Aa
Pre diabetic, borderline cholesterol.
Hi everyone
Im a female. Age 54. No history of diabetes. Height 5'4. Weight 146. Total cholesterol is 160. Bad cholesterol is 133. Good is 73. Blood pressure is normal . Fasting gloucose is 99 and a1c is 5.7. I also have anxiety disorder and worry about health too much. But i wondered if anyone here has similar numbers and what there dr has prescribed. Also, does anyone check a1c at home?
Im a female. Age 54. No history of diabetes. Height 5'4. Weight 146. Total cholesterol is 160. Bad cholesterol is 133. Good is 73. Blood pressure is normal . Fasting gloucose is 99 and a1c is 5.7. I also have anxiety disorder and worry about health too much. But i wondered if anyone here has similar numbers and what there dr has prescribed. Also, does anyone check a1c at home?
Hi,
It is great that you have found out early that your glucose levels are a bit higher than desirable. This means you can make changes already!
Focus on eating real unprocessed foods as close to nature as possible.
Many people find that lowering their carb intakes (especially from sugars, process grains - includes rice, breads, pastas, fruit) can greatly help their blood sugar levels.
If you can find a home glucose meter this can be a very useful tool. By measuring your blood sugar response to different foods (test 2 hours after eating) you can work out which foods elevate blood sugar levels (Keep maximum blood sugar levels less than 140 (7.7), but even better if you can keep it below 100 (5.5).
Exercise can also help you body to respond better to insulin and take up and use sugar in your blood. So a brisk walk for 30 minutes after eating could be helpful... though any exercise is still good, so long as it is something you enjoy and can keep up long term.
Hope these inputs help.
It is great that you have found out early that your glucose levels are a bit higher than desirable. This means you can make changes already!
Focus on eating real unprocessed foods as close to nature as possible.
Many people find that lowering their carb intakes (especially from sugars, process grains - includes rice, breads, pastas, fruit) can greatly help their blood sugar levels.
If you can find a home glucose meter this can be a very useful tool. By measuring your blood sugar response to different foods (test 2 hours after eating) you can work out which foods elevate blood sugar levels (Keep maximum blood sugar levels less than 140 (7.7), but even better if you can keep it below 100 (5.5).
Exercise can also help you body to respond better to insulin and take up and use sugar in your blood. So a brisk walk for 30 minutes after eating could be helpful... though any exercise is still good, so long as it is something you enjoy and can keep up long term.
Hope these inputs help.
Hello and welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question! I take it these numbers came after a recent physical? Did your doctor offer you recommendations for righting these numbers? You've written on the prediabetes forum so we'll start there. Your glucose numbers do not quite yet bump you into that category and your A1c has you just at the very starting point of prediabetes . Has your doctor recommended lifestyle changes to lower your fasting glucose test? This can be very effective. I think this article is very helpful for information on what you can do at home and in your life to help lower these numbers. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/healthy-lifestyle-can-prevent-diabetes-and-even-reverse-it-2018090514698
You can start with decrease amount of sugar and process food you have. Have more whole grains (think more quinoa, corn, oatmeal, and brown rice). Increase your fiber intake (More vegetables, fruits and legumes). Eat less red meat and avoid processed meat. Eat Healthier fats.
This article talks about food to avoid and food to have more of. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/311056#prediabetes-diet:-foods-to-eat-and-avoid
Diet, exercise, losing weight and not smoking are keys to preventing these numbers from climbing.
As to cholesterol. Many of the same things apply. Your good cholesterol is excellent but your bad cholesterol is throwing the total cholesterol numbers off. The dietary changes that you would use to prevent diabetes would also impact these numbers. Losing weight would also potentially positively impact these numbers.
Here is an article for lifestyle changes to help lower LDL cholesterol. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/reduce-cholesterol/art-20045935 Much overlap with things you do to prevent diabetes.
The decision of whether you need to start medication can be made with your doctor. If you can get this under control through your lifestyle, that would always be best as drugs have potential side effects. But if you can't do that, then medication becomes necessary. Particularly for your cholesterol. For some, there is a genetic predisposition and lowering cholesterol through lifestyle work is more difficult. However, that can be tested by making the changes and seeing if the numbers improve. Let us know how it goes and we do have a diet and fitness group that supports one another. You can find that in the top tool bar drop own menu under communities. They currently have a weight loss challenge going on. https://www.medhelp.org/forums/Diet-and-Fitness/show/190
You can start with decrease amount of sugar and process food you have. Have more whole grains (think more quinoa, corn, oatmeal, and brown rice). Increase your fiber intake (More vegetables, fruits and legumes). Eat less red meat and avoid processed meat. Eat Healthier fats.
This article talks about food to avoid and food to have more of. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/311056#prediabetes-diet:-foods-to-eat-and-avoid
Diet, exercise, losing weight and not smoking are keys to preventing these numbers from climbing.
As to cholesterol. Many of the same things apply. Your good cholesterol is excellent but your bad cholesterol is throwing the total cholesterol numbers off. The dietary changes that you would use to prevent diabetes would also impact these numbers. Losing weight would also potentially positively impact these numbers.
Here is an article for lifestyle changes to help lower LDL cholesterol. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/reduce-cholesterol/art-20045935 Much overlap with things you do to prevent diabetes.
The decision of whether you need to start medication can be made with your doctor. If you can get this under control through your lifestyle, that would always be best as drugs have potential side effects. But if you can't do that, then medication becomes necessary. Particularly for your cholesterol. For some, there is a genetic predisposition and lowering cholesterol through lifestyle work is more difficult. However, that can be tested by making the changes and seeing if the numbers improve. Let us know how it goes and we do have a diet and fitness group that supports one another. You can find that in the top tool bar drop own menu under communities. They currently have a weight loss challenge going on. https://www.medhelp.org/forums/Diet-and-Fitness/show/190
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