Any prediabetics/diabetics out there??

When I was 379 my A1c was 8.9. I got it down to 4.5 in 90 days with nothing but diet and exercise. I noticed doing HIIT training really helped me with deal with the spikes. I did sprints on treadmill and also used cybex arc. Quick all out workouts seemed better for me.

Umm, a 5.8 a1c and fasting 87 is not even prediabetic.

Prediabetic fasting would be between 100-125.

I am Type 1 and have been told a good A1c is around the 6 range....Yours sounds like you are where you should be. Maybe a little over the average, but not bad. I was diagnosed 3 yrs ago and my A1c was 12, so count your blessings!

That is not a bad number at all. I am a Type 1 (diagnosed in 1994 at age of 22) and can tell you that exercising will help. In fact, my blood sugars dropped, as one of the other folks said, like a stone, when I began exercising. This is a good thing. Just keep a close watch on your blood sugars before and after your workouts because not everyone's body reacts the same. Good luck!:drinker:

I am a T2 diabetic and am currently struggling with my BG numbers. I think 87 to 80 is a bit of overkill. 87 is okay. Just watch your diet and exercise. If you want to go on the carb counting then you need to see a nutrionist.

UGH!!! I'm so frustrated! I'm trying to get my A1C down to normal range (its 5.8 right now) and I need help on how much sugar/carbs i'm suppose to be having per day. I just checked my fasting sugar number and it was 87! I want to get it down to atleast in the early 80's..need help :mad: :frown: I don't want to take medication so i'm trying to do the best I can b/f I have to take that route..

sadly, there are tons of us :frown: We should just band together and be minion but I'm sure we wouldn't be able to decide on a platform :laugh:

It's different for everyone. I eat to my meter & eliminate foods accordingly, I've found through frequent testing, that I can only tolerate up to 10 g of carb per meal and less than that for snacks. That translates to about 115mg/dl for 1 hour PP and usually around 112-110 for 2 hr PP.

Most diabetics would be happy to see a fasting number of 87 mg/dl as the general consensus is FBG is the highest...it's also the last in the system to break down. Meaning that 87 mg/dl is a good number to see.

Now what's more telling would be your pre and postprandial numbers :huh:

bloodsugar101.com helped me figure out how to deal and bring my BG's down to a reasonable level to facilitate normal weight, and halt the progression.

Most folks chose their BG targets not from arbitrary numbers but from a health standpoint and work their way down from there. You'll find those targets (if you're unaware of them) on the site listed above, click on the link 'healthy blood sugar targets'.

There's also a wonderful list of books to read & get you up to speed on different things you can try and tailor to your own needs.

You can also lurk on tudiabetes.com for additional information but I don't know if I would lament a FBG of 87 mg/dl to other diabetics :blushing:

Medication. :smokin: If your doctor recommends it, there may be a good reason for it. There is no failure in needing meds or using meds to decrease your BG. There's just no room for vanity when you consider the ramifications :ohwell: To this end, just because you start meds, doesn't mean you have to stay on them. I say, take them for as long as you need to and drop them as soon as you're able. Get right with the idea that this may never come to pass and if it does....BONUS!!! :laugh:

Exercise. The fastest way to bring down your BG immediately....when you exercise, you use up the glycogen in your muscles and then you only have to deal with what stupidness your liver is doing :ohwell: It's a quarter of the battle.

Good luck chica, eating to your meter is the fastest way to figuring out the exact number of grams of carb you are able to tolerate.

Bump

My a1c was 5.9 in March when I first joined MFP. Your doctor is right to alarm you- there could be other symptoms that you would never expect. My opthamologist found an aneurism in my eye caused by elevated blood sugars. Fortunately its gone now, but it took a few months of following an anti-inflammatory diet/lifestyle to get my eyes clear again: Eating lots of fiber, vegetables and fish high in omega-3 (just say no to tilapia!), exercising every day (30 minutes of rigorous activity- mainly walking and swimming), and the help of a few supplements (cinnamon, tumeric and cod liver oil are my goto favorites)

I just retested a day ago, but I do not have the results back yet to confirm what I can feel - I am back in the healthy range. What I know now is that the changes that I have made are for life. Diabetes is a cruel disease, avoid it at all cost!

Agreed. :ohwell:

Since you brought up supplements, here's my take on them....try them out and if they work, BONUS and if not, keep at it.

I've tried a bunch of them but only a few work for me but surprisingly, they began working immediately. Not sure what that says about my diabetes, but at 44, soon to be 45 in a couple of days, I don't much care :laugh:

Again, do your research to find adverse effects, (and do not ignore them if they come up) talk to your doctor and try them out one at a time once you get a predictable baseline.

This being said, Chromium GTF, Biotin and Rx from the doctor for Vit D is what I take. I've tried AlphaBetic, & it just wasn't as effective. I used to also use Glycosolve but I found it had increased my resting heart rate to the tune of an additional 20 beats per minute :sick: I used it for about 6 weeks before realizing it and discontinuing.

As I tried different supplements (there are 3 marginally different chromiums for instance) I monitored my blood pressure with a regular battery powered automatic unit purchased at a drug store.

I just found out I am prediabetic. We do biometric screenings now at work, and the first year I participated my non-fasting results showed prediabetes and borderline high triglycerides. I thought it must be some mistake, so I the next year I decided to do it fasting. Again, my results came back in the prediabetic range. I was shocked because I thought I was following a relatively healthy diet and exercising when I found time. Plus, my weight is in the normal range, so I really thought I was okay. This is such a wake-up call for me. I want to make sure I stop this before it becomes full-blown diabetes. Is there anything I can do? What sort of things should I be eating? I am so confused.

I'm glad you're looking for ways to improve your health! Does your workplace offer any information or perhaps even classes that might be helpful? Definitely talk with your doctor, and find out if there are classes for people with pre-diabetes in your area. There's a national movement to offer pre-diabetes classes and group support, and many YMCAs, workplaces, and hospitals are offering programs. There is also good information here: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/prediabetes_ES/ ~Lynn /Glucerna

UGH!!! I'm so frustrated! I'm trying to get my A1C down to normal range (its 5.8 right now) and I need help on how much sugar/carbs i'm suppose to be having per day. I just checked my fasting sugar number and it was 87! I want to get it down to atleast in the early 80's..need help :mad: :frown: I don't want to take medication so i'm trying to do the best I can b/f I have to take that route..

An A1c of 5.8 is Awesome. Normal blood sugar range is 80-110. So you are on the right track. I only wish my numbers looked so good.

Something else to note...as jbean3 mentioned, though her A1c was in the 5% range, she still suffered a complication related to her D. Some may find that the numbers and parameters recommended in the current information that's out there may directly contradict what their doctor says is normal or what their doctors are happy with.

It's important to note there are numbers that are normal (for people without *any* metabolic issues) and there are 'good' numbers for diabetics.

The difference can be stark.

Some doctors will tell you anything below 180mg/dl is great for a diabetic. Don't believe them, find a new doctor and aim for lower.

If you are a T2D on insulin, this can be a little tricky for a number of reasons and of course, the parameters for T1D are different for a variety of reasons that I won't get into right now, but it's important to note.

These books helped me figure things out & I tweaked a few things to meet my own needs...

Richard K. Bernstein's: Diabetes Solution

Blood Sugar 101: what they don't tell you about Diabetes, Jenny Rhul

Protein Power (by Drs. Michael & Mary Dan Eades) a classic but definitely worth it

All 3 of these books are available on Amazon, I bought the kindle versions for my tablet, it was cheaper and I was able to begin my research immediately.

Also, you might find this video interesting...I sure did...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMhLBPPtlrY

This thread is a wealth of knowledge and the TED video you have listed, moved me deeply the first time I watched it as it did again today!! A doctor I work with was always harassing his diabetic patients, to the point of being rude. Well as fate would have it, he developed type 2 diabetes. I must say I he got much more sympathetic and gave out helpful information after his diagnosis! He also stopped blaming patients and tried to help them find ways to improve their glucose levels and overall health!!

I am type 2, most likely type 1 per my endocrinologist. If I keep my carbs between 80 and 90 daily I have my best A1c and BG results. The past few months I have had two major surgeries and my eating patterns, chronic nausea and pain have unfortunately not allowed me to walk, like I was walking, and also has led me to eating starchy comfort food. Not good, so my A1c is now at 5.9. I hope to start being able to lower that again, although most of my surgeons and docs are very happy with that number, I a not!