Hiya Pipp - glad to hear that you've got yourself on an even keel after your episode of pushing the limits!
A word of caution though - are you sure that it's safe to follow the Newcastle Diet for more than the 8 weeks recommended by Prof Taylor and the Newcastle Uni team? It would seem to me that the longer you follow a Very Low Calorie diet, the more risks you have of putting your body into starvation mode i.e. your BMR metabolism would slow down in order to use less calories, your weight loss would greatly slow, and you would end up with a huge insatiable appetite that would lead to quickly regaining weight after you stop your VLC regime. (I understand there's other unpleasant aspects of it). My understanding is that starvation mode is only likely to become an issue after a number of months - but I assumed that that was one reason why the Newcastle Diet team recommended an 8 week duration.
I'm not an expert, and I'm sure you've done plenty of homework and spoken to your healthcare team, but I'm just checking - for the sake of your own well-being
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(Personally, I'm following the advice from the Newcastle Uni team to lose weight slowly through a fairly normal calorie controlled diet (and regular exercise), rather than following the strict VLC 800 calories per day approach. I've lost 2.5 stone of my pre-diagnosis weight, and my last HBA1c was hugely improved. In discussion with my DSN, I've been dropping my daily dosage of Gliclazide over the last few weeks, and come off it completely a couple of days ago. I'm also really inspired to hear about your own "post-diabetic" success!)
@Tall Paul
Thank you so much for your supportive and caring post. Well done for your success with diabetes control.
I have been a bit quiet on forum, because I did despair about some unpleasant posts, but posts like yours help me remember that most people are kind.
It did take quite a while to get back to sensible mode after the uncontrolled carb eating. So for less than a week I have been using a VLCD.. I am concerned that someone could be reading the thread and thinking of going it alone on their own version of a Newcastle diet. So I will summarise briefly as I can what I have done.
September 2011, (6 years after T2 diagnosis) weight at heaviest 148kg, persuaded GP to allow me to try Newcastle method.
Using Lipotrim, a total food replacement method, completed 9 weeks. Whole time monitored by GP and pharmacy. Within days blood glucose returned to none diabetic levels, and have stayed that way since. Weight at end of 9 weeks was 114kg.
Maintained weight until Feb 2012, then started another period of total food replacement with Lipotrim, 8 weeks, weight fell to 95kg, April 2012.
Maintained weight until November 2012, but started to gain due to immobility, need for two major surgical operations, and eating carbs.
Gradual weight gain in interim, having been unable to move from chair, and depending on hospital food, other people catering for me at home, and I confess overindulging in 'treats' kind visitors brought. I was incapacitated for over 18 months, and some of the treatment I received in hospital caused severe psychological trauma. During this time my weight increased to 110kg. However, all blood glucose tests and HbA1c tests remained none diabetic.
A few months ago, I decided, with agreement of GP to give Newcastle dieting another try. Rather than total food replacement, I used Tesco Ultraslim, as vegetables are allowed, and I couldn't face the tough regime with no food at all again. In the 6 weeks I did this weight dropped to 102kg.
Then, thinking ahead to a more sustainable way of eating I was lured into LCHF. It made me feel sick, and I gained 3kg in just over a week. Then came the experiment. More weight gained, and hard to stop the carbs once I started. A week ago I weighed 110kg.
So, back to Ultraslim. I feel well on it. Will not do more than 6 weeks at a time, with GP approval. I won't rule out the Lipotrim total food replacement again if I need it. The only difficulty I had with that was social occasions. I do not like to draw attention to my way of eating, and food is always involved at social gatherings. I have also gradually increased exercise from none at all for 18 months to 6hours a week intense water based exercise, and 3-4 hours physiotherapy and Pilates.
I have decided to only be weighed every fortnight at the GP surgery, as I can get a bit obsessed with the numbers. I am testing BG at home a few times a week, as again, I don't want to get obsessed. Also, the method I am using currently is to use the Ultraslim products, supplement with 2servings of non-starchy veg daily, and allow up to 3 low fat, low carb meals a week if social occasions occur. I won't be using this form of diet for longer than 6 weeks at a time, and will leave at least 6 weeks between stints of Newcastle type dieting.
To summarise: Anyone thinking of Newcastle diet, it seems to have worked for me in that blood glucose levels have remained none diabetic for almost 3years, but I would not recommend it without carefully considering the academic papers from Prof Taylor and his team, and discussing with medical team.
There are other people who post who have stuck to a VLCD for many months with great success.
I hope this is clear. Happy to answer further questions if necessary.
