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Ask HN: Are there any other skinny programmers that have prediabetes?

1 points by umvi ↗ HN
A few years ago I was diagnosed with prediabetes (a1c of 6.1). I'm pretty skinny (6 feet tall, 150 lbs) and I don't have any family history of type 2 diabetes (besides my grandmother who developed it in her late 80s).

My current theory is that I have insulin resistance due to my sedentary programmer's lifestyle (i.e. sitting in front of computer 8 hours per day).

I've cut all cereal, bread, rice, pasta, soda, and processed sweets from my diet and switched to low GI foods like lentils and yogurt as my main carbs. I've also started walking every day for 30 minutes, but it barely moved the needle 6 months later (a1c of 6.0). I have not tried going pure keto because it sounds onerous but I might.

It's frustrating because most advice online around prediabetes and type 2 diabetes assumes the patient is overweight or obese and that they need to lose a significant % of body weight (which would be difficult/impossible for me). Anyone else out there has this issue? I know everyone is different, but just want to see if anyone else had this same issue and discovered any "hacks" or insights into this disease.

5 comments

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theGnuMe
I think keto is the only way unless your doc would or could prescribe metformin. You might consult a professional nutritionist as well. I would also drop alcohol if you drink. That and exercise as much as you can.
spirodonfl
I'm in the same boat. Look up articles on your gut microbiome. Doctors never helped me. They treated me like any other diabetes patient and, literally, told me I'm screwed and I'll die of this. I said no (to myself) and started experimenting and reading medical studies. You and I are not normal diabetic or pre-diabetic patients.
Gibbon1
Friend has the same problem. He's 66 eats home prepared meals, doesn't drink, smoke, and runs 20 miles a week. And his doctor gives him the same the same spiel. Eat healthier, exercise, and stop drinking and smoking. Meanwhile my friend is 66 look 40 and is lean with muscles that look like sinew.
readonthegoapp
i'm frustrated on behalf of you and others who have this condition (and/or others).

i trust https://nutritionfacts.org/ for general eating habits. he's a WFPB guy, and talks a lot about real studies, metastudies, science, etc., which i like.

some things you could try if you haven't already:

  - shift to earlier eating (e.g. nothing past 7 pm). circadian rhythm seems to be a real thing.
  - do small exercises near/at your desk if you can (grip strengtheners, exercise bands, pushups, squats, etc.). small relatively easy exercises might have big ROI?
  - fasting. try a few diff types, whatever works for you. a day. two days. three days. tea/coffee only. whatever.
  - experiment with more microbiome stuff. more/different stuff like kimchi, etc. tho, u already got the yogurt thing. poop tablet if you really adventurous.
  - increase the walking to 60 min, and/or do it after your last meal. and/or maybe add some HIIT? i really liked a curved treadmill when i tried it. you can kind of combine walking with HIIT. it's weird.
  - ozempic or similar.
  - maybe try to change your exercise habit(s) by building in some physical exercise, for hobby or fun. i'm a massive fan of The Beltline in atlanta (a rail trail), and if i ever move back there, i will prob live walking distance from it. that's pretty extreme - moving your living situation to induce exercise demand, but there are lots of possibilities. add pickleball or tai chi or god knows what.
good luck.