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Can you help me please?

K

Kennypot

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Type 2
I have type 2 diabetes and have been told that I may have to go on insulin injections due to tablets I am taking failing to work. He also told me that I would weight on with taking insulin. Is this true?
 
Initially yes but then you feel well and energised enough to lose it again.
If you low carb as well then you'll need less insulin, which reduced my adding to only half a stone rather than 2 stone I eventually added by carbing xmas, many months later.
If you need insulin then I will assure you you will never look back at side affects in tablets.
If you can low carb now then maybe insulin inj could be held off?
 
Unfortunately drugs for type 2 diabetes don't have that much effect. To get your sugars down to normal levels you need to adopt a low carb diet. Many people here use the Low Carb High Fat diet.

You need to cut out sugar and carbs in food. That means cut out breakfast cereals, bread, potatoes, rice, pasta and stop drinking fruit juice. Avoid high sugar fruits like grapes and bananas. Strawberries and blueberries are not too bad. You can eat more fat in food such as cheese, butter, full fat yoghurt, avocados, nuts.
 
No its not true, I have been on insulin since diagnosis and allowing for the fact that I have always had a restricted diet due to other health problems, as long as you don't see this as an opportunity to stuff bad food into your diet you shouldn't put on any weight.
 
Insulin is the fat producing hormone, so the short answer is yes, using insulin means that rather than staying in your blood doing damage, the carbs you eat are stashed away as glycogen and fat.
When you write that the tablets did not work - were they failing to control the amount of carbs you were eating? If so you might consider reducing the carbs rather than be having to test your blood before driving and having to inform your insurance company etc. that you have become an insulin dependant diabetic.
Eating low carb has put me out of everybody's interest zone, not even a congratulation on having almost normal readings.
 
Kennypot said:
I have type 2 diabetes and have been told that I may have to go on insulin injections due to tablets I am taking failing to work. He also told me that I would weight on with taking insulin. Is this true?
Click to expand...

Kenny - I'm lucky myself not to have to take insulin, but from what I have read, some lose, some gaine and some people's weight stays the same when they start on insulin. As I understand it, there can be a couple of reasons people put on weight.

Sometimes is it because the insulin does hasn't yet been set at the correct levels for how the individual needs it (to match their diet and lifestyle), but sometimes folsk think taking insulin means they can eat and drink absolutely whatever they like, without any implications. Sadly for many T2s that just isn't the case.

I do hope it goes well for you. So many people who have struggled to managed their bloods on tablets, for whatever reason, feel so much better when they are established on insulin and their levels are better regulated.
 
Art Of Flowers said:
Unfortunately drugs for type 2 diabetes don't have that much effect. To get your sugars down to normal levels you need to adopt a low carb diet. Many people here use the Low Carb High Fat diet.

You need to cut out sugar and carbs in food. That means cut out breakfast cereals, bread, potatoes, rice, pasta and stop drinking fruit juice. Avoid high sugar fruits like grapes and bananas. Strawberries and blueberries are not too bad. You can eat more fat in food such as cheese, butter, full fat yoghurt, avocados, nuts.
Click to expand...

That is a fallacy and DANGEROUS information. You certainly do NOT have to stop eating carbs...STOP YOUR NONSENSE !
 
Resurgam said:
Insulin is the fat producing hormone, so the short answer is yes, using insulin means that rather than staying in your blood doing damage, the carbs you eat are stashed away as glycogen and fat.
When you write that the tablets did not work - were they failing to control the amount of carbs you were eating? If so you might consider reducing the carbs rather than be having to test your blood before driving and having to inform your insurance company etc. that you have become an insulin dependant diabetic.
Eating low carb has put me out of everybody's interest zone, not even a congratulation on having almost normal readings.
Click to expand...
@Resurgam Congratulations from me, it is a great achievement. X
 
Paddyxx said:
That is a fallacy and DANGEROUS information. You certainly do NOT have to stop eating carbs...STOP YOUR NONSENSE !
Click to expand...

Paddy, whilst I both respect your view on diabetes management, and agree that @Art Of Flowers 's post was a little too definitive for comfort (few things in life are certain), I would argue that many of us T2s are better off, in terms of our diabetes and general health, when we have cut back on carbohydrate consumption to a greater or lesser extent. Each of us has to find their own way forward in managing their diabetes and life in general.

You feel very strongly about continuing to on carbs; could you give us an idea of what that means to you and where your strong beliefs come from? That might help position your stance a bit better.

@Art Of Flowers - Could you just take into account that not everyone really needs to be very radical about cutting their carbs, or clarifying you are outlining your personal experience (assuming you are).

Thanks both. :)
 
I just checked my last post meal reading - 7.1 mmol/l.
Week by week my readings are going lower.
When I eat low amounts of carbs my readings are low - when I eat just a little more than normal I can see my blood glucose levels go higher, and if I try some food such as potato or beans I could easily get towards the high teens. I just don't go there now. I do eat quite a lot of salad stuff, I look for low carb veges, both fresh and frozen, I look for low carb mixtures of frozen berries, I eat melon - and I see low numbers on the meter. It isn't difficult to stick to the diet, and it makes such a big difference to what I can look forward to - I saw my grandmother suffering the consequences of uncontrolled diabetes, and knowing that I can maintain normal numbers by controlling carbs is a great relief to me.
 
I think it is VERY MUCH down to the individual and their circumstances. When I was diagnosed back in November - with absolutely no symptoms - I had been at a constant 75kg for months and months. Started on insulin at the end of that month (and NO I DID NOT BELIEVE I COULD THEN EAT/DRINK ANYTHING - dietician could find very little to change in my diet - except to maybe reduce carbs a bit more) and the weight piled on - literally almost day by day.

It finally stabilised around 83kg - and now - thank heavens - it is slowly coming down - back under 81kg this morning. Also ref a comment above - I feel no different at all taking the medication - well except heavier and fatter - guess as I had no symptoms to start??

I am limited at the moment for exercise - double knee replacement happening next Tuesday - but hoping fervently that once I'm out the other side of that and can start walking again that things will improve further. My average readings are high 6's - obviously could be a little better - but not bad I think as things are
 
Paddyxx said:
That is a fallacy and DANGEROUS information. You certainly do NOT have to stop eating carbs...STOP YOUR NONSENSE !
Click to expand...
When I was diagnosed my blood sugar levels were 13.1. After 5 weeks taking Metformin and cutting out items containing a significant amount of sugar, my blood sugar levels were 9.8. A significant improvement, but still dangerously high. However, by reducing the carbohydrates I was eating I managed to get my fasting blood sugars down to under 7 in a few more weeks.

If you watch the video by Sarah Hallberg in my signature you will see that the body has no daily requirement for carbs, but does need proteins and fats. Interestingly, she found that using a LCHF diet her type 2 patients could reduce the amount of medication they needed, lose a lot of weight and get blood sugars down to normal levels. She described diabetes as essentially being a state of "carbohydrate intolerance". For diabetics, carbs are toxic.

My diabetes nurse was impressed that I reduced my HbA1C levels from 99 to 59 in three months. She warned me that diabetes is usually a long-term progressively degenerative disease. I said to her that the problem is that if you eat too many carbs your blood sugars will remain high and cause serious complications such as nerve damage and Alzheimer's. Unfortunately the view propagated by many in the medical profession that diabetics should eat carbs has had the unfortunate effect of requiring patients to have more and more medication and getting progressively more sick. If you watch the video link in my signature by Jason Fong you will see that he has taken patients with type 2 for 20+ years on lots of medication (including insulin) and managed to get their blood sugars down to normal levels and off medication in a matter of weeks. Jason uses a combination of LCHF diet and Intermittent Fasting to achieve his remarkable results.
 
Last edited:
Paddyxx said:
That is a fallacy and DANGEROUS information. You certainly do NOT have to stop eating carbs...STOP YOUR NONSENSE !
Click to expand...

@Paddyxx: Why nonsense??? What fallacy are you referring to?? Quote us some accurate and reliable research information to back up your comments.

Carbs raise our glucose levels and reducing their consumption helps reduce our glucose levels too.
And in fact many of us here have found a low carbohydrate diet has done more for us than medication/exercise. So the less carbs we eat the better, and some members on the forum eat virtually none at all and I can assure you that they are still alive and kicking and in full possession of all their faculties. Eating more fats instead of carbs provides a much healthier and more natural source of fuel as our energy source.

Robbity
 
Quite a few people confuse the need to have about a teaspoonful of glucose in the blood - which is something maintained by the liver - with having to eat carbohydrate. In fact, it is such a common misconception that people have died when under medical supervision simply following the honestly held belief.
 
I eat extremely low carbs, above ground veg, salads and the carbs found in full fat dairy, yet my blood never seems to struggle to find the glucose it needs.

As far as I can see, low carb has made a small effect to my non diabetic a1c by lowering it around 0.3 from 5.6 to 5.2/5.3 according to my 90 day averages.

I have more energy, less headaches, better hair, better and more sustainable erection, overall I just feel better eating this way.

The only issue I have is I've lost too much weight too quickly according to my doctor who claims I didn't need to lose more than a few lbs to start with so 30 was excessive.

That said, I'm now at BMI 21 with 15% body fat and 61% water when measured which by anyones standards cannot be regarded as unhealthy providing I maintain now.

Low carb works for the majority and is sustainable if its the lifestyle you want.
 
Robbity said:
@Paddyxx: Why nonsense??? What fallacy are you referring to?? Quote us some accurate and reliable research information to back up your comments.

Carbs raise our glucose levels and reducing their consumption helps reduce our glucose levels too.
And in fact many of us here have found a low carbohydrate diet has done more for us than medication/exercise. So the less carbs we eat the better, and some members on the forum eat virtually none at all and I can assure you that they are still alive and kicking and in full possession of all their faculties. Eating more fats instead of carbs provides a much healthier and more natural source of fuel as our energy source.

Robbity
Click to expand...

Carbs also provide energy....please tell me which countries have the lowest incidence of T2 (well...until they started Westerizing their diets)...the two most populated places on earth...China and India...interestingly they also have some of the highest carb diets on the planet. Western countries only started to increase DM in the past 2 decades...mostly because of sedentary lifestyles and processed foods. There's nothing wrong with most carbs...whole grains, fruit, vegetables...ALL good as part of a balanced diet. Low carb, high fat diets are proven to be DANGEROUS in terms of greatly increased risks of heart disease and as a T2 one doesn't need to do something to increase that. Carbs only raise BG when you sit around and do nothing. Stay active and your overall BG should be fine ! ANY food can spike us....it's a matter of lessoning the spike and returning to normal as quick as possible. Eat carbs as part of a meal...with proteins and fats and you should be fine...cutting out an entire nutrient is DANGEROUS !!

From the Mayo Clinic - "
In addition, some diets restrict carbohydrate intake so much that in the long term they can result in vitamin or mineral deficiencies, bone loss, and gastrointestinal disturbances and may increase risks for various chronic diseases.

Severely restricting carbohydrates to less than 20 grams a day can result in a process called ketosis. Ketosis occurs when you don't have enough sugar (glucose) for energy, so your body breaks down stored fat, causing ketones to build up in your body. Side effects from ketosis can include nausea, headache, mental and physical fatigue, and bad breath."
 
The only thing wrong with high carb foods is that I can't cope with them.
Well - maybe if I ate them and then got on a treadmill and kept on going until I worked my way through the spike to my blood glucose, and the increase in weight I'd have from the effect of the insulin I made as a response to eating carbs - and then I could start to do the washing up left after breakfast and the other household necessities left not done due to the need to deal with the carbs I ate, and once I got caught up I'd then eat more carbs and have to work those off before bedtime?
Seems like one huge waste of time and effort to me.
 
Art Of Flowers said:
When I was diagnosed my blood sugar levels were 13.1. After 5 weeks taking Metformin and cutting out items containing a significant amount of sugar, my blood sugar levels were 9.8. A significant improvement, but still dangerously high. However, by reducing the carbohydrates I was eating I managed to get my fasting blood sugars down to under 7 in a few more weeks.

If you watch the video by Sarah Hallberg in my signature you will see that the body has no daily requirement for carbs, but does need proteins and fats. Interestingly, she found that using a LCHF diet her type 2 patients could reduce the amount of medication they needed, lose a lot of weight and get blood sugars down to normal levels. She described diabetes as essentially being a state of "carbohydrate intolerance". For diabetics, carbs are toxic.

My diabetes nurse was impressed that I reduced my HbA1C levels from 99 to 59 in three months. She warned me that diabetes is usually a long-term progressively degenerative disease. I said to her that the problem is that if you eat too many carbs your blood sugars will remain high and cause serious complications such as nerve damage and Alzheimer's. Unfortunately the view propagated by many in the medical profession that diabetics should eat carbs has had the unfortunate effect of requiring patients to have more and more medication and getting progressively more sick. If you watch the video link in my signature by Jason Fong you will see that he has taken patients with type 2 for 20+ years on lots of medication (including insulin) and managed to get their blood sugars down to normal levels and off medication in a matter of weeks. Jason uses a combination of LCHF diet and Intermittent Fasting to achieve his remarkable results.
Click to expand...

Did you bother trying to exercise ?

When I was diagnosed 15+ years ago I low carbed for a few week as I took some advice from a forum member who suggested "detoxing". I am also very active, walk 3-5 or more kms a day. I walk everywhere and take transit...I would seek to exercise out a spike rather than take more medication or cut out en entire food group....glucose is burned by muscles so getting up and moving around works wonders ! Diet is only one half of the equation...
 
Resurgam said:
I just checked my last post meal reading - 7.1 mmol/l.
Week by week my readings are going lower.
When I eat low amounts of carbs my readings are low - when I eat just a little more than normal I can see my blood glucose levels go higher, and if I try some food such as potato or beans I could easily get towards the high teens. I just don't go there now. I do eat quite a lot of salad stuff, I look for low carb veges, both fresh and frozen, I look for low carb mixtures of frozen berries, I eat melon - and I see low numbers on the meter. It isn't difficult to stick to the diet, and it makes such a big difference to what I can look forward to - I saw my grandmother suffering the consequences of uncontrolled diabetes, and knowing that I can maintain normal numbers by controlling carbs is a great relief to me.
Click to expand...

What do you do for exercise ?
 
AndBreathe said:
Paddy, whilst I both respect your view on diabetes management, and agree that @Art Of Flowers 's post was a little too definitive for comfort (few things in life are certain), I would argue that many of us T2s are better off, in terms of our diabetes and general health, when we have cut back on carbohydrate consumption to a greater or lesser extent. Each of us has to find their own way forward in managing their diabetes and life in general.

You feel very strongly about continuing to on carbs; could you give us an idea of what that means to you and where your strong beliefs come from? That might help position your stance a bit better.

@Art Of Flowers - Could you just take into account that not everyone really needs to be very radical about cutting their carbs, or clarifying you are outlining your personal experience (assuming you are).

Thanks both. :)
Click to expand...

There's a HUGE difference between cutting back and eliminating or attempting to live on 20 g / day. Sure...most newly diagnosed diabetics are overweight and should cut back on everything ! I cut back on carbs...but I was likely in the neighborhood of 300-500g of carbs daily...there wasn't a food I didn't like. I would eat an entire 180g bag of chips watching a movie...whole box of cookies. I don't do that any longer...I try to stay under 150 g / day but don't beat myself up too much if I go over. I am very active which burns these carbs...the only time I run into trouble is if I plan on a trip to the gym...eat a higher carb meal...then something prevents me from going to th gym...as long as my A1c is below 6% I'm happy. I'm not letting this disease run me....I'm running it for as long as I can. Cutting out all fruit and many vegetables is, IMO, short sighted !
 
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