Optifast

[hedge#hog]

Has anyone used the low calorie slimming sachets to control their type 2 diabetes as investigated by Newcastle University.

 

[catherinecherub]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I will tag @brettsza and @Steve50 who have been doing the Newcastle Diet.

There is a long thread here where people have used various shakes.

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/thr...t-once-who-gonna-join-me-on-my-journey.74063/

 

[brettsza]

Has anyone used the low calorie slimming sachets to control their type 2 diabetes as investigated by Newcastle University.

Hi Hedgehog

Everyone uses a different shake, depends on what you want to go for.
I used shake that weight. Steve uses slimfast if i am not wrong. They are available in superdrugs and boots so easier to get and I think there is a good price going on on them.
Shake that weight is only available online.
I know some people using exante as well.
Have you spoken to your gp about the diet and is he/she supporting you.
What are your numbers like, a1c, weight, bmi, fasting and pp levels, medications you are taking presently.
As Catherine mentioned the thread please feel free to join us there. You will find a lot of us who have either completed or in midst of ND there so lot of support available, but having said all of that GP support is very important too.

 

[TyTy]

Hi I am doing the Newcastle diet and using the shake that weight sachets

 

[zand]

No I've not tried Optifast. It was only available on prescription in this country last time I checked. I did ask my GP about it and he said he was happy for me to try the Newcastle Diet but couldn't prescribe the sachets. I asked if I needed to come for check ups and he said that I didn't. I was to just do it on my own. I decided against using sachets in the end as I had used them years ago whilst trying to lose weight (pre the Newcastle study) and hadn't had much success with them. I know that everyone says you shouldn't undertake a diet like this without medical supervision, I'm just telling you my story because medical supervision isn't always available. I decided to follow LCHF instead because after you have done the Newcastle Diet you still need a decent diet to keep the weight off, so I figured I may as well start with the decent diet straight away.

 

[hedge#hog]

Hi Hedgehog

Everyone uses a different shake, depends on what you want to go for.
I used shake that weight. Steve uses slimfast if i am not wrong. They are available in superdrugs and boots so easier to get and I think there is a good price going on on them.
Shake that weight is only available online.
I know some people using exante as well.
Have you spoken to your gp about the diet and is he/she supporting you.
What are your numbers like, a1c, weight, bmi, fasting and pp levels, medications you are taking presently.
As Catherine mentioned the thread please feel free to join us there. You will find a lot of us who have either completed or in midst of ND there so lot of support available, but having said all of that GP support is very important too.

I have not yet spoken to the doctor. Just getting some infor. My reading for the last three months at my diabetic check had gone up from 7 to 9 and they want to start me on glicklaside as well as the four metformin I am already on. I am not keen to take more tablets but despite going to the gym three times a week my weight is not going down. and mu sugars are going up. My daily readings over the last week have been between 9 and 14 so quite high. Last year had a triple bypass so need to get my diabetes under control. <My daughter found this infor from Newcastle and as I had previously used The Cambridge Diet way back when I thought I might give it a try. No family to get in way, live on my own so if I buy no food I cannot eat food! Just wondered how successful people had been. Having been diabetic for a number of years I am not expecting miracles.

 

[RobOwen]

There is a long thread here where people have used various shakes.

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/newcastle-diet-starting-monday-done-it-once-who-gonna-join-me-on-my-journey.74063/

That thread is a good illustrator of the choices people have made to follow a ND (or Newcastle Protocol - NP as some are choosing to cite as some GP's are dismissive of "fad diets") and how they have done so.

From what I understand Optifast is prescription only in the UK and you would need to get your GP to "buy-in" to the whole principle. Dependent upon how enlightened your medical professionals are will determine how readily this might be achieved. Other people have checked the nutritional content of Optifast and chosen to source alternative products to achieve the same results. Slim-Fast plus vitamin supplements are a cost effective option. I personally chose the Exante products on offer and have 3 weeks of an 8 week programme still to go.

The posts made by people on that thread are very informative and new converts are very welcome to read, ask questions and contribute their own experiences. It is a "recent experience" thread, so information offered is quite up-to-date.

 

[hedge#hog]

That thread is a good illustrator of the choices people have made to follow a ND (or Newcastle Protocol - NP as some are choosing to cite as some GP's are dismissive of "fad diets") and how they have done so.

From what I understand Optifast is prescription only in the UK and you would need to get your GP to "buy-in" to the whole principle. Dependent upon how enlightened your medical professionals are will determine how readily this might be achieved. Other people have checked the nutritional content of Optifast and chosen to source alternative products to achieve the same results. Slim-Fast plus vitamin supplements are a cost effective option. I personally chose the Exante products on offer and have 3 weeks of an 8 week programme still to go.

The posts made by people on that thread are very informative and new converts are very welcome to read, ask questions and contribute their own experiences. It is a "recent experience" thread, so information offered is quite up-to-date.

I have looked at the Exante products on line. Do you eat the bars and meals or only the shakes. The food looks very tasty but also looks high in sugar!
It obviously works for you though. I spoke to the doctor on phone this morning. Not helpful! Has made me an appointment to see the practise Diabetic specialist doctor next week but not hopeful of getting any medical support. Is it possible to do it without doctor on board, worried about how to juggle the reduction in tablets that hopefully would be necessary.

 

[zand]

Are you still only taking Metformin? If you have your own meter you will be able to test to see how well you are doing. Metformin wouldn't normally give you a hypo as it works by reducing insulin resistance and supressing appetite, the resultant lowering of BG's is minimal with Metformin anyway. Obviously it would be best to have medical support, but as I said I was offered none.

It's the sugars/carbs that put me off, but several people on this forum have had success with this type of diet. I suppose it really depends on what your diet is like now and how much weight you have to lose.

 

[brettsza]

I dint have my doc with me either. No support so I did it on my own, reducing medications if needed will be difficult.

 

[hedge#hog]

Are you still only taking Metformin? If you have your own meter you will be able to test to see how well you are doing. Metformin wouldn't normally give you a hypo as it works by reducing insulin resistance and supressing appetite, the resultant lowering of BG's is minimal with Metformin anyway. Obviously it would be best to have medical support, but as I said I was offered none.

It's the sugars/carbs that put me off, but several people on this forum have had success with this type of diet. I suppose it really depends on what your diet is like now and how much weight you have to lose.

I am only on metformin with the threat of glyclaside hanging over me next time I go if my sugars have not reduced. I tend to follow the paleo diet so low carbs though I have been known to stray!!! My weight is too high but I am not obese though the upper end of overweight. This gets worse as my height is shrinking (old age). I could loose1 - 11/2 stone

 

[zand]

I usually hear people who have lots of weight to lose doing the Newcastle diet. That's not to say it won't work for you if it dramatically reduces your calories, it could help, though I would be wary of it if it means you will be having more carbs than usual. I would have thought the paleo diet would be great for weight loss and controlling BG's. Is this not working for you?

 

[hedge#hog]

Has worked in the past but not at the moment Trouble is very little will power - food in the house equals food to eat, shakes in the house equals only shakes to eat! I really must get back on the paleo and be a lot stricter. It is probably a better solution that the Newcastle diet at the moment.
Thanks for your comments.

 

[zand]

I understand your rationale here. I'm the same with food in the house. Maybe the Newcastle Diet will give you the kick start you need? Have you tried LCEF/LCHF? Maybe you wouldn't find that quite as hard to stick to as paleo? I guess you feel a certain amount of panic because Gliclazide is looming and want to do something quickly. The most important thing though is to control your BG's, I hope you find the best way for you, with or without Gliclazide. . Good luck. Keep us informed.

 

[RobOwen]

I have looked at the Exante products on line. Do you eat the bars and meals or only the shakes. The food looks very tasty but also looks high in sugar!
It obviously works for you though. I spoke to the doctor on phone this morning. Not helpful! Has made me an appointment to see the practise Diabetic specialist doctor next week but not hopeful of getting any medical support. Is it possible to do it without doctor on board, worried about how to juggle the reduction in tablets that hopefully would be necessary.

One main deciding factor to use their products was: It is simple...eat 1 pack per meal plus lots of fluid. No weighing, measuring, calorie counting, etc., etc. When I started my wife fancied the 1200 cal per day option, i.e. 3 meal replacements plus a 600 cal "real food" meal for her, so we ordered the 4 week breakfast, luch & dinner pack at £80. It's all dehydrated powdered packs, apart from the bars. They make up with either hot or cold water, depending on the meal. They do not really look anywhere near as appetisng or as generous as on their website (surprise, surprise). For example, their plate of replacement meal bars shows 2 - there's only 1. The "Sheperd's Pie" FLAVOUR (important distinction) is a hot "baby-food" consistency gloop, but it is hot, it does have a taste of what is purports to be and the meal packs do offer some variety. Their Red Bean Chilli is acceptable, for example. The soups are a bit "bleh" and leave a bit of a sticky residue after-effect in the mouth.

At first we were both quite disappointed with the consistency & appearance of the products but, to be quite honest, once you accept them for what they are, we became quite accepting of them, as there was a limited time duration we would be tolerating them before moving on. My understanding is that 3 of their 200 calorie packs provided 100% of an adult's daily nutrional requirements. Fibre is in the packs as well and I have encountered no digestive difficulties in the time I have been using them.

After the initial purchase of the 4 week meal pack I also bought a 4 week shakes & bars pack (also £80 at the time, but a further sale offer reduced that to £70 - trawl the offers section to see what applies at the time you are looking). Now that was better for me as they are quite tasty, the flavours as descibed, if a little on the weak side, and quite filling. I ordered a second 4 week shakes & bars pack to see me though, as an extra discount was offered. So now I am set up for my 8 weeks and my wife's 4 weeks. As I hate waste...it's another incentive to see it through as well . We mix & match the products between us for variety, usually starting the day with a shake, a bar with coffee at lunch time and a meal at night.

As I said before it's an uncomplicated way of sticking to the regime and, from what I understand, more nutrionally balanced than Slim-Fast, etc. or supermarket own-brand type products. Sorry for the ramble, but it's not easy to put personal perspectives over in this sort of manner.

The contents have not caused any sugar spikes. In fact the opposite is the case compared to what I was eating before following this plan. I was on 2 x 500g Metformin twice a day plus 2 Gliclazide twice a day. As soon as I started the diet I dropped the Gliclazide and at the half way stage I have now halved my Metformin.

Here is a screen grab of my BG readings from mid-April up to the middle of May. I started on the VLCD using Exante on 23rd April. see the BG results for yourself. I hope it helps you:

 

[Arab Horse]

I aim to start the ND on Monday barring any more hiccups; wanted to start a couple of weeks ago but various things conspired to stop me and I have a busy weekend with a lot of driving and a birthday party on Sunday; will be good food wise but a long drive and don't want to be feeling yeuk.

I can't have no "bad" food in the house as my husband has a dreadful diet and will still eat his fish and chips, donuts, biscuits, etc. so I just have to use will power to stick to my diet. Your results look good, Rob. I am already underweight and don't have the support of my DN to do the diet but I don't feel I have a lot to lose as I have such a restricted diet and I don't want to end up on the downward spiral of more and more drugs if possible.

 

[gillyhill]

I love the slim fast range. Some days I'm not hungry and drink the shakes instead of meals. Coffee one is my favourite though

 

[scottish-jim]

I'm on the Newcastle diet (again) and I'm using the Tesco Ultra Slim shakes. They're quite nice, not too sweet and come in packs of 10 sachets (on offer at 3 for £10 at the moment). I add a sprinkle of Jordans Natural Wheat Bran to help with fibre.

http://www.tesco.com/groceries/prod...archBox=ultra+slim&newSort=true&search=Search

 

[hedge#hog]

One main deciding factor to use their products was: It is simple...eat 1 pack per meal plus lots of fluid. No weighing, measuring, calorie counting, etc., etc. When I started my wife fancied the 1200 cal per day option, i.e. 3 meal replacements plus a 600 cal "real food" meal for her, so we ordered the 4 week breakfast, luch & dinner pack at £80. It's all dehydrated powdered packs, apart from the bars. They make up with either hot or cold water, depending on the meal. They do not really look anywhere near as appetisng or as generous as on their website (surprise, surprise). For example, their plate of replacement meal bars shows 2 - there's only 1. The "Sheperd's Pie" FLAVOUR (important distinction) is a hot "baby-food" consistency gloop, but it is hot, it does have a taste of what is purports to be and the meal packs do offer some variety. Their Red Bean Chilli is acceptable, for example. The soups are a bit "bleh" and leave a bit of a sticky residue after-effect in the mouth.

At first we were both quite disappointed with the consistency & appearance of the products but, to be quite honest, once you accept them for what they are, we became quite accepting of them, as there was a limited time duration we would be tolerating them before moving on. My understanding is that 3 of their 200 calorie packs provided 100% of an adult's daily nutrional requirements. Fibre is in the packs as well and I have encountered no digestive difficulties in the time I have been using them.

After the initial purchase of the 4 week meal pack I also bought a 4 week shakes & bars pack (also £80 at the time, but a further sale offer reduced that to £70 - trawl the offers section to see what applies at the time you are looking). Now that was better for me as they are quite tasty, the flavours as descibed, if a little on the weak side, and quite filling. I ordered a second 4 week shakes & bars pack to see me though, as an extra discount was offered. So now I am set up for my 8 weeks and my wife's 4 weeks. As I hate waste...it's another incentive to see it through as well . We mix & match the products between us for variety, usually starting the day with a shake, a bar with coffee at lunch time and a meal at night.

As I said before it's an uncomplicated way of sticking to the regime and, from what I understand, more nutrionally balanced than Slim-Fast, etc. or supermarket own-brand type products. Sorry for the ramble, but it's not easy to put personal perspectives over in this sort of manner.

The contents have not caused any sugar spikes. In fact the opposite is the case compared to what I was eating before following this plan. I was on 2 x 500g Metformin twice a day plus 2 Gliclazide twice a day. As soon as I started the diet I dropped the Gliclazide and at the half way stage I have now halved my Metformin.

Here is a screen grab of my BG readings from mid-April up to the middle of May. I started on the VLCD using Exante on 23rd April. see the BG results for yourself. I hope it helps you:

Thanks very much for the information it is really helpful. As a supply teacher (very part-time) the bars would be great for easy lunch and at least with the meals you feel as if you are eating something. I will see what my doctors says next week, but am ready to give it a go. Although the number of tablets I take is not as many as you were on I would like to not have them increased and any weight loss would be of benefit as well.