Messages
11
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hello all,

I do hope you are all safe and well.

I was wondering and hoping that someone or several of you can offer some assistance/support

In 2013 I was diagnosed as having TYPE 2 - this was on and off for some time, until finally I saw an endocrinologist who did genetic testing to confirm I was infect type 2. So all these years later I take Metformin 2 tablets twice a day. In this time I have had 2 children and during both pregnancies have had to inject insulin. One the pregnancies were over I reverted back to Metofrmin.

Diabetes is well managed, blood work is fine, no concerns there. Some look at it and say I am not diabetic.

Recently I was officially diagnosed with PCOS, only took 23 years to get there mind.

In 2014 I saw a Heptologist as my liver function in particular the ALT was a bit squiffy and after repeating it several times they referred be to see him. I had a scan I think a fibro scan and was confirmed NAFLD, but he didn't have any concerns.

I don't drink alcohol, I don't drink caffein and I don't smoke.

I recently had an ultra sound on my liver, that showed fatty liver again, so no changes there that I am aware of. This test was arranged by my endocrinologst as I was worried about the liver function test being a bit high again, so he said lets just get a scan done.

In the mean time I had a blood test come back (NO idea who ordered this test) but it was for ELF - enhanced liver fibrosis.

I called the GP this morning who said we don't know who requested it, and turns out it is positive with a score of 10.9. Apparently the normal upper score is 7.6 and mine is 10.9.

She is going to refer me back to the Heptologist I saw all those years ago.

I have sobbed this morning, I have severe worry and I feel it has consumed me.

Has anyone out there got or had NAFLD and had this ELF blood test before???

Thanks in advance
 

xfieldok

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,182
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
People who have nafld, pcos have reported improvements, reversal by following a keto diet. Have you read The Diabetes Cose by Jason Fung? Very informative.
 
Messages
11
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
People who have nafld, pcos have reported improvements, reversal by following a keto diet. Have you read The Diabetes Cose by Jason Fung? Very informative.
Thank you for that xfieldok
I have not but I shall have a look at that.

I have heard that a low carb way of live can improve the conditions. I have been trying low carb for 2 weeks now. Not finding the transition too bad really
 

xfieldok

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,182
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
You should be able to download the book from amazon.

Keto is generally really low carb. Around 20g per day.
 
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ianf0ster

Moderator
Staff Member
Messages
2,398
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
exercise, phone calls
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Messages
11
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)

JoKalsbeek

Expert
Messages
5,937
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hello all,

I do hope you are all safe and well.

I was wondering and hoping that someone or several of you can offer some assistance/support

In 2013 I was diagnosed as having TYPE 2 - this was on and off for some time, until finally I saw an endocrinologist who did genetic testing to confirm I was infect type 2. So all these years later I take Metformin 2 tablets twice a day. In this time I have had 2 children and during both pregnancies have had to inject insulin. One the pregnancies were over I reverted back to Metofrmin.

Diabetes is well managed, blood work is fine, no concerns there. Some look at it and say I am not diabetic.

Recently I was officially diagnosed with PCOS, only took 23 years to get there mind.

In 2014 I saw a Heptologist as my liver function in particular the ALT was a bit squiffy and after repeating it several times they referred be to see him. I had a scan I think a fibro scan and was confirmed NAFLD, but he didn't have any concerns.

I don't drink alcohol, I don't drink caffein and I don't smoke.

I recently had an ultra sound on my liver, that showed fatty liver again, so no changes there that I am aware of. This test was arranged by my endocrinologst as I was worried about the liver function test being a bit high again, so he said lets just get a scan done.

In the mean time I had a blood test come back (NO idea who ordered this test) but it was for ELF - enhanced liver fibrosis.

I called the GP this morning who said we don't know who requested it, and turns out it is positive with a score of 10.9. Apparently the normal upper score is 7.6 and mine is 10.9.

She is going to refer me back to the Heptologist I saw all those years ago.

I have sobbed this morning, I have severe worry and I feel it has consumed me.

Has anyone out there got or had NAFLD and had this ELF blood test before???

Thanks in advance
Hi @Charlotte_1987 ,

My liver values were so bad they thought my liver was one big tumor. Turned out to be an abnormal stacking of fat , so yeah. NAFLD, and the doc asked to speak to me without my husband in the room to discuss my closet alcoholism. (I was and remain pretty much teetotal, which he likely didn't believe.). He said it was a moot point anyway as my liver was so bad, it'd eventually develop cirrhosis (as according to him, nothing could be done about a fatty liver anyway and I was doing down no matter what), and then he'd see me again and put me on painkillers. Until my liver'd eventually kill me.

Riiiight! Shows how much he knows, eh? I went low carb because of the diabetes, which was a diagnosis that came up because of the liver issues (seem to have had it for years without knowing), and my liver values improved dramatically. The only way to see there ever was an issue is to do an ultrasound, because it certainly doesn't show up in the bloodwork anymore. Perfectly normal. And not going to kill me at all, which is a nice perk. That was JUST on low carb, not even keto, but these days I have next to no carbs due to other issues.

Going low carb helped with PCOS, T2, the moodswings and depression that came with an introverted borderline personality disorder, rheumatism (Sjögrens), NAFLD, and chronic migraines. Besides no longer getting wounds that never heal and what have you. So yeah... Low carb can make a massive difference in quality and quantity of life. Well, it did for mine anyway, and might well do for yours.

Good luck eh!
Jo
 
Messages
11
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi @Charlotte_1987 ,

My liver values were so bad they thought my liver was one big tumor. Turned out to be an abnormal stacking of fat , so yeah. NAFLD, and the doc asked to speak to me without my husband in the room to discuss my closet alcoholism. (I was and remain pretty much teetotal, which he likely didn't believe.). He said it was a moot point anyway as my liver was so bad, it'd eventually develop cirrhosis (as according to him, nothing could be done about a fatty liver anyway and I was doing down no matter what), and then he'd see me again and put me on painkillers. Until my liver'd eventually kill me.

Riiiight! Shows how much he knows, eh? I went low carb because of the diabetes, which was a diagnosis that came up because of the liver issues (seem to have had it for years without knowing), and my liver values improved dramatically. The only way to see there ever was an issue is to do an ultrasound, because it certainly doesn't show up in the bloodwork anymore. Perfectly normal. And not going to kill me at all, which is a nice perk. That was JUST on low carb, not even keto, but these days I have next to no carbs due to other issues.

Going low carb helped with PCOS, T2, the moodswings and depression that came with an introverted borderline personality disorder, rheumatism (Sjögrens), NAFLD, and chronic migraines. Besides no longer getting wounds that never heal and what have you. So yeah... Low carb can make a massive difference in quality and quantity of life. Well, it did for mine anyway, and might well do for yours.

Good luck eh!
Jo
Hi Jo,

Thank you very much for your post. Sound like it was a bad time for you! I am glad to see you are out the other side of it though.

Can I ask what changes you made straight away?
I am sure I can do it I HAVE TO DO IT, but I worry I am going to try and make it too complicated for myself!

I am looking at fasting and doing low carb/keto after xfieldok, recommended looking at Jason Fung - which I have been all afternoon.

Did you ever have an enhanced liver fibrosis blood test carried out?
 

JoKalsbeek

Expert
Messages
5,937
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi Jo,

Thank you very much for your post. Sound like it was a bad time for you! I am glad to see you are out the other side of it though.

Can I ask what changes you made straight away?
I am sure I can do it I HAVE TO DO IT, but I worry I am going to try and make it too complicated for myself!

I am looking at fasting and doing low carb/keto after xfieldok, recommended looking at Jason Fung - which I have been all afternoon.

Did you ever have an enhanced liver fibrosis blood test carried out?
Ah, the tests done then were from before I started asking for test results, and my online file at the GP's doesn't go back farther than 2020 for some reason, so I couldn't tell you, sorry.

The changes I made straight away were trial and error, because it took me a little while to find this place and read Dr. Fung's book (It really is a lifesaver!), but the main things I did from the get-go were cut out bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, cereals, you know, the grains, besides the obvious sugars. The more I learned the more I could fine-tune, which was mainly done using my meter and letting it guide me. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog-entry/the-nutritional-thingy.2330/ should help. Keep in mind that if you cut carbs drastically, you might experience some side effects from that, but no worries: Those'll pass. Your vision'll be blurry for a bit as your brain learns not to compensate for glucose in your eyeballs anymore, and you might experience some keto-flu. Mainly just feeling cruddy, headachey, pain all over the place really, and wee-ing for England. That's because carbs retain water, and when you cut carbs, you lose water-weight and get dehydrated for a bit. Up the electrolytes for a little while (supplements will do, or coconut water, bone broth, that sort of thing), and you should get through it just fine. The body just needs to stabilise and that can take a few days up to a week or two. You could cut carbs more gradually, and avoid the bulk of that though... I started out cutting carbs relatively slowly. It's been 5 years so I think it was about 120 grams a day at first, then 80, then 40, went keto to 20-and-under, and now I practically have none. (Carnivore diet).

Five years ago I was reading a whole lot of books and websites and they came up with really elaborate meals with unpronounceable ingredients, and most of what I tried to make tasted like wet newspaper. Correction: expensive wet newspaper. So forget all the weird stuff and stick with real food. Like eggs, hard cheeses, meat, fish, poultry... Olives, above ground veggies and leafy greens, full fat greek yoghurt, berries, that sort of thing. Don't over-complicate things if you don't need to, as all this can get overwhelming enough as it is.

Good luck eh!
Jo

PS: Maybe skip the berries: the liver considers fructose to be a toxin, and you want to spare the poor thing.
 

Resurgam

Expert
Messages
9,849
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
On the low carb forum we get people who join due to PCOS and envisage long years of slog to try to reverse things, and the expense of fertility treatment as well - and then they are suddenly gloriously pregnant and shrieking with excitement.
 
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Lamont D

Oracle
Messages
15,796
Type of diabetes
Reactive hypoglycemia
Treatment type
I do not have diabetes
I had NAFL over ten years ago due to my first endocrinologist, had all the scans and he told me to stop drinking alcohol. He didn't have a clue.
After my second specialist endocrinologist diagnosed me as RH, my liver function tests were always up and down, due to having fasting blood tests. I always have to have fasting tests, but the blood tests could have been any time of the day.
Because I was fasting, I didn't hydrate enough and it skewed my results. I have not had a bad test result since.
So next time you have bloods, drink about two litres of water, it helps to flush out the liver and kidneys.
I have been in Keto for years, and except for a few times, because of other things, I have now not got a fatty liver. Low carb, fasting and discovering what food effects me, my physical health has improved to being other than wear and tear, excellent.
I had a cat scan a few weeks ago.
Don't give up, I have restrictive knowledge about pcos, and I am aware of some dietary restrictions, but others can tell you more.
Hope this helps.
 
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Jajabing

Active Member
Messages
32
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I wish I knew this long time ago because I have pcos. I’m trying to go as Low carb as possible and on the way discovering all the hidden carbs in local food for my T2. Now it’s even good for fatty liver and pcos! I am feeling great about keto.
 
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Messages
11
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hello all,

Just thought I would pop a little update on here.

So today is my second 24 hour fast, I remain hydrated all day as I drink water like a fish. I enjoy doing the fasts as I am not a big eater believe it or not. On my non fast days I have been avoiding carbs, again not a problem. I have been aiming for 10,000 steps a day.

Currently waiting on the referral to the Heptologist.

In addition to my Enhanced liver fibrosis blood test coming out with of 10.9, I have also found that my liver ALT is 92 and my Ferratin in 170.

If anyone has any feedback on those figures, in terms of they too have seen that sort of range etc, they I'd like to hear it.

Charlotte x
 

ianf0ster

Moderator
Staff Member
Messages
2,398
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
exercise, phone calls
I wish I knew this long time ago because I have pcos. I’m trying to go as Low carb as possible and on the way discovering all the hidden carbs in local food for my T2. Now it’s even good for fatty liver and pcos! I am feeling great about keto.
Congratulations that you feel good about it, but I would caution against going as low as possible.
Rather I would get a Blood Glucose Meter and test my meals so as to go as low carb as my body requires! - That way it's likely to be more sustainable. Note that neither NAFLD nor PCOS actually require that you must go down as far as Keto - Low Carb is usually enough, so if I had either condition then I would gauge the best level of Carbs by my BG meter just the same way I did for my Type 2 Diabetes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Charlotte_1987
Messages
11
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Ah, the tests done then were from before I started asking for test results, and my online file at the GP's doesn't go back farther than 2020 for some reason, so I couldn't tell you, sorry.

The changes I made straight away were trial and error, because it took me a little while to find this place and read Dr. Fung's book (It really is a lifesaver!), but the main things I did from the get-go were cut out bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, cereals, you know, the grains, besides the obvious sugars. The more I learned the more I could fine-tune, which was mainly done using my meter and letting it guide me. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog-entry/the-nutritional-thingy.2330/ should help. Keep in mind that if you cut carbs drastically, you might experience some side effects from that, but no worries: Those'll pass. Your vision'll be blurry for a bit as your brain learns not to compensate for glucose in your eyeballs anymore, and you might experience some keto-flu. Mainly just feeling cruddy, headachey, pain all over the place really, and wee-ing for England. That's because carbs retain water, and when you cut carbs, you lose water-weight and get dehydrated for a bit. Up the electrolytes for a little while (supplements will do, or coconut water, bone broth, that sort of thing), and you should get through it just fine. The body just needs to stabilise and that can take a few days up to a week or two. You could cut carbs more gradually, and avoid the bulk of that though... I started out cutting carbs relatively slowly. It's been 5 years so I think it was about 120 grams a day at first, then 80, then 40, went keto to 20-and-under, and now I practically have none. (Carnivore diet).

Five years ago I was reading a whole lot of books and websites and they came up with really elaborate meals with unpronounceable ingredients, and most of what I tried to make tasted like wet newspaper. Correction: expensive wet newspaper. So forget all the weird stuff and stick with real food. Like eggs, hard cheeses, meat, fish, poultry... Olives, above ground veggies and leafy greens, full fat greek yoghurt, berries, that sort of thing. Don't over-complicate things if you don't need to, as all this can get overwhelming enough as it is.

Good luck eh!
Jo

PS: Maybe skip the berries: the liver considers fructose to be a toxin, and you want to spare the poor thing.


Hi Jo

Can I ask what sort of sausage is best to go for ? There are that many I don't know which ones.

I purchased some 85% & 90% dark chocolate. How much of that would you eat in one sitting ? I've no idea.
 

Resurgam

Expert
Messages
9,849
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi Jo

Can I ask what sort of sausage is best to go for ? There are that many I don't know which ones.

I purchased some 85% & 90% dark chocolate. How much of that would you eat in one sitting ? I've no idea.
I buy Coop sausages, looking for the lowest carb content.
I eat 95%cocoa chocolate, but I would only have one square, and not every day.
 
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JoKalsbeek

Expert
Messages
5,937
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi Jo

Can I ask what sort of sausage is best to go for ? There are that many I don't know which ones.

I purchased some 85% & 90% dark chocolate. How much of that would you eat in one sitting ? I've no idea.
High meat content sausages, so check the label and see what's in there. If it's all meat and few to no fillers, that's what to go for. Low carb, (total carb, not just of which sugars), should be relatively easy to find.

As for extra dark chocolate, it's a lot more satisfying that the sugary kind, so one or two squares is/was usually my max for a day.
 
Messages
11
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
High meat content sausages, so check the label and see what's in there. If it's all meat and few to no fillers, that's what to go for. Low carb, (total carb, not just of which sugars), should be relatively easy to find.

As for extra dark chocolate, it's a lot more satisfying that the sugary kind, so one or two squares is/was usually my max for a day.
I find a square is so rich and tasty you don't really need more.

I found some sausages so that's sorted.

The only other thing I've noticed is in the morning on a non fasting day my sugars are high despite not eating carbs or sugary foods etc.

I've been researching and apparently it's the body using up stored sugars, have you or anyone else found this
 

JoKalsbeek

Expert
Messages
5,937
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I find a square is so rich and tasty you don't really need more.

I found some sausages so that's sorted.

The only other thing I've noticed is in the morning on a non fasting day my sugars are high despite not eating carbs or sugary foods etc.

I've been researching and apparently it's the body using up stored sugars, have you or anyone else found this
Oh yes. It's called Dawn Phenomenon. Your liver dumps stored glucose to give you some energy to start the day. It's the last number to come down, so for the moment, nothing to worry about.
 
Messages
11
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Oh yes. It's called Dawn Phenomenon. Your liver dumps stored glucose to give you some energy to start the day. It's the last number to come down, so for the moment, nothing to worry about.
Thanks for this Jo.
Fast day today and it was 9.8 this morning, and through the day went down to happy with that. I take it as a good thing though that my liver is dumping **** out to get rid of it, at least I hope that's how it works. !

On another note, can I ask what you drink?
I have been drinking nothing but water and water with lemon in it or green tea. I must admit though I find myself wanting something else to drink, but no idea what is ok to have really.