PRE-DIABETIC
I am a 68 year old white male. In July of 2008 I was diagnosed as Pre-Diabetic. My Doctor told me that my blood glucose was too high. Not quite to the diabetic level, but higher then he liked. I am 5ft. 5in. tall and at that time weighed 218 pounds.
I was prescribed a drug called Metformin, which I take twice daily. I was also told to loose weight and exercise.
Like most diabetics and pre-diabetics I cut out high carbohydrate and sugar added foods. This meant giving up a lot of junk food that I loved. I no longer eat ice cream, cookies or most breads. I have added whole fiber breads and more vegetables to my diet. I have since lost a little over 30 pounds and now weigh 187 pounds. I need to drop at least 20 more pounds.
I have had trouble exercising due to arthritis in both knees. I have been checking out exercises that do not put too much pressure on the knees.
Disclaimer: Check with your Doctor before starting any diet or exercise program.
Notes on diabetes
A sign of diabetes is all that extra sugar or glucose floating in your blood stream. This can cause nerve damage, vision loss, infections, and poor circulation, kidney and heart problems.
There are two kinds of diabetes, type 1 diabetes, where the pancreas, the organ responsible for producing insulin, stops producing the hormone completely. Type II diabetes is when the concentration of sugar in the blood is high. People with type 1 diabetes require daily insulin injections. And those with type II the most common form of diabetes usually are not in need of insulin injections. Most doctors today are electing to treat type II patients with diet and exercise which has been proven to reduce blood sugar.
Many people with type II diabetes are overweight. Many people find it difficult to lose 30 or 60 pounds. The good news studies have found it is not necessary to reach your normal weight to see a big drop in blood glucose. You may see a difference when you lose 5 to 15 pounds.
Exercise and eating right was recommended to me. Nutritional supplements may be helpful in my quest of achieving my weight goal. Exercise can play an important role in diabetes control.
People with diabetes need to avoid most refined sugar that is found in many low-fat or fat-free foods on the market. Some Doctors recommend skipping sugar and satisfying sweet tooth with fruit.
With type 2 diabetes, the main focus is on weight control, because most people with this disease are overweight. A meal plan, with reduced calories, even distribution of carbohydrates, and replacement of some carbohydrate with healthier monounsaturated fats helps improve blood glucose levels.
Examples of foods high in monounsaturated fat include peanut or almond butter, almonds, walnuts, and other nuts. These can be substituted for carbohydrates, but portions should be small because these foods are high in calories.
In many cases, moderate weight loss and increased physical activity can control type 2 diabetes. Some people will need to take oral medications or insulin in addition to lifestyle changes.