Going Bonkers

[Janz234567]

I was diagnosed 9 weeks ago. I have been on the Newcastle diet and lost 30lbs. But my levels are unpredictable - I can eat exactly the same things and on two consecutive days have readings of 4.2 and 6.2! I am increasingly depressed with all this focus on my health and measuring levels and find the thought of his for the rest of my life awful. I feel I am becoming completely obsessed and think about it all the time. I have read a lot and scared myself with the possible complications. Tempted to simply put my head in the sand. If I can't get the levels down on 600 calories and no carbs or fat for all this time then it seems hopeless. What will happen now if I eat carbs, through the roof again. Sorry to moan. A colleague said at least it wasn't a cancer diagnosis so I should feel lucky!

Hi, my story is almost exactly like yours except I am a few weeks ahead of you, I couldn't get my numbers below the mid to high sixes no mater how hard I dieted, I think our bodies are far more complex than we understand. My Diabetic nurse was not happy with the progress I was making and I was fed up of suffering the strict diet, so she prescribed Metformin 500mg twice a day. I took this for a month following the advice on the forums and taking the pills with food twice a day, all that happened is my BG numbers continued to fluctuate but not below 6.3 and I had chronic diarrhoea. Back at the clinic I discussed this with DN and she agreed to let me try slow release Metformin, and after a few days my BG dropped to mid 5 s and has stayed there despite being able to reintroduce things like baked potatoes and bread. Obviously I still can't eat sugary foods but at least I can relax the diet somewhat, which I am very pleased about. I'm exploring the boundaries.

 

[paulins]

You may want to look into LCHF. Keeping both fat and carbs down leaves you with only protein for energy, and protein can turn to glucose in your blood, too. I find that fat works fine and so long as you stay off carbs or at least keep them low you will loose weight even if you eat a decent amount of fat. In my experience LCHF keeps my bg normal, I don't get very hungry and it can be a very easy way to reach a normal weight. A low-calorie diet isn't good for you in the long run and it will put your body in starvation mode so it refuses to let off any weight at all. LCHF was more or less the only diabetes treatment available until they discovered how to use insulin.

What do you eat for the high fat? The Newcaste diet says no fat, no carbs - it is the huge reduction in overall calories that revered the diabetes.

 

[paulins]

Hi, my story is almost exactly like yours except I am a few weeks ahead of you, I couldn't get my numbers below the mid to high sixes no mater how hard I dieted, I think our bodies are far more complex than we understand. My Diabetic nurse was not happy with the progress I was making and I was fed up of suffering the strict diet, so she prescribed Metformin 500mg twice a day. I took this for a month following the advice on the forums and taking the pills with food twice a day, all that happened is my BG numbers continued to fluctuate but not below 6.3 and I had chronic diarrhoea. Back at the clinic I discussed this with DN and she agreed to let me try slow release Metformin, and after a few days my BG dropped to mid 5 s and has stayed there despite being able to reintroduce things like baked potatoes and bread. Obviously I still can't eat sugary foods but at least I can relax the diet somewhat, which I am very pleased about. I'm exploring the boundaries.

Did you try to Newcastle diet to try to reverse your diabetes? This is what I want to do - I am not on the drugs yet and do not want to be. I read that most type 2 sufferers are on drugs after 3-5 years and on insulin after 5-7 years and I do not want this. I tracked down the original Newcastle research article and though I haven't used the three shakes I have not eaten more than 600 calories fa day or nearly nine weeks. But my levels fluctuate so much.

 

[Totto]

What do you eat for the high fat? The Newcaste diet says no fat, no carbs - it is the huge reduction in overall calories that revered the diabetes.

I eat food when I am hungry until I feel full, Tonight we had cod in the oven with sprouts, boiled celeriac and browned butter. For breakfast I had some full fat Greek yoghurt with shredded coconut and cinnamon, for lunch bacon and eggs with some extra butter.

Yesterday I had avocado and boiled eggs for lunch, with extra olive oil and Italian seasoning and sausages with coleslaw, turnip mash (made with butter and some cream) and some broccoli (put some extra butter on the broccoli, it tastes so nice) for dinner.

The further I get on the LCHF path the less I need to snack but if I do I have some nuts or a piece of cheese. Or some home-made butter with herbs and garlic.

My aim is primarily to keep my bg normal and it works. I also find I have lost the 2.5 kilograms I put on while on patches briefly. Weight loss is easy on LCHF.

Might add my cholesterol is very good with HDL at 1.8 and triglyceride at 0.8. Morning bg is usually at 4.5, pp readings about the same.

 

[paulins]

I eat food when I am hungry until I feel full, Tonight we had cod in the oven with sprouts, boiled celeriac and browned butter. For breakfast I had some full fat Greek yoghurt with shredded coconut and cinnamon, for lunch bacon and eggs with some extra butter.

Yesterday I had avocado and boiled eggs for lunch, with extra olive oil and Italian seasoning and sausages with coleslaw, turnip mash (made with butter and some cream) and some broccoli (put some extra butter on the broccoli, it tastes so nice) for dinner.

The further I get on the LCHF path the less I need to snack but if I do I have some nuts or a piece of cheese. Or some home-made butter with herbs and garlic.

My aim is primarily to keep my bg normal and it works. I also find I have lost the 2.5 kilograms I put on while on patches briefly. Weight loss is easy on LCHF.

Might add my cholesterol is very good with HDL at 1.8 and triglyceride at 0.8. Morning bg is usually at 4.5, pp readings about the same.

These are good readings! Thank you for the food suggestions - I need to have a serious rethink!

 

[Robbity]

The thing is with the LCHF diet is that although you can go very low carb if you need to lose a fair bit of weight, you can also keep low carbing at a higher level for life. You will be eating a good healthy satisfying diet too.

Robbity

 

[Indy51]

What do you eat for the high fat? The Newcaste diet says no fat, no carbs - it is the huge reduction in overall calories that revered the diabetes.

The Newcastle Diet says nothing of the sort. The shakes/meal replacements are nutritionally balanced for essential nutrients and they're called "essential fatty acids" for a reason. The carb restriction is for starchy carbs only, non-starchy vegetables (carbohydrates) are allowed.

Also, on the Optifast website (the Intensive Phase of the program that was used for the Newcastle Diet), they say:
"The inclusion of a teaspoon (5ml) of oil a day whilst on the Intensive Phase is important for those who are at risk of developing gall stones. The oil stimulates the emptying of the gall bladder, helping to prevent gall stones. Normally a teaspoon of oil (usually olive oil) is included in the daily serve of vegetables."

 

[paulins]

Indy51 - thanks. Reread the paper and will rethink. I have ben eating less than 600 calories for 8 weeks, but included some lean meat for variety. Will stop that and include the oil. Depressing as although levels good during the day, after fasting was 7.1 this morning. Determined to reverse.