CrazyJoe

Had a blood test and the blood sugar came up a little high (105). The doctor says to loose weight but thinks for a person my age and weight (56 and 235) I could be either diabetic or becoming so. I am dieting and exercising. Beer, wine and Mexican food are out. Has anyone here lowered their blood sugar? How?

goldfinch

Eight years ago I had one slightly high blood sugar reading and never again. I would watch and see. I didn't lose weight until a year and a half ago. I suppose technically I am prediabetic because of that one reading. I do have a problem with the line drawing and where to draw it. But either way, it is a bit high so you need to pay attention.

Street Pedaler

Yes, absolutely! I'm Type 2 Diabetic. As long as I'm cycling regularly my levels all stay nice and controlled especially with the help of my meds (which I'm trying to come off of) and diet. Any type of exercise will do the same thing. But, as I'm sure you know, you have to watch the diet.

Closed Office

I've been a diabetic for a lot of years. Physical activity is a huge help, but losing weight always has more of a positive impact on my glucose levels.

stevel610 

As part of the plan. Watch carbs and sugar intake too. Particularly fruit as I am somewhat of a fruit addict.

Black wallnut 

48, 5'9", was about 260 lbs. when diagnosed as type 2. a1c never was way out of line. I've used cycling and other lifestyle changes to lose weight. Prior to that my weight shot up to 289 and my Dr. doubled my meds. That scared me. I soon took exercise much more seriously as well as watching what I ate; less pizza, less ice cream, smaller servings, salads for lunch more often than not. BTW that was 2011 January. In March of that year was when I started to get serious about becoming more healthy. By December my Dr. was able to cut back my meds.

Today I weighed 235.4. Since December I have pedaled in excess of 1800 miles. My blood sugar levels are down. The good part is I DO drink beer, eat pizza, eat ice cream, and eat Mexican food. I no longer worry about what to eat. I do pay attention to the quantities and the daily balance. I weigh myself regularly. I check my blood glucose regularly, not exactly daily but often but more than my Dr. advised that I should. When I was diagnosed my numbers were just over the line making me diabetic. I plan to keep working to get better for the rest of my life through exercise and nutrition.

If you are pre-diabetic step away from the edge by making the lifestyle changes now that could reduce your risk. Once you are diagnosed you have it for life although it is controllable for many.

mprelaw

Same here. My fasting blood glucose in the morning is usually between 85-100 mg/dl. I've been off meds entirely for over a year.

Just as an FYI, beer doesn't have as many carbs as you think, and alcohol tends to lower glucose levels. However, they're totally empty calories that you should avoid when trying to lose weight.

ziggydcat

The scare of my life...having my wife take me to the ER after a night out-dinner, drinks-had EXTREME thirst, could barely stay awake. Blood sugar was nearly 800. Yup, that right, 800. ER dock tells me I should be dead or in a coma. That was 6 years ago. Started out at 345 lbs. On all sorts of meds. HBP, Diabetes, Kidneys... Today I am off all of my meds. 235 lbs, Normal (for a diabetic) a1c levels. Watch the carbs, portion sizes, but I don't exclude the things I did when I started on this journey. Good luck. A big thing that helped me was finding an endocrinologist. Without his help I don't think I would be where I am today.

BTW, I was off the bike for a little over a year and a half while my wife was battling cancer. I gained @ 30 lbs back, but all my levels stayed normal. Still ate good, but no exercise to speak of.

Hill-Pumper

I had blood sugar numbers in the prediabetic stage for a few years. I also had very high cholesterol at the same time. In 2008 I had a gallbladder attack that sent me to the ER. I decided at that time to get serious about taking care of myself. Last time my blood sugar/cholesterol was checked, they were in the excellent range. My strategy was like most here, reasonable portions, watch the sugar intake, and exercise 4 to 5 times a week.

nkfrench 

My younger sister was diagnosed Type I diabetes when she was a skinny active 7-year-old. She had been in a coma for days. When the docs finally tested her blood sugar it was over 1000. She barely survived.
She had minor brain damage as a result. Diabetes is a serious condition with serious consequences. If you are fortunate and careful, you will be able to control it well and avoid complications, but you are never really cured whether it is Type I or Type II. ziggydcat, that was a horrible episode and good that you have regarded it as a "teachable moment".

CommuteCommando

google "team red"

10 Wheels

Bike riding keeps my A1C at 6.1

Velo Dog

When I took a buyout (forced retirement, but fair) at the same time my father was dying of cancer, I quit exercising and started eating, gaining 40 pounds. My glucose had been in the 80s at age 62, but it shot up to the 120 range. One of the ways I got back under control was with a moderate diet and LOTS of riding, 8,000 to 10,000 calories a week according to a good software program. Riding that much, I could still eat pretty well and take off the weight. Glucose has stayed around 105 (110 is normal in our local lab) since then, but it does edge up if I gain weight. I don't know to what degree the bike contributed, but if nothing else, it made the weight loss possible.

Myosmith

I was able to lower my A1c through lots of exercise, including riding, and changing to a diet low in high glycemic index carbs. I also lost 80+ pounds over three years. I used to drink regular soda and eat lots of baked goods, white rice, mashed potatoes, sugary foods, etc. Now my carbs come primarily from non-starchy vegetables and controlled amounts of whole grains. The only time I go for high GI carbs is shortly before and during training, group, or endurance rides. Even then it is usually in a form mixed with lower GI carbs. Granola bars and oatmeal cookies are two of my favorite riding foods. For a carb drink, I dilute Powerade or fruit juice 50/50 with diet green tea.

Works for me, but talk to your doctor first.

Flatbroke

Thanks for sharing this information. I have a family member who was recently diagnosed as Type 2 and I'm trying to get them to ride bikes with me. They do not get much exercise right now and hopefully I can gain a riding buddy

Yendor72

And they keep moving that "pre-diabetes" line. The first time the doc told me that I may be pre-diabetic I was at 126, he said, anything above 125 is considered pre-diabetic. Couple years later I was at 105 and my new nurse practitioner said, anything over 100 is considered pre-diabetic. I am sure that 95 is coming soon, so I'll have to be below that.

Bottom line though, diet and exercise. The combination is known to work. Just riding will not fix all of your ills, although it will help. The diet has to be changed as well.

WonderMonkey

I lowered mine through a better nutritional approach and regular exercise, with biking being on the list.

Flatbroke

We take annual physical exams each year with a blood screening. The Doctors kick back your medical exam if the Blood sugar reading is 100 or higher. guess its a good thing.

bbbean 

I hope your doctor told you to get a kit and test your blood sugar before and after meals for a week or so to get an accurate baseline, so you aren't just going off one reading that could be higher or lower than usual.

That said, I found exercise in general and cycling specifically a major part of improving my blood sugar numbers (and my bp, cholesteral, liver function, etc etc etc.). Exercise and diet can go a LONG way towards making your healthy.

jefnvk

Just to give an alternate perspective, I am Type I and in the neighborhood of 215#, and I don't notice much of a pattern between my seasonal activities (of which biking has become the biggest three season physical activity) and my winter quarterly A1C. It certainly helps with fitness, weight some (substituting couple times a week biking with once a week hockey saw me go up about 8#), but I don't really notice an A1C difference.

Jarrett2

Cycling is a great way to burn off excessive glucose in your blood, but not putting it there in the first place is even better.

Please watch this video:

Carbohydrate intake raises blood glucose as your body breaks carbs down to glucose. It's directly related. The more simple the carb, the quicker the impact.

How many grams of carbs do people typically eat a day based on the information we get from national nutritional guidelines? 300, 500, 1,000 in some cases.

How many grams of carbs do we need a day to live? Zero. None.

If that's the case, what are we supposed to eat in order to be healthy?

Please check out these websites:
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/keto#food
https://www.marksdailyapple.com/how-to-succeed-with-the-primal-blueprint/

Jarrett2

Dang, I just realized this is a 5 year old necrobump...

The info is still good though.

10 Wheels

I am still Alive...

Jarrett2

Flatbroke

Thanks for posting that video. I watched it and passed it on to him as well as a few others. I am going to try and start eating that way. I have already cut out pasta, rice and bread for the past 3 months.