barxman
Newbie
- Messages
- 3
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
Hi, I'm a new member - guess I'm looking for some feedback.
I've had type 2 for 5+ years now. Initially, I avoided sugar and tried to exercise more regularly, but over the years, the number of times I would 'cheat' and have a cake or something would increase. Couldn't have a cup of tea without a biscuit. Never really tried to avoid any savoury foods at all. Over time I started to fall foul of some of the issues of the disease - reducing mental acuity, fatigue, and constant napping - but not the pleasant "40-winks" type; instead it was more like I was being dragged down into my grave. Could have been down to age, stress? Not good, but not definite enough for me to act.
I was kidding myself.
I got separated, moved country, got married, and there were other things to worry about for a time — years of damage.
Of all things, crippling procrastination was the thing that was finally pushing me to take a hard look at my relationship with the disease. Then I received a doctor's request to come in for my first UK diabetic check-up - and I know that going in with very high scores would mean insulin. THAT SCARES ME. So I got a Libre sensor and started measuring - seeing scores of 23-24 in the first few days, and an A1C estimate of 11.7% Checking online, I could see how awful those numbers are.
So - here we are three weeks later and on a crash LCHF diet. Seems to be helping. My peaks stay under 12, and I'm about 55-60% of the time in the 5.8-9 target range that the Libre app suggests. A1C estimate is 8.7%. I seem to suffer a high peak of dawn phenomenon, so I've tried IF once and will probably do that 2 or 3 times a week. Fasting for a morning wasn't so challenging.
I seem to be sharper and have more energy, but there are still moments (especially in the morning) of fatigue.
The shift in diet is a drama. Visiting restaurants is an exercise in frustration. No more beans on toast, Pot Noodles, curries with rice or naan bread, apple crumble and custard. No more biscuits for my tea!
On the other hand - turns out mangetout is edible for humans, sauteed cabbage is lovely, broccoli and cauliflower with cream cheese sauce is fab. Careful seasoning and the occasional teaspoon of monosodium glutamate helps a lot. It's a rollercoaster of salads and omelettes and cheese and blackberries and cream - and I can never get off it.
TL;DR - I've been an idiot. I am finally doing something about it. LCHF is hard.
I've had type 2 for 5+ years now. Initially, I avoided sugar and tried to exercise more regularly, but over the years, the number of times I would 'cheat' and have a cake or something would increase. Couldn't have a cup of tea without a biscuit. Never really tried to avoid any savoury foods at all. Over time I started to fall foul of some of the issues of the disease - reducing mental acuity, fatigue, and constant napping - but not the pleasant "40-winks" type; instead it was more like I was being dragged down into my grave. Could have been down to age, stress? Not good, but not definite enough for me to act.
I was kidding myself.
I got separated, moved country, got married, and there were other things to worry about for a time — years of damage.
Of all things, crippling procrastination was the thing that was finally pushing me to take a hard look at my relationship with the disease. Then I received a doctor's request to come in for my first UK diabetic check-up - and I know that going in with very high scores would mean insulin. THAT SCARES ME. So I got a Libre sensor and started measuring - seeing scores of 23-24 in the first few days, and an A1C estimate of 11.7% Checking online, I could see how awful those numbers are.
So - here we are three weeks later and on a crash LCHF diet. Seems to be helping. My peaks stay under 12, and I'm about 55-60% of the time in the 5.8-9 target range that the Libre app suggests. A1C estimate is 8.7%. I seem to suffer a high peak of dawn phenomenon, so I've tried IF once and will probably do that 2 or 3 times a week. Fasting for a morning wasn't so challenging.
I seem to be sharper and have more energy, but there are still moments (especially in the morning) of fatigue.
The shift in diet is a drama. Visiting restaurants is an exercise in frustration. No more beans on toast, Pot Noodles, curries with rice or naan bread, apple crumble and custard. No more biscuits for my tea!
On the other hand - turns out mangetout is edible for humans, sauteed cabbage is lovely, broccoli and cauliflower with cream cheese sauce is fab. Careful seasoning and the occasional teaspoon of monosodium glutamate helps a lot. It's a rollercoaster of salads and omelettes and cheese and blackberries and cream - and I can never get off it.
TL;DR - I've been an idiot. I am finally doing something about it. LCHF is hard.
