Hi all

Hi all,

I am 61 yrs old retired bank employee. I was diagnosed pre-diabetic in the year 2008. Since the glucose levels were on border line ignored or did not take it seriously for 2-3 years. Latter the the glucose levels started increasing and i was serious towards this issue. Started diet control to some extent (reduced carbs, sweets) and walking everyday. Yet again the levels increased to the extent of (fasting) 150-180 (PP) 170-220 and started medicines in the year 2011. (Metformin 500 mg after lunch and dinner).
Present levels are
Fasting BS : 130
PP BS : 160
HBA1C : 5.8
HDL Cholesterol : 39 mg/dl
LDL Cholesterol : 100 mg/dl
VLDL Cholesterol : 33 mg/dl
Tryglycerides : 165 mg/dl
Total Cholesterol : 172 mg/dl

Of late reading many new things like low carb high fat diet, ayurvedic medicines, homeopathy treatment etc. I solicit expert members advice on future course to be adopted for living with diabetes happily and without damaging any bady organs. Thanks

-Ramgopal

Hello Ramgopal ... and welcome to the Forum.  

All the best Jan

Ramgopal wrote:Hi all,

I am 61 yrs old retired bank employee. I was diagnosed pre-diabetic in the year 2008. Since the glucose levels were on border line ignored or did not take it seriously for 2-3 years. Latter the the glucose levels started increasing and i was serious towards this issue. Started diet control to some extent (reduced carbs, sweets) and walking everyday. Yet again the levels increased to the extent of (fasting) 150-180 (PP) 170-220 and started medicines in the year 2011. (Metformin 500 mg after lunch and dinner).
Present levels are
Fasting BS : 130
PP BS : 160
HBA1C : 5.8
HDL Cholesterol : 39 mg/dl
LDL Cholesterol : 100 mg/dl
VLDL Cholesterol : 33 mg/dl
Tryglycerides : 165 mg/dl
Total Cholesterol : 172 mg/dl

Of late reading many new things like low carb high fat diet, ayurvedic medicines, homeopathy treatment etc. I solicit expert members advice on future course to be adopted for living with diabetes happily and without damaging any bady organs. Thanks

-Ramgopal

Hi welcome Ramgopal 

Having looked at your results firstly well done with your HbA1c, I don't know the timing of your PP BS  but it is on the high side I aim for a max of 140 at two hours PP and more often than not I'm much lower, can you tell us about your diet  maybe we can give some pointers that could help 

Your cholesterol needs a bit of work too, though your total and LDL is good the HDL and trigs need sorting 

if you get the time have a look at our beginners guide to low carb https://lowcarbdiabetic.forumotion.co.uk/t656-intro-to-low-carb-for-beginners  and also for BG check out this site for blood sugar targets  http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045621.php

Graham

Thanks Graham,
Yes, I am also switching to LCHF diet now. Please suggest measures to improve HDL and Trigs levels favorably. I am finding very tough to choose vegetarian Indian food substitutes for low carbs and high fats, but reading various sites for that. Anticipating experts guidance here.

Ramgopal wrote:Thanks Graham,
Yes, I am also switching to LCHF diet now. Please suggest measures to improve HDL and Trigs levels favorably. I am finding very tough to choose vegetarian Indian food substitutes for low carbs and high fats, but reading various sites for that. Anticipating experts guidance here.

Sorry can't help as an omnivore I know nothing about vegetarian diets, as far as trigs go reducing carbs can be helpful and may also be beneficial to HDL dependent the carbs being replaced with good fats

For another view look here, this is a great way to determine exactly how many carbs you can and cannot eat and how this varies from meal to meal.

Not so sure on the vegetarian options but try searching on low carb vegetarian diet and you should get some decent sites.

Reducing the carbs especially grains will inevitably drop those trigs, that and eating more fats will bring up the HDL. You may look at coconut oil and ghee and avoiding "vegetable" oils though olive oil, avocado oil (expensive) and cold pressed canola are better than the rest. Fish are good if you can eat them, if not look at ground flaxseed as a source of Omega 3.

Best of luck!

Thanks Chris, reading and trying to understand more n more.

Yes reading is one of the best things to do, as long as you read the right sources. Two further points - I'm one of many who find wheat to be worse than almost any other form of starch: like sugar it's something that is best dumped. After you haven't eaten any for a while you may try to reintroduce it, you may be surprised by your reaction. Rice may be less extreme.

Also many people find metformin doesn't work well until you increase the dose to 1500 - 2500 mg so it may be worth discussing increasing it, at least temporarily. For others it does work at 1000mg. IMO it's one of the best drugs with many benefits, while some people choose to give it up when they have gained control others choose to stay on it.