8 week blood sugar diet

[Annb]

I've recently heard about this diet and, since I like the stuff Michael Mosely does,I bought his book in the hope that perhaps, at last, there would be an answer for me and my idiot body.

It all seems good, and I think I could do it - I am already on reduced carbs despite what our dietician says (which basically seems to be that I need carbs to feed the insulin I'm having to take to control the sugar) but towards the end of the book he seems to indicate that I would be wasting my time! The diet is not for someone who is being treated for high blood pressure (I'm on 3 different tablets for that) or for anyone who is not supervised and on insulin. Neither is it for someone who has had a diagnosis for more than 4 years or who cannot do much exercise.

I am T2 and have had a diagnosis for about 11 years - that was only when I finally asked my doctor if I was diabetic. I may well have been diabetic for donkey's years! I certainly had problems with sugar, for which I asked for help, some 40+ years ago! Nobody, then, thought to do a blood test or a urine test. Again, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure in 1987, although I had been seeking reasons for serious headaches and being on the verge of collapse since my second son was born in 1969.

Actually, one very odd fact was that, the day before I went into labour on 5 November '69, I weighed myself and was 11stone 10 pounds. Next day my son was born and weighed in at 9lb 8oz. So, I reckoned I should be about a stone lighter (what with fluids, placenta and all) so I jumped on the scales and what did I weigh? 11stone 10lbs! It had to be fluid - nothing else could have put so much weight back on so quickly. Since then I have had major problems with fluid retention - and still have.

This was not picked up by doctors - along with other complications which should have been noticed and weren't. All I ever get from doctors is "yes, you have a problem with ..... but you can't do anything about it so you have to live with it."

Anyway, I am 71, 4 stone overweight with a huge abdomen, fatty liver (one of the things I'm told I can't do anything about), arthritic (legs and back, so exercise is difficult), blood sugars not too bad but not well controlled and living in an area where the medical professionals don't believe in reducing carbs. I don't have a gall bladder, so fats are an issue. I was to have had knee replacement surgery in March but have been told that it isn't going to happen because I'm not fit - they seem to be especially bothered about the ECG that was done a couple of weeks back, although I had to glean what information I have from a medical secretary because nobody has told me what the problem is, or even that my op has been put off!

I'm fed up!

Would anyone advise that I should try the 8 week BS diet without medical support? I have to do something or this thing is going to kill me - and I can't afford to die yet - I am the main carer for my terminally ill husband. Actually, I was told 5 years ago that he hadn't long to go and he has nearly died several times over these years, but has rallied each time. Stress - that's another issue, plus lack of sleep. The way we're going I might pop my clogs first!

 

[AndBreathe]

I've recently heard about this diet and, since I like the stuff Michael Mosely does,I bought his book in the hope that perhaps, at last, there would be an answer for me and my idiot body.

It all seems good, and I think I could do it - I am already on reduced carbs despite what our dietician says (which basically seems to be that I need carbs to feed the insulin I'm having to take to control the sugar) but towards the end of the book he seems to indicate that I would be wasting my time! The diet is not for someone who is being treated for high blood pressure (I'm on 3 different tablets for that) or for anyone who is not supervised and on insulin. Neither is it for someone who has had a diagnosis for more than 4 years or who cannot do much exercise.

I am T2 and have had a diagnosis for about 11 years - that was only when I finally asked my doctor if I was diabetic. I may well have been diabetic for donkey's years! I certainly had problems with sugar, for which I asked for help, some 40+ years ago! Nobody, then, thought to do a blood test or a urine test. Again, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure in 1987, although I had been seeking reasons for serious headaches and being on the verge of collapse since my second son was born in 1969.

Actually, one very odd fact was that, the day before I went into labour on 5 November '69, I weighed myself and was 11stone 10 pounds. Next day my son was born and weighed in at 9lb 8oz. So, I reckoned I should be about a stone lighter (what with fluids, placenta and all) so I jumped on the scales and what did I weigh? 11stone 10lbs! It had to be fluid - nothing else could have put so much weight back on so quickly. Since then I have had major problems with fluid retention - and still have.

This was not picked up by doctors - along with other complications which should have been noticed and weren't. All I ever get from doctors is "yes, you have a problem with ..... but you can't do anything about it so you have to live with it."

Anyway, I am 71, 4 stone overweight with a huge abdomen, fatty liver (one of the things I'm told I can't do anything about), arthritic (legs and back, so exercise is difficult), blood sugars not too bad but not well controlled and living in an area where the medical professionals don't believe in reducing carbs. I don't have a gall bladder, so fats are an issue. I was to have had knee replacement surgery in March but have been told that it isn't going to happen because I'm not fit - they seem to be especially bothered about the ECG that was done a couple of weeks back, although I had to glean what information I have from a medical secretary because nobody has told me what the problem is, or even that my op has been put off!

I'm fed up!

Would anyone advise that I should try the 8 week BS diet without medical support? I have to do something or this thing is going to kill me - and I can't afford to die yet - I am the main carer for my terminally ill husband. Actually, I was told 5 years ago that he hadn't long to go and he has nearly died several times over these years, but has rallied each time. Stress - that's another issue, plus lack of sleep. The way we're going I might pop my clogs first!

You mention, in passing, it seems, you are taking insulin? If this is the case you need to be very careful, and unless you are very used to varying your doses to match your food intake, it could be dangerous.

If in doubt, please discuss it with your Doc. I really would hate to think you were trying your very best to make yourself healthier, then make yourself unwell in the process. In addition, any massive change to anyone's diet will put some strain on their bodies, whilst their body adjusts. If there is any question whatsoever over your heart function, then you really mustn't wing this without the support of your Doctor.

I don't want to talk about Russian Roullette, but the term could be near the front of my mind if you just poll on with this.

 

[Annb]

Thanks both. I have an appointment in 2 weeks' time with a doctor - she is one I think I can at least talk to, but can only get an appointment about once a month. I don't know her opinion on diets yet. She should be able to tell me what the concern is over my hospital results - if they've told her. I haven't been told how to match insulin to food intake just at a 6 month appointment the nurse asks how much I have been taking and if that seems to be working.

Having read the book, I'm keen to make a start - right now! I didn't follow guidance when I started reducing carbs, but it hasn't made much difference, if any, so I really feel that I need to go further. It seems to me that, if this doctor won't go along with it, I'll be on my own and just slowly, or quickly get into a downward spiral.m I don't want to give up on this (on me) but I think "They" all have given up and always have done since I was quite young. I have never come across a GP or hospital doctor who was helpful, since I was 14 and my GP fought hard for me against hospital consultants who said my ulcerated appendix was just nerves.

It's lack of knowledge and/or concern amongst medics that has left me in this position - at least, that is my opinion and I don't trust doctors any more.

Still, I suppose you are both right - I probably shouldn't try it on my own. By the way - we live on an island and medical facilities are restricted. If this doctor doesn't want to help, I shall just have to try to find a way round it. There must be someone who is willing out there somewhere.

Thanks again.

 

[Chook]

Hello

I think the problem that will worry people the most is the dodgy ECG reading and high level of BP meds. I am not a doctor and can't give you medical advice or suggest you do something against the medical advice that you have received, all I can do is tell you what I've done. I wouldn't have done any of this without regularly testing my sugars and twice daily checking my BP with a properly calibrated home testing monitor and I wouldn't do it at all until finding out about that ECG reading.

I haven't got the ECG problem but I do take tablets for high BP. I have arthritis in my knees, back and neck so can't exercise as much as I would like to and I have trigger finger - I also had a large person collapse near me recently who I 'caught' and in the process damaged my back - so I take a fair amount of pain meds. I also used to inject insulin but I don't any more due to eating such a low carb diet that I don't need to. I reduced my carbs over about 8 weeks and reduced the insulin I was injecting accordingly. No sudden changes as the body doesn't like it. I test my blood first thing in the morning, at meal times, two hours after meal times and just before going to bed. If I try a new food I test every half hour after eating until my sugars have returned to normal.

I, too, have doctors who are less than supportive. Unfortunately I live in a small village and I don't drive so I don't have much choice but to stay with that particular surgery. I know that if they had their way I would still be eating a carb filled diet and injecting loads of insulin - I'd be 4st heavier and feeling rubbish - so I have, to some extent, chosen to take (careful and educated) risks against medical advice with the low carbing and, recently, with this 8 Week Blood Sugar Diet. For me they key thing was before starting this 8 week Blood Sugar Diet that I'd slowly reduced my carbs to a level where I could reduce and then stop my insulin injections. During the process of reducing my carbs I lost 4st.

Just recently, although my sugars are good, I have found my weight loss to have stalled and, like you, I read the 8 Week Blood Sugar Diet with a great deal of interest. I thought it seemed do-able but, like you, saw the warnings about who shouldn't do it. I decided to experiment VERY carefully - still eating my usual low carb foods but with less fat and slightly reduced portion sizes. Initially I tried it out for a single meal, then a couple of days later I tried a single day then a week later I tried it out for two days. All the while frequently testing BG and checking BP. I'm now trying it out for a week. Both during and after each 'experiment' I tested more frequently than usual over the next couple of days to see if there was any adverse reaction. I was ready to dump the diet at any time if I was worried in any way and go back to my normal low carb diet which I know my body likes.

After this week (which seems to be going fine) I am on holiday for a week and so will just revert back to low carbing. When I come back I think I will try another week of the 8 Week Blood Sugar Diet and see how that goes before committing myself to the whole 8 weeks.

As I've said many times before on this forum, we are all different and the above is my own personal experience. I am not saying its the right thing for anyone else to do and, when I do these things, I am very careful to test, test, test - and also to stop at any time.

Having said all this, and as someone who is prepared to take an educated risk, I REALLY don't think you should do anything until you know fully why medical people are bothered by that ECG.

 

[Annb]

Thanks chook. I think (in my saner moments) that you are right. I have to get this ECG thing sorted first, so must be patient. After all - it's all been going on for years now, so I don't suppose a few weeks is going to make that much difference. If it does - it's probably too late anyway. Whether it's psycholigical or not, I don't know but I've been feeling rubbish for the last couple of weeks and I'm anxious to do something about it - other than sleep, which I am good at (during the day anyway.

 

[Chook]

I'm so relieved you've chosen to wait.

Let me know when you're ready to start the Blood Sugar Diet if you want a diet buddy and we can work at it together.

Feeling tired (and rubbish) all the time is exactly how I felt before I reduced the amount of carbs I ate. Maybe you could cut back a bit on bread, spuds, pasta, cake and rice to see if that helps. (I even used to need a nap after eating a banana!)

I'm going on holiday tonight and I'm not sure about internet accessibility where I'm going but I'll try.

 

[Annb]

Hi Chook. Feeling rubbish all the time is normal for me but recently I've felt even more so. It may be something to do with more BP pills I've been put onto (Doxazosin) to replace the Amlodipine which the doctor took me off of because, apparently, it causes fluid retention - one of the wrong turnings I've taken in the past thanks to advice from doctors! Having changed that, the hope is that I may be able to do without the Furosimide - a diuretic which leads to other problems. I've been on Amlodipine and diuretic type BP pills for about 25-30 years. So who knows what the effect will be?

However - just this morning I realised that I often feel pretty awful soon after eating toast or bread (always 100% wholemeal and no more than 2 slices) so I've decided to cut that out from today. Just to try it. I've already cut out pasta, rice and potatoes and am looking for a flour with less carbohydrate in it. I've bought some chick pea flour but I can't take almond flour (intolerant of almonds). At lunch today I finished my last packet of Ryvita so must get some tomorrow.

I would love to go zero carbs, if I could, but I don't think I can go without altogether. I only shop once a week normally (because I have to stay with my husband) and that's online. Somehow I can't get sufficient salads - I always scoff them while they're fresh(ish) and just in the door so for the rest of the week I'm on cooked veggies plus (probably too much) meat and fish.

Enjoy your holiday and don't worry about replying to me. Thanks for your offer to be a buddy for me - you might regret it because I know I do go on a bit.