Hi everyone. I'm new to this group and newly diagnosed as Type 2 diabetic. My doc says I'm in the "borderline" area with an A1C at 6.4, but am almost 57 years old and have a family history so we are keeping a close eye on it. The weird thing is my blood sugar became elevated sometime between my last two physicals in early 2016 and last month. During that period I lost over 30 pounds, got my BMI within normal range (around 24), and had begun going to the gym. I never felt better. So this hit me like a ton of bricks.

One thing I have come to realize while discussing this with my doc, is that while I have been eating LESS, I have not been eating healthier. I've been on several fad diets and finally settled into my own routine of eating very little during the day and loading up at dinner time with unhealthy food. I love craft beers and pub food, if that gives you an idea. No doubt my body has been freaking out going between starvation and fat-storing mode. I'll bet my blood sugar was all over the place.

So together with my doc, I've worked out a plan. For the next 4 months I'm going to eat right and get more exercise. My gym visits have been much less frequent of late, so I'm committing to 3 workouts a week plus my normal 12-15K steps a day including at least one 30 minute walk.

As for diet, here's what I am going with. Keep my calorie intake where it is at around 2,100 a day. That has allowed me to maintain my current weight of 178. Limit red meats to 2 servings a week, eat more fish and poultry, severely restrict the alcohol to 2-3 beers a week, severely restrict simple carbs / sugars and more whole grains, and eat a lot more low-GI vegetables such as green leafy and legumes. Potatoes are off the table, especially French fries.

I have a FU appointment with my doc in November and I'm hoping I can get back in the normal range without resorting to meds. I know my situation is not that bad currently but I don't want to wind up going through what my father did.