Anyone have a near miss with diabetes?
cyaneverfat
Posts: 527 Member
Omg, I'm so close to getting it, I seem to have most of the symptoms. Scary. Can you eat treats again now that your at goal? (just less I guess?!?)
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I'm not at goal, but as someone with type 2 diabetes (diagnosed at 12, currently 35) when I lost weight my blood sugar normalized. Treats arnt really an issue, it's over eating it that causes the issue. The important thing to remember is that with diabetes it's carbs, not just sugar. I couldn't drink milk or juice either without it spiking my blood sugar. So yeah, it's just less. Everything in moderation.5
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I've had a similar experience. I was starting to get pretty wild blood sugar swings at 105-110 pounds overweight. Now that I have lost 82 of that, even if I have something sugary as an exception I don't have the same response. My body handles it much better. That said, I don't eat very much that's sugary. I've heard from a number of sources that the mere presence of large amounts of your body has many bad effects and acts pretty much like an extra organ.2
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cyaneverfat - if you have 'most of the symptoms' , have you been tested recently?
Diabetes is often without symptoms until quite late on.
If you have symptoms you might need medication even while you lose weight (and improve things this way).
It quietly damages your body - so dealing with it early is a really good idea.
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cyaneverfat wrote: »Omg, I'm so close to getting it, I seem to have most of the symptoms. Scary. Can you eat treats again now that your at goal? (just less I guess?!?)
Although it was not my personal experience (my biggest fear was an event from high blood pressure), I've heard lots of stories like yours, like the YouTube star, JordanShrinks, who talks a lot about how it motivated her to lose 130 lbs. There is also this person's story from the Forks Over Knives movie that you might want to watch.
It would be worth it for you to develop your understanding of the cause of diabetes and how it is reversed. Dr. Michael Gregger has a lot of great videos available on the non-profit website nutritionfacts.org. Here is one on the cause of diabetes and how to reverse it.
While these health issues are scary, your reaction suggests this could be a turning point for you to make the dietary and health promoting changes needed now to avoid years of suffering and dealing with diabetes. An older relative of mine died of diabetes complications because he did not want to change his lifestyle to reverse it and he didn't want to do medications. You've obviously woken up to these risks and have the opportunity to reverse diabetes, which is awesome. Stay positive and dig in. You can do it!3 -
I have found that a happy side-effect of changing the way I eat (low carb anti-diabetes) is that my 'need' for treats (a very real part of my day previously) has vanished.
I eat them occasionally just like the normal people around me ... not because I've had a will-power implant but because I really don't desire sweet things/carby things all the time any more. I enjoy them very much when I do have them and they satisfy me. (That never used to be the case. I was always planning for my next treat even when consuming one.)5 -
My A1C is 6.1 - that was enough to frighten me to get the weight off and protect myself from diabetes
My doctor said if I could lose 10 lbs I would be ok, lost close 4 so far.
My bigger plan is to lose 30, in 10lbs stages with exercise and diet4 -
I wasn't diagnosed pre-diabetic when I was super fat, even though it runs in my mother's family (every one related to her has it). I was at a 'normal' weight, 135#, and took a full blood test to check my iron levels. FYI, up here in Canada, the blood lab note says what tests you need to fast for and how long, and I double checked if I was okay to eat. Got okay'ed to eat, so I did. Lab results came back as pre-diabetic (6.7, iirc [ferritin was 3 icyww]). Freaked out as I'd never been diagnosed before. Ordered to take another blood test, this time I fasted for 12 hours like you're supposed to for glucose testing, and oh hey, it's 4.
Yeah, I 'cheated' the system.1 -
cyaneverfat wrote: »Omg, I'm so close to getting it, I seem to have most of the symptoms. Scary. Can you eat treats again now that your at goal? (just less I guess?!?)
What symptoms? Diabetes doesn't typically have symptoms until later in it's progression which is why bloodwork is necessary.
Pre-diabetic isn't actually a diagnosis...it just means your blood glucose levels on a blood test are high enough to show one that they are at risk if changes aren't made...I've never heard of any symptoms associated with pre-diabetic blood work. I had pre-diabetic blood glucose levels when I first started...lost 40 Lbs and overall eat a pretty nutritious diet and I exercise daily and my blood work is normal...and yes, I can have "treats", but they aren't a particularly material part of my overall diet either.1 -
When my glucose hit 107 my Dr. was all over me about my weight and told me I was heading for diabetes. He suggested I try this app called MyFitnessPal and I try it. Down almost 15 pounds so far, walking 3 or 4 miles every morning. My clothes are starting to fit again! Anxious to see my blood work at the next check up.6
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cyaneverfat - please do go and get checked out if you have 'all the symptoms'.
I don't want to scare you but not doing so (because you are frightened or because you will soon lose weight and be ok or because you don't think it is all that serious and you only have 'a light dose' of diabetes) could be very very bad for you.
I think that everyone knows that diabetes isn't good for your health.
However some of its nasty little tricks are life-changing. My brother is an eye-surgeon and he has very bad days when people who didn't know they had diabetes are sent to him as emergencies. I stress that these are bad days for him... because often there is nothing he can do for them; it is too late to save their sight.
I can't even think what is must be like to be left suddenly (really without warning) without sight for something that didn't even make you feel ill.
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I have a doctors appointment tomorrow7
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I was diagnosed Type 2 in January this year. My A1C was 9.7 and random sugar was over 20. I'm 6'2" and I was around 265lbs at that point (my heaviest was 292lbs). My doc put me on Synjardy. By July of this year I had dropped my weight down to 198lbs by cleaning up my diet and walking 4-6 miles 4-5 days a week. When I got my July bloodwork done, my A1C had dropped to 4.7 and my random sugar was at 4.7 as well. My doc said he'd never seen someone lower their A1C so much in so little time. I'm off Synjardy now and on plain old generic metformin tablets(MUCH more affordable!). I still treat myself, for me, portion size was a big problem. It was nothing for me to eat a 2lb bag of potato chips every night watching TV. Between the carbs from the potatoes, the fat from the frying, and the high salt content I was really not doing myself any favors. I still have chips every now and then, but I stick to the snack pack size bags. You can eat just about anything as long as you mind your portion sizes and eat healthy most of the time.
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Exercise is SO important, even just 10 lbs overweight you can become diabetic, especially if you are sedentary. Keto works great for prediabetic, because it's low carb. Everyone should read up on Type 2, many people are either pre-diabetic or diabetic and have not idea.
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cyaneverfat - I am so glad that you are getting checked out. Whatever the result - you are in a position to change things.2
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In February 2019, my hemoglobin A1C reached 6.6% (or 49 mmol/mol in European units).
I've lost 50 pounds since then. My BMI has gone from 28-ish to just under 21. I exercise a lot now as well.
My A1C is now 5.5% (32 mmol/mol). My other health markers have improved a lot as well (cholesterol, blood pressure etc.)
As part of my diet, I attempted to give up processed sugar. The main reason is my lack of self control - I really like sweet things, which are very calorifically dense. I find abstinence easier than moderation, hence giving it up.
I suspect I could eat treats again, but a strange thing has happened: My tastes have changed. So I don't often eat treats (a Bannoffee pie in February is the last one I recall.) But I also don't miss them.5 -
drmwc I share your experience with refined sugar. Giving it up was hard but it has stopped being an issue. On the odd occasions I've had it - I do have to accept that I'll be extra 'hungry' for a few days afterwards. Staying away from sugar for those days gets rid of the desire for it.3
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Falconscoach - congratulations.
My A1C was 6.1 and that frightened the hell out of me, hence I am on my way to losing this weight.
I have lost 4lbs so far and looking forward to the other 6lb, then I have 20 more to go before reaching 30lbs, that will mean my weight will be 162.
My goal is to get down to 150 and try to maintain from there.
Like you, my problem is portion control because I am a healthy eater, but if your portions are out of wack, that means nothing to your waistline.3 -
For those concerned about me (thank you), I had a blood test today, to check for diabetes.8
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Hope you are ok! I am trying to fix my pre-diabetes myself1
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Well done for tackling this cyaneverfat.
Avoiding the truely horrible complications is well worth a blood test (and the un-nerving wait for results).
I have all fingers crossed for you and hope that you are clear and safe. However, even if you are not, outcomes are good for people who act!5 -
My dietitian told me that diabetes is not so much caused by weight, but by lack of exercise. I do want to lose weight, but I am really focused on exercising right now because I am pre-diabetic.2
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Interesting. Did he recommend any particular type of exercise?0
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Just got the results of my blood test. I only just have diabetes (mild diabetes) and if I eat low fat, low sugar and low carbs for three months I can reverse it. I'm not sure how I can eat in a way that is filling/satisfying over that time, its going to be hard giving up bacon and cheese etc.6
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cyaneverfat wrote: »Just got the results of my blood test. I only just have diabetes (mild diabetes) and if I eat low fat, low sugar and low carbs for three months I can reverse it. I'm not sure how I can eat in a way that is filling/satisfying over that time, its going to be hard giving up bacon and cheese etc.
No need to give up bacon and other foods you like. I have been type 2 for years. I still eat anything I want as long as it’s with in my calorie count. My last A1C was 6. Doctors toss around “ pre diabetic “ like it’s going out of style. Watch what you eat, lose some weight and enjoy ! As long as your A1c is under 7 you are doing well
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So glad you were tested cyaneverfat! It probably doesn't feel like it, but you really are one of the lucky ones. This kind of diabetes is so silently deadly. Having caught it early you have a good chance of avoiding some really nasty (life-changing) consequences. As I said - just suddenly losing your sight is only one of these.
It also is good that your experts think you can reverse your diabetes with a 12 week sharp-shock.
I've heard of this working really well. (Have you read Michael Mosley's Low Sugar Diet? His book explains many things about the condition and has some very inspiring case-studies of people who have done what you are doing. His book has some great recipes for losing weight fast but eating enjoyable food.)
Good news: Bacon won't mess with your blood sugar levels - and, unless you eat it raw, it isn't high fat or high calorie.
I have found:
Full-fat cheeses are high in calories and do raise blood sugar a little in some people but not others. Although lower in calories, low-fat dairy products and even milk do usually raise blood sugar and are best avoided.
Be careful of your dietician. Not all are well-qualified and if they don't know your particular case, their advice might be unhelpful... or even dangerous.
Don't rely on internet advice like ours on here either.
This is much too important.
You might find the first few days hard but usually, the new eating starts to leave you feeling good. Don't be afraid of a little hunger at first. (Drink lots of water - it helps as a distraction.)3 -
goodasgoldilox165 wrote: »So glad you were tested cyaneverfat! It probably doesn't feel like it, but you really are one of the lucky ones. This kind of diabetes is so silently deadly. Having caught it early you have a good chance of avoiding some really nasty (life-changing) consequences. As I said - just suddenly losing your sight is only one of these.
It also is good that your experts think you can reverse your diabetes with a 12 week sharp-shock.
I've heard of this working really well. (Have you read Michael Mosley's Low Sugar Diet? His book explains many things about the condition and has some very inspiring case-studies of people who have done what you are doing. His book has some great recipes for losing weight fast but eating enjoyable food.)
Good news: Bacon won't mess with your blood sugar levels - and, unless you eat it raw, it isn't high fat or high calorie.
I have found:
Full-fat cheeses are high in calories and do raise blood sugar a little in some people but not others. Although lower in calories, low-fat dairy products and even milk do usually raise blood sugar and are best avoided.
Be careful of your dietician. Not all are well-qualified and if they don't know your particular case, their advice might be unhelpful... or even dangerous.
Don't rely on internet advice like ours on here either.
This is much too important.
You might find the first few days hard but usually, the new eating starts to leave you feeling good. Don't be afraid of a little hunger at first. (Drink lots of water - it helps as a distraction.)
Thank you, very helpful :-)0 -
Beware. Your dietician is not basing their comments on science.
Even the conservative charities around Diabetes have recently acknowledged that a low-carb, low calorie diet can CURE the condition for a huge percentage of patients.
Check out diabetes charity websites.
Previously doctors had NO cure for diabetes just ever-escalating medicine and physical decline.
Find “The Fat Fiction” on streaming platforms to educate yourself about the mess we’re in with nutrition, and why obesity and diabetes are running riot in the West.
Eye-opening and inspiring.
Good luck with it. Diabetes killed my dad and auntie. I am trying to avoid their fate, too. It’s important 💞
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katiemcm1125 wrote: »My dietitian told me that diabetes is not so much caused by weight, but by lack of exercise. I do want to lose weight, but I am really focused on exercising right now because I am pre-diabetic.
Please ask for scientific published studies and share them with us. If this is an opinion, it should be stated as such by your nutritionist. People can workout out tirelessly and never reduce their weight, and can even gain! The best weight management strategy is and always has been CICO. Please and thanks in advance for updating us.1 -
Hi all! I too am prediabetic...I have been for 6 years, but most of the time you can't tell when looking at my blood tests. When I found out, I was told to lose 10% of my weight at the time and to go low on carbs until my blood sugar came down. It worked. I'm still overweight (and working on it) but the prediabetes is in check...it's not going way and from what I know there is no 'cure'. But, it can be controlled with some healthy lifestyle changes...and both diet and exercise play a role. I've experimented with myself over the years and I've learned that I don't have to eliminate carbohydrates, but I do need to limit them ... and not eat too many in one sitting causing my blood sugar to spike (which usually causes me to feel extremely sluggish). I also try to choose everything as close to unrefined as possibile...but I'm lucky in that sense because I prefer wheat to white, for example and I love vegetables and legumes (which all play an important role in keeping my blood sugar level). However, I think the primary factor is exercise...when I don't, my body has trouble metabolizing the glucose which starts to accumulate in my blood and then my numbers go up...both blood sugar and weight. So, in my experience, a combination of both diet and exercise has helped me a lot.0
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