- Messages
- 45
- Type of diabetes
- Prediabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
I’m in the early days of trying to maintain a very, very low carb (less than 7c), animal-based way of eating.
Oh dear this post is getting long...
I read this forum on and off most weeks. I watch quite a lot of YouTube lectures and podcasts. I have been ill for 20 years. Mainly fatigue and probably insulin disregulation but NHS doesn’t measure insulin. Definitely have had reactive hypoglycaemic episodes that precede, sometimes severe, energy drops / collapses - but nothing that is measurable by GP. I just end up unable to walk more than 1 step per 10 seconds, and loose most coherent speech.
Just before Christmas a different blood test (not done before) showed to quote the consultant “something autoimmune-y going on involving the liver”. They are still working on finding the root cause, and working slowly.
For the last 13 years I have been trying to help myself via the nutrition route. I have tried Atkins, low calorie, 5:2, blood sugar diet, counting calories, vegan, vegetarian, my own version of alternating between Hunter and Gatherer, protein sparing modified fast, GFCF, low dietary-free glutamate, low FODMAP, AIP, fasting, low carb, Ketogenic. And actually I’ve tried all of these several times. With some success. I’ve learnt quite a bit over these years. I am back to the weight I was before I became ill, although, I’ve less muscle than I had before, so i do still need to build muscle and loose a bit more visceral fat.
My major, I mean major, fall is intense energy cravings. Which naturally (because I’m human) trigger intense cravings for energy from food quick. It is crazy how logically illogical my thought patterns can go when the demands for “energy-now” are at their strongest. But things have improved, the first 7 years of being ill, I just didn’t recognise these energy cravings and lived off crisps, take-aways and pizza, with some healthier versions of ready meals thrown in. I can attest that the fatigue came before the high carb, because I used to work long days in university and hospital settings before I got ill and my average carbs per day were about 150g (I have Aspergers and a maths degree - so carb estimating is the kind of thing I work out without difficulty).
Ok, so I’ve mostly aimed at low carb, paleo and keto these last few years, with the occasional stint at Dr Moseley stuff and “maybe vegetarian or vegan will work instead” bits. So last year sometime I had my first go at carnivore. I obviously wasn’t doing it right enough for me, because after a few days (even though I was used to low carb), I felt like something huge was missing. I also think I was still tied tightly to “vegetables and fibre are essential for health”. So I slipped out again.
This past couple of months I’m trying again, with more success. I’m still battling some intense energy cravings. But less than I would have with keto (I think). One thing I’ve found very freeing is giving up on the idea that vegetables are good for me. I am enjoying the steaks and other animal foods.
I’m still battling cravings. But having some success at stumbling on solutions that affect my blood sugar less. I know keto and carnivore work best for me because my head gets sooo clear, and the energy is more sustained, carbs fog my head and increase the cravings.
Yesterday I tried avocado, yes, I know they are plants, but I wanted to try increase the potassium - but got lots of wind for my trouble. I have another non-carnivore add that I try to help when the bowels get too loose or I need variety - a porridge made from almond, coconut and flax - but that seems to creep the blood sugar up the next day by about 0.5mmol/l - not much, but seems strange.
Today, I had a 150g marbled steak, some chorizo and an egg for breakfast. But plenty has happened the last few days to make life complicated, and this afternoon I’ve been nibbling 99% choc and effervescent electrolyte tablets (sorbitol based). Tasted delicious, satisfied a need and has had minimal impact on the blood sugar, but not something I want to repeat. I’m aiming for animal based all meals tomorrow - because I know they work better for my clear head and long term energy.
As I said I’ve been trying this for about a month, in that month I went on holiday and had day surgery, and plenty of other complicated days. I’ve also had several high carb days because of driving 200 miles one week and having a general anaesthetic another week.
Curious thing about the anaesthetic - I saw a very clear reaction on my Libre device. I never thought an anaesthetic would mess with my blood sugars, especially when they assured me there was no glucose only an electrolyte (Hartmann’s) solution - the curve on my Libre was practically geometrical - went from 4.3 at 10am (surgery time) to 9.9 at 6.40 pm, then symmetrically down over the same amount of time. This was without high carbs (Coyo, blackberries, bacon, low carb chocolate - I couldn’t manage much else). Quite interesting blood sugar reaction, unusual shape for me, mine normally bounce more than this. [the clock is when I made a two minute adjustment to my Libre reader].
Anyway, I know I’m going to keep persisting with animal based way of eating, because it is the most freeing and the most satisfying way of eating that I have tried these last 20 years. And results in the fewest carb cravings - one day maybe I will even get to zero energy cravings. I love the clear head I get with keto or zero carb. I wish nutrition was easier, but it is a struggle.
So that is my story with zero carb. I hope I can write an update in 6 to 12 months that says this has worked and my health is finally improving. Nothing else has worked, and this is working better than anything else so far. I’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Take care all.
Btw: not inexpensive but with a great range of organic meats is Coombe Farm Organics. Very tasty and they do nitrate free chorizo, biltong and bacon, as well as many different versions of steak cuts.
Oh dear this post is getting long...
I read this forum on and off most weeks. I watch quite a lot of YouTube lectures and podcasts. I have been ill for 20 years. Mainly fatigue and probably insulin disregulation but NHS doesn’t measure insulin. Definitely have had reactive hypoglycaemic episodes that precede, sometimes severe, energy drops / collapses - but nothing that is measurable by GP. I just end up unable to walk more than 1 step per 10 seconds, and loose most coherent speech.
Just before Christmas a different blood test (not done before) showed to quote the consultant “something autoimmune-y going on involving the liver”. They are still working on finding the root cause, and working slowly.
For the last 13 years I have been trying to help myself via the nutrition route. I have tried Atkins, low calorie, 5:2, blood sugar diet, counting calories, vegan, vegetarian, my own version of alternating between Hunter and Gatherer, protein sparing modified fast, GFCF, low dietary-free glutamate, low FODMAP, AIP, fasting, low carb, Ketogenic. And actually I’ve tried all of these several times. With some success. I’ve learnt quite a bit over these years. I am back to the weight I was before I became ill, although, I’ve less muscle than I had before, so i do still need to build muscle and loose a bit more visceral fat.
My major, I mean major, fall is intense energy cravings. Which naturally (because I’m human) trigger intense cravings for energy from food quick. It is crazy how logically illogical my thought patterns can go when the demands for “energy-now” are at their strongest. But things have improved, the first 7 years of being ill, I just didn’t recognise these energy cravings and lived off crisps, take-aways and pizza, with some healthier versions of ready meals thrown in. I can attest that the fatigue came before the high carb, because I used to work long days in university and hospital settings before I got ill and my average carbs per day were about 150g (I have Aspergers and a maths degree - so carb estimating is the kind of thing I work out without difficulty).
Ok, so I’ve mostly aimed at low carb, paleo and keto these last few years, with the occasional stint at Dr Moseley stuff and “maybe vegetarian or vegan will work instead” bits. So last year sometime I had my first go at carnivore. I obviously wasn’t doing it right enough for me, because after a few days (even though I was used to low carb), I felt like something huge was missing. I also think I was still tied tightly to “vegetables and fibre are essential for health”. So I slipped out again.
This past couple of months I’m trying again, with more success. I’m still battling some intense energy cravings. But less than I would have with keto (I think). One thing I’ve found very freeing is giving up on the idea that vegetables are good for me. I am enjoying the steaks and other animal foods.
I’m still battling cravings. But having some success at stumbling on solutions that affect my blood sugar less. I know keto and carnivore work best for me because my head gets sooo clear, and the energy is more sustained, carbs fog my head and increase the cravings.
Yesterday I tried avocado, yes, I know they are plants, but I wanted to try increase the potassium - but got lots of wind for my trouble. I have another non-carnivore add that I try to help when the bowels get too loose or I need variety - a porridge made from almond, coconut and flax - but that seems to creep the blood sugar up the next day by about 0.5mmol/l - not much, but seems strange.
Today, I had a 150g marbled steak, some chorizo and an egg for breakfast. But plenty has happened the last few days to make life complicated, and this afternoon I’ve been nibbling 99% choc and effervescent electrolyte tablets (sorbitol based). Tasted delicious, satisfied a need and has had minimal impact on the blood sugar, but not something I want to repeat. I’m aiming for animal based all meals tomorrow - because I know they work better for my clear head and long term energy.
As I said I’ve been trying this for about a month, in that month I went on holiday and had day surgery, and plenty of other complicated days. I’ve also had several high carb days because of driving 200 miles one week and having a general anaesthetic another week.
Curious thing about the anaesthetic - I saw a very clear reaction on my Libre device. I never thought an anaesthetic would mess with my blood sugars, especially when they assured me there was no glucose only an electrolyte (Hartmann’s) solution - the curve on my Libre was practically geometrical - went from 4.3 at 10am (surgery time) to 9.9 at 6.40 pm, then symmetrically down over the same amount of time. This was without high carbs (Coyo, blackberries, bacon, low carb chocolate - I couldn’t manage much else). Quite interesting blood sugar reaction, unusual shape for me, mine normally bounce more than this. [the clock is when I made a two minute adjustment to my Libre reader].
Anyway, I know I’m going to keep persisting with animal based way of eating, because it is the most freeing and the most satisfying way of eating that I have tried these last 20 years. And results in the fewest carb cravings - one day maybe I will even get to zero energy cravings. I love the clear head I get with keto or zero carb. I wish nutrition was easier, but it is a struggle.
So that is my story with zero carb. I hope I can write an update in 6 to 12 months that says this has worked and my health is finally improving. Nothing else has worked, and this is working better than anything else so far. I’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Take care all.
Btw: not inexpensive but with a great range of organic meats is Coombe Farm Organics. Very tasty and they do nitrate free chorizo, biltong and bacon, as well as many different versions of steak cuts.
