably type 2? The genetic aspect is there, but for most people it is not genetic. It's a combination of lifestyle and various other risk factors. Weight, ethnicity and age. But we are seeing more and more type 2 diabetics and pre diabetic earlier and earlier now.

Weight loss is key, exercise is really important as well as diet and can make a huge difference. If you have a diagnosis of pre diabetes and you are in the England or wales you can self refer to the prevent diabetes programme which is run across England and wales, not sure about Scotland. This is a programme geared to help/ support and guide you make lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of getting type 2 diabetes.

See this as an opportunity to take action to reduce your risk. Too many people don't get this chance and have quite significant diabetes at diagnosis. Best of luck.

My family are predisposed to type 2 diabetes on my Mothers side. She managed to stave it off, her Father didn’t and three of my much older siblings haven’t. I have managed to not develop it and have a blood test every year. I could still develop it obviously but when my older siblings started to get it in their late forties early fifties it scared me, I was mid thirties. I am practically teetotal just have a drink at Christmas, my birthday and weddings and am very careful with what I eat and keep weight down. See the nurse and take on board what they have to say. It will mean a lifestyle change but it’s worth it not to get diabetes.

To add I get the be careful with sugar but it’s also carbs as they convert to glucose so I try to limit carbs. That’s the hard part for me.

No, it's not too young - especially given the fact that both your parents have it too.

The sooner you get intervention and support the better - so whatever you do, don't bury your head in the sand because you're only 27. You can often turn it around with diet and lifestyle if you catch it early enough and maintain the changes.

The belly fat will likely be the problem, unfortunately. It's known now that T2 is actually caused by excess visceral fat on the organs, and BMI alone doesn't tell you enough about overall health—you need to keep your waist circumference below half your height as well, which might mean a lower BMI threshold than 25 for some people, depending on your body type.

I read into this a lot when a family member was diagnosed T2, and I found the book "Reversing Type 2 Diabetes" by Prof Roy Taylor very helpful—it explains the science in easy language and also how to go about tackling it. Since you're only pre-diabetic it should help you a lot.

I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes. Lost weight, cut back on carbs (not just sugar) and increased exercise, and my blood sugar is now normal. But there’s an ever present risk that I may end up T2, even though I’m in remission now, so I have to have six-monthly blood tests.

Pre-diabetes can be reversed. Talk to a diabetes consultant (not your GP) about this as the NHS advice is rubbish. Alternatively go to Diabetes UK.

That is very young, what about type 1? I have a friend who this happened to, same age. Told she was pre diabetic for about 18 months even though she was healthy (weight/diet). They made her cut out carbs and lose an unhealthy amount of weight, all the while not picking up it was actually type 1. She nearly died and was admitted to ICU before anyone realised.

Edit to add that shed been back and forth to Drs so many times with really severe symptoms that should have been investigated anyway. She was barely functioning by the time she was taken to hospital. I would definitely question type 1 OP!

She's barely overweight, that weight at 5ft 2 only puts her BMI at about 25

Read Jason Fung, the Diabetes Code, or watch some of his talks on YouTube.
Ben Bikman, Why we get sick, is also a very enlightening read.

It is possible to reverse type 2 through lifestyle interventions, best of luck.

My late Dad reversed pre diabetes, he cut out all the crap (cream cakes, chocolate etc) and ate home cooked healthy meals. He was in his 70s though. You are very young but if your diet is shit you really need to start doing something about it now.

My FIL and his sister are both pre diabetic. They both have not a pick of fat on them and are very fit. It's genetic.

It's not only your modest overweight that puts you at risk of T2D. It's the visceral/belly fat and family history. The good news is that it can be reversed. I know because I've done it. There is a lot of useful information out there, but i found the following most succint:

• The Blood Sugar Solution by Dr Mark Hyman
• Dr Robert Lustig's talks on YouTube (better than Jason Fung IMO)
• Dr Becky Gillaspy's talks on YouTube which are very short - perfect for everyday reinforcement

It all boils down to eating a healthy Mediterranean low sugar/low carb diet with lots of vegetables. Plus exercising (try Growingannanas).

Look at this - it's only a minute but sums it up very succinctly:

https://youtube.com/shorts/q0gl7qgGOK8?si=Tq5Ol5Dalj86Z2dD

It is not genetic, but if a parent has it, you may be more predisposed to it, particularly gestational diabetes

You don't need to be overweight though - with diabetes it's more about the amount of fat you have around your organs as opposed to your BMI.

For most non-athletes who aren’t black american fat and bmi are interlinked and the truth is for most a bmi over 22 is ‘fat’. This is why the aim is to be in the middle of the normal bmi chart not at the upper end.

True, I guess my point was more that just because her BMI is "normal" doesn't mean there's not too much fat around her organs.