Insulin Resistance

Jana- I was diagnosed type 2 diabetes on March 7 of this year. Since then, I have been walking everyday as well as keeping track of what I eat. The goal I have read so far in terms of diabetes is 60 carbs per meal for a total of 180 a day. I have a bunch of weight to lose, but feel I am doing pretty good so far. I go back to the doctor this week Thursday to see how I have done for the past month.

From all I see, keeping carbs as low as possible is very key.

Good luck on your journey.

Steve

Maybe you should clear this up with a doctor.

Maybe you should clear this up with a doctor.

This. I can't imagine that your doctor would suggest that you MIGHT be insulin resistant, and NOT look into it further. Insulin resistance is borderline diabetes!

I have been trying to find a new doctor. I was told at first that I was prediabetic and to just take these meds. I told them no, I wanted to speak with the doctor first and make sure I understood everything. Then, she retested me and told me I wasn't but could be some insulin resistance issues. She was suppose to look into educating herself and getting back to me. Haven't heard anything. So, I decided to educate myself on the topic. My SIL is doing a similiar diet and went on it herself. Way more restrictive on carbs, which I think your body does need. But decided why not give it a try. I know I am a carb addict, which I think is the problem. But, this diet I just started tells you how to balance the carbs and protein. Not to restrict anything big time. Nothing like the Adkins or South Beach. You can have anything, just have to keep it balanced.

I am all for a balanced diet, but you really need to be certain about your status with insulin before you begin any dietary changes.

Most doctors do not take many nutrition classes in college. But a doctor can order appropriate blood work and send you to a nutritionist.If you can see a nutritionist under your medical plan, have your doctor give you a referral. If you cannot afford to see a nutritionist, your library can lend you books about insulin resistance. In general, you need to be moderate in your carbohydrate consumption. Refined carbohydrates, like white sugar and white flour, go into your bloodstream very rapidly, causing your insulin to spike and handle it. If you then eat more carbs, your body will not be able to produce enough insulin to handle it immediately and you will crash. Then you will feel week, nervous, shaky, so you will want to eat more carbs to get energy. Vicious cycle, right? How to avoid it? When you eat carbohydrates, choose unrefined ones whenever possible., like whole grain breads and cereals, unpeeled whole fruits and vegetables. Low sugar or no sugar fruit spreads, canned fruits, yogurts. And eat them at the same time with protein, like peanut butter, boiled eggs, cheese or cold cooked chicken. The protein will slow down your digestion of the carbohydrates. And the unrefined, unprocessed carbs also take longer to digest, so you can secrete insulin at a pace to handle it. You will then avoid spikes, and you will avoid lows where you feel lousy. This is a general idea of how it works. The nutritionist will be able to suggest what foods, and what amount would be good for you so that you don't overload you system and develop problems.

I know this is an old post but I've been looking for support as I'm doing the IR diet. I agree with others - if your doctor says you "might be" then for sure they should be drawing blood to know one way or the other.

HOWEVER ... even if you're not IR, the IR diet can help you. I did this diet several years ago and lost around 25 lbs. My ex did it at the same time and lost more than that. I only stopped doing it when I became pregnant and had severe morning sickness (ok, all day, lol).

If anyone wants to add me as a friend, please feel free to do so. I am on MFP to track carbs and proteins and balancing that way.

Mainly, I just want to say that IR diet works for those with and without IR. When balancing your carbs and proteins, you don't have to watch your calories (though it is a good idea to do so).

I am a type one diabetic. I didnt get it until I was 33 yrs old. I have been on insulin for a long time. When I first started having to take insulin I was small. The doctors told me that I could eat whatever I wanted but if I over did it I would get fat. I was fine until I stopped smoking 4 years ago and then i put on 40 lbs. The last time I went to the doctor he told me that they may have to put me on pills to because they think I am getting to be insulin resistant. I dont think so.... here is why.... I am on an insulin pump. I have a basal and a bolus. the basal is the insulin my pump gives me its like a background insulin to keep my levels normal. The bolus I give is for meals. I was giving myself over 10 units of insulin sometimes for a meal. I had to give myself one unit of inuslin for every 8 grams of carbs. That is a lot for a meal. I started my diet and started walking everyday. I do not have to give myself ANY insulin for breakfast or dinner. Because I walk after breakfast and after dinner. For lunch I dont give myself a full dose of insulin because I usually go low in the afernoons now. My background insulin has been turned down. My carb ratio is now 1 unit per 9 grams of carbs. So the eatig better part helps but the exercise does wonders. I dont know if I have lost any weight yet since i do not have scales yet. But since I have been doing this (2 weeks today) I feel so much better and love that I dont have to use much insulin.

I have been using My Fitness Pal since the first of the year. I have wrote down everything I eat, built up to exercising 6 days a week for 30 minutes. I would lose a few pounds only to put it back on. I was told by my doctor last summer that I might be insulin resistance, but that was all the info that I was given. I decided with all my struggles with trying to lose weight, that I would do some research on my own. I have started reading about it and how to balance carbs and protein to keep the insulin level. Is there anyone else out there that is doing something similair?

First of all...find a new physician. Better yet, find yourself a Family Nurse Practitioner ( of course I am a bit biased, I graduate in May of next year). I would never let a patient walk out the door until all of their questions answered.

I am insulin resistant, and carried alot of my weight around my midsection (good predictor of insulin resistance and future development of type 2 DM). Regarless, the three things the ADA focuses on are diet, exercise, and weight for insulin resistance.

I follow a low carb lifestyle. I don't eat fat free, try to stay away from processed food, and get my carbohydrates from good quality food. I eat between 1400-1600 calories per day and am still losing weight. Check out the group Eat More Weigh Less and add me as a friend if you like.

i've heard HIIT training is good for insulin resistance. this was on a BBC documentary (with Michael Mosley) last year sometime with there being 'super responders' - who this really helped and just normal folk - who it didn't (didn't do any harm though)

can't remember the name of the show, sorry - it was quite interesting.