There are probably some diabetics here. Bumping for you. My mother is diabetic and she was put at less than 120g.

Compared to the regular diet of most, that is low carb. Generally anything under 150g is considered low carb. Once under that people are all over the place. Some under 100, 75, 50, or even under 20 (keto or Atkins induction).

lorib642 wrote: »

Thank you. I will try adjusting my macros to give me something to work with for now.

Welcome, Lori;

I'm not T2D but my FIL is so my personal experience isn't "first-hand" but it's close.

Having "caught it early" is GREAT and gives you a real leg up on nipping it in the bud and there really is a pretty good chance that you can at least halt the progression if not even reverse many of the effects that have begun.

Unfortunately, the ADA has a somewhat storied history when it comes to bucking the bureaucracy in terms of low carb diets (as opposed to the big pharma endorsed meds, meds, and more meds approach).

It's changing (slowly), but only because it's becoming impossible to ignore, or sweep under the rug, ALL of the well documented, clinical study, results. While that is encouraging, many (me included) would argue that they have over the years, at the very least, failed to live up to the "...do no harm" oath.

Anyway, your doc has pointed you in the right direction - a serious reduction in carbs (and corresponding increase in fats) isn't really an "option" for you - it's the ONLY choice that makes sense and may well portend a MUCH brighter future for you.

The "fatty liver" diagnosis you mentioned in your profile adds an additional consideration beyond the standard blood sugar and weight considerations since, if left untreated and progresses much past 10% of liver weight it can quite literally be life threatening and definitely impacts insulin resistance.

I don't have the link handy but there is a 2011 clinical study reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and a few others prior to that date that have demonstrated significant reductions in hepatic fat and even reductions in fibrosis.

I don't normally "advocate" for a particular level of carb intake (LC, VLC, or Keto Adaptation) for any given individual believing that should be a decision made by that person based on what "works" for them.

Given your diagnosis though, I would encourage you to at least very seriously consider moving toward, and eventually entering, true Keto Adaptation (generally defined as <20g carbs and blood level ketone body count >0.5mml). The combination of your test results and the fact that most of the positive results from the studies mentioned above made specific mention of the fact that actual ketosis was a significant factor in obtaining the results.

A 50-60 carb limit is a great place to start but be sure to get the fat macro something close to 70%. Without knowing your current stats it's tough to give specific numbers but something like 10=15% carbs, 65-75% fat, and 20-25% protein is probably close.

Give yourself time to adjust to what is probably a fairly big change (especially in carb intake, but also in getting the fats) - at least a couple/few weeks. Then reduce carbs by 10 or so (and increase fats, not protein) for another couple weeks, adjust, then repeat.

It's going to take some real effort and commitment in the beginning but as time goes on and you adjust, 20 carbs will seem like a cakewalk and you'll just "know" you can do it.

Let the group know how you're doing and be sure to ASK if you're unsure of anything along the way - someone on the group will be willing and able to help.

lorib642 wrote: »

@deansdad101 Thank you. The high fat seems counter-intuitive. I know there are studies and other info, it's just hard for me to wrap my head around.

Does your FIL eat small meals throughout the day? I hear that recommended. I like to eat fewer, big meals, but I can change.

My stats are: female, 5'5" 185 lbs, pretty sedentary (I am trying to change that).

Where would be a good place to get info on how to do this safely.

Does anyone feel less fatigue when they do this? I am usually very tired.

Lori;

Yes, "the high fat seems counter-intuitive" to most folks when they first start down the path to LCHF. BUT, it's EXTREMELY important that you understand that the two go hand in hand (low carb + high fat). In the beginning you'll just have to "trust" those who are telling you it's so, with some research you'll understand the reasons why but for now, trust us. In fact, low carb WITHOUT high fat is a recipe for disaster (quite literally).

It's not really "intuition" but rather the many years (now over 40) of misinformation, politics, or flat out lies by the "professionals" we were all taught to trust and believe in.

I'm really not a "tin hat" type and it took me years to come to the conclusion those reporting the chicanery that was taking place in not only the politics but also the medical community and big pharma, actually knew whereof they spoke. It's no longer a question of two conflicting points of view - the actual "evidence" (in the form of clinical study results) is simply overwhelming.

It's not much of an exaggeration to say that almost everything you've "heard" over the years regarding diet and nutrition is simiply 180 degrees out of phase - turn it upside down to find the truth.
Fat is bad - no,
Carbs are good - no
Cholesterol causes heart disease - no, it doesn't
Fat makes you fat - nope
and on, and on.....

Don't take my (or any other poster's) word for it - do your own research (there's a ton of it out there). Here's where I would start:
tinyurl.com/px6yo2w
http://tinyurl.com/l3dwc9w

These authors (Taubes, Phinney, and Volek) are, arguably the premier three individuals in the LCHF space over the past few decades. They have each been intimately involved, hands on, in countless studies and clinical trials.

Most of us have our favorite authors and recommendations for "best books", these are mine and others will likely offer their's as well but once you begin the quest for knowledge you'll discover that there is a plethora of it out there. In short, I firmly believe that starting with these two will be the best 20 bucks you've ever spent in your life.

To your questions:

"Does FIL eat (many) small meals throughout the day, I've heard that is recommended, I like to eat......"
To the "recommended" issue, I'm sure you've also heard the "opinions are like xxxx's, everybody has one" <g>. There are no studies that I'm aware of that support the "many small meals" claims. To the contrary, recent studies have shown NO benefit one way or the other.
My bride and I (both LCHF) eat twice a day (usually), sometimes just once or even not at all simply because we no longer rely on carbs which can only provide satiety for short periods of time. We eat when we're hungry, NOT because "it's lunch time and we always eat at lunch time"

FIL, OTOH, "grazes" - he's 88 and has done so all his life, not likely to change now. It works for him and there are other, much more important "issues" for us to focus on than attempting to change it.

On the "less fatigue" - I'd be willing to bet you will get any number of first hand comments from other group members attesting to the fact that not only physical fatigue, but also mental acuity improvements are quite common.

To the "where is a good place?" question - I say you FOUND IT, right here.

sickandfat wrote: »

Metformin (a generic for Glumetza) is the norm medicine when anyone finds out that they are a diabetic. It is the best of most meds for sugar control because it has fewer side effects.
<snipped>
I do not want to go on insulin, I was told that once you have to go on insulin, there is no going back.
<snip>

If this low carb diet works, fine. If not, at least I tried. With my family history, it is hard to do. I also had a diagnosis of fatty liver and so was my 2 sisters.

So lorib642, you can do this. It is still early for you. As time goes on, things just get worse. Don't do as I have done and wait too long to help yourself. I am proud of you for taking your health into not only your doctors hands, but for yourself as well. After all, we know our own body better than anyone else. If there is anyway I can help, just let me know. sickandfat

S&F:

What you have been "told" ("no going back") is simply not correct.

While it's certainly not a "sure bet", there are numerous accounts (by Physicians) of their patients having no further need for meds (both Met & Ins) after having adopted a LCHF lifestyle.

Not a "guarantee" (and I have no idea what the %'s might be) but absolutely "possible" and hopefully an outcome which both of you will be able to report sooner rather than later.

sickandfat wrote: »

Oh thank you for telling me that. You give us hope. I have had doctors tell me that once you go on Ins that you cannot go back. I wonder if they mean, as long as you do a low fat diet or a diabetic diet that they want you to use? Most reg. doctors do not think LCHF diet or even offer it and I have heard it too many times that fat is bad? I have got to stop thinking about what doctors have told me about fat. I learned something new today from you again. Sorry, I did not mean to mislead anyone. I still have a lot to learn about LCHF. Maybe I had better watch what I say about what has been told to me before. Thank you again. sickandfat

S&F;

No, absolutely do NOT "watch what (you) say..." - getting that type of info out in the open ("docs told me") is critically important to advancing the knowledge base of all of us.

It's not "misleading" - it's shining a light.

My mother will be off insulin soon if she stays on her low carb diet. Her A1C has dropped to 5.4. I think it was almost 8 before.

It's amazing how quickly it went down. When I had gestational diabetes with my youngest, my A1C went from 6.1 to 5.1 in about 3 months. My mother's has dropped like this in about 6 months. She has also lost 100lbs. She has a lot more to lose but she's more mobile now too than she was. She came back from sepsis (diabetes related) and kidney failure and bed-ridden to taking a chair yoga class and taking walks. She's 68.

lorib642 wrote: »

I have noticed that I get tired after meals. Like some people do after large meals, like Thanksgiving, I feel often. I just hit this point where I am drained and have to rest. I am not sure if that is a blood sugar thing, but it could be. I don't check my glucose. My doctor says I don't need to at this point. I am seeing a dietician next week. I am going to ask about meal/daily macro goals. I am not sure what all to ask. I will see her again, but if anyone thinks of anything let me know. @baconslave I am so happy to hear how well your mother has done, That gives me a lot of hope

It might be an age related thing with being sleepy after big meals. Old(er) people seem to enjoy napping quite a bit Might be insulin resistance building up over time. I can sooo relate to dozing off after dinner. It used to take 15 mins and I was just gone. Sometimes had shakes and terrible cold too, depending on what I ate.

Other stuff that led me to low carbing was tingling in feet, cramps (might have been low on nutrients), dull and more hair loss, very brittle nails, ibs. I was never diagnosed, but my GP is a moron and that's another story.

Most of my symptoms are better now with an adjusted diet

EDIT: Hmm, come to think of it. Dozing off after dinner started around 29-30 years old for me. Forget "older"