July 6 - Results In, Diagnosis Made

  The results are in, I have Prediabetes.  This is the diagnosis based on my blood test glucose results.  A normal healthy person should have a blood sugar level of between 4.0 and 6.0 mmol/L, my blood sugar levels are 6.7 mmol/L.  So what's the good news?  Controlling diet, weight loss and exercise are the keys to reversing or holding steady the effects, so I'm already on the right track.
  My doctor is fantastic and has already done a GP Management Plan for me and given me referrals for two sessions with a Diabetes Educator and three sessions with a Dietitian.  I feel very lucky to have a doctor who cares deeply about the health and well-being of her patients.  In a go-go world, it's reassuring that she is willing to take the extra time to provide genuine and thorough care.
  The Management Plan has five current health problems, goals relating to them and planned actions or tasks to be undertaken in order to manage them.

1. High blood sugar levels:  The described goal on the plan is very technical but amounts to maintaining a lower blood sugar level.  This will be managed through diet and education and quarterly blood tests.
2. Kidney function: The goal is to monitor the kidney funtion.  This will be managed though diet and eduction and an annual urine test for microalbumin and creatinine.
3. High cholesterol: The goal is to reduce my slightly high cholesterol through diet.  An annual blood test will be used to monitor (though I'm guessing at first it'll get done quarterly with the blood sugar levels).
4. High blood pressure: The goal is a blood pressure reading of 120/80 (currently around 130/90).  This will be managed through exercise and quarterly readings.
5. Overweight: The goal is to reduce my weight and I want to thank my doctor for not putting a specific 'goal weight' on it.  This will be managed through diet.

   At the moment I'm still feeling positive about my chances of doing this the right way, through permanent changes to my lifestyle and eating habits.  I'm glad my doctor is supporting me in that and not running around mentioning surgery like some have.
  Now I did promise to share all the test results so apart from the blood sugar already covered above, here are the rest:

• Vitamin D - I am slight deficient at 36 nmol/L.  The desirable level is anything over 50 so my doctor is getting me to take supplements until the levels improve.  I need a bit more sun methinks!  She did say though, that especially in winter most people have a deficiency in Vitamin D so this isn't a big worry.
• Iron Levels - All within the normal ranges!  Though my ferritin levels are at the lower end of the normal scale (36 ug/L, normal range is between 15 and 165).
• Full Blood Examination - My red cells, white cells and platelets are all within normal limits.  In fact my platelet count is at the high end of the range!
• Cholesterol - My total cholesterol is 5.3 mmol/L which is within the desirable range of between 0.0 and 5.5 however the "bad" types, triglycerides and LDL, are both a little on the higher side and need to be brought down.
• Minerals / Proteins - All within the normal ranges including calcium!
• Thyroid Stimulating Hormone - My TSH levels are 1.19 mIU/L which is well within the normal range of between 0.5 and 4.0.
• Vitamin B12 and Folate - My B12 is at 227 pmol/L which is at the lower end of the acceptable range of between 150 and 700 so my doctor will check it again on the next blood test and see whether the dietary changes have improved it at all, and if not she'll consider a supplement.  But my folate is ok at 1300 nmol/L which is over the normal minimum of 630.

  Now obviously the day is not done but I thought I'd post this one early so you could all see the results.  I have already done my 40 minutes exercise for the day and all I've had to eat for my breakfast/lunch (after the exercise) is bacon and eggs on toast:  Two eggs, three pieces of short cut bacon with most of the fat removed before cooking on top of one slice of toasted Edwards Sourdough Spelt Wholemeal Grain Yeast Free Bread smeared with Rosella Reduced-Joule Fruit Chutney.
  It was very tasty.  I followed it with an extremely sour but yummy Tamarillo!
  I don't know what's for dinner as it's dependent on a few other things yet to happen but since I'm one meal down for the day, as long as it's not pizza I expect I'll still be ahead for the day!  Thanks again guys for all your feedback and support.
  It's a much better journey with friends.
  Jess