Newbie trying Newcastle diet.

[Pipp]

Thank you, I will give it a good go and keep you all informed. Started this morning, done core exercises and made a couple of soups to freeze (be prepared and all that). Feel ok at moment, going to do the walk later with my husband and the dog. I have had a muzzy headache since about lunch time but that's to be expected in the first few days. Plus started with a cold this weekend (typical), just a runny nose and sneezing, not felt ill. Lets see how it goes. If you want more information the next part of the blog goes up later today.

http://www.thelittlewhitehen.com/blog/facing-life/is-there-a-cure-for-diadetes/

After the first day I did not feel hungry at all. In fact, I felt incredibly well. Had lots of energy. The normal BG and the fast, visible weight loss was a motivating factor.

I will be checking your blog, following progress, and willing you on.

Thank you for documenting progress. It will help others.

 

[The little white hen]

Yes. It is good to see support, rather than telling someone the ND is somehow inferior to other eating plans.
It is, after all a short term plan. Post ND is important. I try to stick to low carb post ND. of course, being only human things don't always go to plan, and the fact that I can eat high carb foods without affecting BG now means I do sometimes over-indulge. That is with fats as well. Not good if you are still needing to lose weight.

Early days for @The little white hen, but I will gladly offer support and encouragement.

I have invested in some low GI food books to give me some ideas for when I finished the ND. My diabetic nurse told me to follow the 80 - 20 rule. Be very good 80% of the time and have what you would really like 20% of the time. The key is to also keep up the exercise, something I find hard to motivate myself about. I have really had to think about what I like (gardening and walking the dog) and build in exercise around them. The I found the core exercises today on the ND hard. No muscle tone at all on this body. However, I did them all and if I have learnt one thing over the last four years small changes can give big rewards.

 

[The little white hen]

After the first day I did not feel hungry at all. In fact, I felt incredibly well. Had lots of energy. The normal BG and the fast, visible weight loss was a motivating factor.

I will be checking your blog, following progress, and willing you on.

Thank you for documenting progress. It will help others.

Thank you for your support. Being kind and supporting others makes the world a better place. I have always believed that we should talk about the though things because it makes us realise we all have them and come through the other side.

I have posted an Avatar so you can all put a face to The Little White Hen (My website name). This was taken on holiday in 2008, its the only photo I have around my heaviest weight before being diagnosed until Jan 2011. Like most people who are over weight I avoided having my photo taken or would hide in the background. My baby girl in this picture is now 16 and sitting her exams soon. I will post another Avatar when I have finished the ND and we can compare before and after.

 

[cold ethyl]

Good luck with all of this. I do think that it is an attractive option to try, particularly post diagnosis as the possibility of remission or reversal is great motivation. I did think of doing something similar just to kickstart my weight loss and had a few days at 800 cals a week just to get a feel for if. I did find it made me think about food even more than usual and I probably are more on the off days than I would have done. That being said, I think I'll give it a go when it warms up a bit more as 800 cals of salad is a lot of food v 800 cals of stew. Do keep posting and planning ahead for when you reach your target weight as reversal is just part of the weight loss journey - we need to find something sustainable for life - as my GP said, although my recent hba1c was normal, I need to maintain my weight loss and exercise as the fact I once pushed diabetic scores means I'll always be at a higher risk. Will be reading your blog with interest x

 

[brettsza]

I have been seriously looking on the Newcastle diet threads on the forum and trying to get a lot of info but if we have to be on a 800 calories diet or 600 then why not look into just have veggies instead of the packed foods like the slimfast and all of that, Just a curious question.

 

[cold ethyl]

I have been seriously looking on the Newcastle diet threads on the forum and trying to get a lot of info but if we have to be on a 800 calories diet or 600 then why not look into just have veggies instead of the packed foods like the slimfast and all of that, Just a curious question.

I think in part because they are supposedly nutritionally balanced with all the right vitamins etc - also they make the contact with real food a minimum so that must make things easier. You know what you are having so there's none of the nibbling in kitchen or eating something while you think about what to cook. That said, Taylor says it's the weight loss not the method that matters - if you can lose about 21/2 st in 6 months he reckons that's enough to mean that you can use a more user friendly diet than the VLCD- I think the latter is best for those that can sustain a strong willpower over a short period of time if they can see instant results or those who have complex overeating issues around food.

 

[Arab Horse]

I have been seriously looking on the Newcastle diet threads on the forum and trying to get a lot of info but if we have to be on a 800 calories diet or 600 then why not look into just have veggies instead of the packed foods like the slimfast and all of that, Just a curious question.

The reason for using the Slimfast etc,.drinks is so that you get the correct vitamins, minerals and protein as 8 weeks without them would not be good for you especially when you are trying to reverse something like diabetes.

 

[brettsza]

I think in part because they are supposedly nutritionally balanced with all the right vitamins etc - also they make the contact with real food a minimum so that must make things easier. You know what you are having so there's none of the nibbling in kitchen or eating something while you think about what to cook. That said, Taylor says it's the weight loss not the method that matters - if you can lose about 21/2 st in 6 months he reckons that's enough to mean that you can use a more user friendly diet than the VLCD- I think the latter is best for those that can sustain a strong willpower over a short period of time if they can see instant results or those who have complex overeating issues around food.

The reason for using the Slimfast etc,.drinks is so that you get the correct vitamins, minerals and protein as 8 weeks without them would not be good for you especially when you are trying to reverse something like diabetes.

I also thought so but is it still not too high carb looking at the carb content per 100g, I saw that first 4 years after diagnosis is the time when chances of remission or reversal are at best, I am thinking of giving it a shot. Trying to prepare myself mentally first which is big task i think.

 

[Kat100]

Hello , all diets welcome here , I wish you luck and look,forward to hearing how you are doing ..best wishes kat

 

[Arab Horse]

I would love to give it a try but as I only weigh 7 stone I am not sure if it would be OK, I am already quite thin and really need to put on weight rather than lose it.

 

[Pipp]

I also thought so but is it still not too high carb looking at the carb content per 100g, I saw that first 4 years after diagnosis is the time when chances of remission or reversal are at best, I am thinking of giving it a shot. Trying to prepare myself mentally first which is big task i think.

Being prepared mentally is, as far as I'm concerned the most important part.
What I did was read as much as I could find about VLCDs in particular the academic papers from the Newcastle research team.. I then explained to my close family what I intended to do, and enlisted their support. I only told a few close friends. That was mainly because I do not like to have to answer other peoples' curious questions. Also, some people will try to derail you. Maybe not intentionally, but comments such as 'Can't you take a break for one day and join us at the pub' etc. some people also made comments varying from 'You look really well' to 'Gosh, you have lost so much weight, but don't lose any more, you will look ill'.

I chose a time when I knew there would be no big parties, or conferences or occasions when there would be social eating. Then just put my determined mindset on and went for it. I was six years after diagnosis, and felt this was my last chance to get control back. It can be done, but the preparation is paramount, as is the thinking ahead as to how one will cope with unexpected social food occasions, and food choices after finishing ND.

 

[jack412]

I have invested in some low GI food books to give me some ideas for when I finished the ND. My diabetic nurse told me to follow the 80 - 20 rule. Be very good 80% of the time and have what you would really like 20% of the time. The key is to also keep up the exercise, something I find hard to motivate myself about. I have really had to think about what I like (gardening and walking the dog) and build in exercise around them. The I found the core exercises today on the ND hard. No muscle tone at all on this body. However, I did them all and if I have learnt one thing over the last four years small changes can give big rewards.

after the ND I would very seriously consider the LCHF diet for the long term
it’s a long page and a few good video’s
http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf

how much carb
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarb101/a/carblevel.htm

 

[brettsza]

Being prepared mentally is, as far as I'm concerned the most important part.
What I did was read as much as I could find about VLCDs in particular the academic papers from the Newcastle research team.. I then explained to my close family what I intended to do, and enlisted their support. I only told a few close friends. That was mainly because I do not like to have to answer other peoples' curious questions. Also, some people will try to derail you. Maybe not intentionally, but comments such as 'Can't you take a break for one day and join us at the pub' etc. some people also made comments varying from 'You look really well' to 'Gosh, you have lost so much weight, but don't lose any more, you will look ill'.

I chose a time when I knew there would be no big parties, or conferences or occasions when there would be social eating. Then just put my determined mindset on and went for it. I was six years after diagnosis, and felt this was my last chance to get control back. It can be done, but the preparation is paramount, as is the thinking ahead as to how one will cope with unexpected social food occasions, and food choices after finishing ND.

You are absolutely right
for me no one except my family even knows i am daibetic but i am just thinking my numbers at present are between 4.5 to 5.5 my last a1c i got down from 142 to 46 so i am in sort of prediabetic range. If i go for ncd will my numbers not plummet and give hypos.
i take 2 mets 500mg a day and 1 statin.
i have read a lot and also followed a lot of your threads and saw your success story too.

 

[AndBreathe]

You are absolutely right
for me no one except my family even knows i am daibetic but i am just thinking my numbers at present are between 4.5 to 5.5 my last a1c i got down from 142 to 46 so i am in sort of prediabetic range. If i go for ncd will my numbers not plummet and give hypos.
i take 2 mets 500mg a day and 1 statin.
i have read a lot and also followed a lot of your threads and saw your success story too.

If you have a functioning pancreas, which you must have to be achieving the blood scores you do without insulin or the like, your body will look after you. You might want or need to reduce (even stop) your Metformin along the way, but you have a fair way to go before reaching a true (non-T1 defined) hypo, which I understand is about 3.2.

Notwithstanding batch 44 mad I usually have one or two readings in the 3s every single day, and certainly don't consider myself hypo. I feel absolutely fine, and to be fair, those are usually pre-meal readings, although I have had them post (say bacon and egg or an omelette and salad), but I just note it down and move on. If I felt ill, I would have a cup of tea with a dash of milk, just to nudge my numbers up a tiny bit.

As a T2, please don't be afraid of small numbers.

 

[Pipp]

You are absolutely right
for me no one except my family even knows i am daibetic but i am just thinking my numbers at present are between 4.5 to 5.5 my last a1c i got down from 142 to 46 so i am in sort of prediabetic range. If i go for ncd will my numbers not plummet and give hypos.
i take 2 mets 500mg a day and 1 statin.
i have read a lot and also followed a lot of your threads and saw your success story too.

@brettsza
I am not sure how to respond to your query.
You seem to be doing fine with whatever food you are currently eating. Your HbA1c results are greatly improved, in a very short time. I think in your position I would ask the doc if I still needed Metformin.
Are you considering ND to lose weight? Or just to get lower HbA1c?

 

[The little white hen]

Good luck with all of this. I do think that it is an attractive option to try, particularly post diagnosis as the possibility of remission or reversal is great motivation. I did think of doing something similar just to kickstart my weight loss and had a few days at 800 cals a week just to get a feel for if. I did find it made me think about food even more than usual and I probably are more on the off days than I would have done. That being said, I think I'll give it a go when it warms up a bit more as 800 cals of salad is a lot of food v 800 cals of stew. Do keep posting and planning ahead for when you reach your target weight as reversal is just part of the weight loss journey - we need to find something sustainable for life - as my GP said, although my recent hba1c was normal, I need to maintain my weight loss and exercise as the fact I once pushed diabetic scores means I'll always be at a higher risk. Will be reading your blog with interest x

Thank you its going ok, could murder a stew and food is always on my mind. I am trying to keep busy with other things. I was always an overeater until I got diagnosed then life had to change. Now I enjoy the little bit I have and take my time with them. I will keep that up when I end the ND.

 

[The little white hen]

If you have a functioning pancreas, which you must have to be achieving the blood scores you do without insulin or the like, your body will look after you. You might want or need to reduce (even stop) your Metformin along the way, but you have a fair way to go before reaching a true (non-T1 defined) hypo, which I understand is about 3.2.

Notwithstanding batch 44 mad I usually have one or two readings in the 3s every single day, and certainly don't consider myself hypo. I feel absolutely fine, and to be fair, those are usually pre-meal readings, although I have had them post (say bacon and egg or an omelette and salad), but I just note it down and move on. If I felt ill, I would have a cup of tea with a dash of milk, just to nudge my numbers up a tiny bit.

As a T2, please don't be afraid of small numbers.

Everyone on hear seem to take blood sugars everyday, my diabetic nurse and doctor take blood tests every six months but they think I should be listening to my body not taking readings so I don't have a metre. I would be interested in what you think of this. Also I was told it very hard to have a hypos whilst on metformin. I have only had one since 2011.

 

[AndBreathe]

Everyone on hear seem to take blood sugars everyday, my diabetic nurse and doctor take blood tests every six months but they think I should be listening to my body not taking readings so I don't have a metre. I would be interested in what you think of this. Also I was told it very hard to have a hypos whilst on metformin. I have only had one since 2011.

I'd be inclined to agree with the Metformin statement, although some people have experienced them.

As for blood testing? The sad reason T2s aren't supported with strips by the NHS is purely cost. The NHS just can't afford it. What I find saddest of all is that they can't just tell us that. I mean. Why lie, when the truth will do very nicely?

As the point I was diagnosed, I had the predictable testing conversation with the nurse I was seeing. Her approach was as you have experienced. When I asked her if she were in my shoes, if she would be happy with 3, 6 or however many monthly testing, she went all quiet, avoiding and squirming on me. That told me all I needed to know.

If nothing else, your home testing will help reinforce the impact of what you're doing. Change is hard. Somewhere along the line, we all think, "I just want all this to go away", or "Nobody would know if I had a couple of weeks off........" And of course, they mightn't. But we would know.

If I'm having one of those days, I look back through my old records (I keep them on a phone app), and look at my scores when first diagnosed, and I really don't want to see those again. Avoiding too many carbs and the sugary stuff gives me the best chance of that being the case, and confirmation and reinforcement by my day-to-day blood scores really buoys me up.

It's up to you how you go forward. The costs, using the Codefree meter and strips are fairly modest, and once you have a real handle on how you're doing, you may not feel the need to test every day, but having that ability is really critical to me.

 

[cold ethyl]

How does one listen to their bodies and have good BS control? I listened to my body and stuffed it with carbs at every opportunity and ended up diabetic. At diagnosis I was 8.6 HbA1c but my body never told me my sugars were that high ( I had no classic symptoms) and although now I can tell when I'm running under 5, I've no similar feeling above 8 to guide me. Only by testing will you know whether you are having any effect with your diet.. I can imagine nothing more demoralising than doing the ND , turning up for my HbA1c and finding no change.

 

[The little white hen]

You are absolutely right
for me no one except my family even knows i am daibetic but i am just thinking my numbers at present are between 4.5 to 5.5 my last a1c i got down from 142 to 46 so i am in sort of prediabetic range. If i go for ncd will my numbers not plummet and give hypos.
i take 2 mets 500mg a day and 1 statin.
i have read a lot and also followed a lot of your threads and saw your success story too.

I have great support and have spent a lot of time planning asking questions and gathering information. I think the perfect planning thing is true in all aspects of life. I am also not the type of person who puts everything on face book. However, I do believe that when we discuss issues such as this we all help and support each other.