why am I pre-diabetic?

[Anonymous]

My mom is prediabetic, weighs 105, a five, also no processed foods and pretty much only eats vegetables and a little bit of protein and limits her fruit intake. It doesn’t matter, her tests are still veering more and more towards diabetes and high cholesterol too. But the meds are very good these days and if you just keep your lifestyle and diet up, it’s very manageable. Unfortunately genetics are just such a huge component of it. You may have gotten a mutation that results in this.

Or it’s a fluke. It’ll be ok either way.

[Anonymous]

^^active**, not “a five”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Genetics.

You need medication.

It happens.

+1

You lost the genetic lottery. But you would probably already be on insulin if you didn't have such a healthy lifestyle, so you can thank yourself for that.

[Anonymous]

It's likely genetics. No one in your immediate family may have it, but the tree has many branches. Also, you *are* in your 40s now. This is when health issues that affect the rest of your life tend to crop up. Welcome to middle age!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom is prediabetic, weighs 105, a five, also no processed foods and pretty much only eats vegetables and a little bit of protein and limits her fruit intake. It doesn’t matter, her tests are still veering more and more towards diabetes and high cholesterol too. But the meds are very good these days and if you just keep your lifestyle and diet up, it’s very manageable. Unfortunately genetics are just such a huge component of it. You may have gotten a mutation that results in this.

Or it’s a fluke. It’ll be ok either way.

It's like friends who are life long vegetarians and exercise like crazy who got breast cancer.

[Anonymous]

can anyone recommend their menopause specialist, please?
-OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if it’s a fluke then. Did you fast before bloodwork? What did you eat the night before?

Do you have an ultra-processed diet?

Yes, I did fast before the blood draw. I do not remember what I ate the night before.
I eat very little processed foods -- the doc asked me that. GF bread and cereal and maybe some deli meat is about as processed as I eat.
-OP

Just because you’re eating gluten free bread in your diet doesn’t mean it’s low carb. Lots of gluten free bread is made out of white rice flour that turns into simple sugars in your body. It’s not very healthy. Maybe stay off ALL breads and cereals - or minimize them- for the next 6 weeks before the retest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Me too OP. Healthy weight, healthy diet, tons of exercise. Pre-diabetic. I did all the lifestyle mods (higher protein, protein first, intermittent fasting, walking after meals) and it went UP after 3 months. It’s genetics. I had to accept this is my fate. It sucks. Solidarity.

These are interesting changes. How does the order of eating protein first affect blood sugar? Assuming you’re eating a meal within a 10 minute period of time, what does it matter if the protein is first? All the food is going to the same place at the same time to be digested.
-OP

NP here
Get a book by the glucose goddess. She’s an actual phd and it’s real. I’ve seen the difference in the CGM data in my diabetic kid.

[Anonymous]

PP again - I’d also recommend a stelo or other OTC glucose monitor so you can get real time data on how different foods affect you.

I’ve seen a lot of CGM data from both diabetic and non-diabetic family members and there’s two important factors you need to consider. First, different foods affect people different ways so you need to learn your own patterns. And, second the timing of what you eat, order of what you eat in timing of when you exercise will have a big impact on your blood sugars.

A CGM will let you see all these patterns. For example, carbs hit harder at night near bedtime, process carbs, always hit harder than un processed carbs, protein, before carbs decreases the size of the blood sugar, spike, and starches (pasta/rice) that have been refrigerated for a day also give a smaller spike

If you really want to get deep into this, you might want to check out the juice box podcast type two series. It started out as a type one series, but has recently branched out to be more inclusive of type twos. It’s a podcast all about diabetes management, but it’s definitely geared towards people who want tighter management and a normal A1c, even if they’re type one diabetics (which is really hard work)

[Anonymous]

Switch to sourdough bread. Eat protein or low glucose veggies before carbs/sugar at each meal. Apple cider vinegar mixed with water once a day. Retest in 3 months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you do a full 12 hour fast? Meaning you had no food 12 hours before the time of your fasting bloodwork?

A lot of people don't do that. They'll eat dinner at 8 or 9 PM and then having "fasting" bloodwork at 7 am the next morning.

My doctor doesn't even like for me to brush my teeth or use mouthwash the night before or morning of my fasting bloodwork.

And also, I'm like you PP. Very normal weight and very healthy lifestyle and I'm pre-diabetic. Diabetes does run in my family, though. And to make things even crazier, my sister is overweight and is a T1D. Those 2 things almost never go together. You can do everything right in life and genetics will still give you a kick in the pants.

I actually did 13 hours! I only had water not 13 hours. Although I do think I brushed my teeth twice. I will avoid that this time around, so thank you for that tip. Shockingly my doctor actually says fasting isn’t even necessary AND SHE ACTUALLY DOESN’T RECOMMEND IT, which is nuts to me. I don’t know how they can get an accurate reading from your blood unless you’re fasting.
-OP

A glucose test matters for fasting. A1C is a measure of how many carbs your body processed in past 3 months, so fasting doesn't matter.

Type 1 Diabetic

[Anonymous]

Genetics can be harsh. I am also pre diabetic (and I have high cholesterol). No reason for it when my diet and habits are examined. I am my mother's daughter, and she is hers. Bones are next on the list.

[Anonymous]

Redo the test.

Also, this a metabolic disease and it may be impacted by toxins in environment - filter your water, get rid of plastics at home. Don’t touch paper receipts.

Maybe something in your home is affecting your hormones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A1c is not impacted by fasting.
Ask your doctor about LADA/ type 1.5 diabetes.

Wow, I think this is me. Elevated fasting insulin but my A1C is still OK. Thin, healthy eater but have other autoimmune disease.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you do a full 12 hour fast? Meaning you had no food 12 hours before the time of your fasting bloodwork?

A lot of people don't do that. They'll eat dinner at 8 or 9 PM and then having "fasting" bloodwork at 7 am the next morning.

My doctor doesn't even like for me to brush my teeth or use mouthwash the night before or morning of my fasting bloodwork.

And also, I'm like you PP. Very normal weight and very healthy lifestyle and I'm pre-diabetic. Diabetes does run in my family, though. And to make things even crazier, my sister is overweight and is a T1D. Those 2 things almost never go together. You can do everything right in life and genetics will still give you a kick in the pants.

A-1C gets at average blood sugar over time. Fasting is not even required. OP, definitely re-test. Labs can make mistakes. I would also keep a food journal including portion size.