Just found out that I am pre-diabetic

[chickpea1982]

I've just found out that I am pre-diabetic. I'm 4 months post-partum with my third DC, and had gestational diabetes while I was pregnant. I hated injecting myself with insulin, and don't want to slip into the diabetic category. Clearly I need to lose some weight and do some more exercise, but does anyone have any other advice or inspiring stories that might help me?

NHS put my mum on their prediabetic pathway she was 15 stone and is now 12 stone in about 6 months, it's done her he world of good. It was the shock she needed, does her 10000 steps a day, giving up night shifts at work as she was eating crap to get her through etc.

Harder with a baby but you can do it, once the weather gets a bit better invest in some good waterproofs and walk everywhere instead of driving etc, do some online exercises. I have the Jillian Michaels App, you can use her proper videos or set a Time limit, what equipment you have available and personalise the exercises and it makes you your own session

There was a GP on the recent Panorama about obesity whose patients are having a lot of success with a low carb diet and about 40% have had their blood glucose go back to normal limits.

I've lost a stone recently but 5" off my waist from a diabetes risking 34", to 29". Going to the gym regularly and doing weights, cardio and yoga has made the difference for me. I've been this weight before and my middle was not as slim.

I was diagnosed diabetic about 18 months ago and have taken my blood sugar back to normal levels (for now!) through eating less, low carbs and exercise. I'd thought my weight was a lost cause but this gave me the kick up the arse I needed. I feel fitter and healthier than I ever have.
I'd suggest you try whatever works for you then get your sugar tested again to see if there's any change. One of the things that took me from being pre-diabetic to diabetic was sticking my head in the sand and being afraid to face up to it all.

It was probably Dr David Unwin who champions dietary management of diabetes. My husband was diagnosed type 2 three years ago and turned it round within 12 weeks by losing weight and low carb diet.He’s been in diabetic remission ever since. The Caldesi cookbooks (which have a section by Dr Unwin) are really helpful.

This or one called ‘diabetes Weightloss cookbook’ by same author

My dad has (managed) diabetes type 2. Despite controlling his blood sugar levels for the last thirty years, diabetes has ruined his health. It affected his cognitive functioning, eyesight and skin health, especially on his feet, a single scratch can easily develop into an open wound that doesn’t heal for months.
Watching my dad’s health deteriorate scared the shit out of me. I always thought diabetes was just a nuisance with nasty injections and blood sugar control, so basically no big deal.

Please take care of yourself, make changes you will be able to manage long term and stick to them.

Ruth Tapsell I think . There’s an article online saying she was influenced by him. My orthopaedic consultant got himself into remission recently and recommended Zoe Nutrition.

DH is prediabetic, I'm probably insulin resistant to some extent because of PCOS so we've both been doing the Zoë thing. He's finding the continuous glucose monitors a useful tool (he bought some more) and we're changing our diet - more veg/beans/lentils, it's more high fibre/low GI than low carb as such at the moment.

I think Michael Moseley reversed a pre diabetes diagnosis - read the Fast 800 book (not the recipe book the guidance one). He also advocated a low carb approach.

Watch this 10 minute video.

My husband was pre diabetic and has reversed it through the Mediterranean diet . He has lost 11kg in 5 months and has gone from blood sugar of 46 to 36 in that time. He says he doesn't feel restricted in food and hasn't been hungry and does still have treats.

He did. The Fast 800 is based almost entirely on a diet designed by one of the medical schools, to reverse diabetes in many patients. There's something about it (speed maybe?) that is particularly effective at removing fat from the pancreas.

diabetes is something I have a bit of anxiety about.

what symptoms made you eventually go to the doctor?

I have lost over a stone and a half over the last 3 months and got my weight out of the obese category - BMI now 28.

i often wonder if I should test my blood sugar - has anyone done home testing?

He did. The Fast 800 is based almost entirely on a diet designed by one of the medical schools, to reverse diabetes in many patients. There's something about it (speed maybe?) that is particularly effective at removing fat from the pancreas.

Newcastle I think? DH looked at this in some detail and his take on the speed was that it was mainly because people were more likely to actually lose sufficient weight if they did it quickly. (He may of course be wrong about this)

2 people I know lost weight and reversed type 2 diabetes . Download the app nutra check , work out your bmr , reduce it by 200 calories and track everything .

Thanks everyone for your replies.

@ErrolTheDragon can you tell me more about the Zoe thing? Is it something you sign up for privately or is it an NHS thing?

@Bellyblueboy I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant, and so was given a blood sugar monitor as part of my treatment. When I gave birth they told me to keep it (the NHS doesn't want my contaminated machine apparently!) and so I have been keeping an eye on my blood sugars since. Because of the gestational diabestes I also have to have regular blood tests to check my blood sugar levels.

No symptoms really, though when I was pregnant with GD I was incredibly tired so I wonder if that was due to the GD. But it could just have been being pregnant!

It's not nhs, @chickpea1982 , I can't remember how much it is (dh signed me up and paid)

I wasn't quite pre diabetic but I reduced my hba1c from 38 to 33 in 6 months via diet.

I would recommend getting a cgm (abbot diabetes do one on a free 2 week trial) and then you can really see what is spiking you and what helps mitigate it.

For most people low carb really helps. For me cutting bread, starchy carbs, anything with flour, oats was key. Also look up the glucose goddess there are hacks that really help reduce your glucose

1. Move after meals (20 minute walk helps a lot)
2. Food ordering - eat a green starter high in fibre first, then fats and protein, lastly carbs
3. If you do eat starchy carbs put then in the fridge first and reheat to increase resistant starch
4. Diluted Acv before meals helps

Zoe is expensive, I think something like £300 then £50 a month. If you listen to all the podcasts you can just follow the advice for the same impact. Broadly speaking this is
A) eat the rainbow - lots of different colours of fruit and veg to get the polyphenols
B) eat at least 30 different fruit and veg a week
C) eat fermented food - a couple of portions plus a day e.g saukercrat, kefir, kombucha etc
D) manage your blood sugar - you can do this with the cgm from abbot I mentioned above