Borderline diabetic?

[bloomtoperish]

Hello, first time posting on this particular board. I've been having what I assume to be pre diabetes related issues for a number of years now. Always hungry, frequent urination especially at night, thirsty a lot, regular kidney pain and headaches.

I had some tests done about 3 years ago with my GP for diabetes and it came back clear. About 2 years ago I started monitoring my blood sugar levels and I got a HbA1c done privately and that was in the optimal range - 33.56 mmol/mol. However my fasting blood sugars were in the 105-115 range at that time which I believe is in the prediabetic range. So those results seemed a bit contradictory but maybe someone with much more knowledge will be able to explain.

I also noticed that my blood sugar levels would drop after meals - when tested 1 hour and 2 hours after meals, not loads but in the 90-100 range, which would maybe be a sign of too much insulin being produced?

Anyhow I started trying to lose weight with a low carb diet as I had success with this before, but lockdown happened and the breakdown of my relationship, and the last 2 years have been very stressful and I've put on about 2 stone. So I now have a BMI of 41, I do have a large frame and at 5'7" my ideal is around 12 stone, so maybe the BMI isn't entirely accurate, although I do have 7 stone to lose for my ideal weight so it is a very serious issue.

Recently I've been feeling generally quite unwell despite being quite active and eating quite a "healthy" diet - though eating far too much as I'm always hungry. I ended up in hospital a few months ago with severe abdominal pain in the bladder and kidney area. They took my blood sugars and said they were fine, though I had ketones in my urine despite haven eaten quite a lot of carbs. My blood pressure was also fine. I ended up having an cystoscopy (camera in bladder) and that was clear.

I've taken my fasting blood glucose this morning and it was 124, which I believe is 2 points off the diabetic range. I've made an appointment at Lloyds Pharmacy on Tuesday for a diabetes test.

Whatever that comes back with its obvious to me I have blood sugar issues and need to lose quite a significant amount of weight. I've been vegan for 18 years, and my diet is mostly whole foods, I do use quite a lot of 'healthy' fats though. I mean it's not really healthy is it when I'm morbidly obese and heading towards diabetes.

I need to find a way of eating where I'm not ravenous all the time and something I can stick to. I'm torn between doing vegan keto again (I lost a few stone when I did it the first time but subsequent attempts have just made me feel a bit rubbish but maybe I wasn't careful enough with micronutrients etc) or doing a very low fat starch based diet with focus on resistant starches. Any advice appreciated

If you have ketone in your urine as a diabetic it can lead to ketoacidosis (which can be fatal).

While you're figuring things out diet wise, be sure to drink plenty of water to help flush excess sugars out of your system.
It is so hard trying to figure out what your body tolerates, and very frustrating when you are plant based (I am too) and are carb heavy. Personally I have little tolerance to bread, oats, and sweet potato, but deal with brown rice and wholewheat pasta ok for small portions, and quinoa and millet much better.

The hunger is awful when you start getting your sugars down, and even a bit of a relaxed Christmas has made mine flare up and want to eat all the things, so I feel your pain

Thanks for your response. I've been trying different carbs and they all seem to make me feel awful. I've decided to try keto again but really focus on eating healthily on it and tracking everything.

you might want to intro exercise as well as that helpsmanage sugar levels

Yes, another frustrating thing is that I walk about an hour a day 5 times a week, and I've recently started swimming once or twice a week and not feeling any better for it really.

@bloomtoperish can i ask how your blood sugar test went. Your story is very relatable. Can i ask whether you eat lots of ultra processed snack foods? That is part of the trouble with my eating pattern, large portions of healthy food then a tendency to snack on much less healthy options. They are quite addictive for me - i have been looking at the keto approach and wondered how you were doing?

@PGReader I didn't end up having it, something came up and I had to cancel it and couldn't reschedule for a week. It was probably going to come back clear like my other ones anyway. I was so fed up I started keto straight away and I've lost 21lb already and feel lots better, this is with a couple of cheat days. I've joined a health club this week and been swimming 4 days in a row which is amazing for me so it's definitely working. It's definitely worth a go as it's pretty effective. Appetite is right down. Just need to keep it up!

I probably did eat too many processed things. Was constantly feeling ravenous even after a big healthy meal.

You might not have heard of it, but I use Einkorn wholemeal flour, to make my own pasta and crackers.
It's a different type of wheat from modern wheat and is supposed not to spike blood sugar in the same way as modern wheat does.
There is a lot of information about it online.

@bloomtoperish glad to hear that youve given it a try sounds like it has really worked out for you. So pleased. @Tonya345 that’s for the flour tip I have been looking at white flour alternatives that might fit a low carb approach so have ordered some to try when cooking this weekend