No carb diet

245

Replies

  • gmallan
    gmallan Posts: 2,099 Member
    I would ask for some clarification about what they meant by no carbs. If it's explained as no refined carbs or no starchy carbs then what's been written is incredibly misleading and I would re-think trusting any advice from this person at all. I think it would have to be incredibly extreme circumstances for a Doctor to reccommend cutting out vegetables all together and, in these circumsances, it doesn't seem warranted.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    Yeah you definitely need to clarify with this doctor. A quick glance of your Mediterranean meal plan does in fact include carbs.. It seems like quite the contradiction

    Perhaps they were using carbs in the same way as my friend to mean pasta, bread, potato etc - she doesn't think in terms of macros but more food categories.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    earlnabby wrote: »
    kgeyser wrote: »
    Did your doctor give you any guidance as to how this is supposed to happen? Most low carb diets are comprised of veggies, fruits, meats, fats (oils), and some dairy, but carbs/sugar occur naturally in veggies, fruits, and dairy, so complete avoidance would be next to impossible. I think your assessment that she isn't listening to you is spot on - is there another doctor in the practice you can talk to? I've honestly never heard of a "no carb" diet prescription for some diagnosed as pre-diabetic.

    I have full blown T2Dm and I have been prescribed a moderate carb diet. Are you sure that is what your doctor told you? No carb is extreme, even for people with diabetes let alone pre-diabetics. Did they give you a list of food to eat? You might want to get a referral to a Registered Dietician who can walk you through meal ideas.

    I agree with this. It could be a misunderstanding with your doctor.

    If not, you might want to get a new doctor.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Thank you for all of the replies!
    She wrote no carb on my new diet plan which says Mediterranean diet on it. She is actually part of a very large practice that is part of our local hospital and very well respected. I do think I'm going to call and ask for a new doctor as she makes me feel so uncomfortable. I'm going to see the dietitian in two weeks and hopefully that will help me get some tips on cooking and such. I also want to have my primary care doctor look at my blood work, because he takes the same medication I do and has done bloodwork on me for the last eight or nine months and I want him to see the blood sugar and insulin information.

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    Could be she made an error.
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    edited July 2015
    She was just being imprecise. She's saying no potato, bread, grains, cakes. But YES to vegetables and fruit. [edit for: it looks like only small portions of beans]

    Basically Mediterranean Paleo
  • bluefish86
    bluefish86 Posts: 842 Member
    yarwell wrote: »
    Yeah you definitely need to clarify with this doctor. A quick glance of your Mediterranean meal plan does in fact include carbs.. It seems like quite the contradiction

    Perhaps they were using carbs in the same way as my friend to mean pasta, bread, potato etc - she doesn't think in terms of macros but more food categories.

    This was my first thought.....
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,976 Member
    Yeah, this isn't a weight loss doc.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    edited July 2015
    SLLRunner wrote: »
    Thank you for all of the replies!
    She wrote no carb on my new diet plan which says Mediterranean diet on it. She is actually part of a very large practice that is part of our local hospital and very well respected. I do think I'm going to call and ask for a new doctor as she makes me feel so uncomfortable. I'm going to see the dietitian in two weeks and hopefully that will help me get some tips on cooking and such. I also want to have my primary care doctor look at my blood work, because he takes the same medication I do and has done bloodwork on me for the last eight or nine months and I want him to see the blood sugar and insulin information.

    oujt4kxlsbbm.jpg
    xvueg6ka9l0t.jpg

    Could be she made an error.

    I can only assume considering the paper she gave out specifically states " eat beans, vegetables, fruit" etc.

    Maybe she put that on there assuming OP is ignorant of what "carbs" are and wanted him to stay away from anything he thinks might be "carbs" like pasta, bread, potato, etc.? Maybe?
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,976 Member
    Thank you for all of the replies!
    She wrote no carb on my new diet plan which says Mediterranean diet on it. She is actually part of a very large practice that is part of our local hospital and very well respected. I do think I'm going to call and ask for a new doctor as she makes me feel so uncomfortable. I'm going to see the dietitian in two weeks and hopefully that will help me get some tips on cooking and such. I also want to have my primary care doctor look at my blood work, because he takes the same medication I do and has done bloodwork on me for the last eight or nine months and I want him to see the blood sugar and insulin information.

    oujt4kxlsbbm.jpg
    xvueg6ka9l0t.jpg
    Lol, states no carbs, but adds in fruit and vegetables. Not very knowledgeable in nutrition if stating NO CARBS.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png

  • rushfive
    rushfive Posts: 603 Member
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    Thank you for all of the replies!
    She wrote no carb on my new diet plan which says Mediterranean diet on it. She is actually part of a very large practice that is part of our local hospital and very well respected. I do think I'm going to call and ask for a new doctor as she makes me feel so uncomfortable. I'm going to see the dietitian in two weeks and hopefully that will help me get some tips on cooking and such. I also want to have my primary care doctor look at my blood work, because he takes the same medication I do and has done bloodwork on me for the last eight or nine months and I want him to see the blood sugar and insulin information.

    oujt4kxlsbbm.jpg
    xvueg6ka9l0t.jpg
    Lol, states no carbs, but adds in fruit and vegetables. Not very knowledgeable in nutrition if stating NO CARBS.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png

    This is what I thought. lol

    Gives you a diet plan with grains and carbs....then writes in NO to them.... I can see how you are confused.

    From what you said op, I think you are on the right track to see your reg doc and ask for a different diet doc in that practice.
  • fuelednfit
    fuelednfit Posts: 177 Member
    Definitely talk to your doctor if you have questions on how to proceed with his recommendation but also ask for other approach because they are other ways. I know some doctor prescribe a very low carb diet for diabetic and pre diabetic people but I believe it is in no way necessary. I am diabetic and I am followed by a whole team of professionals specialized in diabetes treatment. It includes a nutritionist kinesioligist endocrinologist even a psychologist. They often get in the clinics patients that were influence to go on a very low carb diet but they struggle and they come for re-education on how to manage their disease. Just to tell you what they teached us. They recommend to eat 3 meals with 45g of carbs (woman) I remembered men and highly active people had higher numbers and 2 to 3 snacks with 15 g of carbs.idealky you combine the carbs with fat and or protein that's obvious at meal time but snack should be apple and cheese bread and peanut butter The idea is to disperse the carbs throughout the day so your system can handle the small amount of carbs coming in. You have to eat often in a timely manner. the nature of the carbs is also important carbs should come from fruit whole grain beans dairy and starchy vegetables not from brownies twinkies chocolate and soda. They also emphasize on exercise. Personally I get very good blood sugar levels when I exercise. The days I don't my levels are always higher. Definitely try to exercise more even walking.
    Also ?if you gave a doctor not listening to you don't hesitate to seek a second advice and don't hesitate to change doctor. A doctor should listen to what their patients gave to say.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    I go to a weight-loss doctor and I had a lot of blood work done last week. It turns out that I am prediabetic, and have to go on a no carb diet. I had already limited my carbs for the first month I've been going there and had lost 8 1/2 pounds. Now, I cannot have any grains or carbohydrates, and no sugar whatsoever, which I wasn't having except for eating fruit anyway. To top it off, a medication that I'm taking is known to cause diabetes, but my weight-loss doctor is not really looking at that, and just telling me that I'm doing well dieting and I should keep it up and add more exercise. I'm frustrated because I've never had issues with blood sugar or insulin before and I feel like this woman is not listening to me. If anyone is on a carb free diet and has some foods they like that they could share with me I would really appreciate it. I have already given up all of the bad food, but I'm not really sure what to eat.

    A NO carb diet would mean no vegetables and sounds really unhealthy. Therefore, I wonder if you misunderstood. In any case, since this is a medical thing and no carb is quite extreme, I strongly suggest that you ask for a referral to a dietician and work with him or her to develop a diet that suits your medical issues and satisfies basic nutritional recommendations.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    edited July 2015
    I struggle to understand why peple say no potatoes. It literally is one of foods with the highest satiety values, not to mention is very nutritious.

    I, too, would get another opinion, especially considering you are already losing weight. I don't know why you would change your plan to be even further restrictive.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    edited July 2015
    psulemon wrote: »
    I struggle to understand why peple say no potatoes. It literally is one of foods with the highest satiety values, not to mention is very nutritious.

    They aren't allowed as one of five veg a day either. If you compare broccoli with potato the former wins on filling and nutrition

  • Steve_ApexNC
    Steve_ApexNC Posts: 210 Member
    I go to a weight-loss doctor and I had a lot of blood work done last week. It turns out that I am prediabetic, and have to go on a no carb diet. I had already limited my carbs for the first month I've been going there and had lost 8 1/2 pounds. Now, I cannot have any grains or carbohydrates, and no sugar whatsoever, which I wasn't having except for eating fruit anyway. To top it off, a medication that I'm taking is known to cause diabetes, but my weight-loss doctor is not really looking at that, and just telling me that I'm doing well dieting and I should keep it up and add more exercise. I'm frustrated because I've never had issues with blood sugar or insulin before and I feel like this woman is not listening to me. If anyone is on a carb free diet and has some foods they like that they could share with me I would really appreciate it. I have already given up all of the bad food, but I'm not really sure what to eat.

    I have only read the OP and not the replies, but I strongly advise you to get a second opinion.

  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    yarwell wrote: »
    psulemon wrote: »
    I struggle to understand why peple say no potatoes. It literally is one of foods with the highest satiety values, not to mention is very nutritious.

    They aren't allowed as one of five veg a day either. If you compare broccoli with potato the former wins on filling and nutrition

    Maybe I am misreading the bold, but what?


    Personally, potatoes fill me up more than brocolli. But interesting database.
  • deoxy4
    deoxy4 Posts: 197 Member
    I think what she meant are no sugary carbs, no grainsand breads or pancakes waffle. Bc there are carbs on that list like beans and fruit and vegetables.

    +1
  • SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage Posts: 2,668 Member
    +1 on the suggestions to speak to this doctor again, or a new one, and get clarification. I suspect she meant no carbs such as bread, rice, etc. and wrote it that way because that's what most people think carbs are.

    If you're uncomfortable with your doctor, look for a new one. When someone is dealing with your health, it's important to feel confident in that relationship.
  • NoIdea101NoIdea
    NoIdea101NoIdea Posts: 659 Member
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    Fruits and veggies have carbs in them. I would ask for some clarification from the dietician.

    This is what i was thinking too....i would definitely get a second opinion. You say a 'weight-loss doctor'-how is that different 'regular' doctor? It might be worth getting that second opinion from an actual, medical doctor, if there is a difference.
  • MoiAussi93
    MoiAussi93 Posts: 1,948 Member
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    Fruits and veggies have carbs in them. I would ask for some clarification from the dietician.

    This is what i was thinking too....i would definitely get a second opinion. You say a 'weight-loss doctor'-how is that different 'regular' doctor? It might be worth getting that second opinion from an actual, medical doctor, if there is a difference.

    A weight loss doctor is an actual medical doctor, but weight loss doctor is not a technical term . It just means any doctor that specializes in this type of issue. It can be a bariatric specialist. Very often it is an endocrinologist since they deal with a lot of the issues that cause obesity. If it's an endocrinologist, then they would also be the best type to handle his pre-diabetes since that is another focus of theirs.
  • ElJefeChief
    ElJefeChief Posts: 650 Member
    Mediterranean diet certainly isn't no-carb, and isn't particularly low-carb either, although it does have the benefit of emphasizing complex carbs over simple carbohydrates.

    If I was ever diagnosed diabetic or prediabetic, I would simply put myself back on a strict Atkins program.

    Currently, I just avoid grains and simple sugars / carbs, and instead just limit portions and fat, and emphasize lots of protein as well as fruit and green leafy veggies. Seems to be working.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    get a 2nd opinion. my dad was a type 2 and the foundation of his diet to control his blood sugar was actually whole grains (oats, brown rice, quinoa, etc) legumes, lentils, veg, and some fruit...that made up about 40%-45% of his diet with the rest coming from protein and fat.

    I find it rather interesting that in the US and many other Western countries, carbs are the devil...but most of the world actually eats pretty high carb and they don't have the issues we have...maybe it has less to do with the actual carbs and more to do with the kind of carbs and stuffing our faces full of "junk"...not all carbs are "junk"...and I would think stuffing our faces in general...that's what I see as the biggest problem...many in the Western world just eat too much fecking food.
  • MoiAussi93
    MoiAussi93 Posts: 1,948 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    get a 2nd opinion. my dad was a type 2 and the foundation of his diet to control his blood sugar was actually whole grains (oats, brown rice, quinoa, etc) legumes, lentils, veg, and some fruit...that made up about 40%-45% of his diet with the rest coming from protein and fat.

    I find it rather interesting that in the US and many other Western countries, carbs are the devil...but most of the world actually eats pretty high carb and they don't have the issues we have...maybe it has less to do with the actual carbs and more to do with the kind of carbs and stuffing our faces full of "junk"...not all carbs are "junk"...and I would think stuffing our faces in general...that's what I see as the biggest problem...many in the Western world just eat too much fecking food.

    I think the kind of carb matters very much. Certain carbs cause a much more dramatic spike in blood sugar and a greater insulin response than others.

    BTW, the 40-45% carb diet your dad followed is still lower carb than the typical American diet. Some would call that low carb...I personally consider it moderate.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    bluefish86 wrote: »
    yarwell wrote: »
    Yeah you definitely need to clarify with this doctor. A quick glance of your Mediterranean meal plan does in fact include carbs.. It seems like quite the contradiction

    Perhaps they were using carbs in the same way as my friend to mean pasta, bread, potato etc - she doesn't think in terms of macros but more food categories.

    This was my first thought.....

    I would hope doctors wouldn't use words in such misleading and inaccurate ways, but it does appear that's what's going on. I'd change doctors for that reason, likely--either the doctor is being muddled about it or assumes I'm kind of dumb, and both would bother me.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    yarwell wrote: »
    psulemon wrote: »
    I struggle to understand why peple say no potatoes. It literally is one of foods with the highest satiety values, not to mention is very nutritious.

    They aren't allowed as one of five veg a day either. If you compare broccoli with potato the former wins on filling and nutrition

    Yeah, they aren't a vegetable as we normally use the term, they are a starch, but I agree with psulemon here. It's weird they get grouped in as a "white food" to be avoided. (Obviously I get why someone doing low carb would cut them, as they have lots of carbs.)
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    get a 2nd opinion. my dad was a type 2 and the foundation of his diet to control his blood sugar was actually whole grains (oats, brown rice, quinoa, etc) legumes, lentils, veg, and some fruit...that made up about 40%-45% of his diet with the rest coming from protein and fat.

    A friend of mine is T2D (he's not and never has been overweight) and also has cholesterol issues. He has found that when he monitors his blood sugar he reacts more to a lot of higher fat foods vs. just starchy foods. Fried chicken is worse than white rice (and General Tso's is like the worst thing ever for him, and of course has a perfect combination of fried and sweet and starch). I thought the high fat thing was weird, as I'd assumed it shouldn't react at all. (Obviously fried chicken has some flour and such.)
  • NikiChicken
    NikiChicken Posts: 576 Member
    Yeah you definitely need to clarify with this doctor. A quick glance of your Mediterranean meal plan does in fact include carbs.. It seems like quite the contradiction

    I second, third, forth all of the above posters who have urged you to ask the doctor for clarification and/or get a second opinion.

    "No carbs" is definitely not the diet on the sheet that the doctor gave you. Nor is NO carbs generally advised for pre-diabetics by any doctor I have heard of. LOW carb, absolutely, but definitely not NO carbs. I am also speaking from experience. I have taken my A1C from 6.5 to 5.5 using diet, exercise and significant weight loss and never did my doctor say NO carbs! I *limit* my carbs to regulate my blood sugar, but I certainly still eat fruits and veggies, dairy and whole grains.
  • ElJefeChief
    ElJefeChief Posts: 650 Member
    edited July 2015
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    get a 2nd opinion. my dad was a type 2 and the foundation of his diet to control his blood sugar was actually whole grains (oats, brown rice, quinoa, etc) legumes, lentils, veg, and some fruit...that made up about 40%-45% of his diet with the rest coming from protein and fat.

    A friend of mine is T2D (he's not and never has been overweight) and also has cholesterol issues. He has found that when he monitors his blood sugar he reacts more to a lot of higher fat foods vs. just starchy foods. Fried chicken is worse than white rice (and General Tso's is like the worst thing ever for him, and of course has a perfect combination of fried and sweet and starch). I thought the high fat thing was weird, as I'd assumed it shouldn't react at all. (Obviously fried chicken has some flour and such.)

    I actually recall reading about a couple of studies that seemed to suggest that it's not the carbs by themselves that tend to produce the most dramatic and negative effects on blood chemistry. The worst combination is a stiff dose of simple carbs plus a large bolus of saturated fat with it (plus no fiber to moderate it's impact on blood sugar, and no protein to produce any lasting satiety). Think Crispy Crème donuts or Cinnabons.

  • Ang108
    Ang108 Posts: 1,711 Member
    I would seek the advise of a registered dietitian. Throughout my life I have encountered several doctors who when they said " absolutely no carbs ", they meant no bread, pasta, rice , bakery good and other starchy, mostly processed food items. They did not even know that fruit, vegetables, legumes and pulses are complex ( healthy ) carbs which even a diabetic can/should eat in moderation.
    My neighbor is an internist and tells me that usually in med school they offer one nutrition course during the whole time of medical training and many doctors chose something that is for them more important.
    I would go to a professional and get advise I can live with.
    Good Luck !
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    Ang108 wrote: »
    I would seek the advise of a registered dietitian. Throughout my life I have encountered several doctors who when they said " absolutely no carbs ", they meant no bread, pasta, rice , bakery good and other starchy, mostly processed food items. They did not even know that fruit, vegetables, legumes and pulses are complex ( healthy ) carbs which even a diabetic can/should eat in moderation.
    My neighbor is an internist and tells me that usually in med school they offer one nutrition course during the whole time of medical training and many doctors chose something that is for them more important.
    I would go to a professional and get advise I can live with.
    Good Luck !

    One of my good friends is a pedatric cardiologist.. she never had a class in nutrition.. And she went to the University of Penn (top rated medical school). She keeps telling me, if she needs to know something nutrition, then she's got people for that.