Anyone reversing diabetes through weight loss, or struggling to do so?

I got my results back last week, six months in between and went from prediabetic (by 2 points) to normal. I am 5'6 and started at 250 (maybe higher actually). I've lost 37 lbs since June.

Don't be deflated, do a bit of research and find a plan that you will be able to stick to and go for it! Nothing too drastic or silly, just small steps that will help you get to where you need to be.

Good luck and make the most of the brilliant advice here- lots of supportive and knowledgeable posters here

I am down to 120 fasting with diet, exercise and the lowest dose of metformin. Evidently, I have a very pronounced dawn syndrome, because my A1C numbers usually equate to an average that is below my fasting number.

Exercise is an important piece of the puzzle, as it both uses up glucose that is in your blood stream and helps you generally process glucose better.

It also important to figure out what carb level works for you. Keto does not help me at all, but the ADA numbers don't work for me either. You are starting out so close to normal, that you might be fine by using the ADA guidelines as you lose weight.

Good luck!

A Youtube guru said that "obesity does not give you high blood sugar, high blood sugar makes you obese". So the premise is to focus on your blood sugar by whatever works for you and get healthy and the weight will take care of itself.

End of October, I was 220lbs, with a fasting blood sugar of 230 and an A1c of 9.9. I got serious and started to eat LCHF. I am now down 17lbs, with a fasting average of 125 = A1c of ~6.1.
I am 72 so most of my exercise is walking a few times a week, which I will increase gradually.

One other important tool for you would be a blood glucose monitor. It will help you determine which foods make your blood sugar rise to unsafe levels.

IsETHome wrote: »

Thanks thus far for your insights thus far. My blood sugar seems to be worse in the morning - I've been eating a low sugar diet for about 10 years. However, as I've tracked my food this past month, I realize that my protein/fats consumption has been significantly higher than they should be (I like beef & fajitas, and chips), and I think this has been the source of my weight gain - never would have thought that, but the journaling on MPF has showed that. My calorie intake over the last 3+ weeks probably is close to 1/2 of what I typically have been eating. However my fasting gloucose was just taken last week. I know I'm just on the margins. My initial goal weight loss was I think 47 lbs, I'm down 6....41 more to go

Remember, your body turns the starches in tortillas and chips into sugar quite quickly. The MFP carb recommendations may still be high for you.

First the good news, being freshly diagnosed and with a fasting BS of 127. By following a eating plan that will work for you. You most certainly are likely to fall into the group that can reverse T2D.

A known fact for diabetics is they need to watch their carb intake. It is much more likely that carbs VS protein is at the root of the issue. Carbs are in most foods, pasta, flour, bread, and of course white sugar is an issue as well. Meaning to spike BS readings.

Often times the suggested carbs for T2D is right around 150. Which believe it or not is way under the average at least for Americans. Our average is 350-400 grams per day.

I have found for me going to a Low Carb (not Keto) plan has been the one that has really helped with BS and AC1. To lose the weight 100% agree it is based on being in a calorie deficit. I have lost 77 pounds since May 2018. So with weight lost, eating better watching my carbs, fat, protein counts I dropped my AC1 from a bit over 12 at start of year to 6.4. And working on getting it lower. Also I do walking 6 days a week. But remember yes we want weight off, but need to stay with a better eating plan for rest of life.

You can do this, good luck.

My A1c was 11 when I was diagnosed, and is presently 4.9.

The most important thing you can do is test your blood frequently and learn how different foods affect you, then eat within your personal tolerances for carbs. Different people are different - for example I can eat lots of potatoes and fruit with almost no problems, but even a tiny bit of rice or white bread will spike me. Other people are the opposite.

Losing weight will help a lot. Exercising is also very important. I time my exercise so that it lowers my blood sugar after meals, and my eating so that it refuels my body after exercise. Since you are limited in what you can do, the main thing is to do what you can. I started by walking, bodyweight strength exercises, and using water bottles as dumbbells. Strength exercise is great for insulin resistance. If you can do bodyweight squats with your spine issues, using those large muscles in your legs can move your glucose levels quickly. Two sets of forty chair squats can drop my levels from too high to normal - very useful if you eat a few too many carbs, and you can do chair squats anywhere, even in the bathroom at a restaurant! I could barely do ten squats when I started, but worked up to more.

Your glucose being high in the morning is common and called the dawn phenomenon. It's caused by your body waking itself up in the mornings by releasing stress hormones. Having a high waking blood sugar because of this has been found to have very little effect on health compared to other measures such as A1c and levels after eating. Some people find that eating a small, long digesting snack such as an ounce of cheese before bed reduces waking levels.

IsETHome wrote: »

So today I got my fasting score back for glucose (I had a 12 hour fast) and the numbers were 127, and 126 is considered diabetes. I had gestational diabetes during a pregnancy 10 years ago, so I am at higher risk. I weight 230, 5'6 - and have a goal to get under 200lbs. Have any of you reverse your diabetes numbers through your weight loss #s, or are trying to do so? Feeling a little deflated.

I was diagnosed with T2Dm in January 2014 with an A1c of 7.3. I was put on metformin but had to quit it after 3 weeks because it can cause kidney issues, which was happening to me. I was then put on glipizide. I started eating less, moving more, and counting my carbs staying under 180 grams per day, spread out over 3 meals and 2 snacks.

6 months later, my A1c was down to 5.7 so I was taken off the glipizide. My next 3 month follow-up A1c was 5.3 and a few months after that I was 5.0. I have maintained and A1c between 5.0 and 5.5 ever since.

paperpudding wrote: »

nvmomketo wrote: »

I was prediabetic and reversed my IR using a very low carb diet (I did use a ketogenic diet). My BG was better within days, and I started losing weight with greater ease once I lowered carbs.

IMO, the best ways to control IR is food choices (lower carb and mostly avoiding refined carbs), weight loss, exercise, lower stress and sleep. The fastest way to improve BG will be food choices.

psychod787 wrote: »

You cant reverse diabetes. It is progressive. All you can do is manage the symptoms. I have so far. A1c 6.3 at one time and had a fasting bs of 337. A1c 3 weeksago 4.8. We shall wait and see.

I disagree with this. I know a number of people who have made changes in food, weight, and lifestyle who have reversed t2d or other IR conditions. My blood does not test as anything but normal now. People maintain that reversal by continuing their changes. It appears you have reversed things for yourself too. Congrats.

I guess this could be seen as semantics - but Diabetes is not reversible

People can reduce, sometimes to nothing, their need for medication by losing weight and changing their WOE.

This means they are now diet controlled diabetics -and as long as they maintain their weight and their WOE, their blood results can stay in normal range - which is what you are saying too, I think with "maintain their reversal by continuing their changes"

Using the word reversal gives wrong impression to me, makes it sound cured or temporary - it is ongoing control rather than reversal

Yeah, to me it's akin to saying I've reversed my celiac disease by avoiding gluten.

I still have celiac disease. I simply manage it.

Again, it's semantics. I can see the other side where you feel that you've reversed the numbers and all that, but to me it does connote the idea that the disease is gone. I get that it's not that way for everyone, though.

amberellen12 wrote: »

IsETHome wrote: »

Good advise, I "wish" I could add the moderate/ vigorous activity - an auto accident in 2009 left me with some spine & tailbone, pain mgmt issues...(elderly woman ran a red light and hit me in drivers door going 45 mph). I have my tracker set to the sedentary. I had another minor accident (rear end), and fall last year out of the tub (:( I can't believe I did that) which aggravated it further. So for now, My running and elliptical days I think are over, at least until I get my weight down. I'm really-really hoping the weight loss will allow me to start doing more and (maybe help with pain). I've done everything else - acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, pain meds, multiple therapists, etc etc., reduced driving. On the horizon, I plan on adding swimming back towards the third week in December, but I'll need to carve out specific times and be dedicated to it.

I have arthritis and started doing aquafit. It’s wonderful! I can do a whole range of motions and exercises in the water for an hour each time and nothing hurts. Just feel really energize.

I'm not a class/participation type person, so aquafit wasn't a good fit for me. Water jogging however? I bought myself an aquajogging belt, a waterproof music player, and had at it. It looks extremely silly while you're doing it, but it's a very good workout.

Just offering this as a suggestion for all the introverts out there!