Everything I read about prediabetes touches on two basic elements of prevention/management -- diet and exercise. You've got to eat the right foods (watch the glycemic index) and exercise enough to burn the sugar. Both of course are helpful in losing weight if you are overweight. My BMI (Body Mass Index) is on the high end of normal -- and my exercise practices are consistent. I work out at least five and usually six days a week!
I've hacked away at junk sugar and carbs; because I don't have diabetes of course I can still enjoy bad treats -- and this is my remaining weak spot -- the after-dinner desert/snack, usually the point in the day (still) where I break down and eat stuff I shouldn't. This probably doesn't help my glucose count which has for the past few weeks been showing up at 6.1 to 6.3 -- on the low end but definitely within the range of the glucose intolerance warnings. So I am going to discipline myself some more and bring it down to where it should go.
Sunday, 18 May 2008
Sunday, 6 January 2008
Prediabetes: The diagnosis
A couple of years ago, after the annual check-up, my doctor told me that my blood sugar after a 12 hour fast was somewhat elevated; at 6.1. This, he indicated, is something to watch but not to worry about too much.
6.1 -- of what. I still don't quite get the definitions, even though for the past six months I have been pricking myself and testing the blood sugar; often finding myself below the magic number, but sometimes, too often, over it.
I decided to investigate what this condition is -- for a strong and powerful reason. I'm 54 years old. Back in the mid-1960s, when I was about 10 and my father was -- about 54 -- he suddenly had acute diabetes; so serious that the doctors apparently put the severity of his condition in some record books. I remember through my teenage years, after the initial crisis, dad shooting his insulin, checking his sugar, and fighting the disease which eventually (through complications) killed him when I was 26 years old, embarked on my African adventure, watching Rhodesia turn to Zimbabwe.
So now, I'm at the age where my dad first got sick, and I have something that looks an awful like the precursor to Diabetes.
But I'm not sick. I don' have diabetes. And I don't want to get it.
I've been reading a lot on the topic, checking websites, and have started to learn about things like the Glycemic Index, low carb diets, and exercise. And as my knowledge increases I find myself most of the time getting things under control. Most of the time.
What seems to happen is I watch my diet, exercise, and after a few days, the blood sugar goes down to normal levels. Then I introduce some 'bad things'-- like a bit of bagel for breakfast, some ice cream, some chocolate, a piece of cake, etc. And the blood sugar stays normal. It is like I am getting away with my old habits. Then, wham, a few days later, things are back to elevated levels. I haven't seen anything in the literature yet but there seems to be a lag here -- in other words, if I am good it takes a few days for things to clean up -- if I'm bad, it also can take a few days for the problem to appear.
Whatever, I'm going to start this blog on a low-key level; building it over time with observations, insights and lessons learned. I'm not sure where it will take me (or you) but hope we'll all enjoy the journey.
6.1 -- of what. I still don't quite get the definitions, even though for the past six months I have been pricking myself and testing the blood sugar; often finding myself below the magic number, but sometimes, too often, over it.
I decided to investigate what this condition is -- for a strong and powerful reason. I'm 54 years old. Back in the mid-1960s, when I was about 10 and my father was -- about 54 -- he suddenly had acute diabetes; so serious that the doctors apparently put the severity of his condition in some record books. I remember through my teenage years, after the initial crisis, dad shooting his insulin, checking his sugar, and fighting the disease which eventually (through complications) killed him when I was 26 years old, embarked on my African adventure, watching Rhodesia turn to Zimbabwe.
So now, I'm at the age where my dad first got sick, and I have something that looks an awful like the precursor to Diabetes.
But I'm not sick. I don' have diabetes. And I don't want to get it.
I've been reading a lot on the topic, checking websites, and have started to learn about things like the Glycemic Index, low carb diets, and exercise. And as my knowledge increases I find myself most of the time getting things under control. Most of the time.
What seems to happen is I watch my diet, exercise, and after a few days, the blood sugar goes down to normal levels. Then I introduce some 'bad things'-- like a bit of bagel for breakfast, some ice cream, some chocolate, a piece of cake, etc. And the blood sugar stays normal. It is like I am getting away with my old habits. Then, wham, a few days later, things are back to elevated levels. I haven't seen anything in the literature yet but there seems to be a lag here -- in other words, if I am good it takes a few days for things to clean up -- if I'm bad, it also can take a few days for the problem to appear.
Whatever, I'm going to start this blog on a low-key level; building it over time with observations, insights and lessons learned. I'm not sure where it will take me (or you) but hope we'll all enjoy the journey.
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