Blood test

[Vonnieruth]

My recent blood tests showed my vitamin d is low and also I could be entering prediabetic range

What foods should I avoid and what should I be eating

[Cooper27 Administrator]

Have they given you any supplements for your vitamin D?

If you're prediabetic, you might like to read the 8 week blood sugar diet, which is a book by Dr Michael Mosely. He recommends restricting your diet to 800 calories a day for 8 weeks, which stops the diabetes in its tracks.

One of the reasons I think this diet works though, is because it forces you to eat lots of vegetables, and limit simple carbs and fat. You'll not waste 180 calories on a piece of bread, if you can eat a giant salad with the same calories.. If you decide not to do the 800 calorie diet, I think you should still apply the principle to your meals. Focus on eating lots of vegetables, lean proteins and good fibre, and limit sugar, processed foods and easy carbs.

[Fran182716 Prediabetic in reply to Cooper27]

Hi Vonnieruth I would be inclined to see your doctor before attempting the 800 calories a day Diet, I certainly couldn't safely do my job, drive, exercise etc on that low calories. Dr Moseley has 3 choices within his bloood sugar diet, one is the 800 cals a day for 8 weeks, another is the 5:2 diet ( 800 cals a day for 2 non consecutive days per week, maintenance calories the other 5 days) . Both of these diets are for weight loss, but if you don't need to lose weight, or like me you prefer to lose it slowly and steadily his third option is a lower carb Mediterranean style diet. This is more a way of eating that lowers the glycemic load of your meals than a weight loss diet but I'm combining it with a moderate calorie deficit ( eating approx 1500 - 1600 cals per day) and I've lost 6lbs in the last 4 weeks. I'm happy with that rate of loss, I have 34 lb to lose. The other thing to take into account is that prediabetes is usually due to insulin resistance and exercise is one of the best ways of improving that, so I like to eat enough to fuel my exercise. Had my prediabetes diagnosis on 21st Jan and got to go back for re-test in 6 months Will hopefully have lost reasonable amount of weight by then. Good luck 🍀

[Vonnieruth in reply to Fran182716]

Thanks Since being diagnosed PAF I have lost 2 stone

[Fran182716 Prediabetic in reply to Vonnieruth]

Well done for the weight loss, so I guess that means you already lost the weight before getting the prediabetic diagnosis. In which case if you are already at a healthy weight then what you eat matters more than calories. you might find this website/ forum useful diabetes.co.uk/forum/catego...

Admins hope this link is okay it's a peer support forum not selling anything.

[Vonnieruth in reply to Fran182716]

Thank you Fran I think I have a bit to loose still

[Vonnieruth in reply to Cooper27]

Yes I have been prescribed medication and have bloods done again in four weeks

[Cooper27 Administrator in reply to Vonnieruth]

Good! I would not take the vitamin D supplement on the day of/before your test, you'll get a falsely high result, and they'll stop your medication too soon.

They say pretty much everyone in the UK is low on vit D - we get virtually nothing over winter, especially in the northern half of the country.

Fran makes a good point about discussing the diet with your GP: it looks like the NHS are starting to prescribe this diet for patients in the future, but they would have the added bonus of being under medical supervision for it.

[Zest]

Hi Vonnieruth

Maybe have a read of this article from Healthline, which has some information that may be helpful:

healthline.com/health/diabe...

Zest

[Vonnieruth in reply to Zest]

Thanks Zest

[andyswarbs]

Vitamin D is a strange beast.

- Firstly it is not a vitamin at all but rather a hormone.

- At some point in the past it was added to milk and dubbed a "vitamin" as part of a superb marketing ploy to help increase milk sales.

- Also the evidence that taking vitamin D supplements as a way to boost longevity is poor.

- Also showing that Vitamin D shortage is a cause of health issues is poor: yes, there is correlation. People who are healthier also have better Vitamin D levels, because is that simply the way the body works. (I found out that the same is true with anaemia and rheumatoid arthritis.)

My advice re vitamin D is to sort out what else is is wrong with you. Go outside in the daytime. As full health returns better vitamin d levels will come back.

[Vonnieruth]

Thank you I intend to Going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark doesn't help either

[Luludean]

It is odd! SO many people I know , who do not have AF, ( not over weight, lively and out and about eat well etc) who have had the statuary 70 yr old blood test have received the same gp letter. I E , that they are pre diabetic. Is this super vigilance?

They need to test all school children ! Super markets are full of huge obsessive munching 6 to 15 year olds glued to I phones .

[sleeksheep]

I went from pre diabetic to diabetes 2 in three years after being stable pre diabetic for decades on diet controlled.

My blood glucose (BG) was 8 approaching 10 , since that test I have brought it down to 5.6 - 6.8. I dont calorie count at all , my metabolism doesnt require that.

Stopped all bread / rice / wheaten pasta including spaghetti.

As I test my BG I saw that Low GI bread and rice were no such thing - very high spikes.

Real multi grain bread ( not white flour with seeds in it ) two slices max a day.

Pasta made with rice + maize flour is low GI and quite yummy !

You can eat potatoes but dont mash and try to get the new low GI variety that holds its fibres when cooked - their quite different.

Eat veges and salads ( bit easier here because its summer )

No sugars at all not even sweeteners.

I take Gymnema Selvestre 400mg per meal and Bitter Melon 1000mg day and R-Lipoic acid 450mg day. Prescribed Empagliflozin 25mg as I am allergic to metaformin

I had to reintroduce more carbs into my meals as high protein low carb made me very tired. I think I have the balance right after two months - started severe and gradually eased up.

Luludean brought up that so many 70yr olds are being found pre diabetic.

Could it be the use of statins blocking insulin production in the pancreas after decades of use. I would like to see the correlation between age and statin use with pre diabetes.

[jackiesj]

I have a genetic vit d defiency which triggered MS.Now back to normal taking 1500 a day with calcium to obsorbe.I would make sure balance, all colors of veggies,,,,cut sugar and fat(so hard for me) 5 small meals ..dietician is a smart way.There is a new wave diet every day...sorry, but what works for you may not for others.I find an hr after I eat something I can tell...best wishes...remember if its in the home you are going to eat or drink it.100 percent natural if you read...may be concentrate and loaded...read read read...

[Vonnieruth in reply to jackiesj]

Thank you will do

[Want2BHappy3]

I got ya there, a way to prevent getting diabetes (once you get it there's NO going back) you have a opportunity to STOP it NOW. Watch your CARBS, CARBS and CARBS. Read up on it, educate yourself. I wish I had, my doctor's did NOT educate me, which they should have. Study Good Carbs vs Bad carbs that's the key.

[Vonnieruth in reply to Want2BHappy3]

Thank you will do just that

[Vonnieruth]

Where do I do that exactly

[Hidden]

Try looking up Dr. T Colin Campbell or Dr Fuhrman, Dr. Dean Ornish, Dr. John McDougall, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Dr. Alan Goldhamer on Youtube. They will solve your food and health issues, if you are willing to listen.

[Vonnieruth in reply to Hidden]

Thanks will do Are they videos on this matter

[Hidden in reply to Vonnieruth]

Yes, lots. Good luck!