Hi everyone - what a great place! I'm so glad to be here

I am newly diagnosed with prediabetes (November) - the day I was diagnosed I came home and got in touch with the ADA who gave me some guidelines about a low carb lifestyle.

I have been on that and never looked back. The first 6 weeks I lost 26 pounds and all my numbers came back into line. The 2nd 6 weeks I GAINED 2 pounds but my number continue to drop (I also have neuropathy so am on Lyrica for that and the #1 side effect is weight gain - my doc feels that's resonsible and hopes it will even out - me too!). In 12 weeks my glucose went from 108 to 93 this last time, my cholesterol went from 198 to 149 this last time and my bad cholesterol went from 100 to 49. I am on meformin but am hoping to get off of that.

I'll be back to look around - I'm sleepy so must get to bed - work tomorrow. I'm so excited to be here though!
hugs
Karen

you are off 2 a great start just keep it up, we will be here for you, good luck

KAREN . . . keep up the great work, chickie.

I'm glad you took the pre-diabetes warning seriously! Good for you! Congratulations on your weight loss, your improved blood sugars and cholesterol! You are an inspiration!Bethz

Well gosh I forgot all about being here! I'm sorry! Here it is 3 months later and I have lost almost 50 pounds although I think that won't be the case this time when I go back. I have taken control and balanced my carbs to where I can pretty much tell each meal how many I am getting. I have very few sugar dives because I keep to a food schedule of 3 meals a day and 2 snacks and my sugar is down to 93, cholesterol is down to 169, bad stuff down to 69 and good stuff up to 78.

Unfortunately the neuropathy in my legs continues to be a problem and it scares me silly. I am on Lyrica and that helps but they have to keep increasing my dosage

I've also heard that there really is no such thing as 'pre' diabeties - that there is only type I and type II - am I in denial?!
hugs
Karen

I think prediabetes is a misnomer because what you really have is diabetes, it just hasn't gotten bad yet. If you had continued the way you were, your numbers would have gotten into the "diabetes" range. If you go back and consume carbs in the same way, your sugar would climb. There is some talk about many different types of type II diabetes, but it's just kind of theory at this point. The neuropathy is something that you have to watch and the #1 reason to stay on plan.

Neuropathy is very common among "prediabetics" which makes you wonder how aggressively doctors should be dealing with "prediabetes." Neuropathy is one of the dangerous side effects of diabetes and since you have it, I wouldn't really worry about pre or full diabetes, I would just go about controlling numbers. I am a full diabetic and thankfully I've avoided neuropathy, retinopathy, etc. My dad does have both of those so I know that lack of control will lead to that if I take my genes into consideration.

Do you test after meals? It's important to see how high you are spiking. Spikes can make your neuropathy worse. Good control is the best thing you can do for neuropathy. I've also read from diff people that Alpha Lipoic Acid can help with neuropathy. You do have to take large quantities, do a little googling and you'll find some information on it. If you can't, pm me and I'll try to find out for you.

No - he doesn't have me testing at all because my overall numbers have been excellent since I've been on the metformin. I don't even have a clue as to how to do it or what I'm looking for.

Interesting thing, the neuropathy showed up months before my sugar went over 100.

The Lyrica helps but I feel like every time I increase, it's good for a bit and then it gets just as bad again.

I will look for the Alpha Lipoic Acid. Thank you for your help.

I read that it's about 600 mg of ALA a day, some people find that taking it in smaller doses throughout the day works best for them.

It's possible that your sugar was spiking after meals for months before it actually began showing up on your fasting blood sugar. Diabetes is so darn tricky.

I read an article where it said you have it for 7.5 years (probably the spiking after meals) before it actually shows up in your blood

I have heard 600mg also. Well I'm at 400 now. It just makes me feel loopy LOL. I take 100mg 4x a day so it is spread out during the day.

Thank you
hugs
Karen