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Carbs

Hm112819

Active Member
Messages
43
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Other
After finding out I had diabetes I took the excellent advice on this forum and went low carb + an hour of exercise a day. Over 3 months I've lost a considerable amount of weight and all BG are now well in the normal range.

The last few weeks I've been testing what I can tolerate carb wise. It appears at this point I can eat virtually anything.

I'm after some advice RE long term diet. Would a return to a higher carb diet increase the chances of diabetes progressing, by putting the pancreas under pressure
 
Hm112819 said:
I'm after some advice RE long term diet. Would a return to a higher carb diet increase the chances of diabetes progressing, by putting the pancreas under pressure
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This is close to a debate that pops up every now and again. A poster claims that they are cured because their BG's are low. Usually they are advised to refer to themselves as well controlled since a return to their old habits will result in a return to their old blood glucose levels.
So far I am not aware of anyone saying they are cured to the point where they can eat anything. I know you are not saying that you will eat anything but I suspect your blood glucose levels will reflect the amount of carbohydrate you eat.

You can always try it and let us all know the result.
 


having lost all the weight and got the blood sugars under control , why would you want to return to a higher carb diet ? you probably look and feel better than you've done in years? why not simply carry on with what you are doing, add a bit more of it to keep weight stable and then maybe have the occasional treat ? making sure that none of that resulted in weight gain ?
 
Thankyou for the responses.

I'm not claiming to be cured at all, at this point in time I seem to have got to the point I can tolerate carbs again.

With regards to diet, id prefer to eat a balanced diet (when I reflect back I had been over eating for years). My main concern is, will this increased carb load weaken my pancreas overtime.
 
Hm112819 said:
My main concern is, will this increased carb load weaken my pancreas overtime.
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The current thinking is that the performance of the pancreas is most affected by a fatty liver. Drinkers and people who take lots of sugar are most likely to suffer from that.

Of much more concern is what damage the raised glucose levels will do to your other organs. Long term raised blood sugar is what causes neuropathy, blindness and amputations and all the other horrors you hear about.
 
Hi @Hm112819, my advice would be to do what will sustain you in a "lifestyle". If you go higher carb you will be more likely to revert somewhat from your current position. We know the more carbs, the more you crave them and the more insulin required to cover the glucose. What is it you are missing? If I see my non-diabetic friends and family with a potion of chips, I might have 3 or 4 only, for my cake fix, this is strictly low carb, and for chocolate 70% plus dark (with just a couple of bites).

If I were you I would explore further low carb options, are you really missing out on potatoes, rice, pasta and bread? I get it if it is the sweeter stuff, for this I would recommend home made, so you can know what has gone into it and can adjust the sugar substitute such as Stevia or Xylitol.

I am on the maintenance phase of my journey (like you) and sticking with LCHF, with heavy influences of vegetables and berries. You will have to be comfortable with you ultimate decision as you can't go against the direction your mind wants to adopt.
 
Apologies if I'm not explaining myself properly.

I'm adamant I will maintain the weight loss and excercise. At this point in time I can tolerate more carbs. For example last night I ate spaghetti Bolognese and garlic bread, I checked before hand 4.8, 1 hour after 5.2 and 2 hours 4.7.

I'm trying to understand if an increased carb intake will put pressure on my pancreas overtime. ie will my BG control weaken overtime.
 
I doubt many of us Get Numbers anything like that! maybe just add the crbs in gradually, if the bs starts going up, reduce again until you find a sustainable level that leaves your blood sugar where you want it to be
 
Might I suggest reading Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution for information gleaned from many thousands of his patients?
The reintroduction of foods is all part of the process and it is laid out fairly clearly. Add in testing BG levels as you go and you should be able to gauge just what effect various foods have when you eat them regularly. There is also a lot of information about meal plans and time intervals.
The books were available for pennies at one time, and also copies are available on line. I use the version which has a blue strip across the top of the cover with 'completely updated' at the top of that.
 
 
Thanks for the info, I'll check after longer intervals as well next time.

I did check the next day and it was 5.2, but I do seem to get the dawn phenomenon.

I'll grab a copy of that book. I'm completely accepting that I might not be able to eat particular foods.
 
Just what everyone else said really. A couple of other things I found was :- I can eat certain amount of mashed potato or rice but not every day. Bread and cereals, spike me and I'm better avoiding them at all times. I also stay away from the sweet stuff most of the time although I trip up occasionally The other thing I have to watch is weight gain, recently put on some pounds and it affected all of my blood glucose readings until I got most of it off again.
You've done really well with your weight and low carb diet, congratulations
 
I sense your frustration at not getting the specific answer to your question, @Hm112819 but your numbers are quite special, and most of us don't see anything like those. Very few of us have the experience to give you advice on how the pancreas would suffer under a renewed carb-y diet. Do you know if carbs were responsible for your becoming diabetic? Do you think that adding carbs back into to your diet is healthier than your current regime?
 
I'm in a similar position and have tested myself on various carb rich and sugary foods and I don't spike either but I'm only allowing myself the occasional treat because I am very wary of messing up what I worked hard to achieve.
 

Well done @Hm112819 on your great results through hard work

Would anyone who has had success with the Newcastle Diet like to pitch in? @andcol maybe?

Professor Taylor said that results could be achieved with significant weight loss my any means.

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/magres/research/diabetes/reversal/#overview
 
To be honest I've got no idea if it was carbs that caused previous spikes. I was diagnosed with a HB1AC score of 54.

I found out about being diabetic and stumbled upon this site, which has honestly been a life saver. The low carb route got my BG under control in a week.

I've lost 4 1/2 stone (from 17.5), but certainly seen the biggest benefit in the last stone.

I'm going to continue with exercise, maintain weight and start to include carbs (whilst testing).

I appreciate all the comments.
 

I have to say that I have don't almost the exact same thing and gone from 87 kilo's down to 63.7 My blood glucose went to 39
and Metformin to just two a day from six after about twelve years of T2.

I think what you are talking about when you say you want a 'balanced diet' is to be honest, carb cravings which equals
sugar cravings. Also the more you exercise the more you will crave
food. Exercise is fantastic, as is your progress, but you still have issues with Diabetes. It's like being an alcoholic to a great extent.
One never becomes UN alcoholic. If an alcoholic were to drink again, they would be returning to the disease latent because the triggers were 'activated' again. It will always be that way.

Since the carbs you eat have a cumulative as well as instant effect
you will find that more exposure to carbs over a longer period, will cause your Diabetes to slowly and silently return. However, I believe the fact that you are exercising is burning off the amount of carbs you are eating. Should you change your life style, or increase your carbs, you will see a decline in your health. IF you can continue to exercise every day for an hour, you may continue to manage on small amounts if carbs if have 'treats' days...we are all human after all...BUT....if you change your lifestyle and your carbs are up, it WILL return. The biggest problem is cravings for carbs.
You have no need to eat carbs...in fact..you already do, because all food converts to glucose...even proteins. Adding carbs in the form of breads, rice, pasta etc..will return you to the place you were before when you were diagnosed.

I am...right now dealing with carb cravings and slipping backwards again..blood sugar this month has increased to 42 (HBA1C) from 39 last quarter appointment blood tests. Blame it on carbs at Easter and Christmas and birthdays etc. Now I need to study all over again to regain my position. Two others in our house are at the same place...carb cravings and un disciplined eating creeping back.

Thankfully, I only have to couple of kilo's to loose to get back to the place where I was on the better road.

Last advice to you after this long reply....

Don't treat what you were doing to loose weight as a 'diet' ...'balanced' or otherwise. Forget any word like that in your vocabulary. Think only of the fact that low carb is a lifestyle..and a life saver. Good luck and well done so far on your journey. Never give up the fight for your health and a happier life.
 
It's great that you've lost weight and got your HBA1C down. Well done. However, its a slippery slope if you start to reintroduce carbs. As others have said, it's a bit like being an alcoholic. My belief is that we can never consider ourselves "cured" merely in remission, and a return to eating carbs in the way we did previously will lead to the diabetes kicking in again.

Have you thought about coming off medication? You are still on metformin, which will be helping get your levels down. Obviously you need to be guided by your GP but that might be your next goal rather than to increase your carb intake?
 
Hm112819 said:
I'm trying to understand if an increased carb intake will put pressure on my pancreas overtime. ie will my BG control weaken overtime.
Click to expand...

If you could do a OGTT with insulin test, then you will know if your pancreas is working in overdrive to keep the glucose stable,,,

Too often we ignore the fact that a stable glucose does not reflect the chronically elevated insulin levels needed to maintain that stability...

 
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