I've not posted here before (but have frequently read the forums). However, having been browsing the threads on low calorie diets, I thought I'd share that if you've recently been diagnosed with type 2, there is hope.
I have been overweight for years. Last autumn I had my blood sugar tested as part of some other tests, and found that my hba1c was a rather horrible 10.1%. This was something of a shock, as I always thought that type 2 diabetes was something that happened to other people, but the diagnosis was made instantly.
That was on November 6th last year. I immediately decided to lose weight, and started on a low calorie diet of between 800 and 1000 calories per day. For the last five months, all I've eaten every day (other than Christmas Day) is exactly the same - a small bowl of NAS muesli with skimmed milk for breakfast, a slim-a-soup for lunch (with a banana every second day), and baked turkey breast with a small baked potato and green vegetables in the evening. Other than the occasional Slimfast porridge when I am struggling, that's all I've eaten literally every day for five months. And when I say it's all I've eaten, I have not had one mouthful of food other than what's described above, or drunk anything other than water and tea. I'm also on 2000mg of metformin a day. However, due to unpleasant side-effects if I take as much of this, I've only been taking 1000mg per day.
After five months, I've lost a total of six-and-a-half-stone (41 kilos). Yesterday I had the results through of my first h1abc since diagnosis. I hoped it would be reduced, but I was rather startled to find that it was down by 4.6% to 5.5% -- so well within the normal range. I've now been taken off metformin, to see if the h1abc stays low.
I'm not posting this to boast, because I feel stupid having failed to look after myself in the first place, and I know I have to continue doing what I've been doing to keep my blood sugar down. I'm just trying to say that if you're as miserable, depressed and scared as I was when diagnosed, then there is some hope. If you're overweight, there is probably a diet out there for you. I'm not sure I would recommend mine - it's rather dull, but it has the very big advantage that you don't have to think about what to eat, or ponder different recipes of food; it just becomes a routine that you settle into. But if I can do this (and I'm a weak-willed fool), I'm sure other people can as well. Don't give up!
I have been overweight for years. Last autumn I had my blood sugar tested as part of some other tests, and found that my hba1c was a rather horrible 10.1%. This was something of a shock, as I always thought that type 2 diabetes was something that happened to other people, but the diagnosis was made instantly.
That was on November 6th last year. I immediately decided to lose weight, and started on a low calorie diet of between 800 and 1000 calories per day. For the last five months, all I've eaten every day (other than Christmas Day) is exactly the same - a small bowl of NAS muesli with skimmed milk for breakfast, a slim-a-soup for lunch (with a banana every second day), and baked turkey breast with a small baked potato and green vegetables in the evening. Other than the occasional Slimfast porridge when I am struggling, that's all I've eaten literally every day for five months. And when I say it's all I've eaten, I have not had one mouthful of food other than what's described above, or drunk anything other than water and tea. I'm also on 2000mg of metformin a day. However, due to unpleasant side-effects if I take as much of this, I've only been taking 1000mg per day.
After five months, I've lost a total of six-and-a-half-stone (41 kilos). Yesterday I had the results through of my first h1abc since diagnosis. I hoped it would be reduced, but I was rather startled to find that it was down by 4.6% to 5.5% -- so well within the normal range. I've now been taken off metformin, to see if the h1abc stays low.
I'm not posting this to boast, because I feel stupid having failed to look after myself in the first place, and I know I have to continue doing what I've been doing to keep my blood sugar down. I'm just trying to say that if you're as miserable, depressed and scared as I was when diagnosed, then there is some hope. If you're overweight, there is probably a diet out there for you. I'm not sure I would recommend mine - it's rather dull, but it has the very big advantage that you don't have to think about what to eat, or ponder different recipes of food; it just becomes a routine that you settle into. But if I can do this (and I'm a weak-willed fool), I'm sure other people can as well. Don't give up!
