I am pre-diabetic. 

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Thank you so much for talking about how chronic pain/fatigue can lead to weight gain. It’s so hard to make people understand that.

I'm not pre/diabetic but I am on a lower income and have low energy levels. If you struggle to eat healthier because sometimes you can't cook - make big meals for 4-6 people when you have the energy, then freeze them. Find a bunch of easy/healthy recipes that don't require expensive ingredients and make a basic food plan for the week (lunches/breakfast/snacks). Because I'm always fatigued, I hate thinking about what to eat so once I find a routine that works for breakfast/lunch it's easier for me to plan ahead. Definitely avoid the sodas! Such an easy way to overdo the sugar/calories! Try to drink more water but you don't have to guzzle 3 litres a day. Just drink what you can manage. Frozen vegetables are just as good as fresh - they're just not as tasty as fresh. You don't have to eat bland, tasteless food to be healthy but it takes a bit of getting used to not having high levels of salt/sugar for the flavour. Avoid specific diets. Just aim to improve your overall food choices and don't beat yourself up if you don't always stick to it. Diets are hard to stick to for long term because they're quite restrictive and you tend to get bored/sick of them. Get used to reading the labels on food and figure out which has less sugar/salt. Good luck!

I haven’t watched the rest of the video yet; but I’m glad the cyst in your shoulder is doin okay!

I became prediabetic last year and it’s been a rough journey. You’re absolutely not alone in this, Rikki and I’m happy to share some advice, tips and share my lived experiences in the hopes that it could benefit you on your journey.

Well, I’m sorry that you’re prediabetic. I mean I’m glad they caught it when they did and that’s really good that you’re cyst in your shoulder has been doing good but overall house life.

I'm so sorry! It sucks! I've been pre-diabetic for about 6 years. Fortunately, my numbers have held steady (yeah, I was shocked too). I have a huge sweet tooth and can't seem to quit carbs. It's hard to lose weight due to CP (minimal) and thyroid. And we all know that pain limits our ability to cook properly. I believe the reason I've managed the steady number is because of always having protein around as well. I don't eat in a "normal" manner-- years ago, they called it grazing. I make it easy on myself by keeping beef jerkey around, eating spoonfuls of peanut butter (also helps with not having to get up a dozen times a night for the bathroom!), etc. I figure it must be some cosmic joke that most things that taste good are bad for us-- and most things good for us taste... well, like sawdust or cardboard!" Sending good thoughts and energy your way!🤗💗

I learned that I have prediabetes by .1 over. It hits me hard, and I want to live healthy life. Changed sugar habit immediately

One thing I try to do since I got a prediabetic diagnosis (did not have it last time) is to condense sugars or carbs into a small period of time during the day, and only when you’re also having fiber and fats. So it’s not that you can’t eat any of it, but don’t boost your sugars frequently all day. Good luck!

You got this (yes, I know - cliche)! All the best, Rikki.

Being pre-diabetic (and T2) sucks hard. Not just because of the "management", but because there is so much misinformation and judgment on the causes of T2, which is often seen as one of weak will and moral failure (overeating, fatness) - as a Disability Advocate, I'm sure you're way too familiar with the narratives... Yes, body fat plays a role, but it’s more complicated. And I found the complicated version mechanically way more interesting than the oversimplified version many like to tell. Here’s what I learned over the last 2 years of being pre-diabetic (and then re-classified as T2) so far. Maybe some of the info is helpful: What helped me to figure out what made my blood sugar spike (and what not) was using a CGM (continuous glucose monitor) like Dexcom or Freestyle Libre - which I paid out of pocket. Regarding activity a walk after eating can be helpful (which is not that easy in the U. S., so other options might be necessary), because active muscles can take in blood sugar without the help of insulin. How long varies on individual factors - but about 20 to 40 minutes is a good first orientation. Regarding factors for pre-diabetes and T2: There are multiple and it's 80% genetic according to my local clinic specializing in diabetes treatment. This includes how receptive your cells are to glucose by default, where your body fat gets mostly stored and how much insulin your betacells in the pancreas can produce (including quality of insulin). Body fat on itself is not bad. Especially subcutaneous fat (under the skin) and even visceral fat (deep body fat around organs, which also has protective functions). Fat are mainly energy reserves. The body doesn’t like to waste energy. So it stores it. But there’s another genetic factor: the amount of fat cells one has seems to be genetically determined. And if the reservoir of empty fat cells are depleted, the individual cells grow larger and away from the small bloodstreams which give them resources, so they die off. Then macrophages get deployed to break down the cells. The stored fat gets broken down and as glucose back into the bloodstream. But the macrophages also send out signals to the other fat storing cells to not store more glucose to prevent them also from dying, which keeps the sugar (glucose) in the blood and more insulin is needed to make the cells receptive. If one has very good insulin or a pancreas that can put out lots of insulin and/or very insulin sensitive cells, the body can take on much. If you do not have the fortune of lots of pre-assigned fat cells and thus faster individual cell growth, cells that are generally less sensitive or a genetically „low quality“ pancreas, you can get far easier T2 even without being fat. Let me know if you have further questions :)

Caffeinated Sparkling water is a decent substitute for soda (target has a few flavors at the price of 1-3 vending machine sodas). Also, freezing homecooked meals (soups, etc) when you have the spoons to make batch meals in advance for low spoon days

Hi Rikki! I have been dealing with T2D for about a year now. I was pre-diabetic and had a nutritionist but.. I just couldn't find a balance to save myself from being diabetic. Anyway, if you can get a nutritionist under your insurance, that would be wonderful start. Also ask for a Glucose monitor because you might notice some major symptoms that can be quite scary when you don't know if you're high or low. Just look up symptoms and try not to get too overwhelmed by it all.

Okay I maybe have some insight for you!! So I was consistently in the prediabetic range for maybe a year-ish. Before that, I had been living under my wildly abusive mother’s roof and one of her abuse tactics was limiting my food access and forcing me on diets that I didn’t need to be on bc she thought I was “fat” when I’m actually just built different than her. (I’m intersex so even pre-transition I had typically “male” build features consistent with cis men on both sides of my family.) After the Escape™️, I gained a lot of healthy weight! My new doctor told me when discussing pre-diabetic test results that one piece of advice she gives is to be mindful of the *added* sugar count for serving sizes; anything over 10g of *added* sugar (not *total* sugar!) should be treated as, well, a treat. What I think really turned the situation around though was that I stopped drinking sweet coffee almost entirely. My beloved grandpa passed away very suddenly and a mourning ritual in my culture is to stop drinking sweetened coffee for the first month after the death. Well, like a lot of the other mourning rituals I did, I continued long after (even now at the nearly 2-year mark), I stayed drinking my coffee with just oat milk - I couldn’t drink it purely black without feeling sick, but I stopped using flavored creamers, ordering funky flavored lattes, etc. Now as a treat I’ll get a flavorful cold brew or whatever but it’s not my daily preference anymore, I lost the taste for it. That, along with being a bit more mindful of added sugars in my snacks, and taking a job that involves walking and keeps me a bit more active, seem to have done the trick. (Just gentle walking - I have chronic pain, occasional vertigo/dizzies, and hypermobility, so it’s not fierce walking! Just leisurely laps around the building I work in with lots of breaks/pauses!) Last we checked, my levels were in the standard non-diabetic range. So, TLDR, cutting back on sweeteners/flavors in your coffee can do a lot, and while you don’t have to completely avoid a snack with >10g of added sugar per serving, being more mindful of them can help too.

Unfortunately to eat heathy foods, they not always the most affordable or convenient choices. That is always my problem. I’ve been lazy lately but when I’m in the exercising frame of mind. What always works for me, I get on the treadmill and do a fast walking pace for half to full hour a day. You can listen to music or read a book. I’ve gone up and down on weight through the years. That’s my experiences and I wish you all the best Rikki.

Lots of it is pre determined by genes unfortunately. Type 2 here. Super genetic in my family so nothing that could be done. Balance is key. Drink 1 soda. Then drink a bunch of water. 1 or 2 protein for every carb. I went from A1C of 12 to 6.5 in a year just with small adjustments. You got this! But don't be down on yourself for a condition that can't be helped at times. Good luck!

Make sure you look into LADA just incase it's not slow progress of type 1 diabetes.

Hi Rikki, Sorry to hear of your possible Pre-Diabetes diagnose but hopefully you still have time to slow it down by exercising and other plans along the way :)

I’ve been here since your make up videos. I followed because you were deaf and I had just found out I’m deaf. My haemoglobin and the other one you said are in the yellow for me. I was drinking 5-6 litres of water a day. With electrolytes. I have the opposite of pre-diabetes, my pancreas is making too much insulin if I eat carbs or sugar and it makes me go into hypoglycaemia. (Reactive hypoglycaemia) And I also have long COVID that comes with POTS and MCAS and chronic migraines. That all get triggered by hyperglycaemia. So no carbs or sugar for me either. We love a dysregulated nervous system. 😵‍💫

Dad was diabetic and doctors fear I may be too. Problem is, I eat like a teenager at the age of 28.

Hey Rikki! I'm not sure if you've already looked into this but I thought I'd mention it in case you haven't. But look into getting food stamps and state insurance. I'm not sure how much you earn in a month buy if it's low enough, along with what you pay for bills being factored in, you might be eligible for one or both of them. I live in Illinois and am unemployed and trying to get disability but I get food stamps and state insurance. I no longer worry about paying for groceries or anything medical. It's great! Could be a good resource for you if you can get it.

I tried Keto... it prepped me for making better decisions. I lost 30 LBS but Keto was too hard to keep up and its expensive. So start with the biggest factor, sugars. Soda to juice/coffee to water/coffee. I will still drink soda, but only 2-3 in a given month, swapped to coffee, no sugar or creamer. When I swapped to coffee I had to have sugar but slowly weened off it. I drink 5-6 cups of coffee a day, but now about every two days I'll treat myself to a cup with sugar and milk. This is from drinking 5-6 cans of soda a day. Junk food, swap to vegetable and fruits. Carrots are dirt cheap, little bit of ranch or peanut butter if I just need something a little more with it. You'd surprised how little can fill you up. I only buy froze or canned fruit, cheaper, last longer. I've been on a frozen strawberries run late instead of ice cream. Nothing happened over night, it's been years. Just take one step at a time, soda was the hardest, started over eating when I tried cutting it cold turkey, relapsed and tried again, and again...

I walk 5:00am to 6:00am. It's the coolest part of the day and I try to be home before Sunrise. Granted, I do have to stick to streets with streetlights, but it works. This didn't used to be a problem, but since 2019, CB and Omaha has not been as safe.

I'm not sure what can reverse pre-diabetes as its been 15 years since i was diagnosed with type 2. It runs in family even relatives have it. I'm currently on an insulin pump which helps me take care of my diabetes. I would say get a blood sugar testing kit, so you can test yourself. Then I would say learn about fast carbs and slow carbs, eat smaller potions, drink lots of water and exercise. For example: fast carb is from a well done baked potato while any shorter cooking time can change the speed of the carbs in it from fast to slow. Slow carb would be breads, grains, and noodles cause it wont spike your sugars until couple of hours later. I can totally understand about chronic pains, I have Fibromyalgia and so far I'm doing okay... just need to start exercising. Currently it is a struggle to start due to my uncontrolled adhd, but I am hoping I can least start working out again without injuring myself. I am accident prone x_x Your video is alright, not too bad, for me its like watching a video without my glasses on hehehe. Diabetes in both types, is all about trial and error. I'm still learning too, you can ask me any questions and I'll try my best to answer them as a fellow diabetic 😊 Cheers, wish you the best!

Also Ben Carpenter’s book Everything Fat Loss is very inclusive and science based. He is also here on RU-vid and spends his time debunking crappy health and nutrition misinformation.

So there is a common misconception that you have to move around to lose weight, you don't. Its calories in, calories out. As someone currently slowly losing weight i can give you what works for me: I personally replace a meal with a protein drink like muscle milk or priemer protien. I buy easy to prepare meals like microwavable ones. I buy frozen vegetables for less than 2$ that I can just steam in a bag. Same with brown rice. I also went online and figured out my BMR and figured out what i should be eating in terms of calories to lose weight. The main difference between takeout food is that they add a lot of sugar and fat to make it yummier and higher in caloriesand less filling. Also, eating out is way more expensive than just shopping at a grocery store. You can even bow order grocery store food from some apps if it's still a struggle. If you look at your packages and count your daily calories, you dont even need to exercise to lose weight. I would still recommend walking for the overall physical and mental benefits it has, but it isnt needed for weight loss. If you do love soda, just switch to diet soda instead of sugar soda.

Rikki, @TelleyTell Hi, I Love You, I'm thinking about you always, and I'm sorry you have diabetes pre diabetes, I hope you are safe and your insulin helps you, I understand what diabetes does, I still have guilt for the day my middle school teacher nam e Ms. Parker told me that her Son John has diabetes, so I hope you are safe

I am diabetic and I have lost weight following Mastering Diabetes. One of the authors, Cyrus Khambatta, has a PhD in nutrition which many doctors don't have much training in. I also follow Dr. Joel Furhman.

I’m not sure but several friends have said that it can be treated with diet. But I don’t have a clue. Others say loosing weight but I know people who are large and have perfect health.

You should look into Intermittent Fasting . A lot of folks use that tool to reverse their pre diabetes. I'm using it to reverse my diabetes currently. However, even if you don't use that tool I strongly strongly encourage you to do whatever it takes to avoid becoming diabetic. It sucks for real

You will become a stronger person if you put your mind and soul into it. You know what’s up which gives you thar advantage. Balance is within your will and a pen-write your goals, read your goals, and be proactive about making them into reality. Rooting for you girl!!🎉

have you tried intermittent fasting ? It really helps for pre-diabetes. Hope you get well soon.

That’s not good, now you definitely gotta take care of your feet now since your pre diabetic

I am pro-diabetics

Its nothing new, it happens to everyone. I had to stop buying starbucks, soda, fastfood, carbs, chips, pasta, ramen, no processed canned food, anything fried food, etc. I started walking alot and indoor yoga, became keto diet, I ate clean meals everyday. It will take a year to get back to normal fit or be free pre-diabetic. To be honest, I never to go gym at all, none. I brought a walking pad at home, i watch a lot of tv series or movies and walk at the same time. Just need to get off the chair or sofa. Just do your best to save time. Forget the gym.

I know the money’s tight, but maybe look into seeing a good chiropractor.

I love the pillow in back of you! Don’t drink before tests. I got really high before an operation and almost died while under anesthesia (except I’m really skinny - I got the opposite problem!) I’m currently dealing with a heck of a bad period of Ana. 😢

yeah I am type 2 diabetic I finally found a way to bring it down.. my A1c was 8.1, about 4 month ago and now I am at 6.1 all I did was intermittent Fasting eat one meal a day which is dinner.. and it work. We not supposed to eat 3 meals a day you could try that for 3 month and see what happen... someone did 382 days fasting look that up -i3xCx