Okay, so I was diagnosed type 2 just a few weeks ago. I knew back in June that the tests they were doing were to check for diabetes and on the basis of that alone, I decided to take action immediately. I say I'm following a low carb diet but the truth is, that I don't see what I'm doing as a "diet", because with this condition, I believe you have to make lifestyle changes that you can live with long term. So, yes, I've cut out the starchy carbs - no bread, pasta, rice or potatoes. But rather than seeing it as a restriction, I have used it as an opportunity to learn lots of new ways to prepare fresh, healthy food that I can fill up on and enjoy. My diet consists of lean chicken and fish, lots of vegetables and fruit. Everything is made fresh from scratch, nothing processed. I'm learning how to prepare these things in lots of interesting, different ways using herbs, spices and different recipes. I can HONESTLY say, I don't find it restrictive at all and in fact, I'd say my diet has more variety in it and is more tasty than before! My body is getting lots of nutrients from the amount of vegetables and other healthy things i'm eating - so it's not craving the other stuff.
I'm not saying I'll never eat another potato again or never have a treat again... but I have made the decision that those things will be saved for special occasions - a treat on Xmas day, if I'm out for dinner for someone's birthday or whatever... and y'know what, I'm good with it! The fact that I have diabetes, for me, takes away the opportunity and excuse to fall off the wagon and eat rubbish again - it's just not an option so I don't worry about it. I'm excited about my healthier lifestyle - I'm fitter, have more energy and today I met a friend for dinner in Pizza Express and I very happily ordered and really enjoyed a superfood salad. I didn't even struggle over not ordering a pizza - it didn't bother me at all.
So I started this lifestyle on 26th June. By the time I saw the DN for my appointment to formally get my diagnosis, I'd already lost a lot of weight SIMPLY by making these changes. She said she was delighted with what I'd done and said she'd give me about 3 months to run with it and see if I could bring my condition under control myself with diet. She reckoned I'd probably already made a difference but said she would give me the time to really turn it around.
So I've not yet been back to the DN however today I finally got my blood glucose monitoring kit which I decided to buy so I could just get an idea of what's going on with my levels, and to see the effects of different foods so that I can really make sure that what I'm doing is giving me the benefit I want. Before I started this lifestyle change, my fasting test was around 12. Today I tested my blood glucose 2 hours after breakfast and 2 hours after my meal out. The breakfast reading was 5.7, the one after my meal out was 6.2. Naturally I was very happy with those results, and for me, it is clear evidence that I've made the right decision regarding my diet and lifestyle.
As I say above, I don't find it restrictive, I'm eating lots of delicious meals, and really savouring the flavours I'm creating with fresh, healthy food. I've lost 2 and a half stone in just 7 weeks - but I've not felt its been through depriving myself, it's just been by changing things. The reason people put on their weight again is because they go into an unsustainable miserable diet that as soon as they stop, is no longer effective and they gain back what they've lost. But rather than "going on a diet" - I've focused on finding lots of yummy, interesting and different recipes that fit around my low carb goals. I've focused not on what I CAN'T eat, but what I CAN eat. It really does make all the difference.
So for me, if my new lifestyle and the way I eat means that my average readings carry on like they have today, then frankly, I'm good with it. As I say, I don't see it as a diet, I see it as a long term lifestyle change that I'm making sure I can sustain by doing research, getting lots of recipes, keeping it interesting and learning about flavours. It means I have a great diet that I can live with long term, keep my condition manageable and under control, and know that I can enjoy the OCCASIONAL treat without putting myself at risk. I don't think I'll ever see my condition as "reversed", just under control but I'm very much aware that I am putting in place a lifestyle that will allow me to KEEP it under control. There is no point in someone doing something drastic to "reverse" their condition if they just go back to bad habits. It's about making positive changes that mean you can enjoy a delicious but HEALTHY long-term diet and enjoy the occasional treat without it putting you at risk or requiring medication.
