I was diagnosed with type 2 Pre-diabetes about four months ago, given a diet sheet and advised to take my blood sugars (I bought an accu-check instant monitor).
My HbA1c came back as 44 which I think converts to around 6.4 mmol/L or somewhere in that range.
My average blood sugar pre and 2 hour post meal time over the past 3 months is 5.8 mol/L (there isn't any material difference between pre and 2 hour post meal readings), in fact sometimes earlier in the day it is lower post meal. From the UK diabetes website this puts me at the top end of normal rather than pre-diabetic?
My waking blood sugar average around 6.8 to 7.2 mmol/L and I understand this may be due to a 'dawn phenomenon' which you can't do much about.
So my question is, should I be classed as pre-diabetic and be worried or have the morning readings skewed the entire data?
Thanks
Richard
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Richard9999
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You shouldn't worry, but you should track these numbers closely and consider actions that may reduce your HbA1c scores. A minority of people won't be able to manage their HbA1c scores down no matter how they change their life styles, but the great majority of us can influence the outcome. After all, it's no coincidence that the obesity epidemic has driven a surge in Type 2 diabetes.
The dividing lines between the "safe" zone and pre-diabetes is pretty arbitrary. My GP doesn't believe that below the line you're safe, and above the line your doomed! The research mentioned in this post is very clear, as HbA1c scores go up, even from quite a low level, then heart event risk moves up in lockstep.
The good news is that for most people exercise (and that means the kind of fairly serious exercise recommended by both the NHS and the BHF), weight loss, minimising processed sugary foods, and absolutely no snacking between meals, can all work to reduce your HbA1c scores.
My understanding is that the Hb etc gives an average. My experience is that it can be brought down by diet and exercise in some cases. Losing even a little weight seems to be the important thing.
There is diabetes on both sides of my family. My mother was diagnosed at 54, and I have got to 72 just staying under the limit. I am very careful about diet, as I can't exercise very much with a dodgy hip.
At least you were given a diet sheet. I was diagnosed as Type 2 to be controlled by diet. The advice was to eat healthily. I've not been given any numbers.
There is a lot of relevant information out there. You could Google “Metabolic Syndrome” and find other markers, such as waist size or waist/hip ratio measurement, and see what they mean for you. Dr David Unwin is a UK GP who is having success putting T2 into remission and has some great resources to help on phcuk.org. You could also try the diabetes.co.uk forums. I had a similar warning and it was a great wake-up call to take myself in hand and think about my lifestyle. Sleep and stress can also affect this.
Biggest problem with diabetes is that people have it and don’t know - don’t worry about being tagged as pre-diabetic - the good news is you’ve been made aware of it so keep an eye on your levels and if they stay as you’ve said you’re in a good place
I received a letter from my GP surgery yesterday. After a routine blood test I was told that I am also pre diabetic, woke up this morning wondering what can I do to help myself? I thought that I was a healthy eater although I do indulge in the odd biscuit/cake/chocolate etc. Maybe I need to look at that. lol. This post has been helpful and reassuring. Thank you. x
My father had type 2 diabetes. I had a HbA1c of 46 mmol/mol in October 2021. Told to reduce carbohydrates and exercise more. I failed to get past week two of CouchTo5K with Achilles tendon pain. So, I did nothing for several months.
Then, in July 2022 I started recording what I ate and reducing carbohydrates gradually. No bread, cereals, pasta, rice, bananas Challenge was getting enough fiber so added nuts and seeds to my food. Did gentle jogging and very light weight training. Weight came down quite dramatically and BMI to 21 so started adding more cheese, eggs, fish, meat to get the calories and protein to maintain my weight
My HbA1C came down to 32 mmol/mol in Sep 2022. So normal range.
I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic as my blood sugars were high on one test. Turned out the blood pressure pills I took decreased the potassium levels in my blood dramatically. Low potassium = low insulin= high blood sugar. I came off the blood pressure tablets, next test showed I was nowhere near pre-diabetic.
The surgery still has me down as pre-diabetic and wont remove it, because they get paid for it. They want to test regularly, no bad thing, but try asking for a test for vitamins or thyroid, and they recoil in horror!
Hb1Ac of 44 is definitely in the prediabetic range as is the fasting bloods. However, the pre and post meal values are amazing! Have you given up all sugar and white flour etc altogether? Its OK for normal folks to spike 7.5 ( I think from memory) post meal and to actually drop lower afterwards is so good. Keep on like that and the 44 ( your 3 month running average) to below 42 must happen. But yes add add exercise, especially a walk after your biggest meals.
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