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Type 2 Can’t do this anymore advice please

M

mraconnor

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11
I have been type 2 since 2008 in 2015 I had completely reversed it through running and keto I was super low on hba1c of 5.5 lost 4 stone all good fast forward and am 5 foot 8 90kg I have not been able to run much due to a bad ankle and am now on 4 slow release metformin daily 1.2 dose of victoza and empaglifozin.

Today for example I had eggs and ham for breakfast 1 slice of white toast 2 hours later I was at 8.7

Lunch was a falafel wrap and sweet potato fries 3 hours later I am at 18.7 and been active for those 3 hours up and down ladders hba1c last week of 9.

I just feel run down and on empty also on propanol and citalopram for depression.

I just don’t know what to do tried fasting and coz of the meds I get really sick.

I just don’t want to keep this up it sucks.

 
The fact that you are unable to run much due to a bad ankle is obviously not helping and its more than likely having a knock on effect to your metal health. Its the same for me when I for some reason cannot exercise I hit a downer. Your diet might be the cause also as the toast would send my levels to rocket. Have you spoken to the DN or GP as they may be able to change the dose of your medication. Or just speak to them about how you are feeling, it may help. A problem shared and all that
 
I’m newly diagnosed type 2, so I’m still learning and looking at resources so I find your post interesting. If you don’t mind answering a personal question could I ask if you take propranolol several times a day or just as needed? I’ve been reading research about it having some effect on glucose as well as antidepressants. I’m currently keeping track of food and meds to see if there is a correlation. Please stay strong, you’ve kicked it’s ass before and can do it again
 
So keto worked before. Any reason you don’t go back to this? Todays food is a fair amount of carbs. And if you did it well before you know that keto does not equal dust.

I would note that empagliflozin isn’t a great mix with low carb as it is associated with euglycemic dka so if you want to go back to keto best get this med switched for something else or dropped first.

Not sure what effect the other depression meds have on blood glucose.
 
mraconnor said:
Dust it is then
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It's not quite that bad @mraconnor
Any meat you fancy, fish, eggs, cheese, as much above ground veg as you can fit on your plate, low carb fruit like strawberry, raspberries, avocado, maybe the occasional small apple. Then of course there is full fat yoghurt or cream, add a few berries and you've got a tasty breakfast or pudding.
try to avoid the higher carb veg like spuds, sweet potato (the clue is in the name) parsnips, and of course the big hitters like bread, wraps, cereals.
mraconnor said:
Today for example I had eggs and ham for breakfast 1 slice of white toast 2 hours later I was at 8.7
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Ham and eggs is a wonderful low carb breakfast but the toast is probably somewhere in the region of 20g of carbs. That's the equivalent to 4 maybe 5 teaspoons of sugar that your body can't handle.
The energy in that bread is not getting where its needed it's just hanging around in your blood.
Forget the bread, have an extra couple of slices of ham or another egg, maybe add some mushrooms cooked in butter.
Now you've got a delicious low carb breakfast that will keep you going most of the day without causing hardly a blip in your sugar levels, and not a speck of dust to be seen.
 
mraconnor said:
Dust it is then
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Well I wouldn't recommend dust but what ever floats your boat. There are some great alternatives that would be a lot more appetising. I felt completely deflated and disheartened when I first was diagnosed. I thought I would never be able to eat anything remotely nice and filling ever again - how wrong was I. I am sure you will get some great ideas, its just a case of finding those taste buds again.
 

The citalopram does mess with my levels since I started it hba1c has been higher. I take 1 propanol a day not noticed anything with this but the citalopram does have an issue.
 

I did get fed up with keto and tried again and ended up with dka symptoms the gp refused to admit this is what it was despite the empaglifozin.
 

The toast didn’t really spike it as it was 8.7 after 3 hours but I do see your point.

Thanks
 
mraconnor said:
The citalopram does mess with my levels since I started it hba1c has been higher. I take 1 propanol a day not noticed anything with this but the citalopram does have an issue.
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What has your DN suggested about the citalopram and hba1c levels? I can properly feel your frustration with this. I can’t get my readings down either so I’m dropping all potatoes/rice/bread even though I’ve been having smaller healthier portions hoping it helps
 
mraconnor said:
I did get fed up with keto and tried again and ended up with dka symptoms the gp refused to admit this is what it was despite the empaglifozin.
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So if you want to low carb again because you know it works go back and ask for a medication that isn’t an sglt2 to replace the empagliflozin and eliminate that risk. Believe me when I say I understand how hard it gets at times and how it’s incredibly easy to fall into a boredom trap with food no matter what style of eating you are aiming at.

If your dr doesn’t know about it then they really really need to do a quick google search on sglt2 and euglycemic dka.
 
Thanks I am stopping the empaglifozin and going to come off the citalopram under supervision. Going to reduce the carbs to 20g or less per day and get to the gym.

Also going to detox off sugar free soda as I drink way to much.

I find breakfast the hardest any suggestions that’s not eggs love them but they do get boring. Also no bacon as heart health is a big worry due to high blood count
 
If you are going to go keto (20g ish) then you have to replace that energy with something and without carbs it’s proteins and fats. You do understand that keto or low carbs involve eating fats?

And there’s a lot to learn about how fats really work in the absence of carbs. We’ve had it drilled into us fats are bad but the evidence is weak and if you look at what’s happened to the population since that became the standard it really doesn’t look like it’s working does it. It’s a huge adjustment mentally but almost all of us find triglycerides drop a lot, HDL rises and ratios improve. LDL is more variable and there’s lots to learn about the evidence around what’s actually causing the harm (spoiler it’s the carbs and the junk more than the natural fats)

Before you get too far into it you really need to understand how low carb works. Otherwise keto flu and hunger and maybe other unnecessary side effects will happen and you might decide it doesn’t works when really it’s a lack of knowledge. This is a good starting point https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/keto

top tips.
1. Eat enough food, especially in the early weeks whilst you adapt. Otherwise you’ll be hungry miserable and exhausted.
2. Drink more fluids. Carbs hold water, without them in the early weeks it’s easy to get dehydrated and feel awful.
3. Eat electrolyte rich foods. Sodium, magnesium and potassium especially. If you really can’t then take a supplement. More fluids and less processed rubbish means these can dip and make you feel awful.

It gets easier as the cravings drop off and our bodies learn to use our body and dietary fats to help fuel us. Lots of support in here for it if you have questions
 
mraconnor said:
I find breakfast the hardest any suggestions that’s not eggs
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Easy one.
Mix 500g plain greek yoghurt (not low or no fat) with 5 tablespoons milled seeds and 10 tablespoons of frozen berries.
Leave overnight.
Day 1 eat a 5th
Day 2 eat a quarter of what's left
Day 3 eat a third of what's left
Day 4 eat half of what's left
Day 5 eat the rest.
It gradually gets thicker through the week.
Can vary the amounts to taste, you may like more yoghurt.
Can also add a little cocoa powder or grated chocolate.
Cinnamon or ginger may be added, or a little coffee (omitting berries)
 
Breakfast idea that aren’t eggs

Chia seeds left overnight in coconut milk
meats and cheeses continental style
left overs from dinner (it’s only habit and mr Kellogg’s marketing dept that says it’s cereals)
a nut and seed mix granola style with Greek yoghurt
skip it if you aren’t hungry and have a bigger lunch instead
 
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