Diabetes & low carb - my progress so far
robertspaul308
Posts: 2 Member
Hi All,
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 5 years ago and within 12 months I had started taking Metformin, my glucose level plateaued but then started to increase and as a result my Metformin dosage was also increased.
Fast forward to August 2019 with my glucose levels increasing again, my diabetes practitioner gave me a couple of options, either start taking additional medication or diet.
She suggested a low carb diet and I have to say I haven’t looked back since. Yes, it was difficult to get used to, I had to pretty much plan every meal and eating out or just grabbing a quick lunch proved to be a challenge at times. Today I had a routine practitioner appointment and over the last 5 months I’ve lost 22 pounds, my glucose HbA1c has dropped from 8.5 to 6.7% and we agreed to reduce my metformin dosage by half.
My experience of Low Carb has been really positive, I don’t feel I’m on a diet anymore, it’s just my way of eating.
For those of you out there with type 2 diabetes, it’s working for me!
Paul
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 5 years ago and within 12 months I had started taking Metformin, my glucose level plateaued but then started to increase and as a result my Metformin dosage was also increased.
Fast forward to August 2019 with my glucose levels increasing again, my diabetes practitioner gave me a couple of options, either start taking additional medication or diet.
She suggested a low carb diet and I have to say I haven’t looked back since. Yes, it was difficult to get used to, I had to pretty much plan every meal and eating out or just grabbing a quick lunch proved to be a challenge at times. Today I had a routine practitioner appointment and over the last 5 months I’ve lost 22 pounds, my glucose HbA1c has dropped from 8.5 to 6.7% and we agreed to reduce my metformin dosage by half.
My experience of Low Carb has been really positive, I don’t feel I’m on a diet anymore, it’s just my way of eating.
For those of you out there with type 2 diabetes, it’s working for me!
Paul
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Replies
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Love stories like this. Kudos!2
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That's fantastic!4
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That's wonderful! I bought a meter to track as I'm teetering on the edge of pre-diabetes.2
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Good for you! So happy for you!2
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Low Carb/Keto has been amazing for me in terms of the glucose level management. I went off metformin completely and the last 3 A1C's have all been in the mid 5's.19
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I recently went to the doctor and was told I was in the pre diabetes range. Needless to say I was and still am in shock but I knew I needed to address this immediately. I went to see the nutritionist at my clinic and was told to start eating a low carb diet. I am grateful for My Fitness pal to help me count carbs but I am realizing it gets overwhelming at times to watch every bite that goes in your mouth. There are moments when I think I can't do this for the rest of my life and moments when I feel good about it. My hardest challenge is balancing carbs, protein, and fats. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.10
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Fantastic job robertspaul308!!
fatblues - in the beginning it is trial and error to see what works for you. Did your nutritionist give you any guide as to where to start with your balancing act? The boards here are great help. I keep my carbs at 20g net. You may not want to go that low--that's fine (traditionally more of a Keto level). If you cook, there are tons of recipes online. If not, search the boards here and look at other's diaries. Feel free to add me, I am here for support and ideas. I have brought my A1C down from 8.8 to 5.3 in the first 3 months of low carb. Still on Metformin but dosage has been reduced.8 -
I know first hand that low carb can make a huge difference for Diabetes. I have been a Type 2 diabetic for over 20 years. And metformin never really helped me, I now am on insulin. However I have been reducing the amounts. And when I stay on low carb I have awesome blood results.
I brought my A1C down from over 12 to 6.7 in 2019. All blood lipids are normal as well. Working to bring lower. Losing 80 lbs has helped as well. Still on weight loss quest.
For me Total carbs right around 55 Monday through Friday, and will admit on one day of weekend will go up to 65. I look at most things from a weekly viewpoint. That has helped me stay on point.
For the macros I dropped sugar, as I am staying way below that number. As I have given up processed foods. So I track fiber which is important. But also will view reports so can see carbs, and then fiber and really see what the net carbs are running.
I agree much will be trial and error to figure what is the right number/percentage of carbs, protein and fat within a calorie goal that works for you.
I am low carb, but I use quite a few Keto main meal recipes as well as for dessert recipes. As I do cooking at home.11 -
Awesome Paul!!! I had a similar experience where I’ve taken my A1c from 10.2 this past June to 5.3 in October and should be even lower next month. Keto diet has been super helpful in managing blood glucose and losing nearly 70 lbs is a nice side effect.10
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Thank you Paul. Very inspiring. Reading these posts I see I have lots to learn. I had my macros calculated and came up with 100g CHO. I guess I need to move that lower. Currently 35% Cho and Protein and 30% Fat. Any suggestions, gratefully appreciated. Best, Bev1
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That's great! I had prediabetes (major genetic loading; both parents, both grandmothers, two aunts and sister all have/had it) and reversed it with low carb. That was about 8 years ago and my A1C these days is 5.0.8
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When it got in the 5's, my doctor reduced it. After another three months, my A1C was still mid 5's and he took me off. Since then I have been on a 6 month schedule for the A1C, and they have all been mid 5's.
I have moved and will start with a new doctor sometime soon.6 -
I want to jump in and ask a question for all you A1c testers out there. My endocrinologist just recently had my hemoglobin a1c checked along with my thyroid panel. Why would my doctor want to check this if I’m not diabetic or even pre diabetic. She didn’t mention it to me 6 months ago. I do remember in the past year she had checked my sugars/glucos as well as cortisol and determined my levels are good in those areas. Is there thing else the a1c test might be good for besides determining diabetes. Forgive my ignorance.
Edited to add info:
In January 2019 while testing my sugar she also did test my a1c and it was 5.4% before any diet/lifestyle changes. 5.4 is within normal range. Is it just standard to test yearly for non diabetics 🤷🏼♀️ I have an appointment next week and I can talk to her about the reasons then. Thanks for info you can share with me.1 -
Who Should Get an A1C Test, and When?
Testing for diabetes or prediabetes:
Get a baseline A1C test if you’re an adult over age 45—or if you’re under 45, are overweight, and have one or more risk factors for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes:
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/managing/managing-blood-sugar/a1c.html
herblovinmom-found this on the CDC website. Definitely ask your doctor at the next visit though!2 -
Agree- it’s often checked as part of a routine check up if you have any risk factors for T2, even age 😊1
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@nrs101364 and @bacpath
I believe my only risk factor is that I’m over weight. I didn’t see thyroid disorder as a risk factor but I do have an autoimmune disease. 🤷🏼♀️ I guess I’ll find out next week. Thanks guys.2 -
I got my lab results back in my health portal. My a1c is 5.5% with eAg of 111. That percentage is up .1% despite being low carb and losing at least 20 pounds. I know it’s just an average but I kinda thought with diet and lifestyle changes that it would go down not up. I’m not in the pre diabetes range yet but it’s not far😞 I thought I was making progress towards healthy living and preventing disease.
I’m disheartened...3 -
herblovinmom wrote: »I got my lab results back in my health portal. My a1c is 5.5% with eAg of 111. That percentage is up .1% despite being low carb and losing at least 20 pounds. I know it’s just an average but I kinda thought with diet and lifestyle changes that it would go down not up. I’m not in the pre diabetes range yet but it’s not far😞 I thought I was making progress towards healthy living and preventing disease.
I’m disheartened...
You might have actually been lower. I am not sure of the specifics with this, but there is some standard deviation associated with this test and a 5.5 really means there is a 95% chance that the real a1c is between two numbers. I was discouraged once with something like this, and the doctor told me the two numbers were effectively the same. We want the test to be more precise than it really is.
If you are doing the right things and have lost some weight, that is all good. The numbers will come around. Don't be discouraged. Just dropping some weight is going to be good for you in a variety of ways.2 -
herblovinmom wrote: »I got my lab results back in my health portal. My a1c is 5.5% with eAg of 111. That percentage is up .1% despite being low carb and losing at least 20 pounds. I know it’s just an average but I kinda thought with diet and lifestyle changes that it would go down not up. I’m not in the pre diabetes range yet but it’s not far😞 I thought I was making progress towards healthy living and preventing disease.
I’m disheartened...
Agree-also there are differences between the different labs that run the tests. Keep doing what you're doing you're going in the right direction!!
I spent months on tests for my blood platelets only to finally have a doc determine it was because of the labs doing my blood. He ran the tests several different times over many months and got different numbers than my primary doc got.
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Agree with2t9nty. I am a lab scientist, not in US, though. For a lab test 0.1% change is insignificant. It should be interpreted as being the same as last test. And as long as it is within normal range- it is normal.when you are at perfect weight, with perfect sugars it may still be around 5.5%. I would not be at all discouraged and hope you will come around! P.S. A1c reflects glucose control over the past few months (3-4). Best wishes.5
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Started low-carb 2 years ago when my A1C was 9.0 the highest it had ever been. 2 years later, down 80 pounds and my A1C is 4.8. My insulin has been reduced by 89%
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DiabeticDer wrote: »Started low-carb 2 years ago when my A1C was 9.0 the highest it had ever been. 2 years later, down 80 pounds and my A1C is 4.8. My insulin has been reduced by 89%
That is fantastic!5 -
DiabeticDer wrote: »Started low-carb 2 years ago when my A1C was 9.0 the highest it had ever been. 2 years later, down 80 pounds and my A1C is 4.8. My insulin has been reduced by 89%
Great job!! Hard work pays off for sure 🤗 you look happier and younger too! ::hugs::
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Low carb has been working well for me. My blood sugar numbers look great.4
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That is wonderful DiabeticDer, I'm not diabetic but my DiL is and I worry about her, she eats way too many carbs but I can't a won't interfere. I'm low carbing simply to lose weight and avoid ill health. I am 87 and healthier than she is at sixty which is wrong especially in these pandemic times.1
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That is wonderful DiabeticDer, I'm not diabetic but my DiL is and I worry about her, she eats way too many carbs but I can't a won't interfere. I'm low carbing simply to lose weight and avoid ill health. I am 87 and healthier than she is at sixty which is wrong especially in these pandemic times.That is wonderful DiabeticDer, I'm not diabetic but my DiL is and I worry about her, she eats way too many carbs but I can't a won't interfere. I'm low carbing simply to lose weight and avoid ill health. I am 87 and healthier than she is at sixty which is wrong especially in these pandemic times.
@MissyCHF many of us know what is like to have friends and family in the same boat. The road to a longer healthy lifespan is full of pot holes.
This morning I got my 6 year badge from MFP and was thinking about how info from other members have impacted my health gains since Oct 2014 when I got serious about eating for life instead of an ugly premature death.
Sadly we now understand these pandemic times mainly stem from our past history of eating and moving life styles. I fought learning how to eat for health instead for my emotional needs until I was I was about to go under for the third time.
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Brief history.
Diagnosed the same year my mother died. In that time I lost about a stone and half rather quickly and put it down to the stress and the grief... dropped about a stone when my dad died so didn't think any more of it.
Was working a tennis tournament (sports journalist by trade) and was constantly thirsty, and the next tournament a week or so after I had that and pins and needles in my hands constantly.
Went to another tournament and things were much the same.
Went to the docs and when I told him about the weight loss etc and he took alarm and sent me for blood tests.
My BG was high (112 in UK numbers) - T2 is diagnosed at 48!
My FBG was 18 (should be between 4-8!)
My cholesterol was high
My BP was high.
Diagnosis done, I remember asking a cousin which I should tackle first and she suggested moving to Low Glycemic Index foods and in doing my research stumbled across the UK Diabetic forums and LCHF.
My only 'mistake' was joining a FB group where they ONLY believed in LCHF and not managing by both meds and diet (as I already exercise a lot anyway).
I had brought BG down to about 59 but then suffered burnout in the year or so after because I was trying to survive off protein bars and cup soups when I was away... and it was not ever going to work.
I was bullied out of that group despite a nicer GP in my surgery helping me come to terms with the fact that if I continued to do a role that involved constant travel and not being able to control carb intake then I would have to manage alongside meds.
Once I made my peace with that and with his support as at that time I was also becoming allergic to the Libre Freestyle sensor adhesive, things settled down especially with lockdown, NO freelance work and being able to exercise to my heart's content and home cook all the time.
Within a few pounds of being below 10st for well over a decade, and have built up stamina and strength in my cartilage-less knees and so far can do sessions in C25K and with the help of my physio I have broken them down and increase the time running in 30s increments so as not to have the knees flare up constantly. It means taking forever to even complete a week because I do one on the treadmill and one on the spin-bike but as my physio says (I was a former 400m hurdler) ... 'you are not running any races here, and you are not going for PBs. You just need your knees to remember the days they COULD hold you up'
It is a constant battle and I will never forget leaving that group feeling a failure because I did not fit THEIR idea of LCHF. What I do works for me and I unapologetically tell people who want to evangelically argue the toss about their favourite way... 'you do you, and leave me to do me'.
This group has been a revelation to find. There was another T2 diabetes group but seems nowhere near as active with people like me managing as best they can.
Onwards!5 -
Brief history.
Diagnosed the same year my mother died. In that time I lost about a stone and half rather quickly and put it down to the stress and the grief... dropped about a stone when my dad died so didn't think any more of it.
Was working a tennis tournament (sports journalist by trade) and was constantly thirsty, and the next tournament a week or so after I had that and pins and needles in my hands constantly.
Went to another tournament and things were much the same.
Went to the docs and when I told him about the weight loss etc and he took alarm and sent me for blood tests.
My BG was high (112 in UK numbers) - T2 is diagnosed at 48!
My FBG was 18 (should be between 4-8!)
My cholesterol was high
My BP was high.
Diagnosis done, I remember asking a cousin which I should tackle first and she suggested moving to Low Glycemic Index foods and in doing my research stumbled across the UK Diabetic forums and LCHF.
My only 'mistake' was joining a FB group where they ONLY believed in LCHF and not managing by both meds and diet (as I already exercise a lot anyway).
I had brought BG down to about 59 but then suffered burnout in the year or so after because I was trying to survive off protein bars and cup soups when I was away... and it was not ever going to work.
I was bullied out of that group despite a nicer GP in my surgery helping me come to terms with the fact that if I continued to do a role that involved constant travel and not being able to control carb intake then I would have to manage alongside meds.
Once I made my peace with that and with his support as at that time I was also becoming allergic to the Libre Freestyle sensor adhesive, things settled down especially with lockdown, NO freelance work and being able to exercise to my heart's content and home cook all the time.
Within a few pounds of being below 10st for well over a decade, and have built up stamina and strength in my cartilage-less knees and so far can do sessions in C25K and with the help of my physio I have broken them down and increase the time running in 30s increments so as not to have the knees flare up constantly. It means taking forever to even complete a week because I do one on the treadmill and one on the spin-bike but as my physio says (I was a former 400m hurdler) ... 'you are not running any races here, and you are not going for PBs. You just need your knees to remember the days they COULD hold you up'
It is a constant battle and I will never forget leaving that group feeling a failure because I did not fit THEIR idea of LCHF. What I do works for me and I unapologetically tell people who want to evangelically argue the toss about their favourite way... 'you do you, and leave me to do me'.
This group has been a revelation to find. There was another T2 diabetes group but seems nowhere near as active with people like me managing as best they can.
Onwards!
Welcome. Sorry about that FB group. We aren't like that here. We are very roll-your-own as far as low carb plans. We'll only say anything to someone if they are being ugly or to gently give advice to people doing unsafe eating plans.
We have T2 folks here there and everywhere in the group. Feel free to converse here or make other threads for yourself calling for others to be more active and chat with you. We used to be more active in the group as a whole, but then FB became more popular and people left us for that format. Unfortunately, some people go over there to stay and act...unkind.
Anyway, welcome again, and best wishes.3 -
Thanks @baconslave (which by the way is THE BEST handle ever).
My GP still harbours a fear that I am actually Type 1.5/LADA (basically the adult version of T1). My dad was diagnosed when he was about my age and was put straight on insulin.
So we'll see because even sometimes with steady control my pancreas decides to go totally wonky and my BGs soar for no apparent reason which is... vexing, to say the least!
But for now it has looked steady for the past month so we'll see what my h1 comes back as.
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