Pre-diabetes with PCOS. Hypertensive. Normal weight. Feeling despondent

[Housesellinghell]

I’m in my early forties and at a recent HbA1c check was told my levels are 42 and now in the pre-diabetic range. It was last checked about 18 months ago and was 37. I am already hypertensive which is controlled with ramipril. I have PCOS and had preeclampsia a few years ago.

I am so despondent because I try really hard to be healthy but it still seems like I can’t fight genetics and the effects of the preeclampsia.

My BMI is 25, waist circumference normal, I follow a mainly Mediterranean diet with a few treats thrown in. I exercise once or twice a week and know I should do more but childcare and work get in the way.

I did have a period of intense stress about 3 months ago, and also didn’t do much exercise over the summer due to the intense heat, so according to AI that could have affected the reading as it is a snapshot of the past 8-12 weeks.

Is there anyone with a similar profile to me who has reversed this? I see so much advice about losing weight but i don’t know if that applies to me as I am in the normal weight range.

what has your doctor said? I don't know a lot about it but I would think that a GLP1 might be helpful - I know they're mostly used for weight loss, but as I understand it they were originally developed for diabetics and people with pre-diabetes and help control insulin etc? Or metformin?

I would do several things

• Talk to your GP about attending the XPERT health course. https://www.xperthealth.org.uk It is a sensible programme with the latest thinking about diabetes, including how to think differently about food including the order you eat food e.g. veg, protein then carbs.

• Talk to your GP about preventative metformin. The NICE guidance may have changed.

• Try to find the Channel 4 documentary about the glucose goddess - this links very much to the XPERT course in terms of advice about food.

The eating is not necessarily for weight loss it’s about understanding what foods increase blood glucose and which help to keep it steadier. For example the traffic light system on food is not ideal for diabetes.

I have overhauled my diet and reduced my HbA1C but I’m still eating foods I like. I still slip up but I now have the knowledge to get myself back on course as I recognise this is for the rest of my life. The fact you eat a mainly Mediterranean diet is good and a few tweaks may make a difference.