Feeling quite scared and very shocked.

I'm sorry about your shock, sazzl, and I know how you feel. I was told last July that I am a borderline diabetic but that I could reverse it myself by diet and exercise.
So I've spent the last year trying to watch everything I eat and endeavouring to give up sugar (it's not easy, there is sugar in so many things!). And I do exercises every morning and go for brisk walks whenever I can.
It's working as I have lost about a stone in weight.
I go for a check up in three weeks time and am very apprehensive...
So good luck and I hope you manage to reverse your diagnosis.

I definitely get your shock and feeling scared. Mine was full diabetes, and the GP told me that I'd be on insulin in 5 years an possibly dead within 15 - I found the information on this website to be sheer gold. And it was my 15 year anniversary last month; I'm fitter than I've ever been, on no diabetes meds, www.bloodsugar101.com/

My OH had the same. I think the easiest way to look at it is to just improve your diet. Move towards a healthy vegan diet. This could help prevent you getting diabetes and avoiding medication. There is lots of info on the diabetic groups websites. X

Type 2 can be reversed with diet and as yours is fairly new you could probably reverse it quite easily. Have you considered trying a vegan diet? I've been on it for a few months and I now feel amazing. Good luck.

I am the third generation of my family to have T2 diabetes, on my mother's side. Of the six siblings, three had it, of whom one was decidedly not overweight at all, (mum, who weighed about six stone dripping wet) one was normal weight and one was overweight from late middle age onwards.
Sadly I have a couple of stone to lose!

It sounds like genes may play a role sazz1, I have Type 2, both my parents do, they are slim and wiry. A sibling too, who is an ITU nurse and is slim and fit.

I am chunky, but I also have a cousin with Type I.

I would certainly take the advice of your GP or practice nurse.
Like others, I know several people that are either type 1 or type 2 diabetics and are thin - it basically comes down to how your pancreas works and it doesn't work as well, often as we get older!
Just don't panic - you may well have a genetic tendency - just like glaucoma and other things, have a slightly higher chance of suffering from it because there is family history.

I know it's not my thread but thanks Authoress I'll have a look at that website.

Suggest you look at Michael Mosleys 800 calorie plan for getting rid, and also the low carb hifat diets. Look up Tim Noakes and Zoe Harcombe. Plenty of books on Amazon, with very good recipes.

5/2 fasting (fasting for 2 days, 5 not) which is good for the body. There is also 16/8 where no eating for 16 hours, everything else in the next 8. Time has moved on, and busy docs not always aware. We now know we are not meant to be eating 3 meals a day and snacking in between.

Best to try not to rely on medication, now or in the future. There are trials going on about change in diet rather than going onto meds. Very encouraging. It puts control in the hands of the patient as well.

Change your diet. Minimise eating of carbs and sugar. No lovely white bread, choose whole flours and whole grain cereals. No cakes, biscuits, or other sweet stuff for a while and watch the alcohol (don't have it). Veg rather than fruit. Read labels, watch out for added sugar. Use Stevia if you have a sweet tooth.

If you like to find out what's going on, you can buy strips to test for sugar in urine at chemist or on Amazon. You can buy ketone testing strips as well.

Research it thoroughly as you can, make a plan, and discuss with your GP. They should be pleased that a patient is taking action and encourage you.

Best of luck.

My DH has had diabetes for years. We have worked through what is needed and the result is:

Avoid carbs - sugar and flour mainly (sweets, cakes, biscuits, pastry, pasta, etc.), they digest quickly and blood sugar level rises fast but you feel hungry shortly after and are then tempted to eat something else. The sharp rise is what does the damage to eyes & kidneys.

Boost vitamins - multivit pills are good you feel less tired too and calmer! Our experience of diet advice is that most nutritionists are taught that the 'average diet includes enough so don't mention vitamins and avoid complicating things'! This is often not true as we age and you need vit C to absorb the iron in your diet.

Eat all the fruit and vegetables you want and can - especially as snacks. You don't need to lose weight so bananas and potatoes are fine.

If you need something to get you through the night eat a full fat yogurt just before bed. Full fat dairy is good, that is why young babies should have blue top milk - the fat provides 80% of your brain (nerve insulation).

You don't necessarily have to be overweight to be diabetic or prediabetic. If you're eating too much sugar or carbs, your pancreas might not be able to cope. Cut out the sugar, bread, pasta, potatoes, cakes and biscuits for a few weeks and see if it helps.

Hi Sazzl,

I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes 19 years ago, and then my GP decided it was just over the limit for type 2 and prescribed Metformin tablets, which I am still on. My Blood sugar is now at a good level and has been for the past 8 years, and this isn't really due to weightloss, but more to do with keeping a sensible balanced diet, and regular exercise in the form of walking.

I was given a monitor by my GP Goose1964 even though I am type 2 and only on a relatively low dose of metformin.

It hasn't really affected my life apart from drinking far more water than I used to instead of coffee, and using Truvia instead of sugar. I did have a spell when my blood sugar went up last year and I discoverd I was drinking far too much fresh Orange Juice. I also do NOT drink any alcohol apart from a half pint of bitter on my birthday.

My advice would therefore be a sensible blanced diet, exercise and take the tablets and don't get too hung up on checking your blood sugars as sensible eating will keep them fine.

Best wishes and good luck with it.......

sazz - this came out from my latest blood test too. I had to see a nurse and the only thing she could suggest was to cut out sugar in coffee.
I'm also very thin and eat a healthy diet.
Perhaps they're being ultra cautious about this as there's so much real diabetes these days.
There's another thread somewhere on here about it.

I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic 4 years ago. I decided there and then to cut out as much sugar as I could. No jam/mayonnaise/breakfast juice/ketchup/chocolate etc. I also check packets of food and try to buy only those where the sugar is less than 5g per 100g (nearly impossible!). Vegetarian and Vegan pre-packed foods are very low in sugar by the way. Had another blood test 6 months later and I was no longer pre-diabetic. Just have annual tests now and no longer miss any of the food I gave up and an unexpected bonus was that I lost over a stone in weight without trying. Still have a glass of wine before my evening meal!!

Much too soon to worry. Bear in mind that doctors get incentive payments for identifying pre-diabetes. Several of the “symptoms” quoted are common with age. Take care, choose good diet, discuss with G.P. But don’t worry!

My husband had prediabetes. Lost 35 pounds and is just fine. His blood sugar is almost too low. He actually started using Trulicity to curb his appetite Since he is not a diabetic we had to pay for it and it is very expensive. But it was worth it. He has been in good shape now for 2 years. Get the weight off and exercise.

I am Type 2 Diabetic, diagnosed as Pre-Diabetic about 2009, diagnosed as Diabetic in 2012 but border-line, I was given Metformin & a Blood Testing kit so I could monitor at home.

Metformin was gradually increased to give good control but I did suffer from side effects. In 2017 I was in Hospital with a Urine Infection & Hospital stopped Metformin. 6 months later, with no medication I had lost over 3 stone, weight just gradually came off, I felt great & a lot fitter.

When it came to my Annual review my Diabetes readings were nearly off the scale, new medication, result my Diabetes is under control again although I have now been changed onto another newer drug. Only downside is the weight has just crept back on but I'm working on that, diet has never changed.

Beware of eating too much fruit because of natural sugars, 2 portions per day ie 1 portion is 1 banana, 1 apple, handful of grapes, 2 plums etc.

Lots of veg is encouraged apart from parsnips, beetroot & sweetcorn high are high in sugar. Potatoes & Sweet Potatoes don't count towards your 5 a day.

Good luck & I hope your GP has some answers, my Diabetic Nurses are brilliant. I had no symptoms before my diagnosis. Illness & Stress can affect Blood Sugars. Mine can suddenly drop or rise for no reason, I had a Hypo which ended up with 4 hours in the ED as Blood Sugars wouldn't rise (I live on my own & this happened late evening), I had eaten well all day including a healthy Dinner of meat, potatoes & lots of veg

I am on a certain type of drug and a doctor covering for my consultant decided to up the dose which triggered the type 2 diagnosis unfortunately when the symptoms kicked in I didn't realise what was causing it by the time my consultant came back and I told him the whole story he couldn't understand why the doctor had upped the dose which had caused it. Needless to say that by then I was already on Metformin (no moniter by the way) he dropped the meds back down to previous dose but I'm still at 48 but I was 125.

Nasty surprise to come home to - but read up, take the help offered and don't worry. You sound so sensible you'll soon be wondering why you were worried.

I was diagnosed with T2 in January. I am overweight and had been feeling lousy. I have lost 1.5 stones so far and am now exercising 3 times a week at least. I feel better than I have done for years.

I hope this might help.....I have twice tested prediabetic and both times then dropped back to a safe level.
Each time by really cutting back on sugar and carbs.

I am trying to lose weight and haven't because of complications with illness but I am happy to be out of the danger zone of diabetes and prediabetes.

I am sorry you’ve had such a shock
But I think you need another blood test to confirm this is correct as you we’re unwell at the time. Also were you taking any steroids for your chest at the time ? because these will put your blood sugars up it’s one of the side effects.

in january 2018 I had a blood test for diabetes. at the time I was virtually housebound with severe arthritis in my knee and wasn't able to move around much.
in November 2018 I had a letter from my doctor which told me that my blood glucose level from my january test was 44 which put me firmly in the pre diabetes category. they also put my name forward for the diabetes prevention course here.
I had another blood test in February 2019 and forgot the result.
but three weeks ago I started the diabetes prevention course telling the organiser that i'd had another blood test and the result was lower but that I had to go back to my doctor to find out what it was.
last week I found out that my blood glucose level is now 41 - which now puts me in the "normal" bracket.
I had a knee replacement op in august 2018 and, of course, was able to move around more easily and I started swimming twice a week. I lost weight too.
my doctor, when we were talking about me recent blood test told me that I was probably one of those people who "cured" my pre diabetes by losing weight and moving around more.
so please don't stress yourself about your blood glucose level. some of the people on my course are slim and I understand it's not necessarily those who are overweight who can get type 2 diabetes.
I don't know how long i'll be going to my course as my blood glucose level is showing a downward trend even though i'm quite a lot overweight.
just eat healthily and sensibly and you'll be ok - you might not need to go on any course at all.

A good friend of mine has been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes even though he's always been slim, fit and ate healthly. Turns out he was eating the wrong sort of carbs - all white pasta, rice and sometimes bread.
Please don't be alarmed this is just highlighting that if you ignore the test you could become diabetic. Take action now. Eat sensibly (especially no refined sugars, white bread, white pasta, white rice), exercise and get yourself tested in a few months and I'm sure you'll be fine.

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