Feeling Bummed: Pre-diabetic with High Cholesterol

Don't feel bummed, you know you have a medical issue and you have come to this site to help support in dealing with it - this is a huge first step and I congratulate you in having the courage to do so.

Do a web search for diabetic menu, go to barnes and noble and pick up a diabetic recipe book.

What you don't do is ignore it, wind up on a handful of medication, go full blown diabetic, do hormone therapy and continue with bad eating habits. My mother in-law has done all of this and disregards her health. I am worried about her because she talks about having out of body experiences while driving because her insulin is so out of whack. Yet she continues to eat like nothing is wrong.

I did have high cholesterol, after my lifestyle change I got that under control. I did meal replacement for breakfast and lunch (Soylent) and eat whatever I want for dinner as long as I am under my calorie limit. To help not go over my limit I naturally pick foods that are filling but not high in calories like vegetables, fish, lean meats, ect.

Again, you have taken the first step in the right direction, please continue to control what you can - the food you eat. Let go of the things you can't control; your body's inability to process sugars efficiently. Its going to be OK as long as you take care of yourself.

I wish you the best of luck!

dspinkston wrote: »

I am bummed and struggling: Very recently my doctor informed me that I am pre-diabetic (my blood sugar is 114 -- a count of 90 is normal, I believe, while 125-130 is high), with high levels of cholesterol. He said that if I start eating right and exercising properly now, I can reverse this without meds.

His recommendations: 1) eat a lot more vegetables -- Not being a nutritionist, he couldn't be very specific on that ...only that he wants me to get most of my fiber from veggies 2) severely limit sugar and refined carbs (white bread, rice, pasta...) 3. exercise at my target heart rate for 30 minutes 5 days per week. 4. look at this as a marathon and not a sprint ...make changes that I can live with for the rest of my life.

I am watching all my nutrition stats carefully in MFP now. Still, I am struggling to find a balance that limits carbs and yet gives me enough fiber and enough calories.

I was wondering if anyone else here has faced this ...If so, what tips can you give me? Does anyone know of any sites that give sample menus? I would appreciate any help that this community can give!

I had the same stuff going on four years ago. You can still eat carbs, but you want more whole food sources...veg, some fruit, and thing like whole oats, lentils and legumes and whole food starches like potatoes and sweet potatoes. Another big thing is to watch your servings...the problem most people have with carbs is huge servings...a serving of pasta is about 2 ounces dry...I'd wager that most people eat 3-4x that amount. A serving of potato is about 150 grams...again, pretty small and people tend to heap portions onto their plates.

I still eat pasta, but only maybe a couple times per month...I tend to opt for brown rice over white and more often we have quinoa when we're going to have stuff like that.

I eat on average 6 servings of veg per day and a couple servings of fruit...usually berries and other lower GL fruits like an apple.

I don't eat much in the way of "junk"...I used to be a big soda drinker and now I only have one every once in a blue moon...I don't eat a lot of highly processed food stuffs either...mostly whole foods and meals prepared from scratch, whole ingredients and/or minimally processed food stuffs like canned tomatoes, etc.

Losing some weight will also go along way...changing my dietary habits and getting in regular exercise has made a ton of difference, but it also takes time...nothing happen overnight. It took me about a year to get my cholesterol in check...much shorter time from for my blood sugar...I had that under control within about 12 weeks or so.

dont worry about it. doctors love tossing out "pre-diabetic" 114 is awful even if you were fasting. drop some weight and I can almost be certain your numbers will be fine

dspinkston wrote: »

I am bummed and struggling: Very recently my doctor informed me that I am pre-diabetic (my blood sugar is 114 -- a count of 90 is normal, I believe, while 125-130 is high), with high levels of cholesterol. He said that if I start eating right and exercising properly now, I can reverse this without meds.

His recommendations: 1) eat a lot more vegetables -- Not being a nutritionist, he couldn't be very specific on that ...only that he wants me to get most of my fiber from veggies 2) severely limit sugar and refined carbs (white bread, rice, pasta...) 3. exercise at my target heart rate for 30 minutes 5 days per week. 4. look at this as a marathon and not a sprint ...make changes that I can live with for the rest of my life.

I am watching all my nutrition stats carefully in MFP now. Still, I am struggling to find a balance that limits carbs and yet gives me enough fiber and enough calories.

I was wondering if anyone else here has faced this ...If so, what tips can you give me? Does anyone know of any sites that give sample menus? I would appreciate any help that this community can give!

Vegetables and greens, beans, lentils, low sugar fruits like melon and berries- these are all low carb high fiber. Veggies in the squash family are particularly good- zucchini, summer squash, spaghetti squash, butternut, cucumbers...

Try cutting down your portion of carb rich foods like rice and potato- I do 1/2 cup as a serving- and increase portions of veggies & greens.