Dramatic weight loss

[Ian090]

I was diagnosed Type 2 16th of December 22. HB1 of 49 then 52 on second test. So borderline but still above
I immediately cut out obvious carbs bread, rice, potatoes etc Also sugar desserts
The add wrinkle in my story was on the 20th I left for a 2 weeks cruise of the Carribbean over the holidays
On that cruise I drank some alcohol & nibbles of cakes. However it was well down on what I would have eaten. I ate mainly protein & salads. I also went to the gym on a number of occasions
Coming back I went full Keto and also burning around 1000 cals on my Peloton daily. I'm a big guy but exercise quite a bit
The results are my weight from the 16th of December was 136kgs doctors scales and today a month later it's 122.5. My glucose blood home tester is giving me results of 4.2 to 4.6. I've been also in low 3and twice in 2s
I've checked on other scales & they give me the same result. Also old clothes that were too tight suddenly fit
Is this normal as it seems very dramatic to me

 

[AloeSvea]

Well done you, @Ian090 . As you are not medicated I can only look at your blood glucose readings with great admiration.

(If you were on medication some of those would be a worry, they are so low!) (I am assuming it might have been a meter reading issue? Who knows?!)

I look forward to seeing your next HBA1c, which will surely reflect such great reductions in blood glucose.

 

[Diablo T2]

Hi @Ian090 - when I cut out carbs, essentially going keto, I had a similar rate of initial weight loss in the first few weeks. When your intake is absent of carbs it also retains less water.

 

[Ian090]

Well done you, @Ian090 . As you are not medicated I can only look at your blood glucose readings with great admiration.

(If you were on medication some of those would be a worry, they are so low!) (I am assuming it might have been a meter reading issue? Who knows?!)

I look forward to seeing your next HBA1c, which will surely reflect such great reductions in blood glucose.

Thanks. No no medication
I have a family history of Type 2. It did for my father
Therefore I'm tested regularly and my results have always been surprisingly low. I always expected the news. On this occasion within 6 months I'd bypassed the pre diabetic phase & gone to full type 2. The nurse commented what's changed so much
Now I'm back to low results and checked the machine with the families results
This & the weight l
oss seems, well a little odd to me

 

[Ian090]

Hi @Ian090 - when I cut out carbs, essentially going keto, I had a similar rate of initial weight loss in the first few weeks. When your intake is absent of carbs it also retains less water.

The water is a fair point. But I'm through now 4 weeks
The other signs to look for to check if it's fat not water are clothes and waist
I'm getting into clothes that I couldn't pre Christmas for ages and my waist measurement has dropped by 2cms
Having done diets before I know the pitfalls & this seems remarkable, well for me

 

[Robbity]

When I was first diagnosed, I started cutting back right down on carbs. I was advised to lose 50kg to achieve my recommended weight, and while I was not actually seriously dieting, I did lose just on half this in the first couple of months, and my glucose levels came down to, and have remained at, pre-diabetic levels.

Cutting down low enough on carbs (e.g. eating your "Keto" diet) means your body will start burning fat for fuel, as intended. So if you don't start eating some extra fat your body will resort to using its stored supplies.

I'm more than happy with my weight loss, but under different circumstances, unexplained/unintended weight loss may sometimes be a cause for concern.

 

[Outlier]

I went keto upon diagnosis a few months before you, and weight just fell off. I had no idea it was going to do that as I was prioritising getting my blood glucose readings down. The weight loss, which I certainly needed, was a huge bonus. I speak as one who has fought my weight bitterly for decades. Suddenly it was easy - no credit to me, it just followed on from going keto. Which isn't for everybody, but is a great option for those who want to and are able to.

It isn't linear or steady for me, but seems to go in a series of plateaux. My weight is now perfectly acceptable by any standards, though personally I'd like to lose a bit more to give some wiggle room. It might happen or it might not. I'm seeing myself as an interesting experiment. Meanwhile, my diabetes is in remission.

So yes - perfectly normal, and my congratulations on your progress.

 

[KennyA]

I was diagnosed Type 2 16th of December 22. HB1 of 49 then 52 on second test. So borderline but still above
I immediately cut out obvious carbs bread, rice, potatoes etc Also sugar desserts
The add wrinkle in my story was on the 20th I left for a 2 weeks cruise of the Carribbean over the holidays
On that cruise I drank some alcohol & nibbles of cakes. However it was well down on what I would have eaten. I ate mainly protein & salads. I also went to the gym on a number of occasions
Coming back I went full Keto and also burning around 1000 cals on my Peloton daily. I'm a big guy but exercise quite a bit
The results are my weight from the 16th of December was 136kgs doctors scales and today a month later it's 122.5. My glucose blood home tester is giving me results of 4.2 to 4.6. I've been also in low 3and twice in 2s
I've checked on other scales & they give me the same result. Also old clothes that were too tight suddenly fit
Is this normal as it seems very dramatic to me

That is pretty much in line with my own experience. It was the clothes I noticed first, within a week or so really. Amongst other things, I had to buy a succession of belts. I found that the early weight loss didn't continue at the same rate, but did and does continue steadily. I lose more in the winter than in the summer, don't know why. You might find also that you reach a short-term plateau (or two) where weight loss stops, then restarts.

You are probably in ketosis - which just means you're burning fat. That's usually detected from ketones in your urine. You can check for this yourself by using keto sticks obtainable from the chemist - also some meters will check ketones if you use ketone rather than glucose strips.

Your low readings could be a meter issue. Have you thought about doing a period using a Libre CGM? It should show you how your blood glucose changes through the day and night, and gives you information you can't/won't get from fingerprick readings - such as what happens while you're asleep.

 

[Ian090]

That is pretty much in line with my own experience. It was the clothes I noticed first, within a week or so really. Amongst other things, I had to buy a succession of belts. I found that the early weight loss didn't continue at the same rate, but did and does continue steadily. I lose more in the winter than in the summer, don't know why. You might find also that you reach a short-term plateau (or two) where weight loss stops, then restarts.

You are probably in ketosis - which just means you're burning fat. That's usually detected from ketones in your urine. You can check for this yourself by using keto sticks obtainable from the chemist - also some meters will check ketones if you use ketone rather than glucose strips.

Your low readings could be a meter issue. Have you thought about doing a period using a Libre CGM? It should show you how your blood glucose changes through the day and night, and gives you information you can't/won't get from fingerprick readings - such as what happens while you're asleep.

Thanks for the reply
I'm sure the meter is correct as I correlation it with my wife's reading at the time and with another test strip for me. I'm burning through them at a fast rate!
I was only borderline on diagnosis and before that 3 months of H1B was always low on the results.
I'm being tested again at the end of March so I'll ask some questions about if something has thrown me out
The truth is I needed to lose weight and my job which involves weekly international travel, hotels & mega carby food was killing me
The first step for me was accepting the diagnosis as difficult as that is and then taking control and not letting the disease define my life. Hopefully I can keep it up

 

[KennyA]

Thanks for the reply
I'm sure the meter is correct as I correlation it with my wife's reading at the time and with another test strip for me. I'm burning through them at a fast rate!
I was only borderline on diagnosis and before that 3 months of H1B was always low on the results.
I'm being tested again at the end of March so I'll ask some questions about if something has thrown me out
The truth is I needed to lose weight and my job which involves weekly international travel, hotels & mega carby food was killing me
The first step for me was accepting the diagnosis as difficult as that is and then taking control and not letting the disease define my life. Hopefully I can keep it up

I spent the ten years before retirement largely away from home most of the week, living and eating in hotels and restaurants - I recognise the pattern. Add in following the official high carb "healthy eating" guidelines and you have the problem.

If you've been symptom-free so far you've a good chance to keep it that way. I had a range of nasty symptoms when my BGs were 44/45, so plenty of personal incentive to keep them low.

If I hadn't done the Libre trial I would never have realised that my BG was occasionally dropping into the low threes overnight. The current view is that T2s don't have hypos (low threes is definite hypo territory) but there are more than a few accounts on here of T2s reporting just such levels. It looks like these often wouldn't have become apparent without the Libre, and without the free trials I certainly wouldn't have thought it worthwhile.

 

[Ian090]

I spent the ten years before retirement largely away from home most of the week, living and eating in hotels and restaurants - I recognise the pattern. Add in following the official high carb "healthy eating" guidelines and you have the problem.

If you've been symptom-free so far you've a good chance to keep it that way. I had a range of nasty symptoms when my BGs were 44/45, so plenty of personal incentive to keep them low.

If I hadn't done the Libre trial I would never have realised that my BG was occasionally dropping into the low threes overnight. The current view is that T2s don't have hypos (low threes is definite hypo territory) but there are more than a few accounts on here of T2s reporting just such levels. It looks like these often wouldn't have become apparent without the Libre, and without the free trials I certainly wouldn't have thought it worthwhile.

Before the diagnosis I was skipping lunch and eating very late. This was I suspect giving me spikes and lows.
One of the things that triggered me was blurred vision, forgetfulness and dizziness
My eating and pattern of eating was awful. During Covid when I didn't travel I recorded my lowers scores. Looking back now it's all so obvious but at the time you don't want to o admit
Something else that has happened is a number of skin tags around my eyes, neck and armpits have either gone or have shrunk to nothing
The changes in my body in 1 month is fascinating