Is pre-diabetes a new diagnosis?

@seapen, It is surprising that your doctor didn't mention it before and try to have you make some lifestyle changes to help your A1C numbers. I've also been labeled with pre-diabetes for many years and have been working on lowering my numbers. My past 4 primary care Mayo Clinic doctors have been after me to work on my A1C. I generally get a new PCP every 2 or 3 years. Prediabetes just means you have a higher than normal blood sugar level. It's not high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes yet. Here is some information from Mayo Clinic on Prediabetes.

--- Prediabetes - Diagnosis and treatment: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prediabetes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355284.

Have you discussed the pre-diabetes diagnosis with your new doctor and asked for any suggestions on how you can lower your A1C?

Reducing carb intake, selecting smart carbs (unprocessed foods), walking 1 hour after eating, intermittent fasting (stop eating after dinner) drinking lots of water, supplements like cinnamon, chromium, magnesium, etc. Get a blood meter and check before eating to help make better choices, 2 hours after eating to see the effect - journal what you eat and results. 6.2 isn't terribly high but it is above normal. Shame they didn't tell you. Always demand a printout of your full labs, ask for a urine sample too

Good advice. Please make sure the cinnamon is ceylon cinnamon though as grocery store cinnamon in higher amounts can be hard on one's liver. I also find berberine quite helpful.

Thank you so much for your responses. At a recent appointment with my new doctor, my A1c was down from 6.2 to 5.7. I have changed to a vegetarian diet, except for salmon twice a week. This change is difficult since I rarely ate veggies in the past. I avoid all processed foods. If it comes in a box or a bag, if is off the menu. I have lost 15% of my body weight and my BMI is now 24. This diet will be difficult to maintain because my husband is not supportive. His blood work is all good and he is already skinny. The other challenge for me is eating enough protein, since I have not mastered cooking with tofu yet. The stroganoff that I made tasted like noodles and glue. Now I am focusing on finding 14 recipes that I contain protein that I like. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Wow, great job! 5.7 is good! Maybe lentils as a source of protein?

I will add lentils to my menu. Thank you for the suggestion. Hopefully that does not produce as much gas as beans!

@seapen you are off to a good start towards lowering your HbA1C. The standard methods are to lower carb intake, but to also increase exercise.
This is easier said than done. It comes down to finding something you like to do and can commit to. Finding an exercise buddy can help keep you accountable.
The lowering carb part has similar challenges especially when you are cooking for 2. I’m unsure why you have changed to a vegetarian diet as protein isn’t typically a blood sugar problem. But people go vegetarian for lots of reasons. There are plant based proteins (soy, beans, legumes, lentils, tofu for example). If you are accustomed to meat it can take time, trial and error to make these substitutes work. Have you considered fish, eggs and dairy sources of protein like cheese. You may find things that are more agreeable to your husband. There may even be supplements containing protein.
Regarding supplements, I have heard many people recommend various things that are purported to work. But I am personally unfamiliar with them. I would check first with your doctor who knows your medical history and other medications. Some supplements could cause unpleasant &/or dangerous interactions.
In regards to your primary doctor. Unfortunately many PCP’s are not well versed in specialty areas like diabetes and have very little training in nutrition.

I went to a vegetarian diet primarily to get fat out of my diet. I read that in some cases insulin can not get into the cells because fat in the cells blocks insulin from getting in. Also avoiding red meat helped me loose weight. I do eat chicken and eggs sometimes. And I eat salmon twice a week. Yes, exercise is very important. I am trying hard on that too - getting outside now that the ice and snow is gone helps a lot.