KEEPING FIT

A few years ago, after a routine blood test, I was told I was pre-diabetic. Not close enough to the cut-off point to be on medication, but close enough to need to do something about it.  I have always tried to eat sensibly and exercise a little at home, but confess I am a chocoholic and, because people know that, I often get chocolate as presents for my birthday in November or at Christmas. The blood test for diabetes is referred to as HbA1c and the cut-off point is 48 mmol/mol.  You don't need to know what that means, but only that my readings have been consistently about 42 over recent years and the latest one in January showed it was 47. Sugar levels can stay in your blood for three months, so to have an annual  blood test in January covers November and December - the very months when it is my birthday as well as Christmas and I gorge myself on the chocolate presents given to me. 

My GP was about to give me a stern talking-to when she gave me the recent results, but I have managed to convince her that January may be the wrong time of year to take the blood tests, as I am very good with my diet for the rest of the year. I have persuaded her to repeat the test in August or September and hope the readings will be more favourable. I'm trying hard not to eat chocolate and sweet things or too much carbohydrates. September will tell if I have succeeded. 

I also read recently that as we age, the level of sugar in our blood rises anyway and that the cut-of for diabetes should be about 56mmol/mol and not 48mmol/mol. If that is the case, my reading of 47 is way off the danger zone. If any professional out there can comment on that, I'd be interested to know.