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pre-diabetes and being very thin-need advice!
Hi,
I recently had my annual physical and my fasting blood sugar was 107. My Dr. said it was fine and I don't have diabetes but I read online that 107 is considered pre-diabetes That scared me because diabetes runs in my family. I have always been extremely thin. I am 5'4' and 98lbs. I'm trying to watch my carbs and have been exercising to hopefully prevent diabetes from developing. The problem is I'm losing weight.. Any suggestions how I can eat a low carb diet but not lose weight at the same time? I just don't know what to do. Thanks!
Also, can you tell me if eating a half cup of Fiber one cereal with one cup of milk would raise my blood sugar a lot? I eat that every morning. Thanks so much for your help.
I recently had my annual physical and my fasting blood sugar was 107. My Dr. said it was fine and I don't have diabetes but I read online that 107 is considered pre-diabetes That scared me because diabetes runs in my family. I have always been extremely thin. I am 5'4' and 98lbs. I'm trying to watch my carbs and have been exercising to hopefully prevent diabetes from developing. The problem is I'm losing weight.. Any suggestions how I can eat a low carb diet but not lose weight at the same time? I just don't know what to do. Thanks!
Also, can you tell me if eating a half cup of Fiber one cereal with one cup of milk would raise my blood sugar a lot? I eat that every morning. Thanks so much for your help.
I have been reading lately that no carbs, high protein and especially high fat diet are disastrous for diabetes. The quality of carbs though is important. There is a website run by Dr. Greger that talks all about it. http://nutritionfacts.org/
Myself, I have been on a very low carb diet for about a year because my fasting blood sugar is/was 106 and I have been a vegetarian my whole life, for 25 years now, I'm skinny and otherwise healthy. My doc though checked how my sugar drops two hours after a big meal and he said it was perfect.
Did you have that checked? Its apparently important.
Myself, I have been on a very low carb diet for about a year because my fasting blood sugar is/was 106 and I have been a vegetarian my whole life, for 25 years now, I'm skinny and otherwise healthy. My doc though checked how my sugar drops two hours after a big meal and he said it was perfect.
Did you have that checked? Its apparently important.
I would agree with your doctor that you are not pre-diabetic. In any case you are upsetting yourself on the basis of one reading only. You need to gain weight for your general health. East well-balanced home-cooked meals, going a little light on the starches. And eat bigger meals than you have been. Gaining weight means taking in more calories. It is as simple as that. Keep the exercise to a moderate level until you put on some pounds.
Your hubby is correct. Drugs are a multi-billion dollar a year business and growing. The more you take, the more drugs you need to correct the side effects from the first drug. Its an endless death circle. The health goal is not be on drugs. Eat healthy, thrive.
Thanks for your info. My hubby also thought the ADA was sponsored by major drug firms. He thinks this whole pre-diabetes thing might be a little bogus. There was a time diabetes was diagnosed with a FBS of 140. Now everyone who is 100-126 is said to be pre-diabetic. He said it's like the new guidelines for hypertension. Now if you're between 120-140 and 80 -90 you're pre-hypertensive. It used to be over 140/90 was hypertension. He thinks the drug companies want everyone on meds.
I reread my last post.
Correction 2 second paragraph - "Only lately have we seen 140 mg/dl and <180 mg/dl causes any harm."
Should read - Only lately have we seen 140 mg/dl and <180 mg/dl cause long term harm.
Correction 2 second paragraph - "Only lately have we seen 140 mg/dl and <180 mg/dl causes any harm."
Should read - Only lately have we seen 140 mg/dl and <180 mg/dl cause long term harm.
Glucose testing times are:
1. Fasting [prandial] before breakfast - no food or colored liquids for 8-10 hours. This gives a baseline on what you ate the night before and how you body functions while sleeping.
2. Before meals to get a baseline reading to compare against the after meal [postprandial] reading.
3. After meals [postprandial] 2-3 hours. This is when glucose from foods peak in your body. I aim for 2.5 hours as the best medium. Depending on what you have consumed 2 hours, I have found, sometimes gives a false positive. When first starting, I tested at 3 and 4 hours out of curiosity.
The postprandial level depends on what your doctor recommends. Ask why she believes "the range" is best suited for you. Most doctors and hospitals still consider <180 mg/dl as the norm. Only lately have we seen 140 mg/dl and <180 mg/dl causes any harm. Aim for the lower number, common sense says the higher you go the potential for long term harm exists.
Finally, I no longer follow the ADA [American Diabetes Association] recommendations nor suggest their guidelines. The ADA is now sponsored by major drug firms. Its kinda like the fox watching over the chicken coop.
1. Fasting [prandial] before breakfast - no food or colored liquids for 8-10 hours. This gives a baseline on what you ate the night before and how you body functions while sleeping.
2. Before meals to get a baseline reading to compare against the after meal [postprandial] reading.
3. After meals [postprandial] 2-3 hours. This is when glucose from foods peak in your body. I aim for 2.5 hours as the best medium. Depending on what you have consumed 2 hours, I have found, sometimes gives a false positive. When first starting, I tested at 3 and 4 hours out of curiosity.
The postprandial level depends on what your doctor recommends. Ask why she believes "the range" is best suited for you. Most doctors and hospitals still consider <180 mg/dl as the norm. Only lately have we seen 140 mg/dl and <180 mg/dl causes any harm. Aim for the lower number, common sense says the higher you go the potential for long term harm exists.
Finally, I no longer follow the ADA [American Diabetes Association] recommendations nor suggest their guidelines. The ADA is now sponsored by major drug firms. Its kinda like the fox watching over the chicken coop.
I test two hours after I began my meal and aim for under 140. The ADA will tell you 180 is ok, but studies have shown that damage begins to happen over 140. Some people aim to keep it under 120 and if you can do that, great, but it can be hard to maintain.
I am going to call a nutritionist on Monday and set up an appt.
I have a question about using a meter. When you use the meter after eating something, what reading would be too high? What readings do you shoot for? I really don't know anything about this. I know that a fasting blood sugar should be under 100 if you are not diabetic. What reading would be too high after a certain food and do you use the meter right after eating or 1-2 hours after? As you can see, I'm a real newbie to all of this.
I have a question about using a meter. When you use the meter after eating something, what reading would be too high? What readings do you shoot for? I really don't know anything about this. I know that a fasting blood sugar should be under 100 if you are not diabetic. What reading would be too high after a certain food and do you use the meter right after eating or 1-2 hours after? As you can see, I'm a real newbie to all of this.
I agree that getting a meter and testing, testing, testing is the way to see how various foods affect your blood sugar. We are all different. You might be able to continue with your usual breakfast and you might not. I can't eat any cereal at all and my regular breakfast is some kind of eggs. To keep your weight up, yes a nutritionist is best, but meanwhile eat things like plenty of protein, and there is no reason for your to avoid dairy. I also agree that amount of carbs is a personal thing. Some diabetics eat very low carb, some like me eat moderate/low and some don't adjust carbs at all. See how various carbs affect your blood sugar to keep you in range. Controlling pre-diabetes or diabetes with just diet and exercise is a balancing act but can be done and there is no reason you should be hungry or lose weight which you can't afford to do.
Btw if you progress to full diabetes, do make sure you get a correct diagnosis of Type.
Btw if you progress to full diabetes, do make sure you get a correct diagnosis of Type.
Thank you all so much for your advice. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer me. I feel comforted to know I can come here for help and answers to my questions. You guys are great!
I am not saying to stop eating starches and carbs altogether, but know which starches and carbs you can eat. We need good carbs for energy. Here are some Google tips on good carbs vs bad carbs. http://tinyurl.com/goodvsbadcarbs
Also this link on foods for weight gain which appears aimed for body builders. Some of it makes sense but parts about "rapid gain" is something to discuss with the nutritionist before diving in head first. http://tinyurl.com/weightgaincarbs
And good luck with the nutritionist. Keep in mind, if he/she doesn’t make sense go find another that does. And don't hesitate to open a new post if you have any questions and/or concerns. We're here to help.
Also this link on foods for weight gain which appears aimed for body builders. Some of it makes sense but parts about "rapid gain" is something to discuss with the nutritionist before diving in head first. http://tinyurl.com/weightgaincarbs
And good luck with the nutritionist. Keep in mind, if he/she doesn’t make sense go find another that does. And don't hesitate to open a new post if you have any questions and/or concerns. We're here to help.
Eat a healthy diet and the following will control the sugar level, so you can continue with your normal life with less worry at each meal.
These pranayam exercises will help control the diabetes and the side effects.Build up the timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume later(after about a minute).The benefits will be noticed in weeks as the sugar level is checked daily.Over the long term the diabetes will be in full control.
Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for 15 to 30 minutes twice a day.
Children under 15 years – do 10 to 15 minutes twice a day.
Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.
Anulom Vilom –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril
then -keeping the left nostril closed deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 15 to 30 minutes twice a day.
Children under 15 years - do 10 to 15 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.
Also everyday, press the centre point of the palm of both your hands 40 times with the thumb and press the tips of all fingers 40 times each.
To stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin: mandukasan - kneel down(with feet pointing inwards,and sit on the ankles/heels, Vajrasan position), breathe in and breathe out completely and hold your breath, pull the stomach in, press both your hands on stomach, bend forward as much as possible keeping the head straight, hold for 5 to 15 seconds and come back up while breathing in. Repeat this 3 times daily to stimulate the kidney and pancreas.Mandukasan2 - Repeat the whole process,but this time with with fists of both hands pressing against the stomach.Mandukasan can be done sitting on a chair, if you cannot bend the legs.
Continue the breathing exercises once a day, after the diabetes is in full control.
These pranayam exercises will help control the diabetes and the side effects.Build up the timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume later(after about a minute).The benefits will be noticed in weeks as the sugar level is checked daily.Over the long term the diabetes will be in full control.
Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for 15 to 30 minutes twice a day.
Children under 15 years – do 10 to 15 minutes twice a day.
Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.
Anulom Vilom –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril
then -keeping the left nostril closed deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 15 to 30 minutes twice a day.
Children under 15 years - do 10 to 15 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.
Also everyday, press the centre point of the palm of both your hands 40 times with the thumb and press the tips of all fingers 40 times each.
To stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin: mandukasan - kneel down(with feet pointing inwards,and sit on the ankles/heels, Vajrasan position), breathe in and breathe out completely and hold your breath, pull the stomach in, press both your hands on stomach, bend forward as much as possible keeping the head straight, hold for 5 to 15 seconds and come back up while breathing in. Repeat this 3 times daily to stimulate the kidney and pancreas.Mandukasan2 - Repeat the whole process,but this time with with fists of both hands pressing against the stomach.Mandukasan can be done sitting on a chair, if you cannot bend the legs.
Continue the breathing exercises once a day, after the diabetes is in full control.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi,
It may be helpful if you are able to buy a glucose monitor so that you could monitor your blood sugars after eating and see which foods / combinations of foods don't affect your blood sugar adversely.
Eating foods higher in fat and protein can maintain your calorie consumption, even while controlling your carbs to help you avoid losing weight.
You may also find that you can eat more carbs later in the day than earlier. Some people eating the same carbs at breakfast and lunch would only find that the breakfast increases their blood sugar.
Get educated. In an ideal world your fasting levels would be less than 95 and your 2 hour after eating would be less than 120, with maximum blood sugar at any time not exceeding 140 (which is the level above which damage has been shown to occur).
Your doctor should also be testing your HA1C to see what is really happening.
Normal HA1C has been shown to be about 4.7 (even though the reference range goes up to about 6.1), and ideally should be under 5.
It may be helpful if you are able to buy a glucose monitor so that you could monitor your blood sugars after eating and see which foods / combinations of foods don't affect your blood sugar adversely.
Eating foods higher in fat and protein can maintain your calorie consumption, even while controlling your carbs to help you avoid losing weight.
You may also find that you can eat more carbs later in the day than earlier. Some people eating the same carbs at breakfast and lunch would only find that the breakfast increases their blood sugar.
Get educated. In an ideal world your fasting levels would be less than 95 and your 2 hour after eating would be less than 120, with maximum blood sugar at any time not exceeding 140 (which is the level above which damage has been shown to occur).
Your doctor should also be testing your HA1C to see what is really happening.
Normal HA1C has been shown to be about 4.7 (even though the reference range goes up to about 6.1), and ideally should be under 5.
Thanks for your tips. I am really new to this and I feel overwhelmed . I never realized that everything you eat turns into sugar. You're right about getting that referral from my Dr. It's so hard for me to watch my carbs and starches because I am underweight. I've already lost a few pounds just watching my carbs . A few pounds to most people would be no big deal. My weight has gone from 99lbs (my norm) to 95 pounds. I always had a fear of getting diabetes because my Dad got diabetes when he was 44. He too was very thin and had a really hard time balancing his carbs and weight.
"I don't know much about which foods raise blood sugar so I was surprised that milk has sugar ."
Me too when first diagnosed. My doctor simply said, "Read every single food ingredient label. Avoid man made prepacked foods. They're loaded in sodium and sugars." I then read about the Glycemic Index - http://www.becomehealthynow.com/article/carbs/8 Limit your intake on carbohydrates and starches. Once digested they turn into sugar.
As far as osteo prevention see this http://www.nof.org/prevention/
"I would like to talk to a nutritionist but I doubt my Dr. will give me a referral"
Your doctor should not refuse your request for a referral, especially to a Nutritionist. If she does run, do not walk away from her for she is not looking out for your best health interest.
Me too when first diagnosed. My doctor simply said, "Read every single food ingredient label. Avoid man made prepacked foods. They're loaded in sodium and sugars." I then read about the Glycemic Index - http://www.becomehealthynow.com/article/carbs/8 Limit your intake on carbohydrates and starches. Once digested they turn into sugar.
As far as osteo prevention see this http://www.nof.org/prevention/
"I would like to talk to a nutritionist but I doubt my Dr. will give me a referral"
Your doctor should not refuse your request for a referral, especially to a Nutritionist. If she does run, do not walk away from her for she is not looking out for your best health interest.
Thanks for your reply. I don't know much about which foods raise blood sugar so I was surprised that milk has sugar . I assume your oatmeal is made with water, not milk. I always thought that 3 servings of dairy was good to help prevent osteoporosis but being pre-diabetic, I'm leary of consuming that much dairy. I'm thinking of just taking calcium supplements instead.
I would like to talk to a nutritionist but I doubt my Dr. will give me a referral since she told me my lab work was fine and I don't have diabetes.
Thanks again for your response.
I would like to talk to a nutritionist but I doubt my Dr. will give me a referral since she told me my lab work was fine and I don't have diabetes.
Thanks again for your response.
Yes, a fasting glucose of 107 mg/dl is considered prediabetes. The fasting glucose ranges are:
70-99 mg/dl Normal
100-125 mg/dl Prediabetes
Above 126 mg/dl Type 2 diabetes
Since diabetes runs in your family ask your doctor for an A1c [HbA1c] test. See this link for an explanation.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/a1c-test/MY0102
An 8oz glass of milk contains on average 8 grams of sugar, every 7 grams equals one heaping Tablespoon of refined sugar. That alone will jack your postprandial [after meal] glucose levels upwards. Oatmeal spiced with cinnamon and fruits is my usual breakfast. A much better choice than synthetic fiber.
For weight its best to sit down with a nutritionist to go over your foods and serving sizes - what you should eat and cannot eat. Ask your doctor for a referral. Major teaching hospitals found on or near major university campuses have trained nutritionist's on staff.
70-99 mg/dl Normal
100-125 mg/dl Prediabetes
Above 126 mg/dl Type 2 diabetes
Since diabetes runs in your family ask your doctor for an A1c [HbA1c] test. See this link for an explanation.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/a1c-test/MY0102
An 8oz glass of milk contains on average 8 grams of sugar, every 7 grams equals one heaping Tablespoon of refined sugar. That alone will jack your postprandial [after meal] glucose levels upwards. Oatmeal spiced with cinnamon and fruits is my usual breakfast. A much better choice than synthetic fiber.
For weight its best to sit down with a nutritionist to go over your foods and serving sizes - what you should eat and cannot eat. Ask your doctor for a referral. Major teaching hospitals found on or near major university campuses have trained nutritionist's on staff.
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