Hi everyone,
I'm not sure if I have done this right but I was hoping that you would be able to help me please.
Background - I'm 34 and I was diagnosed with PCOS around twenty years ago and receive no treatment/medication. My adult weight has fluctuated between 14st and 23st at my heaviest. I am a prolific yo-yo dieter and can lose weight successfully to a certain point. In March 2019 I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and had a HbA1c of 75 (my weight at that time was around 23st) . The nurse was not overly concerned as blood tests in July 2018 (for something else) had recorded my HbA1c as 45, so she believed the T2D was only a recent development and probably a result of 'overindulgence at christmas' (her words not mine). I was given a prescription for Metformin and sent packing by the Diabetic Nurse at my GP Surgery. I suffer from episodes of depression and anxiety, denial kicked in and I buried my head in the sand. Diet did not change and I did not take the medication. In retrospect, I should have sought support and advice but I didn't. If I could go back in time then I would.
Fast forward to March/April 2020. I wasn't feeling well (short of breath, fatigue, headaches, pains in my muscles, digestive issues etc) so I confessed to my GP that I was not controlling my T2D. Blood tests done and my most recent HbA1c is 131.
Since the last HbA1c results, I've been trying to cut out junk food etc. I am a stubborn s*d and thought I could get my numbers under control myself. I've now reached my 'it's now or never' moment and know that I have to make serious changes and take action before I (1) die (2) end up in hospital (3) create serious long term health problems. So, 3 days ago I have given in to taking the Glicazide (80mg a day (2x40)) my GP prescribed in March and I'm monitoring my fasting blood glucose. But I have lots of questions and desperately need some support please.
I've set myself a goal of reversing my T2D diagnosis or getting it within remission limits within 12 months. Can any of you offer some general advice please? And/or answer my specific questions below?:
1. I've found some really interesting material by Dr Jason Fung online - have any of you had any good results with fasting? Either fasting for 24/36hrs at a time? Or fasting for 16 hours? I've been trying the 16/8 method of fasting for the last 3 days as my GP said I shouldn't do 24 hours or longer due to the Glicazide?
2. If any of you do fast, do you notice that it impacts your fasting blood glucose? I'm not sure whether this will improve or hinder my fasting blood sugar control.
3. I'm going to try to follow the Low Carb High Fat diet - does anyone experience gallbladder problems with this type of diet? I have gallstones and my GP always said fat is a trigger for gallbladder pain but after doing some reading I'm not sure if this is right.
4. Has anyone else with PCOS found that the LCHF helps with their symptoms? Or will PCOS prevent me from getting my T2D in remission?
5. How quickly can I expect my fasting blood glucose to get to normal/acceptable levels? It was 27 on day one, 21.5 on day two, 19.5 yesterday and 15.7 today. Also, is it normal to feel a little woozy and woolly headed even when my blood sugars are still over the limit? Is it just my body getting used to less sugar (albeit still high by normal limits).
6. How quickly can I expect my HbA1c to drop? I know it won't happen overnight. I have my next HbA1c in 4 weeks time and I'm not expecting much change as I realise that I've only just started to implement the changes. However, can I expect good results at the HbA1c check after that? (so in 16 weeks time?)
7. I'm reluctant to take medication in the long term (I'm conscious of the impact medication has on the liver). Will my GP take me off the medication if I can get my numbers down?
8. I'm extremely unfit at the moment, having done little to no exercise for nearly 2 years (I work 40 hours a week at a desk job and have been spending 30 hours a week on top of that studying for my Masters). It is recommended that I do 150 minutes a week of cardio - how is best to divide this? For example, I've been doing an hour long walk every other day for the last week. Is this the best way forward? Or will I see better blood sugar control if I do say 30 minutes every day (as opposed to 1 hour every OTHER day)?
9. Do I need to test my blood sugars before going out for a walk? I read stuff on line about exercise causing problems with blood sugars but I couldn't ascertain if this was for T1D or T2D and did't know if it only applied to intensive or strenuous exercise.
10. On my last HbA1C blood tests, there were some abnormal results for my liver. The GP said she isn't overly concerned but is sending me for a x-ray/scan. I've read online that it could be fatty liver - once I get my diet and numbers under control will this also improve a fatty liver?
I'm sure I'll have a million other questions as I begin getting to grips with this awful situation but any help you can offer will be greatly received and appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
I'm not sure if I have done this right but I was hoping that you would be able to help me please.
Background - I'm 34 and I was diagnosed with PCOS around twenty years ago and receive no treatment/medication. My adult weight has fluctuated between 14st and 23st at my heaviest. I am a prolific yo-yo dieter and can lose weight successfully to a certain point. In March 2019 I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and had a HbA1c of 75 (my weight at that time was around 23st) . The nurse was not overly concerned as blood tests in July 2018 (for something else) had recorded my HbA1c as 45, so she believed the T2D was only a recent development and probably a result of 'overindulgence at christmas' (her words not mine). I was given a prescription for Metformin and sent packing by the Diabetic Nurse at my GP Surgery. I suffer from episodes of depression and anxiety, denial kicked in and I buried my head in the sand. Diet did not change and I did not take the medication. In retrospect, I should have sought support and advice but I didn't. If I could go back in time then I would.
Fast forward to March/April 2020. I wasn't feeling well (short of breath, fatigue, headaches, pains in my muscles, digestive issues etc) so I confessed to my GP that I was not controlling my T2D. Blood tests done and my most recent HbA1c is 131.
Since the last HbA1c results, I've been trying to cut out junk food etc. I am a stubborn s*d and thought I could get my numbers under control myself. I've now reached my 'it's now or never' moment and know that I have to make serious changes and take action before I (1) die (2) end up in hospital (3) create serious long term health problems. So, 3 days ago I have given in to taking the Glicazide (80mg a day (2x40)) my GP prescribed in March and I'm monitoring my fasting blood glucose. But I have lots of questions and desperately need some support please.
I've set myself a goal of reversing my T2D diagnosis or getting it within remission limits within 12 months. Can any of you offer some general advice please? And/or answer my specific questions below?:
1. I've found some really interesting material by Dr Jason Fung online - have any of you had any good results with fasting? Either fasting for 24/36hrs at a time? Or fasting for 16 hours? I've been trying the 16/8 method of fasting for the last 3 days as my GP said I shouldn't do 24 hours or longer due to the Glicazide?
2. If any of you do fast, do you notice that it impacts your fasting blood glucose? I'm not sure whether this will improve or hinder my fasting blood sugar control.
3. I'm going to try to follow the Low Carb High Fat diet - does anyone experience gallbladder problems with this type of diet? I have gallstones and my GP always said fat is a trigger for gallbladder pain but after doing some reading I'm not sure if this is right.
4. Has anyone else with PCOS found that the LCHF helps with their symptoms? Or will PCOS prevent me from getting my T2D in remission?
5. How quickly can I expect my fasting blood glucose to get to normal/acceptable levels? It was 27 on day one, 21.5 on day two, 19.5 yesterday and 15.7 today. Also, is it normal to feel a little woozy and woolly headed even when my blood sugars are still over the limit? Is it just my body getting used to less sugar (albeit still high by normal limits).
6. How quickly can I expect my HbA1c to drop? I know it won't happen overnight. I have my next HbA1c in 4 weeks time and I'm not expecting much change as I realise that I've only just started to implement the changes. However, can I expect good results at the HbA1c check after that? (so in 16 weeks time?)
7. I'm reluctant to take medication in the long term (I'm conscious of the impact medication has on the liver). Will my GP take me off the medication if I can get my numbers down?
8. I'm extremely unfit at the moment, having done little to no exercise for nearly 2 years (I work 40 hours a week at a desk job and have been spending 30 hours a week on top of that studying for my Masters). It is recommended that I do 150 minutes a week of cardio - how is best to divide this? For example, I've been doing an hour long walk every other day for the last week. Is this the best way forward? Or will I see better blood sugar control if I do say 30 minutes every day (as opposed to 1 hour every OTHER day)?
9. Do I need to test my blood sugars before going out for a walk? I read stuff on line about exercise causing problems with blood sugars but I couldn't ascertain if this was for T1D or T2D and did't know if it only applied to intensive or strenuous exercise.
10. On my last HbA1C blood tests, there were some abnormal results for my liver. The GP said she isn't overly concerned but is sending me for a x-ray/scan. I've read online that it could be fatty liver - once I get my diet and numbers under control will this also improve a fatty liver?
I'm sure I'll have a million other questions as I begin getting to grips with this awful situation but any help you can offer will be greatly received and appreciated.
Thanks in advance!